Texas Switching Neftali Feliz Back to Rotation (Trying to At Least)

[EmpireWF]

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/news/story?id=6135477&campaign=rss&source=MLBHeadlines

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Texas Rangers will use this spring to answer one big question when it comes to AL rookie of the year Neftali Feliz: Should he close games or start them?

The club determined this offseason to stretch out Feliz, who signed a one-year deal Thursday for $457,160. He was third in the AL with 40 saves in 70 appearances and a 2.73 ERA last season.

Texas did the same thing with former reliever C.J. Wilson last year, and Wilson ended up with 15 wins and returns as the club's top starter.

[FirstTimer]

What the fuck? I guess if it doesn't work they can shift him back but it seems like he was going to be on of the best closers in the league

[Chrispy]

Kind of sounds like the Joba-Yanks situation, they didn't know what to do with him.

[Esjay]

I always hate it when teams do this. The guy is electric as a closer/late innings reliever. Leave him there and stop being so greedy.

[EmpireWF]

He was a starter in the minors but no doubt he was electric as a closer.

Pros/cons and I guess they see him as having more value as a starter than a closer.

Not sure about that.

[Mogriffjr]

Betcha if Lee was still on the Rangers, Feliz would still be a closer.

[Kuzzy Powers]

Betcha if Lee was still on the Rangers, Feliz would still be a closer.

I think that goes without saying Mo.

[mgoblue2290]

He signed a new deal for only 457,000 dollars? He could've gotten way more than that.

[Lanteri]

He signed a new deal for only 457,000 dollars? He could've gotten way more than that.

No he couldn't. He didn't actually sign anything since he's a second year player under team control for quite a while longer before he actually has a choice.

Not sure what the point was of that even being mentioned in the article, lol.

[SuperKevin]

Personally I would have kept him at closer but then again as a Nats fan I know how disappointing it can be to have no hope in late innings

[EmpireWF]

He signed a new deal for only 457,000 dollars? He could've gotten way more than that.

Like Lanteri said, Feliz is under team control for several more years. He was a pre-arbitration player and they signed him to a one-year deal for $457,160.

Generally, I believe guys don't start to make millions until they hit arbitration and teams then look to sign them to long term deals to avoid going through that process.

[NAHSTE]

How many innings do closers pitch? How many innings do starters pitch? There ya go.

It's not always that simple. It is easier to be a dominant back-end reliever because you only need 1-2 great pitches.

We'll see if Feliz is cut out to be a starter or not, but it's not like it's a guarantee just because he has great stuff.

[Cody]

I really liked him as a closer, but I think this will turn out like the Joba situation.

[Guest]

The only issue with switching Perez to the rotation, who is going to close games instead? Certainly not Darren Oliver or Arthur Rhodes, and I can't imagine Darren O'Day doing it either. If they were really serious about that, they never should have let Frank Francisco go.

It is counter-productive at this point to make the switch. Texas should wait until next year, when they can find someone who can close games reliably. This could also mean that they don't have much confidence in Webb at this point either.

[NAHSTE]

So you are saying that they shouldn't give him an opportunity to be a starter? They have to give him a shot at being a starter. If not, they're basically wasting their farm system.

I'm not saying they shouldn't try, but that it's not a guarantee he's a better fit in the rotation. And I don't get the "wasting their farm system" bit, because A. he is a product of the Braves' system anyway and B. relievers affect wins and losses too. The farm system is not there to produce only starters.

If Feliz is better equipped to work short innings, so be it. Can't force a square peg in a round hole. I don't know whether or not this is the case, he may be a quality starter but my gut tells me he's better served in a 'pen role.