The Texas Rangers have surged past the Houston Astros in the AL West and are getting closer to a division title. Believe it or not, starting pitcher Colby Lewis has been a big part of the team's postseason push.
According to the latest rumors, Lewis could be back with the team in 2016 as his one-year, $4 million deal is set to expire.
The veteran right-hander is 17-8 with a 4.36 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 31 starts this season. While those numbers don't jump out at MLB statisticians, Lewis has done his part in providing continuity and stability to a Rangers' rotation that lacked a lot of it.
Yu Darvish was lost for the season due to Tommy John surgery; Yovani Gallardo was a newcomer after being acquired in the offseason; Derek Holland has made only eight starts since returning from injury; Chi Chi Gonzalez has bounced around between the MLB and the minors; Martin Perez has endured his fair share of struggles this year; and Cole Hamels was acquired less than two months ago (in the deal that sent Matt Harrison to the Phillies).
This is Lewis' fifth consecutive MLB season with the Rangers and he's tied for the team-lead in starts with Gallardo.
"He has accomplished his primary goal of keeping his team in the game more often than not, posting 19 quality starts and working at least six innings 22 times," writes Jeff Wilson of the Dallas Morning News.
"The Rangers know that and covet that, in addition to Lewis being the kind of person they admire and want on their team. They also know that Lewis is a free agent after the season, and there are no guarantees that he will be on their roster in 2016."
As a result, general manager Jon Daniels is not ruling out the possibility of re-signing Lewis after the season, which is facilitating rumors regarding the 36-year-old's future with the team.
"We'll address that at the end of the year," Daniels told Wilson. "But I don't think anyone here wants Colby pitching in another uniform."
Although there's no definitive answer at this point, Daniels has expressed confidence in Lewis and his contributions to the team in 2015 - which will prove to be colossal if the team wins the AL West.
"We bought into the guy," Daniels said. "If you didn't know Colby, it'd be easy to say, 'I don't know, he's probably done.'
"The bottom line is he takes the ball on a consistent basis. You can count on him. It's not an accident that he has those Ws."
Lewis is tied for second in the AL with 17 wins and sits behind only Felix Hernandez and Dallas Keuchel, who both have 18. For some perspective, he has the same win total as David Price and Gerrit Cole. He has also issued only 41 walks (eighth in the AL) this season.
Lewis owns a 2.62 ERA in his 17 victories, which is certainly something to be optimistic about if the Rangers are hoping to keep a solid veteran on the staff for 2016. And with the uncertainty surrounding Gallardo's future with the team, Daniels could make Lewis one of his offseason priorities before negotiating with higher-profile pitchers.
