Angels land Tommy Hanson from Braves, for next to nothing.

He's young, cheap contract, productive in past but some injury iffiness.

How does this effect the Rangers' thoughts?

It's "affect" in this situation, not "effect". And it doesn't, really. The Rangers probably weren't in on either of them.

Very little. Tommy Hanson's arm could explode literally any pitch. I think we'll see Geovany Soto non-tendered tonight, and the Rangers will negotiate a cheap $3M or so contract with him. After that, it's focusing on Greinke. After he signs elsewhere, we'll go trade trade trade until the roster is satisfied.

His shoulder is said to be damaged. Good luck to them on that.

Isn't the Angels farm system essentially a little league team at this point? I do wonder how/why they pulled this off.

Jordan Walden is not really "next to nothing" although I am surprised Atlanta didnt trade him for a hitter instead

Hanson barely touches 90 after sitting in the mid 90s a few years ago. A mid 4s ERA isn't going to play up in the AL. Not worth the $4M he'll get in arb, let alone a decent bullpen arm with years of control. Atlanta came out ahead big time.

Elbows injuries are fixable. Shoulder injuries like Hanson can be career enders

Yesterday on Keith Law's chat:

Tim (AZ )

Tommy Hanson is only 25. Why is everyone so down on him?

Klaw (3:28 PM)

Because the inside of his shoulder looks like hamburger meat.

* * *

If Hanson is healthy, he creates a lot of upside. A front three of Weaver/Wilson/Hanson isn't so bad. However, you're taking Hanson, a pitcher whose money is trending up, whose stuff is trending down, and putting him in a tougher league. I don't think expecting an ERA below 4.00 is realistic. That, and I don't know if you can expect 150 innings, let alone 200.

He's a cheaper, just as prone to injury, Dan Haren. Jason Parks was less than convinced this was a good trade for the Halos.

To me this move could affect (thanks Andy) the Rangers because if the Angles just traded away a bullpen arm which was their biggest concern last year...logic would say they need to fill that void. This move by the Angels could make them more likely to go after Koji and/or Mike Adams.

@henchman, idk about the lower levels of the Angels minor league system, but I live in OKC and saw the Redhawks (Houston AAA) and Salt Lake (Angels AAA), and it was a terrible baseball game. Salt Lake's best hitter was the DH and had a 5'9 250 lb physique. Neither team had any pitching. The Angels have no depth whatsoever at the upper levels of their minor league system, their window is only as wide as Weaver and Wilson can carry heavy loads, however long that may be, but with their lineup they are definite contenders in the short term.

--JV, I'd say it's even money the Angels sign Koji. I'm pretty sure he's going to Baltimore or LAA.

It would seem that the salary cleared by the trade could pay Koji.

@ nompton

Yeah that's what I'm worried about. Ideally they wouldn't get either, but I'd much rather lose Adams to them than Koji.