Rangers trade for Nippert

by Brett Perryman on Mar 28, 2008 8:32 PM CDT Comment 22 comments

The Rangers have added talented but struggling Dustin Nippert to their roster in exchange for Jose Marte. Nippert has good stuff but has never managed to step up and win a spot in the Arizona rotation. He was so-so in relief last season and awful this spring, earning his way out of town. In Marte the Rangers gave up a nondescript arm, but someone with a little talent.

Chances are that Nippert struggles here just as he did in Arizona, but this is the kind of arm you take a chance on, especially when the price is so low. As I've already seen suggested I'm guessing that this costs Rob Tejeda his spot on the roster and in the organization. If so, the dynamics of the staff with respect to the 40-man roster and the versatility in bringing guys up and down are basically unchanged, as Nippert, like Tejeda, is out of options. On the surface, definitely seems like a worthwhile move, as Nippert, in my view anyway, is a higher profile talent with more upside than Tejeda.

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Cautiously excited

But I want to see what we gave up. I think he's pretty good though.

by brettgardner on Mar 28, 2008 8:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We gave

up Jose Marte.

" Winning doesn't always mean being first,
winning means you are doing better than you have done before"

by coolaid on Mar 28, 2008 8:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and likely Tejeda

by SteveP on Mar 28, 2008 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here you go

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2008-03-28-2823651040_x.htm

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on Mar 28, 2008 8:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So

Does he go in the bullpen, thereby ensuring that we trade at least one of the guys vying for the last spot, or does he take the #5 job?

by brettgardner on Mar 28, 2008 8:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

bullpen

he's only made 5 starts in the last two years.

by chrisR on Mar 28, 2008 9:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice move

low risk, high reward.

by Agreen07 on Mar 28, 2008 8:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I may be in

the minority but I would like to see Nippert get a shot at starting.

by sprite on Mar 28, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm with ya.

by brettgardner on Mar 28, 2008 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you also

but I would like to see him pitch in the pen until he gets himself sorted out. If he does well for the first couple of months in the pen, I would like to see him eased into the rotation.

by uthornfan on Mar 28, 2008 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who would he replace in the rotation?

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 28, 2008 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

easy answer is

in a couple of months, let him have mendoza's spot if/when mendoza shows he can't handle it. probably could say the same thing about gabbard

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by ab03 on Mar 28, 2008 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts as well.

By all accounts he has the talent and has had previous success as a starter in the minors. Plus the Rangers would benefit a lot more with him as starter rather than having him in the bullpen.

by sprite on Mar 28, 2008 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that anyone

would discount the possibility of him starting at some point if he has success in the pen. But when the questions is 'will he start or relieve' most of us assumed that we were talking about the immediate.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 28, 2008 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who would he replace?

Whoever inevitably goes down with an injury. He stands a good chance at getting a couple of starts at some point.

A working class hero is something to be.

by t ball on Mar 28, 2008 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

24 hits in 10 spring innings

ouch.

im fine with taking a chance on him though. tejeda might not even get claimed.

by DSheppard on Mar 28, 2008 8:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is interesting

I kinda wanted to see Tejeda get a shot, but if Nippert is the better pitcher, then this is a good move, obviously.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Mar 28, 2008 8:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know.

Is he any better than Tejeda?

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by RangerMad on Mar 28, 2008 9:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

nippert might bounce back

but what makes anybody think that this team has the coaches in place to get that done? mark connor's best tool is to send a guy to triple-a.

maybe they are banking on him pitching in low pressure situations (blow-outs) so he can slowly regain confidence but that's really the only reason to expect that the rangers can fix him.

New Troll Script for 2.0

by ab03 on Mar 28, 2008 10:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That's a viable point

You know the Rangers don't think that about themselves, though. Conner & co. are probably quite optimistic that they can fix him, as are their pro scouts.

by Brett Perryman on Mar 28, 2008 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs