Trades Leave Rangers on the Defensive

If August represents the dog days, what was July? The Angels were 9-18 while the Texas Rangers were 11-15. It is as if they have sounded retreat in the American League West.

Now? The Angels obviously didn’t improve when they were unable to add a pitcher before Friday night’s nonwaiver trade deadline-- both a mental and physical setback as the Rangers improved significantly by trading for pitcher Todd Stottlemyre, shortstop Royce Clayton and third baseman Todd Zeile, whose outlook underwent the biggest improvement of all.

Zeile, the former Dodger, escaped exile with the Florida Marlins to join his seventh team since midseason of 1995.

“It’s been a year to remember,” he said. “My head is spinning, but I knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel. The Marlins kept their word. They said they would put me in a good situation, and I can’t think of a better one.”

In trading for Zeile and Clayton, the Rangers rebuilt the left side of their infield, a move they felt was as important as improving their pitching. Although first in the league in offense, the Rangers are next to last in team pitching and ninth in defense.

“Part of the reason our pitching wasn’t up to par is that our defense wasn’t playing up to par,” General Manager Doug Melvin said, having released shortstop Kevin Elster and traded third baseman Fernando Tatis in the Clayton/Stottlemyre deal with St. Louis. “Kevin Elster was great for us in 1996, but Clayton has more range.”

The Rangers privately were excited to keep Stottlemyre away from the Angels. Their rotation had an earned-run average of almost six since the All-Star break, but Stottlemyre, 9-9 overall, brought a measure of concern: a sore back that kept him from starting Thursday night and a 0-4 record and 7.00 ERA in his last five starts.

Melvin dismissed the back problem, and Cardinal pitching coach Dave Duncan said Stottlemyre’s recent record reflects the fact that he had been trying to carry the burden of an injury-riddled rotation and had made 117 pitches or more in nine of his last 12 starts.

How that toll affects his performance down the stretch remains to be seen, but Melvin made note of Stottlemyre’s competitiveness and said: “He has the arrogance of a front-line starter. We need somebody with that attitude. I’m disappointed that we haven’t been playing better, so that we didn’t have to make these moves, but our goal now is the division and beyond.”

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With the wild card affecting the trade market by making it difficult for some clubs to determine if they are in the race or not, several general managers have suggested delaying the nonwaiver deadline until mid-August, when the races might be clarified.

However, Angel General Manager Bill Bavasi said: “I believe it would just help teams procrastinate more. I like deadlines. I think we would muddy the waters by moving it back.”

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In Anaheim, where Boston has continued to solidify its hold on the AL wild card, the Red Sox were enthused about their deadline additions: Greg Swindell as a spot pitcher, Orlando Merced as a left-handed pinch-hitter and Mike Stanley as designated hitter.

Bret Saberhagen compared it to the Angels’ inability to deal.

“I think everybody is very happy,” he said of the Boston deals. “I know I am. I was reading the paper today about the Angels, and the GM always wants to help the ballclub but it’s not always possible. I sympathize and look at the Angels and say ‘Hey, that could have been us.’ ”