The Rangers Report – 2006 Offseason

Team Record as of October 2, 2006

Final Record: 80-82

Third in the American League West

DVD No More!  The Ripple Effect Of The McCarthy Trade

Well, it’s happened.  The Rangers have dealt pitching for…pitching?!

In a stunning move, the Rangers dealt their best pitching prospect for Brandon McCarthy, who was viewed to be untouchable by the White Sox until a few days ago. 

To be honest, I’m stunned.  I can’t give a accurate feeling about the trade at the moment.  On one hand, I like McCarthy and saw him to be a future star in the league.  On the other hand, and this is what most Ranger fans feel, I didn’t feel that it merited sacrificing Danks, mostly because of the fact that I’ve followed Danks almost since he was drafted.  Many fans also met Danks during his time with the Frisco Roughriders and at Rangers events.  Hence, there is a sense of personal loss to many fans, including myself.  If I had to put a grade, it would be win-win for both sides, due to the age and the ability of the players.  The South Side Sox Blog summed up McCarthy’s ability pretty well.

" He now throws 4 pitches for strikes; a 4-seam fastball (90-93 MPH), a 2-seam fastball (87-89MPH), a big breaking curveball(74-77MPH), and a changeup (77-81MPH). When we last saw him, he could throw only the fastball (4-seam) and curveball for strikes. Hitters would just sit on fastball, and hit the ball hard."

With that said, here are the conclusions that can be seen from the trade.

• The Rangers Felt A Need To Solve A Hole Now.  Regardless of Danks’ potential, he wouldn’t be an option for at least another year.  The Rangers needed help now, so they traded for the ready, and still young, McCarthy.  It’s the price you have to pay when you failed to develop any pitchers in the minors from 2000-2003.
• The Rangers No Longer Viewed Danks As The Future of The Franchise.  It appears, by the organizational hype, that Eric Hurley, not Danks, is viewed to be the long-term sure thing.
• Long Term, The Rangers Weren’t Sure Of His Durability.  Being a smaller pitcher, Texas wasn’t sure that Danks would be able to last a full season, as he has had some health issues in the minors.
• Long Term, The Rangers Weren’t Sure They Could Retain Him.   Another issue is that Danks is a Boras Client.  And as such, the Rangers may have feared that they would not be able to retain him in the long run, as Boras would have taken Danks out to free agency where he would have achieved a contract far more than the Rangers could have paid for.
• The Rangers Staff Viewed Their Depth In Pitching To Be Sufficient.  Hurley aside, the Rangers still have Volquez and Diamond, though  Volquez is becoming a lost cause and Diamond is being viewed more and more as a reliever, along with Josh Rupe, who may be converted into a starter, and the talented, but unheralded, Paul Kometani, who induces a lot of ground balls.  Plus, the Rangers appeared to have struck Gold in the 2006 Draft, with Kasey ####r and Jacob Brigham thus far looking promising, with others possibly on the way.

So where does this leave the Rangers?  Obviously, Texas will not trade any of their other quality young starters.  It’s likely that Hurley will spend a year in Triple A while Kometani will be allowed to further prove himself in Double A. 

The Rangers are also set with a rotation for the next four years.  Here’s what the Rangers’ rotation looks like now.

• Kevin Millwood
• Vicente Padilla
• Brandon McCarthy
• Robinson Tejeda
• John Koronka/Josh Rupe

All of these players are under Ranger control for the next four years or so, depending on whether or not Padilla’s option is exercised.  However, this could be the first stable rotation for the Rangers since the championship years.

Now all it has to do is produce.

Could it be better?  Sure.  That’s where the next article comes into play.

So What Does This Do For The Barry Zito Bidding

As far as what the trade does for Barry Zito, Texas is no longer as desperate to add a starter as they used to.  After acquiring right-hander Brandon McCarthy from the White Sox in a five-player trade Saturday, Daniels said, "I'm not terribly encouraged by our chances" of getting Zito. He said Tuesday his opinion had not changed.  With 80% of the rotation now set, the Rangers would still like to add Zito, but they could just as easily gamble on one of the other youngsters like Josh Rupe or John Koronka in the fifth starters role.  And with the Yankees possibly entering into the equation and Boras continuing to posture to all sides, the Rangers Brass has let Boras know that they don't plan to wait around all winter waiting for his response.  Hence, Texas has made it known that they want to hear by this weekend whether or not Zito plans to accept their contract offer.

Rangers owner Tom Hicks wrote via e-mail to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "We've made a very strong offer. If we don't have agreement with his agent by this weekend, we will pursue other alternatives."  Rangers general manager Jon Daniels also confirmed that deadline, writing, "That's accurate. End of the week."

Kudos to the Rangers for not allowing themselves to be abused by Zito (as much), this season.  If Zito comes to town, great.  If not, well then there are other options.  Mark Mulder is still out there and it’s quite possible that he could be coming down.  But either way, the Rangers’ rotation is much stronger this season.