Reaction to Rangers moves at the trade deadline

The Rangers acquired Ryan Dempster just in the nick of time on Tuesday.

At 2:58 p.m., two minutes before the trade deadline passed, Texas struck a deal to obtain the 35-year-old veteran for minor league prospects Christian Villanueva and Kyle Hendricks.

On the final day of the hot stove talks, there was a frenzy of Rangers activity that took place. Let's go over those major items with my thoughts to follow:

Rangers get Dempster: Overall, I like the move to acquire Dempster, who's 5-5 with a 2.25 ERA, to go along with 83 strikeouts and 27 walks this season. That ERA may elevate a bit in Arlington, but Texas needed starting pitching help. Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz are done for the season. Roy Oswalt has a 6.49 ERA after six starts. Derek Holland has a 4.96 ERA and did not have the breakout year I thought he would after a strong 2011 postseason. Yu Darvish and Matt Harrison have been solid, but not spectacular. Dempster does not give the Rangers an ace, but he certainly gives them added depth (maybe a No. 3?) that they've suddenly been lacking.

Feliz lost for season(s): Texas announced Tuesday afternoon that Feliz needed to repair a torn UCL in his right elbow that would require Tommy John surgery. He's done for the remainder of this season and roughly half of next season. Pitchers who undergo Tommy John typically miss one year, meaning Feliz won't be ready to pitch again until around Aug. 1, 2013. This is a significant blow. Feliz is one of the better younger arms on the team and showed progress as a starter in 2012.

Oswalt dropped from rotation: As if those two items weren't enough, the Rangers also broke the news that Oswalt would lose his rotation spot, effective immediately. In six starts this season, Oswalt has either been really good or really awful, with nothing in between. His earned runs allowed, in order: 1, 5, 9, 1, 1, 8. The result is a 6.49 ERA and a demotion. Not to undermine the good performances, but two of the one-run outings came against Oakland and Minnesota, two of the worst offensive teams in baseball.

My rotation going forward would probably look like this, in order: Darvish, Harrison, Dempster, Holland, Feldman.

Texas deals for Soto: In their only other move at the trade deadline, the Rangers acquired catcher Geovany Soto from the Cubs in exchange for minor league pitcher Jacob Brigham and the fabled player to be named later or cash. This move signaled the end for Yorvit Torrealba, who was designated for assignment. Soto isn't even batting at the Mendoza line this season, but has moderate pop with the bat (23 HR, 86 RBI's, All-Star selection, Rookie of the Year in 2008). From what I hear from my Cubs friends, he's an excellent defensive catcher. Soto is still 29 years old (five years younger than Torrealba), seems to have an equivalent to superior defensive skill-set and has more pop at the plate. Makes sense to me.

After Tuesday night's 6-2 loss to Anaheim, the Rangers hold only a three-game lead over the Angels in the AL West. To me, Anaheim is the best team in baseball right now after acquiring Zack Greinke at the trade deadline. The Angels have three legitimate aces in Jered Weaver, Greinke and Dan Haren, to go along with C.J. Wilson (All-Star this year) and Ervin Santana. Add on Mike Trout, Mark Trumbo and a resurgent Albert Pujols and this team is flat-out scary.

Texas has lost four of five and does not look like a division winner at the moment. To get back to 2010 and 2011 form, the Rangers' offense needs to get going. With no true ace, it may be the only way to hang on to the AL West.