According to Mlbtraderumors.com Darren Oliver would welcome a trade back to Texas to be closer to his family. In the same post he implies that he only wants to continue pitching as long as he gets a pay raise (2012 salary 3 million). With the multitude of moves the Jays have made this off-season their budget is already stretched thin. So, would the Jays be willing to trade Oliver back to the Rangers? Would the Rangers be willing to workout a trade to acquire Oliver? With the fifth spot in the rotation up for grabs I have read some articles that suggest Robbie Ross could compete for that spot after flourishing as a RP out of the bullpen. So, what do you guys think about the potential of Oliver back in Texas?? Don't forget he had another good year as a RP.

No. I remember the WS. Not a big game pitcher.

No. Please no. Oliver isn't bad if used correctly. Problem is wash proves time and time again he couldn't use Oliver correctly and over relied on him. Most likely due to his "veteran status".

I'd have him back. He KILLED 2012. Give the man a 1/$3.5mil and let him pitch til his arm explodes or we get in to the playoffs. Then cut him from the post season roster and launch him into the sun.

Would not mind seeing him back, assuming Wash uses him in the right positions.

He won't, so, take that at what it is.

I agree with the sentiment that Wash may use Oliver in situations that he may be ill equipped to deal with. Even tho Oliver is a great relief pitcher I would hate to see Wash pull a "Michael Young" with Oliver

@sr17

That's exactly what he's done in the past and what he's do again. No thanks. JD has to idiot proof the pitching staff as much as possible.

Is it crazy or what that so many folks are worried about WASH and his tenancy to 'rely on is senior guys' too much. Two things; one, no one can idiot proof the pen if WASH is the manager and two, Robbie Ross, Robbie Ross, Robbie Ross. Robbie Ross is not going to be a starter and if we trade for a senior citizen pitcher we are reverting back to the Rangers of yester years.

Old and in the way. No thx.

Oliver would be a good pickup, his career is amazing and ending it in Texas, would be like I.Rod ending his career where it began, but did not. Oliver even would accept Toronto's original deal of $3, if he was traded home to Texas. Would be some what of a courtesy trade, meaning a second or third tier prospect. Incredible, he has lowered his ERA every year since returning to the AL in 2007, can not recall in the history of baseball any one to do that over six straight years. Oliver will not be over used, since that time his number of games pitched in a given year has been unbelievably consistent at 61 game appearances a year, so Wash has used him no differently then LA or Toronto. It would give the Rangers the lefty so Perez or Ross could move into the #5 starter role.

Oliver has had a sub-3.00 ERA for 5 years. His age does not mean he's bad. Look up actual statistics, first.

Second, Robbie Ross was great last year, in the 1st half. His 2nd half was not good. At all.

Not saying he will be bad this year, but Oliver on the cheap would provide very valuable backup.

Pass.

Oliver is fine if used correctly. Wash is incapable of using him correctly. That's the problem. It's sad we have to try to idiot proof the bullpen from the manager.

Oliver is fine if used correctly. Wash is incapable of using him correctly. That's the problem. It's sad we have to try to idiot proof the bullpen from the manager.

How is Wash supposed to use him? At this point Darren Oliver is nothing more than a LOOGY, one batter at a time. 6th inning. 7th inning. Low leverage.

I'd rather have Ross and Kirkman. We don't need 3 lefties in our pen.

Exactly eric, that's what we're saying... He's valuable as a LOOGY... Washington would use him against RHBs who killed Lefties because of his "gut" ... hence, pass.

Righties hit .237/.288/.306 off him in 2011. Not a compelling "Wash sucks" argument.

Not what I said...

I don't have the time or really the care to look it up, but I remember a playoff game (one of the WS games maybe?) where Wash left Oliver in to face some righty who had hit like .600 off lefties in his career. He didn't bring in the RHP who was warm in the pen, based on his gut, and Oliver blew it.

It's been way too long, and I've slept a lot since then.

Nice, so you're going to base Wash being an idiot off the sample of letting Darren Oliver face a right-handed hitter in one game? Since you're on the Internet right now, you should find the drive, or care, to look it up, because I'd love to hear where you're coming from.

meh, I don't really care. You can bask in your internet win.

OMG, please don't give Wash a "woody". Please JD, do not give this man back his toys.
And while you're at it JD, take that damn two headed coin he uses, to make the lineup.
I heard Wash got a Digital Watch, a Casio Calculator and a FAX machine for Christmas.
He musta freaked into a nervous breakdown, thinking of all that NEW TECH to learn about.

It's a shame that so many here feel the team is prevented from adding valuable talent because of an expectation that if added, the manager will misuse that talent in a way that hurts the team. And I'm amazed that some of the same people here who say that you can't get this player or that because they don't trust the manager's ability to make smart choices, are also ones who are the biggest fanboys regarding the greatness of the manager.

If he can't fill out a lineup card and make in-game decisions correctly, what's the reason he's here? To increase the degree of difficulty for the players to win? Who;s running this sideshow, Jerry Jones?

Rather not, thankful to him for his long and frequent duties as a Ranger though.

For those that say Oliver will just be misused by the manager, y'all do know the Rangers have a pretty good pitching coach, right? One that probably has a lot of say in who gets called in from the bullpen? I don't think Maddux is around just to go out and make the required trips to the mound to give the pitchers a shoulder rub. I would imagine Wash leans on him heavily when making pitching changes.

I agree with Eric, with Kirkman and Ross already in the bullpen mix, another lefty is not needed.

No brainer. Sign Oliver, he is good.

At least no one on this thread has proposed trading Olt and Perez for Oliver.