The Rangers may not be making a big splash with a centerfield this off-season.
The price for a centerfielder may be too cost prohibative.
So, the Rangers are looking for the next best thing.
Trade.
That's looking a little off-kilter as well, but we'll see what happens.
Here's a few of the trade candidates that are out there that could be reasonable expectations to start for Texas next season, via trade:
Coco Crisp (Boston) - This is the sexy pick, as Crisp is not only a proven defender, but he's also under contract for three years. He's also now been surpassed by Jacoby Ellsbury and will likely needs to be traded before Spring Training starts. However, Boston won't let him go for a pittance and they would probably like a pair of prospects in exchange. There have been talks about Gerald Laird, which I would totally do, especially if I were to decide to include a player to be named later option on the deal, though for the moment, we'll just have to wait and see.
Ryan Sweeney (White Sox) - A former Number One pick, Sweeney has had a hard go of it with the White Sox, with many wondering if he's still has a future with the franchise, especially since Kenny Williams has been shopping him aggressively for a reliever. Sweeney seems like a decent reclaimation project and would be a reasonable centerfield option for a few years as a stopgap, and if he's ever able to tap into the batting practice power he shows, this could be a steal. One problem: White Sox GM Kenny Williams is notorious for overvaluing his own players and will demand someone like Joaquin Benoit or C.J. Wilson in return, which he won't get.
Joey Gathright/David DeJesus (Royals) - It seems to flip flop each week on which one is getting placed on the table. Of the pair, I would gladly take DeJesus, who's still young and plays a good centerfield, over Gathright, who is quick, but very mistake prone. RIght now there were rumors of a trade for Gathright centered around Joaquin Arias, a shortstop prospect made expendable by current Rangers' prospects Elvis Andrus and Marcus Lemon. I'd see what the interest is for Arias, and would also throw in a player to be named later option to see if that wouldn't hurry things along for a deal.
Rocco Baldelli (Rays) - Baldelli is definately being shopped, but right now the Rays are hoping to get pitching back, something Texas doesn't have an abundance of near the big league level. Another potential deal breaker is the fact that Baldelli is very injury prone, which could result in the Rangers taking a pass on this.
Long Term Deal For Kinsler Likely To Be Explored Again
With the emeregence off Ian Kinsler as a leadoff man, the Rangers are likely to try and see if they could possibly sign Kinsler to a five year deal, buying out one year of free agency, while also providing Kinsler with some financial stability in the process. My guess is that something gets done. With the $21 million from A-Rod now available, why would you not spend it on something as logical as locking up your OWN players!!!!
Why has there not been any public talk about signing Kinsler this year? He has shown that he has what it takes to be a solid player in the league and was one of only a few success stories this year. Why not lock him up right now? The Rangers will meet with Kinsler's agents at some point this offseason and discuss a long-term contract that will lock him up for several years. Count on it.
Upgrading The Bench
One thing that caught my eye was that the Padres declined Rob Mackowiak's $3.25 million option for 2008. Mackowiak has some history of being a decent bat, but didn’t do much with the Padres and was hurt. I would be all about bringing him in as the utilityman. He’d be a solid upgrade over Raul Vasquez and could platoon with Cat at first against lefties. Another thought would be to offer Rod Barajas another shot in Texas, where he’d be the backup to Salty and possibly mentor him.
Rangers need to do themselves a favor...aside from an outfielder... pick up Eric Gagne for PENNIES on the dollar after Boston lets him go... let him pich well for you guys again... then ship him off all over again for more pitching or a top prospect outfielder.
Can our Rangers get worse! Yes, it's very possible without quality pitching.
The entire franchise should revolve around pitching. We've seen the team commit to signing younger players for the long term. The core is set, so concentrate on pitching, Mr. Hicks. Stop trading for overpriced, washed up pitchers. How did Kenny Rogers ever leave town, again!
I think it will take more than Crisp to get Blalock. Totally agree about the Kinsler extension. When ARod opted out I hoped that the saved money would go toward extensions for Beniot and Kinsler. One down and one to go. Mackowiak wouldn't make a good platoon partner for Cat, BTW. He is actually a weaker hitter (.649 OPS) against lefties.
Dodgerfreak is pretty cocky considering that his team is always near the top of baseball in payroll and still hasn't won a playoff series in 20 years.
Last edited by hefe300 on November 11th at 4:15 PM.
Husker: Kenny left after he and management had a very ugly split, which is a shame as I would have loved to have kept him here to finish his career.
BostonBig3: I think that a Crisp-Blalock Deal would likely be okay, as Blalock has one more deal on his deal, plus a option for 2008. He's cheap and in the right environment, he'd be valuable, though the Rangers would then have to look for an everyday first baseman.
UKRapper: I think that Gagne actually will be coming back in order to re-establish his value. And hopefully, the Rangers would again be able to flip him for valuable parts.
Hefe300: You have a point, that Boston would need a third baseman and has a starting centerfielder that will not want to head to the bench, but Boston is typically a very shrewd organization and typically, they've been owned by Jon Daniels on two of their three deals they've done (Bryan Corey for Luis Mendoza, Gagne for Beltre, Gabbard and Murphy, Haigwood for Shoemaker is still TBD). Hopefully, the Red Sox would offer a prospect in return, not a star, just a B-Lister that could be a solid regular. I'd love to get Brandon Moss in return.
I'm hoping for a Laird-Crisp straight up trade, as both have the same amount of service time and are useless on ther current teams. But I'd take Lester if he was offered.
As for the deal you just suggested, how stupid do you think the Rangers are? Here's a trade idea:
Blalock & Laird for Crisp, Brandon Moss and Michael Bowden? All are players that are either expendable or blocked.
our staff ace (not like it's much of a horse race, but still...), our no.1 prospect, our starting 3rd Baseman, and a relatively young catcher with ML experience
in exchange for
a decent No. 3 starter, Boston's current 4th outfielder, and a prospect they don't even have (at least not in the high minors).
You are right. You are a jester.
I'd love to see a Laird-for-Crisp trade happening. Heck, I'd even throw any Ranger reliever not named Benoit, CJ Wilson, or Otsuka. Something tells me they won't be keeping Gagne. And their bullpen will be needing some adjustments. Mike Timlin is not getting any younger (even though he's a free agent, he might get Tim Wakefield treatment), Gagne will be gone (come back to Texas Eric; we promise you won't be pitching in any high-pressure situation; at least not until we trade you for more prospects half-way through the year). Then there's additional postseason innings they pitched (especially Papelbon and Okajima) and the possibility of a six-man rotation (meaning, they might need more durable relievers).
I was never of the idea of signing Hunter. I always prefered Rowand (4yr deal worth 56mill sounds convincing enough).
Blalock could be traded to Boston. But I think the Red Sox are going to wait and see what happens with A-Rod (whom I predict will sign with the Angels), Miguel Cabrera (Yankees, Mets or Dodgers), and Mike Lowell (Yankees?) first.
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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