The Texas Rangers Neftali Feliz will miss the remainder of 2012 and at least half of the season in 2013. Feliz will undergo Tommy John surgery Wednesday after tearing his own large collateral ligament in his pitching arm.
Feliz was attempting to move from the closer’s role to the starting rotation in 2012.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels confessed that the team knew about Feliz’ status, but kept it quiet until after the trading deadline.
“It’s a blow for him and for the club,” Daniels said. “Doctors feel he should be a perfect candidate to have a 100 percent recovery and be back at some point next summer assuming all goes well.” ESPN
The Rangers traded for Ryan Dempster minutes before the trade deadline. Dempster will replace Roy Oswalt in the rotation who has struggled through a few starts, giving up eight runs on 11 hits on Monday to the Los Angeles Angels. Dempster will join the Rangers rotation of Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish and Scott Feldman
The Rangers had been planning to move Alexi Ogando to the starting rotation,, but with the trade for Dempster, will remain in the bullpen. Oswalt will attempt to iron out his difficulties from the bullpen as well.
