By Jonathan Lee
July 31, 2012

With both Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz out for the year the Rangers had a serious need for pitching.  Jon Daniels acquired just that by dealing for starter Ryan Dempster right at the deadline beating out the Yankees and Dodgers for the Cubs pitcher.

Dempster is the in the midst of a career year, and is a prime candidate to regress particularly in the American League and in Texas.  Still, he should be a major upgrade over Roy Oswalt who is barely even a shell of his former self, and will now move to the bullpen.  The Rangers were already one of the biggest favorites to make the playoffs, and now are significantly more likely to win the AL West over the Angels at 75.8 percent.