Jennings Done in Houston, But Stays in Texas

[Guest Orangeboy]

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are going to Spring Training with what looks like a set starting rotation.

Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla and Jason Jennings are locked into the top three spots, and club officials said Brandon McCarthy and Kason Gabbard have the inside track on the other two slots.

That's the way the Rangers have it lined up after formally announcing on Thursday that Jennings, who was a free agent, had agreed to a one-year contract for 2008.

"If our guys stay healthy, everybody has a chance to put us in a position to win on a nightly basis," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "But health is going to be a big key."

Jennings, 29, a right-hander who pitched locally at Mesquite Poteet High and Baylor University, agreed to a one-year contract worth $4 million plus another $4 million available in incentives based on innings pitched. He was 2-9 with a 6.45 ERA in 19 games, including 18 starts, for the Houston Astros last year and underwent surgery on Aug. 30 to repair a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow.

Prior to that, he was a workhorse for the Colorado Rockies, averaging roughly 30 starts and 180 innings per year over five seasons in 2002-2006 while going 54-55 with a 4.75 ERA.

He was 16-8 with a 4.52 ERA for the Rockies in 2002 while winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award. He was just 9-13 in 2006 but set a career high with 212 innings pitched and 142 strikeouts, and his 3.78 ERA was the second lowest in Rockies history.

"We wanted a pitcher with a history of pitching innings and winning ballgames and a young veteran whose best years are ahead of him," Daniels said. "We wanted a guy who had a big makeup and big heart. Jason fits all of that. I like his mentality, that he feels his job is to eat innings, get a club deep into the game and give his team a chance to win.

"Our starters pitched the few innings of anybody last year. That's got to change."

Jennings was traded to the Astros after the 2006 season but was never healthy for them. He was on the disabled list from April 9 to May 28 with tendinitis and then from Aug. 21 to the end of the season with the torn tendon in the elbow.

He has resumed throwing without problems and passed his physical on Monday. He said everything feels great physically right now.

"This time last year my elbow was hurting and I was starting to get concerned," Jennings said. "But I had just been traded to Houston and I didn't want to make a big stink about it. I was just hoping it was tendinitis but as the year went on it got worse and worse. I finally had to get it taken care of and now I feel great. It's fun to play catch again. Last year it wasn't fun to even play catch."

Jennings and his family still live in the Dallas area in Frisco near the Rangers Double-A ballpark and that was obviously a motivating factor in signing with the club.

"There were some other teams in the mix, but being from here, this was at the top of my list," Jennings said. "I had a great meeting with J.D. on Monday, met some of the guys and had a really good vibe about the attitude of the team and the direction we're going. I wanted to be a part of it."

Right now he is a part of it for only one year. Both sides didn't seem to want to go any further than that. The Rangers want to make sure that Jennings is healthy before they make a long-term commitment but left open the possibility of exploring a multiyear deal at a later date.

Jennings said he's open to that as well but obviously doesn't want to do a long-term deal after coming off a poor season.

"I'm just looking forward to proving I'm healthy and being the pitcher I can be and not the pitcher I was last year," Jennings said. "I have no reason to feel I'm not going to like it here, so who wouldn't enjoy the opportunity to discuss a multiyear deal and play at home?"

Right now, he appears to be slotting in the No. 3 spot in the rotation behind Millwood and Padilla and ahead of McCarthy and Gabbard.

"He's a guy who has been at the Major League level and done it," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He helps solidify our rotation, especially if he gets back to the form he's capable of pitching at. If all these guys stay healthy, we have a chance every night."

All five Rangers starters have health issues. Millwood, Padilla and McCarthy all spent time on the disabled list last year and Gabbard has a history of arm troubles. Washington said the Rangers have received great reports on Millwood and McCarthy this winter and said Gabbard should be ready to go in Spring Training after being shut down at the end of September.

McCarthy and Gabbard have the inside track for the back two spots, but Daniels insisted there will still be some competition in Spring Training. The Rangers still plan on taking a look at Eric Hurley, Armando Galarraga and Luis Mendoza. Kameron Loe could still figure in the mix as well.

That's probably the field right there. The Rangers did sign reliever Bill White to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training on Thursday but aren't planning on making any other big moves this winter.

"I expect this will be the last significant move we make," Daniels said.

[KFDM COOP]

At least he stayed in Texas. 

[bullets13]

sweet!  my beloved rangers get another slightly below average pitcher!  what happened to Kam Lowe?  he was finally showing some promise...

[AJ25]

i'm glad we got rid of him! but, i still can't believe we got rid of taylor Buchholz AND willy taveras to get him!!

[Guest astrosfan75956]

Good Ridddance to Jennings, we gave up taverez, hirsch, and buchholz for him... wow what a waste!!!

[Guest Orangeboy]

If the Tejeda deal doesn't work out that is just 8 players the Astros have flushed down the drain in 2 years.

[Guest astrosfan75956]

the big question is would you rather have jennings and tejada or the 8 players we gave away to get them???? personally I would rather the prospects...