On a side note, Texas seems to own J.J. Putz, as he always seems to have trouble against the Rangers Four of his five home runs have come against the closer..
Wow again.
Onto The Trade Rumors...
Okay, here's my take on the possible trade of Mark Teixeira.
Atlanta - The Braves are said to be close, with a package of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, prospect Elvis Andrus, and a pitcher, likely Kyle Davies (ick.) in exchange for Teixeira and a reliever. The sticking point appears to be the reliever. The Braves want Eric Gagne or Joaquin Benoit. The Rangers want to send them Ron Mahay instead. I'm down with obtaining Saltalamacchia, as he can be stuck immediately at first base, or could possibly preclude a Gerald Laird Trade (Hey, Pittsburgh, still want to trade Ian Snell?). Andrus I'm not so sure. Hey's a toolsy player that hasn't put it together. Not a good fit. If the prospect can be changed to something else, it would be a better fit, but Andrus sounds like a typical John Schuerholtz Sell High Bust.
Boston - Boston is said to be considering acquiring Teixeira and is said to be right behind the Braves in terms of trade. The Red Sox are refusing to send Clay Buchholz (nor would I expect them to) or Jacoby Ellsbury, but apparently are open to maybe packaging Michael Bowden, Brandon Moss and Coco Crisp to Texas while promoting Ellsbury to the big league club full time. That's a little less sexier than the Atlanta deal, though Bowden is a good pitcher and Moss could become a solid right fielder. The only question really is what the Red Sox would do with Mike Lowell. Does the deal get expanded to send Lowell elsewhere? Could it be possible that the Rangers get something else too? We'll see....
Yankees - It ain't happening. In spite of the New York Media and Buster Olney stating that the Yankees are going to wait out the Rangers in hopes that the Rangers accept a Bobb Abreu type package in return, that's not happening, as Teixeira is a young player, still under club control, and would merit significant draft pick compensation. The Yankees pretty much want to have their cake and eat it too, obtaining Teixeira while getting to keep Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, and even Ian Kennedy. It's not going to happen.
Dodgers - The Dodgers are the dark horse candidate. They clearly don't want to part with either Clayton Kershaw or James Loney, but where would Loney play if the Dodgers acquired Teixeira. A potential deal has been rumored to consist of Loney, Andre Ethier, and a pitcher, but the pitching prospect can't be agreed upon.
Angels - Two days ago, I would have said any chance for a deal was shot. Though Teixeira would add a shot in the arm to the streaky Angels offense, the Angels have been hurt by many of their prospects having down years. Bill Stoneman has kind of lost some of the trade on his prospects because he's waited too long. Though Casey Kotchman is okay, the fact that the Angels are making Nick Adenhart off limits and are offering up Joe Saunders or Ervin Santana is making the deal hard to ####. However, the Angels have upped their offer to center on Kotchman and outfielder Terry Evans. Hmmm.
That's where things stand. It figures to get pretty hectick once the dealine approaches, especially between the two LA teams, who don't want to see either get Teixeira and will do whatever it takes to make sure one doesn't acquire him.
The Implications Of Tejeda’s demotion for Next Year
Robinson Tejeda has been sent to Triple-A Oklahoma for work on harnessing his control. Tejeda's biggest problem has been the amount of walks he's given up, as he's averaging 6.3 walks per nine innings.
While the Rangers are still high on Tejeda, bringing him back isn't such a slam dunk as it would seem.
For starters, Tejeda faces two other young pitchers, Brandon McCarthy and Kameron Loe, both of whom are starting to show some promise as major leaguers. Millwood is locked in long term and, oddly enough, the Jamey Wright freak show is still sort of working.
John Rheinnecker's gem o####ame yesterday makes that he's likely going to get another shot, as the fifth starter.
Even more worrisome to Tejeda's situation is that he'll have competition coming into next year.
Top pitching prospect Eric Hurley may be near ready for the show and will likely be given a shot to earn it in Spring Training. Edinson Volquez appears to be back somewhat and could be given a shot. Even Mike Wood, the Royals reclamation prospect, is showing some signs of life.
It doens't mean the Rangers are giving up on him.
It just means that he's no longer a lock to be in the rotation.
Blalock Is Still Out
Hank Blalock is still having some issues with his shoulder, making it unlikely that he'll return by August 1, and possibly nto at all this season. Blalock could only throw halfway to first base comfortably during fielding drills and is going to need more time to build up arm strength. Though he's been able to hit well off in batting practice, it's his defense that's keeping him back.
Blalock, in my opinion, may be avaialble in September as a DH, but I'm beginning to wonder if we'll ever see Hank at third again. Travis Metcalf is doing a decent job of holding down the fort and needs some work to get his bat up to speed. Metcalf is a superior defender than Blalock. I wonder if possibly, with Teixeira gone, if Blalock could be shifted to first, where his lack of range and shoulder issues would be less of a worry. It could also help his offense, if Blalock returns to his old form of hitting for contact and not trying to hit everything out of the park.
Rangers Notes (Majors)
It’s looking more and more that the Rangers will not sign 4th Round Garret Nash, a speedy centerfielder who has a commitment to Oregon State. From what I’ve heard and read, it looks like Nash is adamant on going to Oregon State, making the Rangers’ pick of him a bit of a waste, as they could have drafted Jake Arrieta, a righthander out of TCU that could have been had for roughly the same money. They still might be able to get Arrieta. From what it’s looking, Arrieta might decide to return to TCU for his senior year to increase his stock.
Oh, a note about Rangers’ 5th Rounder John Gast. Apparently, Gast is open to accepting a deal, from what I gathered at the LoneStarBall Forums and a few other off the wall sources, but it looks like Texas might not sign him until they have taken a look at how his rehab is going from Tommy John. Gast would have been a first rounder had he not gotten hurt, so I would be open to getting a deal done. Adding a lefty pitching prospect is always a plus. Gast will be in Arlington soon to meet with Management.
Rangers Notes (Minor)
Two Ranger Prospects, Omar Poveda and Edinson Volquez, both took no hit bids in late innings. Volquez blew the no-no in the sixth, while Poeveda took it into the 7th. You want to hear that kind of stuff from your prospects. Expect to see both of these guys get some play in the Top Ranger Prospects list after the season.
enjoy the sweep, your team is about to be dismantled.
i like the tiexiera move but then what? my only idea is moving youk to right? then drew to center while ellisbury gets ready? i dunno, but i'd sure like that bat in the lineup.
a few brewer fans are wondering if Tex is a viable LF candidate if we trade for him (i sincerely, 100% doubt this would happen, even if he can play decent OF).
what's your opinion? is it even worth talking about, or is this a simple case of "shut up, he cant do it"?
personally, i cant see the brewers making another major trade now that they got linebrink (thoughts on that?), and seem to be fading ever so slowly as the season wears on.
suppan has been horrible, sheets is hurt again, and we've now got 2 AAA callups in the starting rotation (parra is starting game 1 of the double header on saturday). the offense has disappeared, and certain key players have been benched for lack of hustle in monday night's game. i smell disaster, and though i think yost is an above average manager (most of the time), i have a feeling he's going to be the one to take the blame when the season is over.
You beat the other team that's really struggling to tread water, in the AL West.
Don't get too excited, I hear Teixera, Otsuka, Gagne, Sosa, and anyone not named Michael Young are on the block. Meanwhile the Mariners, if they can stay afloat, are looking at Jon Garland or Dontrelle Willis to join the rotation.
I've heard the most about Tex going to Atlanta, but then heard some rumors about Boston (who don't really need him), the Yankees, and possibly the Dodgers.
PF- you should know how the yankees and red sox do things. if one team wants a guy, the other has to at least show interest in him to drive up the price, or keep them from getting him at all.
the last i read was that gagne and otsuka arent going anywhere, but that was a couple days ago...things may have changed (again).
Having watched too many Rangers games and watched Tex act like a fool, I say trade him for two prospects and keep Gagne in town.
Boras is the reason to dump Tex now. He doesn't want to be a member of the team and cries to the media like A-Rod.
Buh-bye, Tex. I won't miss you or your injuries.
Wow, lots of posts. I've been busy, but I'll respond now.
Q: Hey, I'll enjoy the sweep. No problem. As for the dismantling, if it's one thing the Rangers have produced in the past two years, is failed prospects turned into intruinging relievers.
As for where Teixeira would fit in with Boston, from what it sounds like, Tex would play 1st, Ellsbury CF, The "Iron Man" Drew would stay at right, Youk would move to third and Lowell would be dealt.
Cuz: Have Teixeira play left field? The Rangers tried it once. He was horrid.
The Linebrink trade was a trade of expendable assets. Doug Melvin acquired a servicable setup man to help bridge the gap to Cordero and in exchange gave up a Lefty Specialist, a Starting Pitcher that is surviving on deception and control over fringy stuff and a guy that they're praying to god he'll turn into something good. Really, it was a trade of #### for ####. Nothing big really.
And don't worry about the Rant, it was a good one.
Husker: Teixeira is totally a Boras Zealot. Many feel that even if he liked playing somewhre, if Boras tells him to hit the open market, he'll do it. He's also clashed with management and coaching because Boras is filling his head with coaching from Boras' own coaches and telling him that his way is better. It's a mess.
PF: Calm down. It wasn't a slight against the Mariners. It was more a sign of surprise that the Rangers were able to sweep someone in a four game series.
If anything, it may be a blesing in disguise, because the Mariners need help. They need to stop dicking around and promote Adam Jones, god knows they could use his power in the lineup, and acquire another pitcher. Willis isn't going anywhere and do you really think a guy struggling to strike guys out in the National League would make a difference? Nope.
Garland seems to be a save bet, especially if the Mariners don't give up their top three prospects, but watch out. The Yankees are trying to nab him as well.
Back To PF: The Yankees won't get him and the Rangers really aren't taking them seriously. If the Yankees aren't willing to send back a stud pitcher, they aren't going to get him. For now, New York is frozen out of the negotations. It's really between Boston and Atlanta, but Boston is lagging because of the resistence to sending back either Buchholz or Ellsbury. No primo prospect = No Teixeira.
As for Suppan, that depends. Is he going to be paid for? And will Kevin Mench be included in the deal?
i think i looked up Tex's prior OF experience, and there wasnt much there. i figured he either didnt like it, or wasnt any good at all. i told someone on one of my posts that if milwaukee was still in the AL, we could easily add him and not miss a beat. he and prince could split time at 1B/DH. frick this NL stuff! (except for that small problem of we'd be about a .500 team in the AL)
I'm a long time Texas Rangers fan who has come to love baseball as a whole. I recently began this blog as a way for me to showcase my opinions, provide some analysis, and hopefully entertain those who happen to stumble upon my little soapbox online. I'll toss in an NFL, College, or NBA nugget every now and then. Enjoy the posts everyone, and yes, getting a little love in a Deadspin post was probably the highlight of the year, blogwise.
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