Sportsfrog.com

Call up the Rangers’ GM and see what player or players he’d want in return for pitcher Thomas Diamond. While a 25 year old who has never pitched above AA and is still in the recovery period of Tommy John surgery may not appear to be a logical trade target, consider this: Texas has an inability to internally develop starting pitching and starting pitchers have a seeming inability to succeed in Texas. Four years ago, it looked like the Rangers were on the verge of having the next great homegrown rotation with their D.V.D. trio of prospects. Unfortunately for Texas and their fans, none of the three panned out during their time in Arlington. However, the story didn’t end there and the two who have been liberated have been among the most successful pitchers in baseball over the first half of this season.

John Danks, CHA: 107.0 IPs, 2.52 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 19.8 K%, 2.8 K/BB, 34.8 VORP (6th among MLB pitchers)
Edinson Volquez, CIN: 110.7 IPs, 2.36 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 24.8 K%, 2.1 K/BB, 35.1 VORP (4th)
Thomas Diamond, ???

I have no idea why Danks was deemed expendable (for a somewhat similar pitcher) or why Volquez didn’t work out in Texas but is starring in Cincinnati. While both are probably over their heads with ERAs in the 2.50 range, both have provided their teams with a ton of value so far in 2008 and are likely to continue doing so over the next several years. One has to think that, even as good as Josh Hamilton has been, Daniels would undo both of these trades if he could. Regardless, it has to be worth something to find out what the 3rd member of the highly touted trio could become outside of an organization that can discover but not develop solid major league starters, no?