THE RANGERS REPORT - OFF-SEASON EDITIONS

The Rangers Give Up On Volquez, Get Hamilton

Well, the Edinson Volquez era is over.

The Rangers have dealt him and Danny Ray Herrera right now to the Cincinatti Reds for Josh Hamilton, who I assume will likely be the starting centerfielder and likely is going to make Nelson Cruz expendable.

I'm kinda wishy washy on the deal.

One, Volquez battled back to prove to be a viable starting pitcher.  I would have loved to have seen him get the chance here.  After all, what else is there left to lose?  Player development?  A high draft pick?  And what is the point of busting a nut trying to salvage Volquez only to deal him away?  I don't get it.

Two, I'm not sure on Hamilton, even though he's a physical freak of nature and could be a star.  But the injury issues (thanks to drug abuse, his immune system is kinda ####ked) as well as his drug issues.  If he has a mentor, likely C.J. Wilson or Michael Young, he could be kept on the straight and narrow, but it's a concern.

If Volquez does well, the Rangers will look like fools unless Hamilton really does well, which isn't outside of the realm of possibility.  However, this doesn't help much for the present, with the Rangers' best starting pitching options years away and Eric Hurley not ready.

We'll see what happens.  Hopefully, A.J. the Pirate is ready to step in.

On a side note, this means that out of the once vaunted DVD trio (John Danks, Edinson Volquez, Thomas Diamond) only Diamond remains in the organization, with Danks in the White Sox system and Volquez now a Red.

Incredible.  Anyhow, I'll miss Volquezo and his little Geri-Curl.

I need a drink...

Eddie Guardado Nearly A Ranger

Apparently, the Rangers are close to getting Eddie Guardado to come, though whether or not it's a major league deal or a minor league deal with a spring training invite has yet to be determined.

I'm okay with it, but only if he's not a closer option.  C.J. Wilson should be the closer next year, as he's more than earned the job with his performance this year.  Joaquin Benoit also deserves a shot if the Rangers determine Wilson is more valuable in relief than as a closer.  Guardado should merely be seen as a potential lefty middle reliever that could help bridge the gap to Wilson, not be the end of the Bridge itself.

Pouring out some scotch right now...

Someone On The 40 Is Going Bu-Bye!!!

Hamilton's recent trade doesn't solve the problem of the Rangers' 40 Man Roster, which is actually at 41, due to Kazuo Fukumori's deal not being official yet.

Which means someone is getting dropped.

I alluded earlier to Nelson Cruz likely being DFA'd to make room for Hamilton, as that's too many outfielders in the mix, and should he pass through waivers, he'll likely be offered a minor league deal with a Spring Training Invite.

But could other people be going elsewhere?

As of right now, I've identified three people that could be at risk. 

• Bill White (LHP) - White doesn't have great stuff and probably wouldn't be at risk at being claimed.  He's not anyone I would have protected anyway.  If he is claimed, the odd's on favorite would be the Astros.
• Jason Botts (LF/DH) - Botts has gotten his chance to prove he can hit and hasn't really run with it.  This season is really his last shot to prove that he can be a major leaguer, otherwise he's done for.
• Nelson Cruz (RF) - See above.

Of the three, Cruz is likely history and White is next in line.  But Botts has very little leverage left and is running out of chances.  I hope he's able to succeed because this time, there is no minor league safety net to bail him out.

Rangers Top 40 will be posted next week after Christmas. 

The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition

Now, after my rant for the day, let's take a look at the Rangers report, shall we...

Dinner At Hicks' House - Not A Good Sign

The past few winters, having dinner with Tom Hicks has always been the symbol of something happening on the horizon.

In 2005, it resulted in John Hart getting fired, eventually clearing the way for Jon Daniels.

In 2006, it resulted in Buck Showalter getting fired, leading to Ron Washington.

In 2007, it could mean Torii Hunter is coming to Texas.

I'm not pleased, as I've made it well known that I think Hunter will eventually be a disaster for the Rangers.  I think he's lost a step defensively, that he's not going to hold up over the course of a full season and will likely be a poor player after the age of 35.

Yet there is talk of a 5 year deal with him.

I'm just hoping that the talk of him going to the White Sox is true.

Centerfield And The 2005 Draft

Speakng of centerfield, watching the Boston Red Sox during the World Series only served to remind several Rangers fans of one of the biggest mistakes in the Rangers’ drafting history.

Namely, that Jacoby Ellsbury should have been a Ranger.

Let’s go back to 2005, when gas was cheaper, the Rangers were coming off of a winning season, when I was dating Sandra Lawson, and when the Rangers were picking #19, and the prospects for a good player were good, especially with all the screwy draft activity going on.  The Blue Jays famously took Ricky Romero at 7, leaving Troy Tulowitzki for the Rockies at 8 (and giving ESPN’s Keith Law a story to tell), while several other teams went in other directions, resulting in Oregon State’s centerfielder dropping to the Rangers.  At the time, Texas was in need of a centerfielder, as Lanyce Nix was beginning to show the signs that he may not be able to last over the course of a full season and the farm system being a lot shallower than it is now.  Taking Ellsbury was a no-brainer and, from many sources within the Ranger organization, that was exactly what they were going to do.

Except for the one guy that had the power to screw it all up.

Tom Hicks, the Rangers’ owner, had apparently taken to John Mayberry Jr., liked his power potential, and when conversing with GM John Hart, told him to draft Mayberry over Ellsbury.  As a result, the selection was made, and Ellsbury fell all the way to the Red Sox at 23.

And the results, well, are what they are.

Ellsbury went through the system quickly and is now going to be player for Boston for the next six years.

Mayberry is struggling in Double A and despite hitting for power, still has a lot of holes in his swing and will likely wind up being a bust.

I know the draft is a crapshoot and hindsight is 20/20.

But damn, this was a mistake back then that is only being magnified now.

Thanks a lot Tom and John.

Gerald Laird To The Mets?  What Would It Take?

Read a note on Newsday saying that the Mets are interested in Gerald Laird to fill their hole at catcher, adding at least a second team to the mix for a potential Laird trade (with the Red Sox being the other.)

Both teams would have to give up talent in order to acquire the young backstop, who had an off year but is still promising and if partnered with a mentor like Jason Varitek in Boston, could be a good catcher for several years. 

But both would require talent to be exchanged back (as draft picks can’t be swapped, which I believe if they could Texas already would have had a deal done). 

But anyways, we already know what the Boston offer would be (Coco Crisp straight up.)  What would it take for the Mets to do an offer?

At the moment, one of the rumors I’ve checked up on over the Internet (Lonestarball.com) has the Mets are apparently dangling Lastings Milledge as a return for Laird.  However, there is a catch. They want the Rangers to include Joaquin Benoit in the deal while they would enclose Ruben Gotay in exchange.

That’s a bit too rich for my blood, but I would be willing to use that deal as a starting point.  Benoit I want to keep.  However, if relief help is what the Mets also want, I wouldn’t be opposed to adding Frank Francisco and Scott Feldman in the deal, which would result in the Mets getting a pair of relievers with a good amount of service time while also filling their catching vacancy.  The Rangers would lose a valuable piece in Francisco, but will be able to fill the vacancy from within, as Luis Mendoza and Armando Galarraga may be near ready, with other mix and match pieces able to be worked out.  And, it would give them a good young player that can man center while allowing David Murphy to be the right fielder and allow the Rangers to use Marlon Byrd as the fourth outfielder.

All in all, should the Rangers go that route, here’s what the lineup would look like:

• Kinsler (2B)
• Cat (1B)
• Young (SS)
• Blalock (3B)
• Botts (DH)
• Milledge (CF)
• Salty (C)
• Murphy (RF)
• Byrd or PTBNL (LF)

Not bad, and it’s a much stronger lineup, though it’s also a very young and cheap lineup.  At this point, Texas does need to see what they’ve got on the team and if several of the players blossom as expected, well, then all is good.

Rangers Steal Pitcher From The Angels

Thanks to a rare screw-up by the Angels, the Rangers have netted themselves a prospect.

Apparently, the Angels were in the process of adding RHP Warner Madrigal to the 40 Man Roster and even made a announcement stating that he was added.

One problem.

They got the date wrong.  And Madrigal was no longer their property, thanks to his 6 Year Free Agent Status.

So, what do the Rangers have here?

They get a poor hitting outfielder that was converted to the mound last year and is looking like a promising relief prospect.  He can throws a mid 90's fastball that reache sin the upper 90's while working on a slider and a changeup.  All in all, he could become an effective setup man or a closer.

Nice job J.D.

Additions To The 40 Man Roster

Well, the 40 Man Roster has been set and for the most part, I was right.

Here are the additions:

• Matt Harrison (LHP) – A solid number four starter, has better stuff than Gabbard and has proven to be more durable.
• Thomas Diamond (RHP) – I wasn’t aware that Diamond wasn’t on the 40 Man Roster.  Well, he’s back…
• Max Ramirez (C) – The booty acquired for Kenny Lofton, giving the Rangers more catching depth.
• Brandon Boggs (CF) – A potential dark horse centerfielder candidate for the Rangers in the next year or so.

Here are the casualties:

• Victor Diaz (RF) – Diaz has legitimate 30 home run power, but the fact that he can’t walk means his fate was sealed.

And, in the event a player needs to be added, here’s who is going to be victimized:

• Bill White (LHP) – White will likely be the first DFA candidate if the Rangers add any more players via trade or free agency.
• Freddy Guzman (CF) – Guzman is an excellent defender, but quite frankly, the Rangers have enough speedy centerfielders already that can’t hit.

And, here who may be taken in the Rule 5 Draft:

• Jesse Ingram (RHP) - The Former Cal Closer notched up 70 Punchouts this year and is likely Rule 5 Bait.  He never really seemed to establish himself as a dominant closer and has average stuff.  Hopefully, the Rangers will be able to keep him, or that he won't stick.
• Tug Hulett Jr. (INF) - The son of a former Major Leaguer, many feel that he'll be able to eake out a career as a utility guy.  The Rangers didn't add him because they likely felt that he won't be taken.

That's all for now.