The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition

Adam Lind Available?

The Toronto Blue Jays are thrilled with what they got out of Matt Stairs this season and are reportedly looking at bringing on a multiyear deal.

This could work out for the Rangers, as this would virtually render left fielder Adam Lind expendible.  The Rangers could attempt to pick up Lind on the cheap (J.P. Riccardi isn't that smart) for a mid-sized prospect in exchange.  The Jays need some positional prospects in the system, preferrably middle infielders, of which the Rangers have a couple near the top that Toronto may be interested it. 

Ranger Coaching Changes May Be On The Way

The Rangers’ coaching staff may look very different come Spring Training.  While the Rangers are working to extend their current coaches, two may not be here come 2008.  The big name is Rudy Jaramillo, who is a coaching free agent and may look to test the waters a bit.  Omar Minaya is a noted fan of Rudy and tried to once hire him to the Mets.  With Rudy now available and the Mets needing a hitting coach, the Rangers may get outbid on keeping their hitting coach, which could mean a look for someone else.  The other name, Don Wakamatsu, the Rangers’ third base coach, former bench coach, is also linked the Oakland, where he would be the bench coach. 

Redoing The 40, Because The Rangers Threw Me Off

Okay, since the Rangers have kinda #### up my last projections, here is who I think is off the 40 man this off-season.

Off The Roster

• Mike Wood (RHP) – Wood decided to take his free agency and will likely not return to the club.
• Willie Eyre (RHP) – Eyre will be out thanks to TJ and will miss all of next year.  However, he took his free agency and signed a minor league deal with the Rangers to continue his rehab, so he’s likely going to be seen again at some point next year.
• Chris Stewart (C) – Stewart was outrighted to Oklahoma, and passed through waivers without a claim.  He’s still exposed to the Rule V Draft, so I wonder if someone will take a flier on him.
• Kevin Mahar (OF) – Another guy that was outrighted, Mahar is maybe a fourth or fifth outfielder in the majors. 
• Guillermo Quiroz (C) – Quiroz is highly thought of and in many ways is similar to Rod Barajas, but he's gone now and will likely latch on elsewhere, which is a shame.

With that done, the Rangers’ 40 man is exactly at 40, without people bolting for free agency or being added onto the roster for Rule V purposes.  Anyhow, here’s how I think the 40 Man will turn out, with the necessary additions within the coming weeks.

Who’s Staying – With Additions To The 40 Man In Blue, Subtractions In Red

Pitchers (19)

• Joaquin Benoit (RHP) – Benoit should either be the primary relief ace or the closer, depending on what happens between Benoit and Wilson during Spring Training.
• Scott Feldman (RHP) - The Rangers clearly still believe in Feldman, which is why they're giving him all of this attention on fixing him.
• Kason Gabbard (LHP) - Gabbard is going to be the fourth starter.  He should give roughly Joe Saunders-esque potential.  He's able to induce ground balls, always a plus and should be a decent addition on lefties.
• Armando Galarraga (RHP) - A former Nats prospect and the lone survivor of the Alfonso Soriano deal once Wilkerson bolts, Galarraga did some good work as a spot starter/long man.  He profiles more as a back of the rotaiton starter, but his stuff is good enough for him to carve out a decent career.
• Wes Littleton (RHP) - Aside from earning s save from a 30-3 game, Wes is a capable setup guy and could help Benoit setup.
• Kameron Loe (RHP) - Loe is likely going to the pen as the long man, which isn't bad as he'll still be able to be an emergency starter when necessary.
• Brandon McCarthy (RHP) - McCarthy had some health issues, which shouldn't be a surprise as he's been used almost exclusively in relief these past two years, but he's pitched well in the second half.  I think he'll be an excellent middle of the rotation horse.
• Luis Mendoza (RHP) - A scouting coup for the Rangers, Mendoza looks to have the makings of an excellent middle reliever, maybe a back of the rotaiton starter in the AL.  Expect to hear his name mentioned in potential trades, though.
• Kevin Millwood (RHP) - Still the staff ace, he's staying.
• A.J. Murray (LHP) - The Pirate was impressive in his limited starts and was effective in the pen as well.  The Rangers will be sending him to Oklahoma to get him stretched out into a starters role, which should bode well for him.
• Akinori Otsuka (RHP) - The real wildcard here, it all depends on whether or not Aki gets TJ or not.  If he does, the Rangers will likely have to non-tender him and offer him a minor league deal to keep him.  If he's healthy, then he's likely going to be the closer and will likely be flipped in a Gagne-like deal during the trade deadline.
• Vicente Padilla (RHP) - His contract is immobile, but I think Padilla was hampered by his injury mutch of the season.  He should have a good rebound year.
• John Rheinecker (LHP) - J.R. has a good shot to be a lefty reliever this next year and should fill the role that Ron Mahay filled.
• Josh Rupe (RHP) - Still a live arm, the Rangers are hoping that Rupe can be more than just a middle reliever.
• Robinson Tejeda (RHP) - Once thought to be a potential mainstay, Tejeda's pitched himself into the pen with his wildness, although if he needed TJ it wouldn't surprise me.
• Edinson Volquez (RHP) - The promise that many saw in Volquez has finally arrived.  I think his being rushed hurt him badly
• BIll White (LHP) - Don't know what to make of White.  He's been effective in some relief stints, god awful in others and his control leaves much to be desired.  I'd leave him on the roster for now, but he's the first to go if the Rangers add a player.
• Jamey Wright (RHP) – Wright has actually been an effective swingman, being able to serve in middle relief and as a spot starter.  I actually would be okay with the electrician coming back, and he has expressed some interest, but both sides are going to explore other options first.
• Frank Francisco (RHP) – Though the control issues are worrisome, Francisco should still be a capable 7th inning guy.
• C.J. Wilson (LHP) – Right now, I have C.J. as the closer, but because Washington has been so noncommittal as far as making Wilson the closer that it wouldn’t surprise me if he wasn’t made the closer.

Catchers (2)

• Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) – Salty’s the starting catcher and should give the Rangers a solid catcher for next year.
• Gerald Laird (C) – Laird, despite his poor year, still has some value.  He should net at least a decent prospect, as he would be able to start on several teams.
• Max Ramirez (C) – Obtained in the Lofton trade, Ramirez has to remain on the 40 man or he becomes Rule V eligible, and the Rangers would almost certainly lose him. 

Infielders (7)

• Joaquin Arias (SS) - Still 22 and loaded with promise, Arias is running out of time as he's blocked at the major league level and missed a year due to injuries.  I think we'll see a concerted effort to maybe move Arias this off-season.
• Hank Blalock (3B) - Hank the Tank is staying, though not for much longer.
• Ian Kinsler (2B) - Also staying.
• Travis Metcalf (3B) - Metcalf will likely be sent down, but he's a decent prospect that could be a Dean Palmer-esque third baseman.
• Jerry Hairston (UTIL) – Gone!!!
• Ramon Vasquez (UTIL) - Likely will be staying for lack of better options.
• Michael Young (SS) - Ain't going anywhere.
• Tug Hulett Jr. (INF) – Mini-Tug, the son of major league Tug Hulett Senior, He is a left-handed hitting infielder with decent pop and decent speed. He's going to play in the big leagues, but the tough call is whether that will be as a regular player or a utility guy. The Rangers once traded Rich Aurilia because they thought he was nothing more than a utility guy.

Outfielders (7)

• Julio Borbon (CF) – Borbon has a major league contract, so yeah, he’s stuck here.
• Marlon Byrd (CF) - Byrd is either the starting centerfielder or the utility outfielder next year.
• Frank Catalanotto (DH/LF/1B) – I think that Cat is likely the Rangers’ everyday first baseman next year, as he didn’t look bat at first and wasn’t
• Brandon Boggs (CF) – Boggs is also Rule V eligible.  While he’s taken longer than most to develop, the Rangers do like him and feel that his upside is high enough that he could be okay in the future.  So, with that said, he’ll be protected on the 40 man.
• David Murphy (RF) – Murphy is either going to be the everyday right fielder or the everyday left fielder, depending on what happens in free agency, but I think he’s going to start.
• Nelson Cruz (RF) – Nelson’s had his chance and he’s pretty much blown it.  It’s time to move on.  He’s likely going to be a non-tendered candidate, if not outrighted to the minors and then brought back on a minor league deal with a Spring Training Invite.
• Brad Wilkerson (OF/1B) – Wiffy is likely going to pack his bags and head elsewhere, which is unfortunate, as I liked Wiffy and wish things could have done better.  I think he’ll latch onto a lower level team as a starter, an upper level team as a backup, depending on what Boras decides to do.
• Victor Diaz (OF) – Diaz's place in the organization is tenuous at best.  He's shown the ability to be okay and hit for some power, but he also strikes out a lot and isn't the fastest.  While I think it wouldn't be a bad thing to get him a shot in left field, I think it's more likely he gets dealt in a bad deal or DFA'd and claimed.
• Freddy Guzman (CF) – Fast Freddy's got the wheels to be a pinch runner or even a centerfielder in the Wily Taveras mode if he were to learn some plate discipline, so he's likely staying.

Designated Hitters (1)

• Jason Botts (DH) – Bottsy will be getting a shot to stay on the roster, so yeah, he’s staying.  Besides, he’s improved greatly in September.
• Sammy Sosa (DH) – Sammy, it was great having you, but this team needs to figure out what they got in Botts, as it's time to see if he can hit MLB pitching and isn't just a Triple A masher.

So, by my calculations, with all the additions and subtractions put in on the 40 thanks fo free agency and Rule V, that leaves the Rangers with 3  4!! empty roster spots.  It'll be interesting to see what happens, as the Rangers may need to add a couple of more guys to the 40 or go after a free agent.

Catch you all Tomorrow.