The Texas Rangers used pitcher Cole Ragans as part of a trade to acquire relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman last season.
In the short term, that paid off. Chapman helped the Rangers win their first World Series title. But many trades have a long-term price that isn’t always obvious.
The Rangers are down three starting pitchers due to major injuries to start this season — Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom and Tyler Mahle. All are expected to return at some point this summer.
But the Rangers could use Ragans right about now.
Recently, ESPN wrote about 10 players that have scouts buzzing during spring training. Ragans, now a starter for the Kansas City Royals, came up.
In fact, the reporter who wrote the piece quoted one scout who called Ragans “left-handed deGrom.”
Seriously?
At one time, the Rangers saw Ragans as the future. He was their first-round pick in 2016. But after two Tommy John surgeries and the 2020 COVID shutdown of minor league baseball, no one was certain what Ragans would eventually become.
He finally made his MLB debut in 2022, starting the final two months of the season. He started 2023 as a reliever but was sent down to Triple-A to stretch out to start games after deGrom was injured.
With the Rangers, he went 2-6 with a 5.32 ERA.
The Royals sent Ragans to their Triple-A affiliate after the trade. Within a month, he earned a promotion to the Royals and flourished, going 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 12 starts. He was named the American League Pitcher of the Month for August.
So why the deGrom comparison? Here's ESPN’s analysis:
Well, look at Ragans' first start this spring: His fastball averaged 99.2 mph. He threw one at 101 with 20 inches of induced vertical break. Not a single starter in MLB last season hit 101 with that sort of vert, which means the ball doesn't drop nearly as much as an average fastball.
Not only does Ragans have that vertical break, but he also has five different pitches to choose from.
No one in Arlington is complaining about the price paid to win a World Series. But Ragans may come back to haunt the Rangers this season and for seasons to come.
More must-reads: