Despite Eric Gagne's awfulness since arriving in Boston, the trade with the Texas Rangers has to be looked at as a giant win as it looks like lefty Kason Gabbard is again experiencing arm troubles after a past history with four arm surgeries in the minor leagues.

Gabbard lasted only five batters last night before he had to be removed from the game with left forearm stiffness, and usually with a pitcher forearm stiffness is a harbinger of bad things to come.

This from Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News:

ARLINGTON – More than seven years after they last called themselves a battery as Royal Palm Beach High School Wildcats, Rangers starter Kason Gabbard and catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia reunited Sunday night.

As sequels go, the 9-1 win over Tampa Bay was about as memorable as Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.

The reunion lasted all of five batters.

Gabbard, who has had four surgeries on his left arm, threw just 18 pitches before signaling to the dugout that he was hurting. He had just retired Delmon Young on a fly ball to start the second. After a brief consultation on the mound with manager Ron Washington, pitching coach Mark Connor and trainer Jamie Reed, he was replaced by Willie Eyre. He is listed as day-to-day with left forearm stiffness. His next scheduled start is Friday at Minnesota.

"It's just a minor setback," said Gabbard, who acknowledged having some stiffness in the forearm after his throwing session on Friday. "I told them I'd stay out there and pitch. I'll be ready to go on Friday."

Manager Ron Washington also said Gabbard shouldn't miss a start. But the Rangers have had issues with forearm stiffness this season. Akinori Otsuka dealt with what was initially termed minor forearm stiffness for three weeks before being placed on the DL. Otsuka, who hasn't pitched since July 1, isn't expected back until the end of August at the earliest.