Now that the Santana deal is all but over, it's time to see what exactly will happen next.
I can tell you this much. A lot more things are going to fall into place now that the deal has been done.
Here's what is likely going to happen:
1. Bedard Deal Likely Going To Happen Soon
With the Santana deal likely gone, the Orioles should decide in the next couple of days whether or not to accept a deal from Seattle that will send Adam Jones and three or four prospects in exchange for their ace. It would be a good deal for the Orioles, who would gain a franchise centerfielder, more pitching depth with Chris Tillman likely headed in the deal, as well as a potential closer in George Sherill, all of whom are named in the deal. As for the Mariners, it's a lot of farm depth to give up, which I'd be hesitant to do for a palyer likely to test free agency in two years. And even then, there isn't a guarnatee that Bedard would put Seattle over the top with the Angels and their strong staff in the divison.
2. Final Decision On Sabathia To Be Made Soon
Look for also the Indians to decide once and for all on the fate of C.C. Sabathia, who is entering his walk year and likely looking for a contract similar to what Santana will get. Sabathia recently refused a 4 year, $70 million extension and wants a lot of money for a lot of years. While Sabathia is an excellent young pitcher, his condition habits have to give one pause. The union will also be pressuring Sabathia to hit free agency, due to their desire to increase player salaries all around. Personally, I think the Indians are going to ride out the year before seeing Sabathia likely sign with the Yankees, who covet Sabathia and asked the Indians about a trade midseason.
3. Remaining Free Agent Starters To Find Homes
Also, it's about now that we'll the remaining big free agent starters find homes. Bartolo Colon, Kyle Lohse, Livan Hernandez and others should have their phones ringing now that the Santana and Bedard dramas are nearing their respective ends. This may work out to the benefit of several teams, as Colon, Lohse and Hernandez have all been looking for multiple years in contracts. After having to wait for a while, they may be more willing to settle for fewer years.
4. Blame to Be Assigned In The Bronx
Now that the actually Santana trade has been agreed to, look for blame to be assigned among the Yankees staff.
Hank Steinbrenner will likely blame Brian Cashman for not wanting to pull the trigger on a deal that could have seen Santana in pinstripes, saying that while prospects are fine and good, acquiring a legitimate ace of the staff outwieghed any possible risk of said prospects coming back to haunt them.
Cashman will likely disagree, stating that the price in prospects was simply too high. However, when you consider that you were, essentially, sacrificng Chein Ming Wang, Melky Cabrera and what appears to be now Ian Kennedy for Santana, the sacrifice really should have been an easy one. Say yes.
The fighting will likely turn ugly and should provide further proof that Cashman is out of New York at the end of the year.
5. Crisp Situation Now Front Burner
Now that the Santana deal has been resolved, look for Boston to finally decide what to do with Coco Crisp.
While the entire Santana drama was playing out, many of the spots that were logical places for the Red Sox to send Crisp to addressed their centerfield needs via trade or free agency, resulting in a much smaller market for his services.
Now, really, there are two places where the Red Sox could concievably go to shop Crisp around, three if you count Oakland and their sudden dearth of prospects, two if you realize that Oakland has no intention of shopping any of them just now.
Minnesota is the place where, ironically, the Red Sox could ask if they're interested. The Twins, now in full fledged rebuilding mode, could offer back a bullpen arm, possibly Jesse Crain, though a package from Boston for Joe Nathan would be much more plausible.
The other place is Baltimore, which could use Crisp and has some minor league depth to deal from, if Boston would prefer a player that isn't as close to free agency and could develop into something promising.
Or the Red Sox could just hang onto Crisp, though that would likely result in a lot of resentment from Crisp, who wants to start. Say all you want about choosing to start for a bad team or being a fourth outfielder for a great one. Most people would still prefer a starting gig.
This could turn out ugly if nothing is resolved soon.
Coming up later today! My Super Bowl Spread Plans!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, time to play some transactions catchup. Here’s what I’ve got:
The San Diego Padres trade RHP Scott Linebrink to the Milwaukee Brewers for RHP Will Inman, LHP Steve Garrison and LHP Joe Thatcher
This was kind of weird deal considering that neither team needed to upgrade it’s bullpen, as both San Diego and Milwaukee are both pretty good as far as firemen go. In any case, the Brewers did this banking on Mike Maddux’s ability to bring guys back around to form, which is what they’re hoping he’ll do with Linebrink. If they’re successful, then they’ll not only have a solid 7th inning guy to bridge to Francisco Cordero, but they can also reap draft pick compensation rewards, as getting Linebrink back to form will result in him being classified a Type A free agent. And they really didn’t give up a lot to do it. Inman is the biggest part of the deal, but really, he’s kind of a odd prospect, as he’s purely performance and very little as far as stuff. Still, in that wonky stadium, he could succeed and be a 4th man in the rotation. Thatcher will be replacing Linebrink in the bullpen and profiles similarly as such and Garrison is regarded to be a sort of long shot prospect that no one really expect much greatness out of.
Overall, what we have here is a collection of players that have kinda been rendered expendable by each organization, but San Diego comes out a bit ahead because of the salary relief, though I will say this. They could have gotten a whole lot more had they decided to deal Linebrink just a half season earlier.
Overall: Padres - B, Brewers - B-
The Texas Rangers trade CF Kenny Lofton to the Cleveland Indians for C Max Ramirez
This was probably the best the Rangers could do, with the lack of centerfield interest on the market. Nonetheless, they did do well, as Ramirez is a solid young catcher currently hitting .303 with 12 homers, 62 RBI’s and a good strikeout to talk ration (nearly 1 to 1). Ramirez is said to be able to hit pretty well, but he’s raw at catcher, though he’s improved enough where he’ll likely be able to stick. As for the Indians, they gain a versatile corner outfielder with speed and discipline that should make their lineup a little more free swinging. A trade that worked well for both parties.
Overall: Rangers – B, Indians – B
The Chicago White Sox trade 2B Tadahito Iguchi to the Philadelphia Phillies for RHP Michael Dubee
Kind of a disappointing trade for the White Sox. They traded Iguchi, one of their players that did merit interest from around the league for a Low A reliever. It would have been better to hold onto Iguchi and simply reap the Type B draft pick that they would have merited in exchange for him. The deals works well for the Phillies, who get a filler for the moment with Chase Utley out that can hit a bit.
Okay, I've now begun to lose my patience with the "World Wide Leader."
I have an ESPN membership, mostly because I greatly enjoy Keith Law's work on ESPN and his chats are usually informative and filled with humor.
But the rest of the analysts on ESPN's baseball coverage, notably Peter Gammons and Buster Olney, have begun to draw my ire as of late, mostly because of Gammons' bias toward the Northeast Corridor and Olney's constant Ranger bashing and his constant citing of his "time in New York." (Note To Buster: You last covered the Yankees as a beat report in 2000. It's been almost seven years. Get over it.)
But Jayson Stark has really pissed me off today, mostly because of this following column. Starks are in Bold, mine are standard.:
More Rumblings: The Texas two-step
What team has the biggest names to sell off this month? Everyone agrees it's the Rangers. But the Rangers' asking price for Teixeira, Eric Gagne, Akinori Otsuka and everyone else has been so off the charts, an official of one team predicts: "The way they're going right now, I don't think they'll make a trade -- any trade."
Okay, usually the first thing you do in any negotiation is state your terms. Once you've stated the terms, you try and negotiate into a happy medium that both sides are happy with.
In this case, J.D. approached the negotaition like normal, and was lowballed enough that things haven't progressed at all towards the desired happy medium. Daniels has stated live during Newberg Night at the Ballpark that a lot of the offers he's gotten have absolutely sucked. If I were him, I'm not going to do a trade, just to do a trade. I don't want your ####. I want value. If you're not willing to give up something of value, then we have nothing to discuss and I'll take the draft pick compensation for Gagne in 2007 and Teixeira in 2008. It makes no difference to me.
An official of another team that has been talking to Texas says: "Here's how they're thinking: Take a guy like Otsuka. They basically traded Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez for Otsuka, right?
Uhhh, No. The Rangers traded Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez for Otsuka and half a season of Adam Eaton.
Well, how does that look now? So you think they could take back, like, one B-level prospect for Otsuka and sell that to their fans when they traded two All-Stars for him?
Depends who the B level prospect is and how he's valued. Who is this mysterious GM? I want to know who the prospect is that they're offering. If it's ####, I'll #### crucify your ####.
We might look at him as a set-up man. But that's how they look at him. So it's going to be tough."
What was the offer? Come on Stark, you're holding out. If this mystery GM has disclosed the offer, publish it, let the public decide if it was a #### offer or not? Is this Doug Melvin? Is this that #### deal for Tony Gywnn Jr. that failed to go down? Tony Gywnn Jr. is a joke.
Then there's Eric Gagne.
A deal that has been hammered by ESPN but has actually worked out rather well.
A team trading for him could owe him close to $6 million for the rest of the year, between his salary and games-finished incentives. The only big-market contenders his contract allows him to get traded to are the Red Sox, Angels and Yankees. And he won't waive his no-trade to go anywhere else unless he becomes the closer, because it could cost him millions of dollars in incentives.
He shouldn't. It's just business. And besides, Gagne is a solid closer and is better than several of the following options that Stark is about to name.
So what contenders could even consider making him their closer? Maybe The Phillies or the Cubs.
And those teams have other reasons not to deal for him. So the Rangers are facing a very limited market.
And he's right. Here's why:
Philies: Nothing to offer.
Braves: Don't want to give up anything of value.
Cubs: Also have nothing to offer and don't want to give up anything particularly useful. No, I don't want Cesar Iztruis types.
"If it were me running their team, I'd already have gone out and made the best deal for that guy I could have made," says an official of one team that inquired and gave up.
Thank god you aren't because god knows what this happy #### would have done.
"And that's just because of the injury factor. Would it surprise you if you woke up tomorrow and found out Eric Gagne's hip was sore, or his back, or his knee, and he was going on the DL? It wouldn't surprise me. So I'd move him while he's healthy if I were them."
As I've said before, you make the best deal necessary and sell while his value his high. It's not there yet. Give it another week.
One team to watch if Gagne softens that I-have-to-close stance: Detroit.
And here's where the column about the Rangers ends. And why should he soften his stance with Detroit. Do you mean to tell me that Gagne is a lesser closer than Todd Jones?
By now, you’ve probably already ready about Mark Teixeira’s comments and his growing frustration in Arlington, where he went after management for the problems with this years team and past Ranger teams in the past. From the tone and the language in the comments, Teixeira is all but burning the last bridges and will be in another uniform after next season, if not within the next month.
What’s even more telling, however, is the change of attitude toward Teixeira by the fans.
Once on of the more popular Rangers, there is a growing sentiment among several fans that is shifting against the All Star First Baseman Once regarded to be a francise cornerstone, Teixeira is now persona non grata to many fans, and this recent outburst, plus the comments he made about the Orioles and his desire to play for them, only further hurts his standing.
Perhaps that is why the Rangers went ahead and approved an extension for Michael Young, seeing that there was only a chance to sign one of their two stars and that Young, long seen to be the clubhouse leader by fan and player alike, was the better investment.
It's going to be tough to see Teixeira go, no doubt about it, but the way things are progressing, it seems inevitable that next year, Big Tex will be in another uniform.
Rangers Potentially On The Move
Kenny Lofton (CF) – There are several clubs currently after Kenny Lofton, who is likely the first Ranger to be traded. Reports have linked the Indians and Cubs to the Rangers in terms of trading for the mercenary centerfielder. Lofton still has solid tools and can still play everyday. The Indians likely intend on using him in right field while the Cubs would keep him in center. As for what could be offered in return, Lofton would command a decent prospect or so.
Akinori Otsuka (RHP) – According to Ken Rosenthal, the Rangers nearly traded Akinori Otsuka to the Brewers for Tony Gwynn Jr. Fortunately, Bill Hall’s injury resulted in the deal being called off. I’m not opposed to dealing for a young centerfielder, but Junior Gwynn is more or less a fourth outfielder. Really, there are better centerfield prospects available that could be targeted in a trade and there will be better offers out there for the Rangers to pick and choose from.
Sammy Sosa (DH) – While Sosa has not drawn as much interest, his success against left-handed pitching could make him useful to a team, such as Minnesota, that has struggled against lefties. Plus, Sammy has a lot more power than what the Twins have been running out there in their DH spot.
Hunter Signs
Two down, three to go.
The Rangers have signed another first round pick, Tommy Hunter, a draft eligible sophmore who was picked 54th overall by the Rangers. While I had speculated that it would take a large bonus to sign Hunter, he signed for slot money, $585,000.
Hunter will be assigned to short season Spokane, where he’ll be a reliever for the remainder of the season. However, Jon Daniels has said that he is willing to try Hunter in the rotation next year and sees him doing well there in the future.
As far as how Hunter profiles, he's similar to Rangers prospect Thomas Diamond in that he's got a big fastball, though Jonathan Broxton is another name that's thrown about. We'll see how he does.
Rangers Notes (Majors)
The John Koronka era in Texas is over. Koronka was claimed by the Indians, who sent him to Triple A Buffalo. This scenario has some similarities to when the Rangers waived Doug Davis back in 2003, but Davis was essentially a league average pitcher who had already stockpiled 350 Innings for the Rangers. Koronka is one of those pitchers that may be enternally bouncing back and forth between Triple A and the Show.
Former Ranger Julio Franco was designated for assignment. Franco was a second baseman for Texas and is one of the only Rangers to ever win the batting title (Michael Young was the other.)
Rangers Notes (Minors)
Chris Davis is only one hit away from tying the California League'#### streak record. Davis has 34 straight hits and one more would tie the record. He's fast becoming a solid prospect and has improved his standing as far as top prospects are concerned. A new list will be done this fall.
The Rangers announced late Monday night that they were promoting pitcher Edison Volquez from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Oklahoma. Volquez dominated the Texas League and is a big reason why Frisco is heading to the minor league playoffs. He'll join Frisco's former ace, Eric Hurley, in Oklahoma City.
Mark Redman opted out of his contract at Triple A Oklahoma Saturday, making him a free agent. Redman made nine starts for the RedHawks, going 2-4 with a 5.34 ERA. However, he wasn’t going to be called up any time soon and it’s likely that he was heading elsewhere to see if he could find an opportunity.
Oklahoma lefthander A.J. Murray over the last six weeks has notched four saves in four opportunities, 1.93 ERA in 18.2 innings. It's widely thought that Murray will succeed Ron Mahay as the other Ranger relief specialist, making Mahay's status as of the trade deadline uncertain at best.
Two Ranger prospects that are undergoing Visa Problems, pitchers Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando, will be pitching for the Dominican Republic in the Pan Am Games in Brazil.
I was flipping through Newsday, finding material for Friday Morning Closer, when I noticed this little tidbit when they were talking about the Yankee rotation.
How about a trade? Later in the season, the Indians may decide lefty ace C.C. Sabathia will be too expensive to sign to a long-term deal and look to move him. The Yankees would have to be interested. But at what cost?
Right.
First of all, I believe that Sabathia remains under the Indians control till the end of the 2008 season, where it's likely he'll test free agency, as no progress has been made in contract extension talks between Sabathia and the club.
He's also the staff ace and an important part of the Indians' possible playoff hopes.
Why would you give that up, especially when it looks like this year's Indians have a "win or bust" look to them.
And lastly, why would you want to help the Yankees, a team that you have a significant advantage over, with anything?
Look, it's time for the gossip writers to realize that the days of the old "Want A Prospect, Call Cashman" are pretty much over. Cashman did not invest tens of millions in the draft and international scouting to tear apart his work thanks to a weeks worth of flukey injuries.
Plus, who is out there to that's worth trading for?
Jon Lieber (Phillies) - Lieber is currently in the Phillies pen and has gotten knocked around, possibly due to the fact that he's simply not accustomed to pen outings and has a hard time getting going in short outings. Lieber could be had for a semi-decent reliever, but I doubt that the Yankees are willing to go around with Lieber again, especially when you consider that they could get the same production from Darrel Rasner.
Mark Prior (Cubs) - Cubs fans may say that Prior is untouchable, but I think the Cubs are willing to be rid of Prior and his inconsistencies once and for all. Prior still has gifts that tantilize people, and he was a former Yankees Number One pick, and he could be hand for something semi-useful, but obtaining Prior leaves the Yankees where they are now, as he's currently injured.
Brian Lawrence (Rockies) - Lawrence is currently being passed through waivers and can be claimed by anyone, but again, is Lawrence ready to be pitching for anyone?
Byung Hyung Kim (Rockies) - Again, could be decent for a couple of starts and would be cheap if the Yankees are willing to pick up the tab, but he's also currently injured.
Jonathan Sanchez (Giants) - Sanchez is capable of starting and is a much better option than Russ Ortiz, who is taking up space in the rotation. And the Giants have shown that they really don't value their kids much, so it's possible that you could obtain Sanchez for a spare part (possibly Kyle Farnsworth, who never should have lett the NL), as well as taking the awful Armando Beneitez off their hands, who could be flipped to the Marlins, provided he's paid for, for a semi-useful part in return. But, in spite of how stupid the Giants have been, I don't think they'd be that stupid.
Bruce Chen (Rangers) - Chen has actually been really decent in the last few weeks and could be obtained for a B- prospect or so, and Chen has shown the experience to win in the AL East. However, the Yankees, again, could obtain roughly Chen's performance from someone else.
Matt Clement (Red Sox) - Would be nice if he was healthy and able to pitch. The Red Sox would love to offload his salary for something in return, even if it is for a bag of balls, a hot pocket, and a couple of lapdances at Scores the next time they go to New York.
The bottom line is, all of these starters can be had for something that is less than what you would get for Sabathia, who would likely begin to be offered for something line Phil Hughes at the very least. But, realistically, many of these same guys are similar to the guys the Yankees are tossing out there, and really, giving the kids some experience, like the Yankees are doing with Chase Wright, Ranser, and Jeff Karstens, is not only more cost effective, but in the long run benefits everyone.
Fifth Starter = Leader – Jamey Wright. Wright has been helping his cause a lot, pitching 5 perfect innings so far, and striking out 3 in two starts. Chen has played in two games and has pitched 5 innings, allowing no runs and striking out one. The Rangers have been getting a first hand look at why scouts rave about Jamey Wright’s stuff. His career won-loss record is far from impressive and he was destroyed last season. Then again, there is reason to be a bit more optimistic, as he played mostly for the Rockies, who’s park is a lot more offensively friendly than that of Texas. Kameron Loe has done well as well, pitching 5 innings in two games (1 start) while not allowing any runs and striking out two. Mike Wood is looking more and more like a long reliever and John Koronka helped his cause the other day with a solid start, but he’s still far behind. This situation bears some watching.
Long Reliever = Leader – Joaquin Benoit. The battle for the Rangers’ final bullpen slot is going to be interesting, as it’s going to be between RHP’s Joaquin Benoit and Rick Bauer. The thing is, the bullpen is pretty much set with Gagne, Otsuka, Littleton, Wilson, Mahay, and Francisco almost certainly locked in unless one of the combo of Littleton, Wilson and Francisco suddenly begin to flame out and present a case to be sent down. Both Bauer and Benoit are out of minor league options, which mean they would have to pass through waivers to get sent down, which neither pitcher would survive, as there would almost certainly be a claim in on them. Hence, the Rangers need to look hard and decide which one will be the best fit. Both can spot start, though Bauer was the only one who did so last season, going for 5 1/3 innings. Benoit has a immensely talented arm, but he’s never been able to be consistent. Bauer is almost as gifted, but he’s been rather good in the minors and never seemed to get a shot with the Orioles, whom the Rangers signed him from. Both Benoit and Bauer can spot close. Bauer is far better as a 7th inning option than as an eighth inning option, though he won’t be expected to be a setup man with Francisco and Otsuka ahead of him. Hence, it’s a hard choice. So far, Benoit has been asserting himself this Spring Training, pitching for four innings while allowing no runs and striking out five. Rick Bauer has been destroyed, with his ERA at 19.31 and his allowing 5 earned runs in 2.1 innings of work and no strikeouts.
Backup Catcher = Leader – Chris Stewart. Stewart so far appears to be winning the job, batting .600 in 4 games with 2 RBI’s and displaying excellent skills behind the palte. Guillermo Quiroz is second, hitting .333 in 2 games with 1 Home Run and 1 RBI. Miguel Ojeda has played the most of the candidates and his hitting .167 with 1 home run and 2 RBI’s. Kevin Richardson and Solomon Mariquez have played themselves into minor league camp.
Utilityman = Leader – Jerry Hairston Jr. Guess the roids are kicking in. Hairston is hitting .556, but only 1 RBI and with 2 stolen bases. Drew Meyer is close behind, hitting .444 in seven games with a double. Desi Relaford is doing okay, hitting .273, a smaller average than the others, but he’s driven in two and has hit two doubles. Ron Washington has stated that the utilityman role will be decided on the last day of Spring Training.
Designated Hitter = Leader – Sammy Sosa. Sosa so far is hitting .500 in spring training, going 9 for 18 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI’s. Jason Botts isn’t doing badly either, as he’s hitting .375, going 6 for 16 with 5 RBI’s and no home runs. Victor Diaz is also doing well, hitting .308 with 2 home runs and 4 RBI’s, exactly the same as Sosa has produced.
Trades That Never Were – Mark Teixeira For Roy Oswalt
Late during the trade deadline last year, the Orioles, who covet Mark Teixeira, called up Jon Daniels and made an intriguing offer. At the time, the Orioles were in the process of shipping Miguel Tejada over to Houston in exchange for Adam Everett, Brad Lidge, and Roy Oswalt, quite a package. They wanted to know if Texas was interested in perhaps acquiring Oswalt in exchange for Teixeira.
J.D. said no. It turns out that it was for the best, as the trade fell apart shortly afterward.
Still, if the deal had worked out, the Rangers would have a legitimate ace at the head of their rotation, but the problem for the Rangers would have been to replace Teixeira’s offense, which would have been difficult to do. Some combination of Jason Botts and Mark DeRosa would have been used, but in the end, Texas would have been without a legitimate option at the heart of their lineup and would have resulted in overspending in keeping Carlos Lee in Texas.
The Cardinals Are Asking For Otsuka?
Ken Rosenthal has reported that the Cardinals, according to a major league souse, the Cardinals are considering asking the Rangers about the availability of Akinori Otsuka. Here’s my question: what the hell are the Cardinals going to offer? Chris Duncan, maybe? I doubt it, considering that he has a power bat. Can’t see much else in the system that would make sense.
Pronk On The Block?
Apparently, the Cleveland Indians are toying with the idea of seeing how much their DH is worth.
Travis Hafner, who was stupidly traded by the Rangers for journeyman catcher Einar Diaz, has become one of baseball's best hitters. He'll make just over $4 million this year and the Indians hold a club option on him for 2008 worth just over $5 million. The Indians don’t seem inclined to pay him long term deal, likely one between the 4 year, $52 million that David Ortiz got and the 6 year, $100 million that Carlos Lee got.
If the Indians are going to keep Hafner, a deal would likely have to be about 5 years and $80 million, similar to the extension recently given to Michael Young. Hafner would bring in a pretty penny as far as the trade front, but his in ability to play the field makes him limited to the American League.
Would I go for him?
Tough to say.
I would love Pronk back in Texas, where he never should have left, but I’m not sure if the Rangers should trade talent or money to right a mistake from several years ago. It’s like saying it was a wise thing to pay tons of money for Barry Zito over a dispute over a signing bonus, even though there’s no guarantee that Zito would have developed into the player that he is had he become a Ranger.
I’d wait on the sidelines for right now and see how the market develops. If he’s acquirable for a reasonable price, I’d do it. If not, well, then I’ll always have that Rookie Card of him in a Rangers uni, next to the one of Chris Young.
Carlos Zambrano In Texas? Let’s Take A Look
I’ve gotten a lot of email about the possibility of the Rangers making a play for Zambrano, if indeed he does become a free agent. Let’s take a look and see what’s what.
For starters, Zambrano is going to be headed into the same scenario that Barry Zito faced this past year, that of a successful pitcher entering the market in a relatively weak year of pitchers. Unlike Zito, Zambrano is a far more talented pitcher that will also be entering the market at a younger age than Zito did. Plus, he’s a power pitcher, unlike Zito, who is far more of a finesse style of player, though Zito is a bit more durable.
Plus, the writing is on the wall for Zambrano. He wants to get paid and the Cubbies know it. He won’t take their excuse of crying poverty, especially after the Cubs spent over $300 million this offseason on several players, plus on a new manager. Again, when you take into mind Zambrano’s past success, and the fact that he’s accomplished so much by the age of 25, it’s only fair that he would want to demand a large contract, and he deserves it, to a certain extent, though try as clubs may want, he will use the 7 years, $126 million contract given to Zito as a baseline, instead of the 5 years, $73 million contract given to Roy Oswalt.
Yet, there are fans in the Ranger Nation that feel that Texas should pursue Zambrano, as he would be the perfect pitcher to place in front of their rotation.
I can tell you already, it would be a mistake.
Here’s why:
Money – The Rangers have some large commitments coming up. Michael Young has been extended and Milwood and Padilla will each have large money hits coming up in the next few years. Plus, there is also the simple fact that in a year, the Rangers will also have potential arbitration hearings for Gerald Laird, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz, to name a few.
Needs – Texas also will have several needs in the future, namely centerfield and designated hitter/outfield corner, depending on what they decide to do with Cat.
Mark Teixeira – There’s also the impending issue of Mark Teixeira’s free agency. Signing Zambrano would mean that re-signing Tex is almost impossible.
Competition – There would be too many teams in for Zambrano. While there would be outside interest from Boston, who would be looking to swap Curt Schilling out for another starter, unless they finally willing to commit to Jon Lester and any potential health issues, there’s the Yankees to worry about. Andy Pettitte is only signed for one year, Mike Mussina for two and Carl Pavano looks more and more like he’ll be moved sometime this year to make room for Phil Hughes. Then there’s also the Mets to worry about. The Mets have no real frontline starter. Orlando Hernandez will probably be off the books and with the Mets losing out on Zito and misreading the market for Jeff Suppan, Jeff Weaver, and others, you really believe that they’ll sit back and let the Yankees, among other players, get away with a certifiable ace? I doubt it.
So, there you have it. No Big Z for the Rangers. But look on the bright side. There will be other options available for Texas to spend their money on, and it will in the end be a lot more effective to let the young pitchers grow. The Rangers farm system as a whole took a collective step back last year, but there is good talent available in the system that, if even half of it recovers for the colossal fall back it did last season, Texas will have a wealth of young pitching to choose from.
Team Previews enter their final week this week. Here's a hint as to who it is: one of these teams wears stripes.
Alrighty, let’s see who’s next in the division previews…
Go Tribe!
Cleveland Indians
The Indians greatly underachieved last season, going from possible Division winner to cellar dweller in the course of two months, thanks mostly to the implosion of their bullpen. The Indians heavily invested in rebuilding the setup corps and return the majority of their young team and should be dramatically better.
Starting Rotation
C.C. Sabathia (LHP) – Sabathia has ace quality stuff, but his bulk on his frame results in a lot of questions about his durability. Sabathia enters 2007 with a lot on his shoulders, as he’s now going to be depended on, more than ever, to lead this rotation that lost a certain something when Kevin Millwood left town.
Jake Westbrook (RHP) – Groundball pitchers are neat in that they don’t require a lot of work. They pretty much let the defense do it’s thing. Though there are a lot of cracks on how bad the Indians’ defense is, I think they’re good enough to allow the three groundballers on the staff to do their job. Westbrook, however, is unique in that he can rely on four pitches at any time to help him out of trouble.
Paul Byrd (RHP) – Another groundball pitcher, Byrd had a explosive relationship with former Indians closer Bob Wickman, who was traded last season. Byrd is also like Westbrook in that he’s dependant on the defense, though Westbrook has four pitches he’s able to utilize in the event of trouble.
Cliff Lee (LHP) – Lee is another solid lefty in the rotation that can eat innings and is capable of dominating at times.
Jeremy Sowers (LHP) – Sowers was solid last season after joining the Indians in late June and making 14 starts after Jason Johnson imploded. Now he’s got to prove he can do it for the whole season.
Bullpen
Joe Borowski (Closer) – With Keith Foulke now out of the picture, Borowski wins the closer’s job by default. Borowski is far from a overpowering closer. In fact, he’s similar to Bob Wickman, the Indians’ ex-closer, in that he outmaneuvers batters instead of blowing them away.
Rafael Betancourt (Setup Man) – One of the more solid relievers in the rotation, Betancourt will likely setup Borowski, plus spot close when necessary.
Roberto Hernandez (RHP) – Trying to build some semblance of a rotation, the Indians signed Hernandez to help bridge the gap to whoever will be their closer. Hernandez returned to the Mets in a late season deal and is a competent setup man. Despite his age, he still hits the low 90's on his fastball and he's got a solid splitter and slider. He's most likely the 7th inning reliever for the Indians.
Aaron Fultz (LHP) – Fultz is more or less a lefty specialist, as he gets killed by right-handed hitters.
Jason Davis (RHP) – Davis became one of the most reliable relievers out of the Indians bullpen as the year wound down. With the lack of relievers in the system, he’ll likely make the big club.
Rafael Perez (LHP) – Perez is a tall southpall that excelled once moved into the pen. Perez has a low 90’s power sinker that misses plenty of bats and tends to get hammered into the ground when contact is made. However, he lacks a complimentry pitch to go with it, making him a one pitch pony. However, Perez has little to prove in the minors and he should make the Indians’ opening day roster.
Projected Lineup
Grady Sizemore (CF) –Sizemore is quickly turning into one of the best players in the game, as he’s quick, has power, plays an excellent centerfield, and is, as my sister put it, a “hottie”. That aside, Sizemore is quickly turning into the second most popular Indian, with only Hafner having more fans, and is the face of the franchise for years to come. The only real flaw in Sizemore’s game is his arm isn’t the strongest, but aside from that he is a solid player that should continue to be considered among baseball’s elite.
Josh Barfield (2B) – Without any type of second baseman on the roster, the Indians were lucky enough to steal Josh Barfield from the Padres. Barfield provides solid defense and has plenty of pop in his bat. While he won’t be a run producer, he’s solid enough to hit at the number two spot.
Victor Martinez (C) –Martinez is capable of hitting.300 and knocking 20 homers each year. On other teams, he’d be a primary run producer, but with the Indians deep in bats, that’s not necessary. The problem with Martinez is that he’s only an average defender and isn’t quick enough to discourage runners for stealing on him. I think that Martinez will be switched to first base permanently in the near future.
Travis Hafner (DH) – Hafner is, after David Ortiz, the most dangerous DH in the American League. Hafner hits for incredible power and is extremely productive when he’s in the lineup. The only problem is keeping him in there. Hafner has never played more than 140 games in a season. If the Indians are to contend, Hafner needs to stay healthy.
Andy Marte (3B) – Marte was once considered to be the jewel of the Braves’ farm system before he was dealt to the Red Sox, then to the Indians. Marte destroyed Triple A this past year before crapping out in the majors during a September callup. Marte is a solid enough defender to stick at third base and he’s got good power potential to be a solid fifth man in the lineup. With nothing left to prove in Triple A, Marte will be the Indians’ Opening Day third baseman.
David Dellucci (LF) – Dellucci cashed in after performing well with the Phillies and will now roam left field for the Indians. Dellucci can hit for power and is productive enough to hit in the heart of the line up, plus can leadoff on the days that Sizemore may be off. The only problem is that Dellucci can get a little strikeout happy at times. Dellucci is also a very vocal leader in the clubhouse and could help guide the young Tribe as they get more experience.
Trot Nixon (RF) –Nixon can still be a productive player, but the injuries are going to limit the amount of games he can play. He’s going to platoon with Shin Soo Choo in right.
Casey Blake (1B) – Casey Blake uis likely going to be playing first base when Martinez is behind the backstop or resting. He was very impressive during limited duty last season, but he’s not going to be the long term solution at first base. Still, he should be very good for this season.
Jhonny Peralta (SS) – No Indian enters the season on the hot seat more than Peralta. If Peralta doesn't show he's at least an average shortstop defensively, he’s going to be gone, even though he signed a five-year, $13 million deal in 2006.
Bench
Kelly Shoppach (C) – Shoppach is actually the more polished defender between him and Martinez and is no slouch with the bat himself. There will be games that Martinez will move over to first to give Shoppach some playing time.
Jason Michaels (OF) – Michaels is a useful fourth outfielder that hits for average with some pop and can play the entire outfield pretty well. He’s a decent runner and should be a solid bench player.
Shin-Soo Choo (OF) – Choo has the potential to be a solid major league regular that can hit for power. He was impressive in limited duty with the Indians last season and he’s got the speed and field instincts to stick at right field. Unfortunately, he’s blocked by Trot Nixon, though he’ll get playing time since Nixon isn’t the picture of durability.
Hector Luna (INF) –Luna’s bat is decent enough to where he could start, so the Indians could use Luna as a threat to motivate Peralta at shortstop.
Joe Inglett (UTIL) – Inglett can play several positions, including centerfield, and he’s got great speed as well. Like Luna, Inglett could also be an option at shortstop should Peralta continue to struggle.
Down On The Farm…
The Indians are flushed with talent in their farm system, with several talented pitchers and outfielders that will contribute to them at some point in time. Add this to the fact that there is already so much talent already on the team and what you have is a farm system that has done it’s job in supplying a team with young, cheap talent.
Adam Miller (RHP) – Miller is one of the top right handed pitching prospects in the game that features a solid low-to-mid 90’s sinking fastball, a hard slider, and a changeup that gives him a full three-pitch arsenal. He also holds his velocity deep into games and has the potential to be an ace as long as he can keep some consistency. If he tears up Triple A, he could force the Tribe to give him a look and may even make one of the starting five expendable.
Brian Barton (CF) – Undrafted out of college, Barton has proven to be quite a find, dominating both high A and Double A competition. Barton is an excellent athlete that has both raw power and speed, and is an above-average defender in center. With Barton already 25, the Indians figure to push him in order to see what exactly he’s capable of. The only problem is, the outfield is very crowded for the Indians so any call up that Barton receives will be strictly to display his trade value.
Tony Sipp (LHP) – Sipp moved to the bullpen in the minors and did well. He’s got a solid fastball/slider combination, but struggles at times with his consistency. At the very least, he could be a solid setup man.
Brad Snyder (RF) – Snyder is another excellent athlete that has a lot of raw power and speed, along with a strong arm in the outfield. Snyder has problems making contact however, and his plate discipline is lacking, along with his pitch recognition. Like Barton, Snyder is also running out of time to prove himself, so any call up he gets will be to showcase his value.
In Conclusion
I think that with the Twins faltering, the White Sox dismantling the 2005 World Series club, and the Tigers bound to take a step back, the Indians will have enough talent to finally win the division. Plus, they’ve got enough talent in the minors to allow them to make a move at the deadline to acquire anything they might need, making things even more stacked in their favor.
Final Standing: American League Central Division Champion
I thought I might write down the three top burning questions for each team. Because I'm leaving for sunny Florida for thanksgiving, I'm dividing the league into four parts, with half of each league posted in alphabetical order. Let's check it out, shall we?
Baltimore Orioles
Who’s building the path to Chris Ray?
The Orioles showed that they didn’t need B.J. Ryan, as Chris Ray stepped into the closers role and performed admirably. Baltimore’s pitching was actually somewhat adequate, but the real death on this team is the lack of a bullpen. The Orioles need to build up the pen in order for Ray to get the opportunity to do his thing. The signing of Jamie Walker is a start, though not a very strong one.
Will Miguel Tejada be traded?
Tejada still was productive last season, but his defense is slipping. Many scouts that saw him play thought that he should be moved to Third Base or become a DH. Neither is likely going to happen thanks to Tejada’s massive ego, so the problem remains on whether or not the Orioles should deal the talented star in return for major league ready talent. The Orioles had an offer of Ervin Santana and top shortstop prospect Erick Aybar, but Peter Angelos vetoed the trade. The Orioles should call the Angels again to see if they still want to trade.
Who’s the starting five?
The Orioles now have seven possible starters with Rodrigo Lopez, Daniel Cabrera, Eric Bedard, Hayden Penn, Kris Benson, and Jaret Wright. The problem is that outside of Bedard and maybe Benson, most of these guys are mediocre at best. This situation reeks of the Orioles just tossing up players on a wall to see who sticks.
Boston Red Sox
Did Daisuke Matsuzaka keep the Red Sox from making other improvements?
With the Red Sox now going to spend close to $80 million just to bid and sign Daisuke Matsuzaka, does Bosotn have enough to fill other holes? With the prices on players skyrocketing, Boston may have shot themselves in the foot as far as trying to sign Julio Lugo, J.D. Drew, and a closer, meaning that the Red Sox would have to trade Manny Ramirez (if possible) to a team that could help relieve these needs, or have to dip into the farm system to try and make a deal.
Who’s closing?
With Papelbon going into the rotation, who’s closing for the Red Sox? Mike Timlin is a short term fix, but not a great long term answer. There’s been talk about Eric Gagne possibly going to Boston, but Gagne has been taken down by injuries the past few years and isn’t quite what he used to be. Another rumor abounding has been the Red Sox trading Wily Mo Pena for Brad Lidge, but Houston still values Lidge enough to keep him. The other options on the market (Danys Baez, Justin Spier) don’t fit what should be a closers profile. Matt Clement could even be given a shot if the Red Sox believe he might be able to pull it off. Short of trading prospects for an excellent setup man (Scott Shields, maybe), the Red Sox have few options.
Are the Red Sox really sold on Dustin Pedroia, Coco Crisp, and Wily Mo Pena?
The Answer so far appears to be yes, no, and not really. Pedroia will get a shot at second, but the fact that his bat was dormant in his callup is a concern. Wily Mo Pena is still quite raw and unpolished, which is why the Red Sox are flirting with J.D. Drew. Crisp was disappointing and was nearly traded during the deadline for Andruw Jones, but the deal fell through. Crisp will be attractive to teams because of his contract, but his reputation has been blemished.
Chicago White Sox
Who’s the odd man out in the rotation?
The White Sox have made it known for months that they are going to move a starter to allow Brandon McCarthy to move into the rotation. With Jon Garland and Jose Contreras being the aces of the staff, which leaves Mark Buerhle, Freddy Garcia, and Javier Vasquez. Buerhle has some security among the three, as he’s the lone lefty of the group, leaving Garcia and Vasquez as the odd men out. About half of baseball has been linked to the pair, both of which have their risk. Garcia is older, but has been consistent. Vasquez has more talent, but it hasn’t translated to results. It’s quite possible that both could be moved if a young starting pitcher were part of the package. The Mets are intriguing as they’ve offered Aaron Heilman and possibly Lastings Milledge for Vasquez. The deal would bode well for the White Sox as Milledge can play center and Heilman would make an adequate fifth starter, allowing the White Sox to deal Garcia to another team, possibly Texas, who has a surplus of relievers.
Who’s playing centerfield?
Towards the end of last season, it became obvious that the White Sox had clearly lost faith in Brian Anderson (along with Scott Posdednik). With the White Sox reportedly looking into signing Gary Matthews Jr., Dave Roberts, or possibly trying to bring back Aaron Rowand, it looks like Anderson will get dealt rather soon for another need.
Who’s the bridge to Jenks?
The White Sox made it known that no one in the pen except for Jenks is safe. The White Sox have already traded Neal Cotts and seem to be ready to trade for other relievers. Knuckleballer Sean Tracey looks to be coming out of the pen, but other than that, there are few other alternatives.
Cleveland Indians
Is Buck Showalter going to take over the team?
Former Rangers manager Buck Showalter is going to be an advisor to the Indians, which doesn’t bode well for Eric Wedge. And while ownership so far is saying that Wedge is safe, if the Indians start badly again, we could start seeing signs that Showalter could be brought in as soon as June.
Who’s in the bullpen?
The bullpen, which had been so strong in 2005, imploded last year, leading to the Indians trading parts of the team in order to bring in more talent. While this will help in the future, the Indians are still without a solid closer or middle relief. GM Mark Shapiro has said he’s inviting as many prospects and free agents to spring training as possible, a move which could prove to be a success, but which could also become a colossal failure.
Is Jhonny Peralta safe?
Peralta suffered a setback last year, collapsing offensively while not succeeding defensively. Peralta was absolutely killed by lefties last year and was too much of a free swinger. Peralta will likely start the year at shortstop, but look for the Indians to start looking at other options in the event Peralta continues to struggle.
Detroit Tigers
Where’s the plate discipline?
While the Tigers still put up impressive numbers last season, their lineup was filled with free swingers, with only Placido Polanco showing any sort of plate discipline. The addition of Gary Sheffield should help, but his health isn’t a certainty anymore.
Does Todd Jones have anything left?
Jones is an one of the older players on the team and at his age, consistency is no longer a certainty. There are several closers around the league that are succeeding despite age (Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman come to mind), but Jones isn’t close to what those to are. Fortunately, the Tigers appear to have options available in the event Jones flames out, but the transition to setup man to closer isn’t always a successful one.
How much longer will Ivan Rodriguez hold up?
The greatest American League catcher ever still is a solid player, but age is going to catch up to him sooner or later. With only one year left on his contract, Rodriguez is likely to leave after this year, which is a problem for the Tigers, as they lack position players in the system. With no clear heir to Rodriguez, the Tigers could be in some trouble.
Kansas City Royals
Will Mike Sweeney be dealt?
The answer is probably no, even if Sweeney returns to the offensive force he was three years ago. The fact is that the Royals gave Sweeney a scary contract, one that no team in their right mind will take. The likelihood is that Sweeney will remain a Royal for this year, finishing his contract, and then retiring.
Who the hell is closing?
With Mike MacDougal gone and no one stepping up since his departure, the Royals are in serious trouble at the end of games. Ambourix Burgos has closers stuff, but can’t handle the responsibility and Joe Nelson is a suitable emergency option. The Royals might have some talent in the minors that could be worth trying out, but Royals pitching prospects don’t have a high success rate of turning out.
Is Mark Teahen going to be traded?
Teahen is definitely in danger, as hot prospect Alex Gordon is rapidly rising in the farm systems ranks. Teahen is a solid contributor and still has years of arbitration left. If Teahen continues on the tear he was on last year, there’s a high possibility that Teahen will get dealt next off-season, allowing Gordon to take over the job.
Los Angeles Angels
Is Bartolo Colon going to regain form?
Colon is never in the greatest of shape and it could be that his bulk is catching up to him. With his injury that eliminated him from the 2005 post-season, plus his early struggles, Colon is going to be a wild card going into next season. John Lackey has since taken over the role of staff ace, which means Colon is likely to be a solid Number Two if and when he comes back.
Will the Angels finally deal from the system?
The Angels have prospects upon prospects, but they’re starting to become backlogged, as both Brandon Wood and Erick Aybar are almost ready. With a vast amount of depth in the minors, the Angels could and should make a deal, but GM Bill Stoneman is reluctant to trade prospects. We’ll see if he’s as gun shy this off-season, with Artie Moreno chomping at the bit for a major acquisition.
Will Chone Figgins be moved?
Figgins is attractive in that he can play multiple positions, but he’s really better off as a utilityman. That won’t stop some teams from asking about him, but the Angels really like Figgins and his work ethic. Hence, the Angels need to ask themselves long and hard if they’re willing to sacrifice Figgins for the bat they desperately need.
This season was a disappointment for the most part. I expected, with all the changes that were made, that a winning season would at least be possible. Instead, all we got was one more win.
The Rangers sorely underachieved through this season. I can't help but wonder how the season could have turned out differently. What if Adam Eaton hadn't missed half the season due to injury? What if Francisco Cordero hadn't gone up in flames? What if Mark Teixiera hadn't slumped badly early in the season?
Such a lot of questions:
For Texas, this off-season will be one of important decisions. Will Tom Hicks decide to pour more money to bring a contender to Dallas? With the Rangers make a philosophical change and force Buck Showalter tomorrow night, like so many Dallas area writers are expected? Will the kids, whom the Rangers have spent several draft picks and several million dolllars, finally begin to make their presence know?
I don't know.
Like all things in Texas, we try not to make things more dramatic than they are.
They just end up becoming that way.
The Rangers Report will shift to Off-Season mode, turning it's focus to the Arizona Fall League, prospect rankings, and possible free agency targets. Expect a full write up of possible free agency and trade targets in two weeks, though if there is a Showalter firing, there will of course be an update.
In the meantime, enjoy October. Go Tigers!
Building A Champion
Here’s how the team, as constructed, will look in 2007.
· C – Gerald Laird - $0.335M
· C – Miguel Ojeda - $0.5M (Option Probably Exercised)
· RP – Akinori Otsuka - $3.25M (Estimated – Arbitration)
· RP – C.J. Wilson - $0.328M
· RP – Rick Bauer - $1.1M (Estimated – Arbitration)
· RP – Ron Mahay - $1.1M (Option)
· RP – Wes Littleton - $0.33M
· RP – Frank Francisco - $0.345M
· RP – Scott Feldman - $0.329M
Minor League Possibilities (Not Counted Toward Final Payroll)
· RP – John Rheinecker - $0.33M
· SP – Kameron Loe - $0.348M
· SP – John Koronka - $0.329M
· SP – Edinson Volquez - $0.329M
· RP – Nick Masset - $0.33M
Total Payroll For 2006 – $72,329,570 (Not Counting Alex Rodriguez Salary Contribution)
Total Payroll For 2007 – $38,817,000 (Ditto)
That’s a hell of a lot of payroll coming off the books, which is understandable considering the amount of free agents (9), plus the Chan #### Park contract coming off the books. Alex Rodriguez’s payment is usually not regarded as part of the payroll and is paid for separately.
The Rangers had an eight-man bullpen going in seems a little extreme, so it’s likely that Rupe or Feldman could be optioned to Triple A – Oklahoma, depending on what happens in Spring Training. However, Rupe or Wilson could crack the rotation as the fourth or fifth starter, with the edge likely going to Rupe because he’s far more talented. If that were to happen, it’s a certainty that Mahay’s contract option will be exercised and Nick Masset will wind up back at Oklahoma for another year of seasoning. Ojeda’s option will likely be exercised, as he’#### well enough to be a serviceable backup catcher. Depending on John Koronka’s performance in Spring Training and the Arizona Fall League, he could be back to the rotation. While many people disregard AFL success, keep in mind that Wes Littleton was one of the best pitchers in the AFL last season.
Then there’s the Carlos Lee situation. Brewers GM Doug Melvin really gave the Rangers a problem when he included Nelson Cruz in the package for Carlos Lee. The Rangers love Cruz’s power and his great instincts in the field. He’s got a strong arm and had great success in the minors. Plus, in fewer at bats, Cruz nearly hit the exact same amount of Home Runs as Lee did. If I had to go with my instincts, I think the Rangers, who have stated they want to give Cruz a chance, will probably let Lee walk.
With that in mind, let’s look at Team Needs:
The Texas Rangers Team Needs
Centerfield – The Rangers need to get Gary Matthews Jr. signed before he hits the market. As long as he remains under the Rangers’ control, Texas would be able to avoid overpaying him. If he were to get onto the open market, there has been talk of Seattle, Colorado, Los Angeles, just to name a few, who are interested in signing the 32 year old. While Matthews has great range, he doesn’t walk as often and his on base percentage is mostly batting average driven. If Texas isn’t able to sign Matthews’ long term, other options include going after Eric Byrnes of the Diamondbacks, or trading for Vernon Wells, though Byrnes is likely the cheaper option.
Starting Pitcher – The Rangers are losing Vicente Padilla, Adam Eaton, and the disaster that is Kip Wells this year to Free Agency. Of those three, Padilla must be re-signed, even if it costs the Rangers 3 years, $30 million to do so. Padilla brings a fierce presence to the mound and also brings an element of surprise, as you never know what he’s going to do. Aside from bringing back Padilla, the Rangers need at least one more innings eater to finish off the rotation. Jake Westbrook is a strong option, as he’ll give you six or seven before turning it over to the pen. Dontrelle Willis is another option, though it should be noted that both players are going to cost a lot in prospects and of the two, only Willis has any sort of long term commitment attached to him, though that’s only for a year. Free Agency looks pretty bleak, with only Houston’s Andy Pettitte (who is likely to re-sign with the club) or Toronto’s Ted Lilly being the most attractive, due to Ameriquest’s fondness for left handed pitching. Of the two, Lilly is the one that is going to be easier to obtain, though he won’t come cheap. Still, a rotation with Millwood, Lily, Padilla, with Rupe and Tejeda along for the ride should be good.
Third Base – Hank Blalock has long been lacking in the second half of the season with the Rangers. With that in mind, I have a new idea. Why not bring back Mark DeRosa as the third baseman and move Blalock to the DH. Many attribute Blalock’s offensive slump to fatigue over the season, allowing Blalock to hit solely as the DH could keep him fresher and allow him to keep more consistent.
Arizona Fall League Candidates
Texas has released some of the names of their players being sent to the Arizona Fall League.
· John Koronka – (Texas/AAA-Oklahoma)
· Jesse Ingram – P (AA-Frisco)
· Danny Touchet – P (AA-Frisco)
· Pitcher To Be Named
· Kevin Richardson – C (AA-Frisco)
· Travis Metcalf – 3B (AA-Frisco)
· Anthony Webster – OF (AAA-Oklahoma)
The other pitcher hasn’t been named yet, though there is talk about having the name switched to Jason Botts.
Playing Out Of Position
One of the odder lineups that has been posted in days was used yesterday against Seattle. Several players were used out of position. Here’s the list:
How Johnny Damon's Defection May Have Doomed The Red Sox
During drinking last week, me and the guys somehow came up with this idea. Actually, it's got some plausability. Let's take a look.
If this one even had happened, here's what would have happened?
If Damon had re-signed wtih the Red Sox, the Yankees would have been forced to look elsewhere for centerfield help and would probably have had to force Bubba Crosby or Melky Cabrera into center if nothing turned up. This in turn would have further weakened a Yankee lineup that would be reeling from the losses of Matsui and Sheffield (I'll make it a given at this point that Cabrera would have had the same season.)
The Red Sox would not have had to go out and make the deal for Coco Crisp. And as a result, the Red Sox would have retained top catching prospect Kelly Shoppach, who's currently hitting .274 with 3 Home Runs and 15 RBI's in 30 Games. He also calls a good game and Cleveland is very high on him.
The Red Sox would have kept Shoppach in Triple A until Varitek goes down, in which case the Red Sox could have called up Shoppach instead of dealing for the disappointing Javy Lopez.
And the Red Sox still could have gone after Mark Loretta and re-acquired Doug Mirabelli.
Would this have completely saved the Red Sox? No. The bullpen is still shot and Broson Arroyo is still in Cincinnatti. But you have to admit, the team is much less weaker than it is now.
Clemens is 6-4 with a 2.29 ERA. And Clemens has remarked that he feels pretty good about how he's feeling this season.
Which has now started a bunch of rumors that Clemens may return mid-season yet again. Boston has reportedly offered him $4 million per month!!!! for him to do just that.
Haven't we had enough of Roger? This is getting ridiculous...
