@ t ball: I completely agree. Soriano would provide the flexibility to move one of those guys to the rotation. But say they need an extra year to refine those skills, you could definitely send Ogando to AAA to get better and/or just leave them in the bullpen. Our bullpen was the most used pen in the majors last year. To think we'll get the same type of results after an extremely taxing year may be a little hopeful...

I think Soriano is easily worth 3/$24. If the Rangers sign Soriano, it's not so he can start. It's so Feliz can start. I strongly get the impression that JD truly wants Feliz to the rotation ASAP and places lower relative value on Closers, and that Wash is a big Closer guy and doesn't trust his bullpen sans Feliz. IF, and it's a big IF, Soriano is signed, it's to make Wash feel comfortable with his bullpen without Feliz. A bully with Soriano closing, Frankie and Ogando setting up, Rhodes and Oliver as the lefties, O'Day as the extra arm, and Hunter or Kirkman or Feldman as the long man is REALY good without Feliz. That allows you to go with Feliz and Holland plus one from Webb/Hunter/Kirkman in the rotation. Great stuff.

...not to mention if JD does make a trade sometime this year, letting go one of our wonderful bullpen arms wouldn't hurt us all that much. I certainly don't want deja vu next year in the playoffs with our pen. I know we all say Soriano isn't needed, but we definitely needed another reliable arm in the playoffs. Frankie and a couple 40 year olds is a little scary. Soriano may just be the best fit and in a market that is way over-priced...could actually be had at way below market-value cost.

2010 Salaries according to Baseball-Reference. com with save totals.
Brian Wilson- 48 saves 6.5 mil
Heath Bell - 47 saves 4 mil
Joakim Soria - 45 saves 3 mil
Francisco Cordero - 40 saves 12.125 mil
Carlos Marmol - 38 saves 2.125 mil
Jonathan Papelbon - 37 saves at 9.35 mil
Billy Wagner - 37 saves 6.75 mil
Mariono River - 33 saves at 15 mil

these guys are considered the best and the average of their salaries is about 7.5 mil. But most will make more once they get out of their relatively cheap contracts. Soriano for 3 years at 21-24 mil...bargain.

Thanks Joe...
I work as a designer, so I have no problem thinking outside of the box. And I agree... constructive criticism and mature debates are what make a good baseball blog/forum.

P1 Stefen: Carlos Marmol needs to get PAID. He's all that Cubs bullpen has got... well, now I guess they've got Woods back and he can help some.

Basically Soriano would provide another option for this club. Think of last year's playoffs and how the bullpen performed. Think of how nice it would have been to have one more dominate guy waiting to come in and pitch. He also would allow the club the flexibility of moving Feliz into the rotation, or Ogando if need be. I think Soriano and Feliz pitching the 8th and 9th sounds awfully nice. Especially with Ogando, Francisco, O'Day, Oliver and Rhodes waiting behind them.

Perhaps signing Soriano could also allow the Rangers to use Ogando or O'Day as trade pieces? Remember the discussion of O'Day going to the Cubs in that C. Davis trade proposal?

Sorry, didn't see P1 Stefen mentioned using a current bullpen arm in a trade as well and made some of the same points that I did. So... I agree.