The big (but unlikely and extremely expensive) I dream the Rangers could ninja at the deadline.

Two pitchers, one team, one starter, the other a reliever. Both having career years.

Starting pithcer (throws right): 2.53 ERA, 3.17 FIP, 3.01 xFIP, .259 BABIP, 8.69 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 3.4 fWAR.

Relief pitcher (throws right): 1.99 ERA, 2.72 FIP, 3.06 xFIP, .254BABIP, 7.08 K/9, 1.77 BB/9, 0.9 fWAR.

By looking at those stats, you probably know the two pitchers I'm talking about and the team both James Shields and Kyle Farnsworth play for. Definitely not cheap trade targets.

On the other hand, they come from the same source. Rather than trying to acquire a reliever and a starter from two different sources and pleasing two different markets, we can pay a tax (albeit a large one) to acquire that top flight reliever in one fell ninja swoop.

Now, many of you are probably thinking "Oh hell no, why the hell would we buy HIGH on two guys playing in a slightly pitcher friendly park based on half a season of top flight pitching? They have years of pitching behind them that were no where near what they are doing now. In Texas, those BABIP's go up, and so follows the FIP and xFIP, and they lose a heck of a lot of value here."

While that is in part true, they are having career years and their road numbers aren't as good as their ones at home in the Trop, they are still better, more consistent pitchers than Derek Holland or Arthur Rhodes. And in the end, isn't that the goal of the game, improving?

Now, we have a lot to offer, but reports are the little listening that was done on Shields suggest he is off the market and the price was high to begin with. Add in Farnsworth, and the price goes up even more just to keep them from hanging up the phone.

So, I'll throw out an initial offer and throw this thread to the wolves.

Shields and Farnsworth for

Holland, Wieland, Erlin, E Beltre, Mendonca, Odor