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ARLINGTON, Texas -- Matt Garza is set to start pitching for a playoff contender again, this time with a team that has long coveted him. Garza will make his Texas Rangers debut Wednesday night against the New York Yankees. "Hes excited, big smile on his face. I think I sat here with just as a big a smile as he did," manager Ron Washington said Tuesday. "Hes ready to go, man. I wouldnt expect anything less. " The Rangers acquired Garza on Monday from the Chicago Cubs. Texas immediately traded three players to the Cubs, including major league pitcher Justin Grimm and top prospect third baseman Mike Olt, in a deal with one or two players to be named later. Garza was 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA in his last six starts for the Cubs. Scratched from his scheduled start Monday night at Arizona, he last pitched July 13 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field. "Hes a power pitcher. He will upgrade any rotation in the big leagues," said Rangers backup catcher Geovany Soto, his former teammate in Chicago. "Its great to have him here." Garza didnt talk to reporters at Rangers Ballpark on Tuesday. The Rangers said Garza, whose locker is right next to Soto, was sticking to his own policy of not doing interviews the day before pitching. "Hes happy that everythings done, he knows where hes at now, and hes going to be here for 2013 and hopefully go into October," Soto said. "Hes going to prepare, hes going to give you 100 per cent. Guaranteed." Texas optioned right-hander Cory Burns and lefty Joseph Ortiz to Triple-A Round Rock to clear spots on the 25-man active roster for Garza and right-hander Alexi Ogando, who was activated from the disabled list to start Tuesday night against the Yankees. Derek Holland (8-5), the only pitcher from the Rangers season-opening rotation who hasnt been on the DL this season, was initially scheduled to pitch Wednesday night against his idol, Andy Pettitte. He will instead pitch the four-game series finale Thursday, a day game when the temperature is expected to be 100 degrees or more. Washington said the Rangers didnt want Garza to sit much longer after not pitching Monday night. "Plus, we want to get him a chance to feel what this heat is like, rather than him first game out hes going in a day game," Washington said. "Derek has done it before, so we send Derek out there." Holland said its huge to add Garza, who pitched in the 2008 World Series for Tampa Bay and in the 2010 AL division series for the Rays against Texas. Garza (6-1, 3.17 ERA) can become a free agent after this season. He made 11 starts for the Cubs and missing the first seven weeks this season with a strained left lat muscle. Asked about interest in signing Garza beyond this season, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels responded, "Lets let him get here, get settled and hopefully we have a good mutual experience together the next three months, and then well re-visit." Tampa Bay traded Garza to Chicago instead of Texas after the 2010 season. The Rangers were also interested in Garza last summer before he missed the last two months with a stress reaction in his right elbow. Garza has a 63-62 career record in 181 major league games (178 starts) with Minnesota (2006-07), Tampa Bay (2008-10) and the Cubs (2011-13). He was a first-round draft pick by the Twins in the 2005 amateur draft. The last time Garza pitched against the Yankees was in September 2010, and he has a 1-4 record with a 4.48 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) against them. "Its been a few years, but weve seen a lot of him, and hes a pitcher thats had success pretty much anywhere hes been," New York manager Joe Girardi said. "Hes got very good stuff, he seems pretty durable, hes pitched in the American League, which is not the easiest place to pitch. Hes pitched in pennant races, so you would expect it to be a good acquisition for the Rangers." Cheap Under Armour Shoes Canada . 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LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Two straight years coming up short of a bowl bid have the Kentucky Wildcats eager to seize the opportunity this season.Reaching the six-win threshold, though, wont be an easy task after a pair of 5-7 seasons.The schedule is more well-balanced than in the past, and the backload of games against highly-regarded opponents may pave the way for that bowl-eligible sixth win.It gets frustrating, but you cant dwell on the past, Kentucky running back Stanley Boom Williams said. We made some critical mistakes (in the past) that cost us, but thats what we have the offseason (for), so we can learn from those mistakes and can better ourselves and not make the same mistakes this year.Kentuckys offense will look different in many ways.Sophomore Drew Barker is now the quarterback in place of Patrick Towles, who has transferred to Boston College. Calmer has overcome several off-field incidents early in his career, and looks to build off a strong spring that earned the starting job.Ive always been kind of a calm person, said Barker, who will run a new pro-style offense. I havent gotten too up or too down and Im not really an emotional person. I can see that, but sometimes you have to kick it up into a different gear. Thats something I have been working on for sure.With nine returning starters on offense and 15 back overall, the Wildcats believe they have the personnel and experience to come away with a winning season. They even have the facilities in place -- a $45 million training center that might put some NFL complexes to shame.I really believe this team has what it takes physically and mentally to take us to the next level, coach Mark Stoops said. Were up for the challenge.Heres what to look for:---DEEP BACKFIELD: Kentucky returns thrree running backs who rushed for at least 318 yards last season, including speedy team-leader Williams (855 yards, six touchdowns).dddddddddddd Also back are Jojo Kemp (555, six TDs) and Mikel Horton (318, three TDs).OVERHAULED STAFF: The Wildcats have five new assistants: offensive coordinator Eddie Gran; co-coordinator and quarterbacks coach Darin Hinshaw; Lamar Thomas (receivers); Matt House (special teams) and Steve Clinkscale (defensive backs). Gran, Hinshaw and Clinkscale previously worked together at Cincinnati.SEASON OPENER: Kentuckys Sept. 3 matchup against Southern Mississippi is important for reasons beyond starting well. With the SEC opener looming the following week at Florida, the Wildcats need this win to avoid a possible 0-2 start along with showing theyre headed in the right direction. USM is coming off a bowl appearance and debuts offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, who held the same job at Kentucky last season.KEY GAMES: Kentucky plays a nationally-televised game at Florida on Sept. 10 and travels to defending national champion Alabama on Oct. 1. A tough three-game stretch against SEC East foes features a Nov. 5 home contest against Georgia sandwiched between road games at Missouri (Oct. 29) and division favorite Tennessee (Nov. 12).PREDICTION: Despite another rugged schedule, the Wildcats have enough experience to win their non-conference games and get enough division victories to earn their first bowl bid since 2010.---Follow Gary B. Graves on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GaryBGraves---AP freelance writer Keith Taylor contributed to this report.---College football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '