If we are still trying to develop Feliz as a TORP in the future, and we are not ready for him to log 200 IP yet as his arm is still not fully mature...

Why not sign R. Soriano and let Feliz serve as a long reliever this year? Instead of 1IP per appearance we would shoot for 2-3 IP per appearance. This will hopefully give him around 120-140 IP over the season and allow him to be introduce to possibly facing batters a 2nd time.

Also with our questionable starting rotation we will most likely have plenty of chances for him to enter the game in the 3rd 4th or 5th inning.

With Feliz's long term potential I think this is worth the reduction of his 2011 value, as R.Soriano would easily replace him as our dominant closer.

Thoughts?

This could also help us avoid any kind of "Joba Rules" when he eventually makes the full time switch to the starting rotation.

We saw how effectively that worked out.

This scares me because I do want to see Feliz start but I don't want to see another Joba. If we don't decide for good this offseason than we need to next offseason. I don't see us signing Soriano so if Feliz is a starter I have faith that Ogando and FF can step-in and hold the closer role down.

If we signed soriano, feliz would be in the rotation. IF he struggled, he would likely be sent to AAA to continue to transition to a starter. having soriano would give us 3 very good RH relievers and feliz, making the timing perfect to begin his transition to starter.

Ryan,

Someone has to log those innings as a long man in our bullpen. Why make him go back to AAA when he has already proven himself in the bigs.

If he struggles going 2/3 innings, then I'd put him back in the 8th or 9th inning and that shouldn't take too long of a transition.

Joby

Joby,
Sure he has proven himself in the bigs as a closer, but he needs to be groomed to be a starter and that may mean a couple of months of demotion before he is ready to be in the major league rotation.
For 2011, I would rather have him pitching every 5th day in AAA than pitching sporadically in mop-up duty as a long-man. Also, I think the mindset of being a "long reliever" and not knowing exactly what days he may be pitching or for how many innings may change his focus a little. All in all, I don't think there is any chance of this happening, but it is an interesting proposition if we signed Soriano and made a deal for a starter.

He wouldn't be able to pitch every 5th day in AAA or MLB because it would cause him to pitch too many innings throughout the season. I love the idea of long reliever Neftali Feliz.

I recently read an article on the Angels' website by one of their beat writers saying that a great fear of the Angels (more than the Beltre signing) would be a Rangers' signing of R. Soriano and the move of Feliz to the starting rotation. The writer felt that in a short time, Feliz could well become another Pedro Martinez, his idol, thus making the Rangers a MUCH more lethal opponent than at present....interesting!

I think we all agree his value will be greatest as a SP, the question is just how to get him there.

I guess I'll just put my trush is Nolan/Warsh, but being so young we got to keep his innings down.

I just looked at Felix Hernandez who had all the hype and he always threw a good amount of innings each year, even in the minors.

Felix Hernandez
17 (age) 138 (IP)
18 149.1
19 172
20 191
21 190.1
22 200.2
23 238.2
24 249.2

N. Feliz
22 only 69.1

If we don't move soon I think his arm may hit a plateau. Just a thought/fear.

i don't think we need to worry about putting feliz in the rotation this year or condemning him to the bullpen for the rest of his career. without doing too much research, i find that c.j. wilson spent several years in the bullpen before transitioning rather nicely to the starting rotation. i don't like the idea of signing soriano. i think the bullpen is a strength as it is, and we need help more in the starting rotation than the bullpen, so i think we should essentially stand pat with what we have now and hope jd can make another badass trade during the summer. i say keep feliz as closer for now but lift the one inning only rule and allow him to occasionally go 2. he's still young and spending 2 mlb seasons in the bullpen doesn't permanently condemn someone to the bullpen forever.

johnnyranger,

I like that idea. As long as we are not sacrificing anything from him in those late inning high leverage situations. But giving him 2 innings might be the best way to maximize his value and get him more innings.

Does anyone track total innings pitched including spring training and winter leagues? This must be a more accurate measure of arm fatigue and burnout.

The reason I like long reliever better than closer or setup man as a way to transition Feliz to the rotation is because as a closer/setup man you are required to go whenever it's a save situation. That means he pitches 1 maybe 2 innings and those innings might be on back to back days. That situation isn't similar to starting at all. Papelbon got stuck as the closer in my opinion and when they talked about moving him, it just seemed he had been there too long. CJ Wilson pitched in several different roles out of the bullpen, but it seemed that he was always pitching 2 innings at least and they made sure to pitch him with 2-3 days rest at least. That is at least a little more like the rest he would get in the rotation especially since starters have a bullpen session between starts. If you push him into any starting rotation AAA/MLB then you have to think that they will monitor his innings/pitches which would keep him from pitching in those valuable post season innings. Think about when Colby and CJ's contracts are up...very soon, who is going to front this rotation? I see Holland and Feliz stepping into the 1-2 spots for the next 4-5 years, but that is a dream of mine because I have to see everything Rangers through rose colored glasses. I think regression from Holland and Feliz as the closer next season scares the crap out of me for the future. You can't buy your starters every season, or just happen to find them in the bullpen, or trade for them at the deadline. I would venture to say that it doesn't always work out so well if that is your plan. Give the kids a chance while we have two solid pitchers fronting the rotation that can mentor the two kids and lead this team to the playoffs.

My two cents...lol.

I think this is the perfect year to let Feliz either sink or swim in the rotation. You have a loaded bullpen (without even counting Scheppers who should be ready at some point this year for the pen)... And you have no clear cut guy to take the 5th SP role... It is crucial to find out if Feliz is a TORP or just a closer this year for roster construction going into the future. Give him the whole season to try starting, if he shows he can be at least a #2/3 for the future then great you've filled CJs slot since I'm assuming he'll leave in FA. If he flames out then you move him back to the BP in 2012 and you don't have to worry about your closer for the next 4 years... The longer you wait to make the move the more time ticks off his service clock and the less extra value you end up receiving from his team controlled seasons.