The Rangers Report

Record As Of August 14, 2007

51-66, Fourth In The AL West

Draft Status – First Five Rounds

One final update of the signings and the status of the Rangers’ picks in the first five rounds.  There will be a follow up Thrusday once all the signings have drawn.

• 1st Round – Blake Beaven (RHP) – Very Likely.  Beaven and his company have still had a lot of posturing on both sides, but Beaven will sign.  He won’t go nearly as high in the draft next year if he re-enters, plus he’ll have developed a reputation for being difficult.  Though he’s asking for $2 million, he won’t get it and it’s high time he figures that out.  Hopefully, things will work out, though according to a quote attributed to his mother, there has been progress.  Beaven has kind of pissed away a year of his development.  Instead of possibly joining Michael Main in Clinton next season for full season ball, Beaven will likely be retained in extended until the short season ball clubs start up, where he’ll likely be sent to Spokane.
• 1st Round – Michael Main (RHP) – Signed.
• 1st Round (S) – Julio Borbon (CF) – Likely.  Borbon has had almost nothing written about him, mostly because Scott Boras likes it that way and because he’s been focused on working on deals for Rick Porcello.  Borbon is likely going to get signed, probably for above slot money, but Boras should have gotten a deal done weeks ago.
• 1st Round (A) – Neil Ramirez (RHP) – Very Likely.  Ramirez wants to be a Ranger and has himself said that he’s very close to a deal.  The Rangers are going to pay above slot for Ramirez, who is a first round talent that slipped because of some bad showings toward the end of his season.
• 1st Round (A) – Tommy Hunter (RHP) – Signed. 
• 2nd Round – Matt West (SS) – Signed.
• 3rd Round – Evan Reed (RHP) – Signed.
• 4th Round – Garrett Nash (CF) – Won’t Sign.  Nash’s reps have told the Rangers that their client will not be signing with the Rangers.  Instead Nash will be headed to Oregon State.  This was to be expected and realistically, it was a wasted pick.
• 5th Round – John Gast (LHP) – Doubtful.  Gast’s representatives have been back and forth in contact with the Rangers, but it’s looking like Gast won’t be coming to Texas, though I think this has more to do with money than anything else.  Gast is regarded to be a solid lefty that could be a solid middle of the rotation horse.  But, realistically, Gast and his advisors are probably weighing the difference in money and they probably decided that if Gast sits one year, rehabs, and has a pair of solid seasons at Florida State, it would be much better than what the Rangers could offer him.

Vicente Padilla’s Progress

Vicente Padilla, who hasn't pitched for the Rangers since June 21 because of right triceps irritation, is scheduled to start for Texas tomorrow against Kansas City.  He’ll be held on a 80 to 85 pitch count and will be shadowed by one of the long relievers, John Rheinecker, Mike Wood and Jamey Wright.  Padilla hasn’t had any problems with his forearm but there are some wonders if he’ll be able to dominate.  We’ll see how it goes tomorrow.  With the season already gone to hell, there’s not much we can go on.

One Final Teixeira Nugget

One final note on the Teixeira non-trade to the Angels.  They apparently never offered 1B Casey Kotchman and LHP Joe Saunders.  The offer was Teixeira straight up for Casey Kotchman and RHP Ervin Santana, plus maybe Terry Evans, a right fielder.   I like Evans, but come on, Kotchman and Santana.  Really? 

Rangers Notes (Majors)

• Rangers setup man Akinori Otsuka has begun to throw off flat ground and reportedly had no problems.  If things work out, Otsuka will return in September, in time for roster expansion.
• 3B Hank Blalock is still feeling some soreness in the nerves along his side muscle and that has been restricting him from making strong throws to the infield.  Once he’s able to do that, he should be able to go on a rehab assignment.  I’m beginning to wonder if the Rangers might have to look at Blalock as a first baseman and give someone like Travis Metcalf, who’s rotting down at Triple A, a shot to make himself a legitimate major leaguer.  It’s not like there’s a hell of a lot of attractive other options on the Corner Infield market and it would save the Rangers from having to re-sign Wiffy Wilkerson for another year.
• Toronto released former Rangers shortstop Royce Clayton.  He had a good career, much more than what one with his skill set would normally expect.

Rangers Notes (Minor)

• 2007 First Round Michael Main has done enough on the mound to earn himself a promotion to Class A Spokane, where he’ll be working in relief for the time being.  Main has currently raised his stock well after acclimating himself quickly to the Arizona Rookie League.  All this is likely in preparation for him to join the Clinton Lumberkings next season.
• Frisco righthander Armando Galarraga was named the Rangers’ minor league pitcher for July after he went 3-1, 1.58 in six starts, including a one-hit shutout and a two-hit shutout. 

 See you all thursday!