There have been a lot of rumors recently about the Cubbies wanting to make a trade for Marlon Byrd, ideally to be their centerfielder and to help push Felix Pie. Apparently, the deal would be for Matt Murton and possibly for pitching prospect Sean Gallagher.
This deal likely doesn't have much legs on it, if any.
First of all, as good as the Byrdman's seaosn was last year, I doubt he suddenly had a breakout in his early 30's. More than likely, he'll regress to his usual fourth outfielder status come April.
Second, I wouldn't trade Murton for Byrd straight up if I were the Cubs, but if they are willing to do it, I'd pull the trigger. Hell, I'd even include a pair of relievers in the deal for Murton and Gallagher, likely Scott Feldman and Robinson Tejeda. Not only would that give the Cubs more options to sift through, it opens up space on the 40 Man for someone.
However, as promising as the deal seemed, I doubt it will happen.
Complicating things further are the fact that the Padres want Murton as well, though I'm not sure what they would give up in return. San Diego usually tries to pass off their #### on other teams (as the Rangers would find out during the infamous Chris Young deal) and their GM is a very smart man. It's very much likely that somehow or another, Kevin Towers will find a way to make any trade a three trade deal, and in return would somehow find a way to screw over the Rangers by managing to net Murton himself and leaving the Rangers on the short end of the stick.
Possible Draft Pick Compensation?
The Rangers could also find themselves enjoying a beavy of picks in next years draft if all falls right (unlikely, but it's good to hope.)
While none of the Rangers' one year commitments are going to be Type A Picks, there could be several first round sandwich picks, depending on what happens:
Jason Jennings (RHP) - Recovery from a bad year could result in a Type B pick for Texas if he proves to be healthy.
Milton Bradley (RF) - Staying sane and healthy could get him a job as a DH somewhere.
Ben Broussard (1B) - Could be the next Ryan Kelsko, getting the Rangers a solid pick without doing much.
All in all, that's potentially three picks for the Rangers if the rankings fall right, five if somehow or another Jennings and Bradley are able to rate as Type A's.
TIme when I try to forecast who will get into the Hall of Fame.
And every year, I've been wrong except for last year, when no brainers Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken got in (I whiffed on Gossage twice already.)
No matter.
Here's this year's edition.
Cooperstown Locks
Rich "Goose" Gossage – This is the year Goose gets in. He got close last season, even with Ripkin and Gwynn on the ballot and will almost certainly make the hall of fame, barring any sort of mental lapse amongst the voters. There is no reason why it should have taken this long, but as I have said, I believe that Gossage’s years as a setup man may have hurt his case for the Hall of Fame.
Jim Rice – There’s been a lot of debate recently as to whether or not Rice truly is Hall of Fame worthy. Rice does have some good career averages, and he’s got 382 HR’s, though that isn’t good enough for a man with the reputation for a power hitter. His numbers were partially inflated by Fenway, but he did net a MVP award in 1978. He does get bonus points for being a slugger in a Pitcher’s Era, however and overall, with his support in Boston and much of the Eastern Seaboard, I say he gets in this year. I don’t agree with it, however.
Dark Horses
Bert Blyleven – A great pitcher, ranks fifth all time in strikeouts (3701), nine all time in shutouts, and 13th all time in innings. His career record is great (287-250) his ERA is solid (3.31) and has a career ERA of 2.47 in the post season. If he had better run support, he’d easily have over 300 wins. He should have been in a long time ago, but for some reason, voters are reluctant to admit him in, yet they are upset over why a lesser pitcher, Jack Morris, whom Blyleven laps in every category and is even better in the post-season than Morris, is not in. There’s been a rise of support for Blyleven. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough.
Tim Raines – Raines merits induction, as he was one of the best Leadoff Men in baseball for much of his career. He hit .294 lifetime, tallied 2605 hits, has a career on base percentage of .385, and scored 1571 times. People crack on his stolen bases, saying that he was afraid to drop his stolen base percentage when in reality, Raines stole bases only when necessary, not just to pad stats. He also walked more than he struck out. However, Raines won’t get his due, as people will again feel he wasn’t as good as Henderson, his rival as far as leadoff men are concerned, plus his cocaine use. Raines may have lasted even longer in baseball if he hadn’t played much of his career on the hard Astroturf in Montreal. I feel she should get in. The voters are divided so far.
Screwed
Lee Smith – A good closer, is number two on the All-Time Saves List (478), and truckload of innings logged in. His career ERA is good (3.03) and he was usually consistent. However, what kills Smith is that most people see him as a compiler and is regarded by many to be consistent, but not dominant. The fact that he only played on two playoff teams and was 0-2 with an 8.44 ERA in the postseason doesn’t help him much. Still, accumulating 478 saves is amazing (just ask Trevor Hoffman), but unfortunately, it’s looking more and more like Smith will be at the mercy of the Veteran’s committee and won’t be elected by the BBWAA.
Tommy John – Almost as good as Blyleven, in terms of Wins (288-231) and ERA (3.34), John would have been a lock if he had just won 300 wins. However, people don’t realize that had it not been for the procedure that now bears his name, he wouldn’t even be close to his numbers. John was a great pitcher for some time. Why he’s not in is beyond me.
Dave Concepcion – The last member of the Big Red Machine not in the Hall (not counting Pete Rose), Concepcion was probably one of the best shortstops of his time. Many remember him for his glove work, but his career averages (.267/.322/.357) and his 2326 hits aren’t enough to get him in. It’s possible that many could point to Ozzie Smith as a possible induction into the Hall of Fame from Concepcion, but unfortunately, I don’t think he’ll get in, leaving him as a option for the veteran’s committee.
Andre Dawson – Blessed with a long, steady career that lasted 21 seasons, Dawson tallied 438 homers, 2774 hits, 314 steals, and was the 1987 NL MVP. Dawson was a great defender at both right and centerfield and hit with good power. He didn’t walk much, which is why he’s got a #### OBP, but he does have some favorable stats to some Hall of Famers already in. He was also one of the classiest men to play the game, another reason why I like him, though that’s beside the point. But unfortunately, he's seen as a complier, and most likely won't be allowed in anytime soon, which sucks for him.
Alan Trammell – Trammell totaled 2,365 hits, 185 homers, 412 doubles, 236 steals and a World Series MVP to his name. Those are solid stats and should be Hall of Fame worthy when you consider that Trammell played in an era when shortstops were expected to defend, not him. However, shortly after Trammell retired, the rise of offensive shortstops, such as Ripken, Jeter, Garciaparra, Rodriguez and others have made his numbers look quite pedestrian when compared to how they will finish. Because of that, Trammell isn’t getting in, even though he probably should.
Harold Baines – Seemingly ageless, as he played for over 20 seasons, Baines is probably regarded as one of the best hitters in White Sox history. As a whole, he was a very good hitter for a very long time, with a career .289 Batting Average and totals of 2,866 hits and 384 home runs. He played on six postseason teams but never won a ring. Not at all shabby. However, Baines was a terrible defender and never had a monster season. He also never really took walks either, meaning he’s out.
The Hall of Very Good
Dave Parker – The Cobra has a lot of good credentials. He’s got 2712 hits, led the league three times in scoring, is in the top 30 of all time in doubles and was the 1978 NL MVP, three Gold Gloves. He also won two batting titles. Those are good numbers, but not great ones, and Parker’s cocaine use has turned off several of the more self righteous voters, which means Parker is likely going in that class of Very Good, but not Hall Worthy players.
Jack Morris – Morris is a somewhat lesser version of Tommy John. He has pitched well in the postseason, and averaged at least 14 wins per season. However, Morris has an ERA of 3.90 and going through some of his career numbers, many of his wins are the result of good run support and a strong defensive unit. I don’t think he should be allowed in, even though many of the old school media are pushing hard for him to go in. He’d easily be the worst Hall of Fame pitcher ever elected.
Mark McGwire – 500 Home Runs used to guarantee you admission into the hall of fame, but times have changed and McGwire has been made the posterboy of the era. It’s not fair, but unfortunately, it happens. He won’t get in, but will likely hang around the ballot. He could get in during his final year of eligibility.
Don Mattingly – One of the most popular Yankees in history, a nine-time Gold Glover, a six time All-Star, and the 1985 MVP. A good man and a great leader, who stuck with the Yankees through the lean years and retired just before all the fun started. Early in his career, Mattingly seemed like a lock, but lingering back problems would eventually claim his career. Again, as with another 80’s era first baseman, Will Clark, Mattingly had good career averages (.307-.358-.471), but his overall numbers (222 HR’s, 2153 Hits) aren’t enough to get him in, though he’ll be immortalized in Legends Park sooner or later. To put it bluntly, Yankee fans, let it go. Unfortunately, he’ll hang around for the next few years, making this a perennial comment.
Dale Murphy – Murphy has two MVP awards and 398 homers. But other than that, he's not Hall Worthy.
Chuck Finley – Finely made quite a few All-Star teams based on raw win totals alone, but his control was average and his ERA doesn’t fairly show that he could be god-awful a great deal. He did have a reputation as an innings eater, but other than that, what else can you say except that he’s a slightly above average pitcher who likely would be vastly overpaid if he played today and isn’t worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.
Robb Nen – A former Ranger Draft Pick, Nen was traded to Florida for Cris Carpenter (the bad one) and became one of the better closers in baseball, finishing his career with 314 saves, a 45-42 record, a career 2.98 ERA and a WHIP of 1.213. However, that’s not hall worthy, meaning Nen is out.
No Chance In Hell
Chuck Knoblauch – Knoblauch certainly looked like a Hall of Fame caliber player back when he was in Minnesota. However, a neurosis that affected his glovework and eventually his hitting ended his career. Many felt that the pressure of playing in New York finally got to him. However, the fact is that what’s done is done and in the end, Knoblauch doesn’t deserve to be bronzed in Cooperstown. His mention in the Mitchell Report will also mean he falls off the ballot.
Todd Stottlemyre–An okay pitcher for the most part, I remember him mostly from his brief time with the Texas Rangers. He shouldn’t be on here. Who screens these things?
Rod Beck –Sorry, I know Beck is very much beloved by many fans, but realistically, he had a 7 year run in which he was good, after which he flamed out spectacularly. This may be his first and only time you’ll see him on the ballot.
David Justice – Justice is going to be one and done on the ballot. He was good for a long time, but was never great. His numbers (1571 Hits, 305 HR, .279 Career BA) just aren’t special enough, though he’ll likely get credit for all of his playoff experience. But, to be quite honest, he just doesn’t belong on the ballot.
Travis Fryman – Fryman played for a long time, both in Detroit and in Cleveland, and was an All-Star five times, but for the most part he was just a solid contributor and nothing more.
Brady Anderson – Another solid contributor, nothing more, Anderson shouldn’t be on the ballot.
Shawon Dunston – Dunston had a decent start to his career, but injuries and ineffectiveness turned him into a very good bench player for the most part. He was also named as one of “Barry’s Guys” in the book Love Me, Hate Me, who defended Eric Davis, who was being berated by Bonds and the time, only to shut him up by grabbing Davis’ World Series ring and asking him “Have one of these?”
My Niece is staying over the night with me, so we're up right now. She's playing with her toy frog (more like eating it, actually) as we speak.
So, let's take a look at some Non-Tender Musings
Ben Broussard Now A Ranger
All it really cost the Rangers was Tim "Tug" Hulett Jr., who was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and wasn't taken. He may make a career as a utility guy, he may not. We'll see.
As for Broussard, right now I'm penciling him in as the starting first baseman. That leaves a likely lineup of the following:
KInsler (2B)
Cat (LF)
Young (SS)
Blalock (3B)
Bradley (DH)
Broussard (1B)
Salty (C)
Murphy (RF)
Byrd (CF)
It's a slightly stronger lineup than before, but it's not going to strike the fear of god in you.
What this does raise questions about is what the future will be for Shelton, Botts and Cruz. If this is the lineup, than something is going to happen soon to get rid of one of these guys. I have a feeling that Cruz may not survive the off-season. Botts could see everyday playing time in Left Field and at DH to give Bradley a break, while Murphy and Byrd could be rotated as needed. Which means that Cruz is likely getting the boot.
God damn it, this team needs better outfield options. This is getting #### ridiculous.
Bye Bye Aki
Akinori Otsuka was non-tendered, bringing the last remnant of the Chris Young/Adrian Gonzalez trade to an end.
Aki was hurt, but there was some progress in his rehab. However, I wonder how long he would have been able to have pitched for the full season. Would he have been ready in time for the season? I'm not sure.
And does any of this have to do with the fact that he recommended San Diego over Texas to Kosuke Fukudome?
If so, that's petty. But I'm taking the high road and choosing injury.
So long Aki. We hardly knew ye.
Other Non-Tenders To Look At
Mark Prior (RHP - Former Cub) - Eh, what the hell. Gabbard's got options left and if Prior can bounce back a bit, he could be something worthwhile. And could even be worth a draft pick or two if he books.
Kiki Calero (RHP - Former A) - Could be a nice, buy low opportunity for the pen.
Dallas McPherson (3B - Former Angel) - Maybe, still has some potential. Is also made out of glass.
Emil Brown (LF - Royals) - Could form a decent platoon with Cat.
Okay, someone's hungry. Time to warm up a bottle...
Well apparently, the Rangers have signed Milton Bradley to a one year, $5 million contract, with some incentives. The deal is pending a physical, and because the Padres declined to offer him arbitration, the Rangers don’t cede a pick to the Padres.
The deal is a risk, both because Bradley is both injury prone and batshit crazy, but Bradley, to be honest, is actually now the best outfielder on the squad and will likely slide over to centerfield once the leg heals up.
Are you gambling that Wash, who Bradley wanted to reunite with, and whom is a Washington favorite, can keep him in line? Yes. Could it work? We’ll see. Bradley will likely miss time in the beginning of the season and will stay at DH until June or so.
What will this do to Jason Botts?
What we’ll likely see is a rotation of Botts, Cat, and Shelton at Left Field and Third Base until Bradley is completely healthy. It’s a workable compromise and will keep everyone healthy until things are sorted out.
Will the Rangers do any other improvements to the outfield? That remains to be seen. Bradley isn’t blocking anyone long term and his salary isn’t prohibitive. With Fukudome now a Cub, the only real free agent option available is off the table. That means that the Rangers will likely have to look at the non-tender market later today or the trade market. More on that in a bit…
Going To War With The Rotation You Have
The meme in Texas is that the Rangers need pitching.
My answer to that?
Where is it?
I’ve checked the free agent market. Unless you’re willing to roll the dice on Bartolo Colon or Freddy Garcia, there is no potential Number One or Two starters. When the best options are Kyle Lohse and Carlos Silva, back of the rotation dudes at best, that goes to show you that the market is just awful.
Now, if you want to do some trading on the market, you could find some pitchers that could be had for prospects, especially those on teams that may be looking to rebuild.
The Rangers have the ammunition to go after Johan Santana, and Tom Hicks has the funds to do it.
They could also go after Dan Haren, though I think they prefer not to trade within the division.
However, all of these deals come with a price. You lose valuable young players who can keep you competitive while spending little in these trades. You also lack that valuable pipeline of young talent to replace aging players. Michael Young won’t last forever and will likely be the Rangers’ third baseman by 2011, by which time either Elvis Andrus or Marcus Lemon will be taking over the position. Also, who will replace Padilla, who will book after 2009, and Kevin Millwood, who will book after 2010? Are you going to want to have to turn to the Jamey Wright’s and Carlos Silva’s to give you innings?
This season is a lost cause anyway, but it will serve as a way to give the kids innings while keeping the team cost effective FOR NOW. The Rangers are hoarding their dollars for the next superstar that may hit the market, by which time, there will be enough of a team for that future star to push the Rangers over the top.
Plus, the Rangers may have their own homegrown rotation sooner than you think.
Eric Hurley is nearly ready. So is Matt Harrison. The Rangers have a plethora of young arms in the lower minors, with some of them beginning to rise to the top.
Give things time. Frivolously throwing money away on mediocre starters is a poor way to build a ball club.
Ask the Cubs.
Off season Deals That I Thank God Didn’t Work Out
Mark Mulder (2006) – This was a buy low opportunity, but oh man was this bullet one I’m glad misfired. Mulder looks toast right now, something that no one thought back in the day, when he was arguably the best of the Big Three.
Barry Zito (2006) – This was a deal I actually campgained hard for, but am glad it didn't work out. Zito has been an out and out disaster for San Fran. He eats innings and...doesn't do much else.
Matt Morris (2005) – The Rangers actually went pretty hard after Morris, who was coming off of a very good year with the Cardinals and had long since had a reputation for being a good clubhouse guy and a outdated rep for being a great starting pitcher. Two years later and this deal is easily one of the biggest busts we’ve seen this decade.
Carlos Delgado (2004) – Yes, the Rangers did try to make a run at Delgado, with the idea of making him the starting first baseman and Mark Teixiera the everyday left fielder. Fortunately, he signed with Florida, who blew Texas’ offer away, and then would trade him after a single season.
Rangers Close To Signing Reliever
The Rangers are close to signing Japanese Reliever Kazo Fukumori to a two year deal, whcih would add another veteren reliever to the pen at a cheap price. Fukumori was injured in Japan last year, but could pay big dividends if he's ready.
More Trade Speculation
Noah Lowry (RHP – Giants) – On paper, this looks like a decent acquisition, as any time you can add a young starter is a good deal. Look closer, however, and I’d stay clear away from Lowry. His control is rather bad, he’s not much of an innings eater and he’s always been much more mortal away from A####mp;T Park. I heard one rumor stating that trading Ian Kinsler for him would get it done. I say nay.
Andre Ethier (RF – Dodgers) – Etheir is the odd man out in Los Angeles with Pierre moving to left field, Kemp likely in right and Jones in center and is reportedly being targeted by the Rangers. I’d totally do this if the Dodgers were willing, but a trade package might be hard to come up with. The Dodgers would likely ask for Eric Hurley or Edinson Volquez, with the Rangers offering Armando Galaragga and a few other prospects in return. It just remains to be seen if a deal can be reached that will be amicable to all parties.
Austin Kearns (RF – Nationals) – Kearns looks like he’s due for a bounce back season and playing in RFK probably didn’t help his numbers much. He’s signed to a very affordable long term deal and with the Nationals carrying four outfielders (five if they move Dmitri Young), Kearns is the odd man out. I’d be okay with signing him, especially since Kearns can reasonably play center, it’s just that the Nationals ask for the sun, moon, and stars for their players.
Matt Murton (OF – Cubs) – Murton hasn’t been given a fair shake by the Cubs to prove himself, as they’ve preferred to go after sexier names in the free agent market.
Mark DeRosa (2B – Cubs) – If the Cubs do acquire another player, I’d strongly ask them for Rosie if they won’t trade Murton. Rosie would have a chance to play everyday in Texas, likely in Right Field.
The Rangers have acquired Chris Shelton from the Tigers, in exchange for Fast Freddy Guzman.
Shelton likely will figure into the first base/dh equation, though I think he'll more than likely be the Opening Day first baseman. It makes no sense to sign Sean Casey for $3 million when you can instead pay Shelton more or less the major league minimum for better production.
All in all, it's a solid pickup, and Shelton will be much more useful than whatever Guzman would have provided.
Rule 5 Shennanigans
I'm a little disappointed that Texas didn't participate in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 draft, especially considering that Brian Barton was there to be had. On the bright side, the Rangers didn't lose anyone, so there's some good news. Texas was active in the minor league phases of the draft, nabbing several pitchers
Overall, here's who Texas acquired:
Levi Romero (RHP) - Not a damn thing can be found right now.
Dustin Majewski (OF) - A former Longhorn and I believe one of Oakland's moneyball draft guys, Majewski likely is just organizational filler at this point.
Clayton Hamilton (RHP) - Hamilton has good size and could be a solid bullpen arm in the future. A lot of his stats from this past year must be taken with a grain of salt, as he was pitching for most of the year with a broken rib, thanks to a misdiagnosis from the Pirates.
Jaime Trejo (3B) - Potential backup.
Francisco Cordova.(RHP) - Ick. Next...
Quick Hits
Kevin Mench is likely going to be non-tendered by the Brewers. If the Rangers are interested, they could try and bring back him back. Mench still has fans here and for the most part would be happy to come back, but salary concerns may get in the way. Another thing, who would he replace on the 40?
Texas actually was in on the Andruw Jones deal, but was thwarted when Scott Boras gave Texas the runaround. Specifically, he told Texas that it would take a longer term deal, seeing as how Jones would be switching leagues and all. You remember, that kind of ####
Texas has a one year contract offer with a club option out to LaTroy Hawkins, who is still looking for a two year deal from the Rockies. Hopefully, something can get resolved soon, though I would prefer to go itnernal on the pen. Usually, that ends up being a lot more cost effective and allows you to protect yourself in terms of being screwed over in terms of long term deals.
Eric Gagné is still out there and apparently wouldn't mind coming back to Texas. I'd do it, as he was a lot of fun to watch and he has his fans here. He would also be flipped again at the deadline for more prospects, which is always nice. Knowing the Rangers' luck, Boras will push for a full no-trade clause this time.
The acqustion of Andruw Jones means that Andre Ethier and potentially Juan Pierre are available. Ethier I'm all about, as I think he'd be an above average option in left field. Pierre is interesting, but the Dodgers would have to eat a lot of the salary for me to consider it. Pierre isn't a great outfielder and is one of the most overrated players in the sport.
Apparently, the Rangers are hot and heavy after...Mark Prior? Okay, I know that when Prior is healthy, he can easily be one of the best pitchers in baseball. The problem is, when was the last time we could say that?
There are some other trade options I'd be looking at, with the Astros being one of the teams I'd look at. The Rangers need a legitiamate utilityman and Chris Burke is there for the taking. He's a better option that Ramon Vasquez and can play any position except for catcher. I'd ask if they'd be interested in a straight up swap for Scott Feldman.
And, on a side note, the Rangers are debating about moving Chris Davis to right field, where his bat would not only be a good fit, but he has a strong enough arm to handle the change. My only question about that is whether or not Davis is athletic enough to handle right field.
When I heard that Alex Rodriguez was going to opt out of his contract, I felt two ways about it.
The first was annoyance, wondering why couldn't he have waited the four more hours to announce it.
The second was elation, and joy that the poorly constructed deal was finally over, and that the Rangers were free of that albatross.
The Rodriguez deal is one of the biggest mistakes in the Rangers' tenure and the subsequent deal that sent him to New York is one of the bigger screwings the Rangers got.
Not only did the Rangers get shafted by having to pay off part of the contract, but they also got little in return, with a Arbitration Eligible Alfonso Soriano and only one Player To Be Named Later (which was even worse considering that John Hart passed up on Robinson Cano to get Joaquin Arias. How does that one look?)
With A-Rod's obligation finally over, the Rangers will now have $21 million to go and bid on a player that acutally plays for the #### team!
Time to call Aaron Rowand's agent...
Ohyo Victor Diaz-san!!
The Rangers have talked with some Japanese teams about outfielder Victor Diaz playing over there next year. This is significant for two reasons. One, it says that the Rangers’ aren’t completely confident in whether or not Diaz will make the roster, as I believe he used up his last option this past year, and two, that the Rangers have some interest in finding a place for him to play full time, as they still believe he can be a everyday player. What isn’t clear, however, is if the Rangers will retain control over Diaz if he does indeed go over to Japan. I’m not sure that they can, as I believe he would have to be sold to the Japanese leagues, subsequently relinquishing any control over him. I’ll have to research this some more when I got time.
The Return Of Gagne?!?
The former Rangers closer, Gagne was an out and out disaster in Boston and isn’t likely to return. He cost himself millions of dollars on the free agent market and is going to be looked at as damaged goods once again.
However, Gagne may have been hurt, could have been inconsistent due to his not being in the closer role, or maybe just wasn’t cut out for Boston. It’s happened before. However, Gagne is still fond of the Rangers and has said that he wouldn’t mind a return. If he could be had for roughly the same contract as last season, I wouldn’t hesitate on bringing him back.
Keeping An Eye On Adan Dunn
I've been keeping an eye on the Adam Dunn situation over in Cincinatti in hopes that the Reds will decline his options and the Rangers will try to swoop in and get a hold of him.
Dunn would be a solid addition and would give the Rangers a young power hitter that would fit in well in the middle of the order. The only thing that would really hurt would be the strikeouts.
One More Thing...
The Farm System Previews will begin on Monday, in alphabetical order. Mark it on your calendars...
I'd like to take a moment of silence for the careers of Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, and Johnny Cueto.
Why?
Because the Reds hired this man...
I've maintained for years that Dusty Baker is a good manager to have when you have a lot of vets on a squad and are not trying to integrate rookies into the mix. Put him on a team that's trying to rebuild however, and you've got problems.
Simply put, Baker can't help himself but abuse young pitchers and unless they got powerful arms able to withstand abuse, he's going to ruin some careers. We've seen it several times, most notably in Chicago, where he may have destroyed the careers of Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.
Taking some tiem out from watching the playoffs to update you all on some Ranger thoughts I had. Let's kick it out the new title text:
The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition
Aki May Need Tommy John Surgery
This isn’t good news.
Reports are coming out that Akinori Otsuka, who hasn’t been seen since the All Star break, may need to undergo Tommy John, costing him all of 2009 and the last year of control under Texas before Free Agency.
Sigh.
Aki was likely going to exit Surprise next season as the closer for the Rangers. If he needs to undergo Tommy John, he’s going to get non-tendered and released by Texas, giving a final and craptastic end to one of the worst Rangers trades of all time.
And, just because I like rubbing salt on my wounds, here is how the trade worked out for Texas:
Adam Eaton – Posted a horrific year and didn’t even merit Free Agent Compensation, then bolted for the big bucks in Philly, where he’s been equally craptastic.
Akinori Otsuka – Did a great job as a closer in 2006, was an excellent setup man in 2007, but would be gone if he has to undergo TJ.
Billy Killian - A young catching prospect, Killian was terrible for Spokane and Clinton and was eventually sold to the White Sox for an undisclosed amount of cash and a cash of Milwaukee’s Best.
Bah.
Top Rangers Moments Of 2007
Michael Young’s 200th Hit – It’s great to see Mikie extend his 200 hit season streak to five.
The Return of Rangers Ballpark – The Rangers take back their ballpark by buying out Ameriquest and renaming the ballpark Rangers Ballpark In Arlington.
The 30-3 Game – This asskicking actually was able to help a lot of fans move on from Teixeira. ..well, expect for the Metroplex media (#### you Randy Galloway!)
Hank Blalock’s Return – And how! A Grand Slam against the Angels that helped ice a win on Sunday Night Baseball.
The 2007 Draft – The fact that Texas was able to add so many quality arms, many of which began to preform right away, is making for a potential farm system Bonanza come 2009.
Da Pick! Da Pick! Where Is Da Pick!
The draft standings are more or less finalized, and Texas will make the 11th pick in next June's amateur draft. It’s not a bad place to pick, really. The Rangers won’t get an elite talent unless he falls, but there should be a solid talent there.
Here’s the last five 11th overall picks.
2007 – Philipe Aumont (Mariners) – Love this guy, should be a solid major leaguer.
2006 – Max Scherzer (Diamondbacks) – Solid arm, potential closer.
2005 – Andrew McCutcheon (Pirates) – Tools city, has probably been rushed.
2004 – Neil Walker (Pirates) – Like the bat, not sure where he’ll play though.
2003 – Robert Aubrey (Indians) – Promising career short-circuited by injury.
The only real problem with this year’s draft is that it may be one of the weakest drafts in years. Still, there should be a decent talent around at 11.
Cat On First?
The more I look at the first base market, in terms of trade and free agency, the more I think it’s going to be likely that Frank Catalanotto will likely be the Rangers’ starting first baseman in 2008.
The reason being is that there are no real attractive options out on the open market, with only glove men like Sean Casey and Mike Lamb available. And the only first baseman that I know of that could wind up here, Todd Helton, would be a far too lengthy commitment for the Rangers, plus he would likely require the Rangers picking up an expensive option to come here.
Actually, hold that thought, there is also Adam Dunn, who could play first base and is reasonably comparable to Ryan Howard, but what would the Reds want in terms of prospects? I don’t think that enough of a deal could be reached for the two sides to swing a deal.
Meanwhile, playing Cat at first would allow the Rangers to use different outfielders, improving the overall defense, as Cat is rather bad in left. It would allow the Rangers to play David Murphy regularly in right field, while allowing Jason Botts, who isn’t great, but is better than Cat in left, while allowing the Rangers to concentrate on obtaining help in centerfield and DH.
Keeping An Eye On Felix Pie And David DeJesus
Two options in centerfield to keep an eye on are Cubs prospect Felix Pie and Royals centerfielder David DeJesus.
I think there was more truth than people realize when rumors surrounded Pie and the Cubbies’ apparent willingness to deal him in the right trade. There was a rumored deal of Gerald Laird for Pie, but the deal was quickly killed and the Cubbies announced they had no real intentions of trading him.
I’m not so sure.
Lou Pinella wasn’t a big fan of Pie’s during his time up with the Cubs and wasn’t enthused about playing him every day.
And, with rumors that the Cubs may go hard after a free agent centerfielder, that would all but block Pie from ever making it to Wrigley.
Which would make trading for Pie much more valuable, as it would allow the Rangers to get something for not as painful of a price. Pie is regarded to be a raw, Carlos Beltran type (then again, so is Rangers prospect Engel Beltre), and if he gets PT, he'll be able to blossom into something special.
Here's hoping the Cubs do so.
The other player is Royals centerfielder David DeJesus, who the Royals are supposedly looking into trading for younger, projectable parts, especially since they now feel that Joey Gathright has figured out how to hit. Gathright has leadoff potential and is faster and can cover more ground than DeJesus.
If the Royals are willing, I'd be ready to call if I were GM. I'm not sure what the price would be, but it wouldn't be real expensive, especially when you consider what the Royals got in exchange for Octavio Dotel (the mighty Kyle Davies).
The Royals have tried for years to acquire prospect Joaquin Arias. I'd be willing to deal Arias, especially since I got an Arias clone in Elvis Andrus. If I were making a deal, and DeJesus were available, I'd call up the Royals and dicker, with Arias being in the deal.
Arias is still very attractive, in that he's got loads of tools and is young. It's becoming obvious that a change of scenery may be necessary for him to reach his potential and he could eventually be better than Tony Pena Jr, who is a backup at best or a starter while he's cheap. The only real issue would be if Arias developed, which would potentially bite the Rangers in the way Hafner did, but really Arias is blocked in Texas by Young and Kinsler, so it would be for the best.
What Does The Future Hold For Loe, Laird, and Tejeda
The Rangers' final loss to the Mariners was likely the last for several Rangers, and the end for some of the Rangers’ current career paths.
Kameron Loe expereinced a odd season, where he seemingly found his mojo as a starter again before his old inconsistencies reached back to nab him again. While Loe has developed better off-speed stuff to go with his sinker, he hasn’t been able to sustain his success long. Overall, Loe has been better as a reliever, as he is 13-19 with a 5.08 ERA in 47 career starts and 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 46 relief appearances, but with the emergence of several young starters, Loe is likely going to be the long man coming into next year, or could be traded in the offseason to a team that could be able to work on him to be an average 5th starter.
The same has gone for Robinson Tejeda. What started out to be a promising season quickly devolved into disaster as Tejeda was shelled more and more as the seaosn went on, finishing 5-9 with a 6.61 ERA in 19 games before being sent down to Triple A, where he eventually had hsis eaosn ended due to injury. Tejeda’s future with the Rangers is also going to be one of uncertainty, as the rotation appears to be set with Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Gabbard and Volquez going into next year. Even worse, Eric Hurley is nearly ready and could challenge for a starting spot next year, leaving Tejeda’s opportunities for a third chance less and less likely.
Gerald Laird is a different story. With his bat going into the ####, Laird’s future as a Ranger likely was doomed once the Mark Teixeira deal brought in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a natural catcher, over in the deal. While Salty projects to be a average first baseman, behind the plate he could be a perrenial All Star and a capable middle to late in the order presence. Laird was almost dealt at the deadline, but the Teixeira deal was swung too late to try and get a decent offer rolling. With the lack of young catchers in the majors all around, Laird, despite his numbers, could be attractive to several teams needing a young catcher with at least three years of control left on him.
On The Block Manana guys. Now, back to snoozing with the girlfriend and my niece...
Potential Edgar Renteria Scenarios, A Former Wideout Might Be Coming Up And A Potential Rick Ankiel - In Reverse...
Possible Stops For Edgar Renteria
The Braves were really serious about looking to unload Edgar Renteria and replacing him with Yuniel Escobar at the deadline, but the right trade couldn’t be made. Now, the Braves will look to move him in the off-season.
Renteria has been excellent for the Braves and has regained his All-Star form. He's basically an $8 million a year player since Boston is foothing a large part of the bill on his contract and would bring in two draft picks if allowed to leave via free agency. The Braves are looking for some sort of pitching, or a centerfielder.
Is there a fit?
Sort of.
Take a look
Chicago White Sox - The Sox could offer Jon Garland and Brian Anderson and change in exchange for Renteria, who would fill a hole if the White Sox allow the awful Juan Uribe to leave. The only problem is would the Braves believe that Anderson is a talent that just needs a change of scenery, or is he a disaster waiting to happen.
Oakland Athletics - Bubba Crosby looks done and there aren't a lot of shortstop options available. The A's could potentially move parts in exchange for Renteria, but as far as any sort of impact talent, there isn't much on this roster that fits the bill.
Minnesota Twins - The Twins could be on the move, as Jason Barlett would be able to move over to Third Base and allow Renteria to take over short, plugging two holes at once. The only issue is this...The Twins won't trade pitching, and even though they have some in the minors, they aren't going to move it.
Detroit Tigers - The Tigers have been looking for a way to move Carlos Guillen to first in order to manage the wear and tear on him. They have the farm system to do the move and could afford the contract. There is a fit here, especially since they have a centerfield prospect in Gorkeys Hernandez that Atlanta would find very tempting. I like this move a lot.
Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays would like to add Renteria and would love to find a way to get him, but there isn't a lot to move here and the Jays would balk at any package surrounding Alex Rios. There also isn't any farm products even near ready to be traded.
So all in all, the potential is there for a move, but really there isn't a lot of players that Atlanta would be able to come away with and claim victory for the trade. Personally, I'd be all over a deal for the Tigers, as Hernandez could really be that good.
The Next Rick Ankiel? - Sort Of
Lance Niekro is a bad positional player for the Giants.
That much is known.
He was pretty much drafted by the Giants because of his bloodlines and the fact that his father played for the Giants.
Apparently, Niekro is going to give something else a try.
Pitching.
Niekro has been working on a knuckleball. Should he feel up to it (and if the Giants feel, what the hell, can’t be much worse), he could try and pull a Rick Ankiel and come back…as a pitcher.
The idea isn’t unheard of. Trevor Hoffman was a weak hitting shortstop before he became a hall of famer. Ron Mahay was originally an outfielder before becoming a decent pitcher. Troy Percival was originally a catcher before he became a pitcher. First round bust Matt Bush was having success as a pitcher until he blew his arm out. So the track record is there.
Who knows? Niekro could wind up being very good. He could also wind up being an even worse disaster than he already is. We’ll see..
Samardzija Coming To Chicago?
The Cubs are considering bringing up Jeff Samardzija when the rosters expand on September 1. Samardzija may get a start and appear in relief, depending on how far the Cubs are ahead or behind in the divisional race once the 1st rolls around.
I’m not exactly sure if this is a great idea. I understand that Samardzija is classified as a power pitcher, but his lack of strikeouts for the year disturbs me. I’m really not sure if this is a great ideal at all. This idea seems #### horrible to me.
Jason Jennings is done for the year, according to the Astros' offical website. Jennings has sustained damange to his pitching elbow and will undergo surgery in order to repair the damage. He hopes to return sometime next year.
This was a bad trade from the get go and one that the Astros surely regret now.
It's also exposed two things about the Astros, which should have been taken in mind:
The Misguided Concept Of Being In Contention. The Astros fogired that they would be able to contend again this year, after seeing the losses sustained by St. Louis. They did, however, ignore the improvements of both Milwaukee and Chicago and maybe were counting on one last little bit of magic to make the run at the end of the year. They also felt a bit too much faith in their current club, which had holes as of last semester and many of them went untouched in the Astros' attempt to rebuild themselves.
The Misakes In Evaluating Talent And Improvements. The Astros also failed to properly assess their own in house supply of talent. The Astros didn't have the confidence in Andy Pettitte's elbow to hold up and they also didn't value Hirsh highly enough to actually give him a shot in the rotation. They also pinned a great deal of hopes and dreams on Jason Lane and Morgan Ensberg regaining their All-Star forms of 2005, which is rapidly looking to be an anomoly instead of a breakout.
This only adds the icing to the cake of the disaster that is the 2007 Astros season.
The team has virtually self destructed. The bullpen, once a strength, is now visably weakened, despite the re-emergence of Brad Lidge. The lineup, despite the additions of Lee and Pence, hasn't produced much, with Chris Burke's, Brad Ausmus', Adam Everett's and Craig Biggio's amenic bats contributing to a low of the problem.
Hirsh was developed into what Jennings once was, Taveras has established himself as the Rockies' everyday centerfielder and is having a breakout year. Buchholz has been serviceable as a swingman and will likely succeed in that role.
In exchange, the Astros have not only lost a set of valuable players in exchange for a bill of false goods, they've also lost their draft picks thanks to the Lee and Williams signings and weren't even able to sign their top two draft picks. This doesn't supply any talent to an already taxed farm system that is devoid of almost any impact talent whatsoever.
I though that Tim Purpura was a smart man and was willing to give him a shot. Maybe the GM of the team knew more about his own players than I did and he was selling high on a set of questioanble group.
Nearly six months later, this trade stacks up against time.
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.
Do You Have Comment You Don't Want All To See? Just Want To Talk Baseball? Email Me at morisatos_blo g AT yahoo.com. Email's edited to keep away the Spam.
