Rangers Rumors: Mark Lowe, Scott Feldman Available

The Texas Rangers are expected to make right-handed pitchers Scott Feldman and Mark Lowe available this summer, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Heyman reports that with prospect Tanner Scheppers pitching well in Triple-A, the addition of veteran starter Roy Oswalt and Neftali Feliz’s pending return from injury, the Rangers will look to acquire a right-handed hitting outfielder for either Lowe or Feldman.

The Rangers were reportedly interested in trading away some of their surplus pitching this offseason and spring, but a move was never made. Now, with Oswalt and eventually Feliz in their rotation, the Rangers could look to dip into this depth and use Lowe and Feldman as trade chips.

Beyond Oswalt and Feliz, the Rangers are comfortable in their general pitching depth due to the presence of 25-year-old right-hander Tanner Scheppers. Scheppers has maintained an ERA and WHIP of 3.91 and 1.145 over his 23 appearances for Texas’s Triple-A affiliate.

Lowe has pitched exclusively out of the ‘pen for the Rangers this season. Over his 18 appearances spanning 20 1/3 innings, Lowe has posted an impressive ERA and WHIP of 2.66 and 1.082 with 8.9 SO/9 and 2.7 BB/9.

While Feldman hasn’t been as impressive, Rangers manager Ron Washington has said he likes the big righty filling his long-man role. On the season, Feldman has appeared in nine games, including four starts, maintaining an ERA and WHIP of 4.50 and 1.417.