This is a quick update to Tuesday's On The Block. Today's On The Block will be posted shortly...
On The Block - Johan Santana (again...)
Well, the trade acquistions of Delmon Young and Brendan Harris have changed what exactly the Twinkies will want in return for Santana and, subsequently, changes the amount of bidders available. The Twins will now likely look for a centerfielder as well as near ready starting pitching, and positional players. Harris is merely a stopgap shortstop and would actually be better at third base, assuming that the Twins go with Alexi Casilla and not the awful Nick Punto and second.
Here's who is going to likely not have a match:
Texas Rangers – Not that Texas was ever really in it, but this kinda kills any offer the Rangers could send. A package could be built around Hurley and Salty, but Kinsler wouldn't be as attractive.
New York Mets - The Mets now have no shot to even interest the Twins. The best thing they could do would be to try and acquire one of the Twins' lesser arms for an outfielder, but there isn't anything the Mets have that could interest Minnesota in any way.
That leaves four teams that realistically could trade for Santana, three of them the same from Tuesday, one of them new....
Potential Suitors – In Alphabetical Order
Boston Red Sox – Boston actually now would make the most sense, as they could send the Twins a good looking package of Jed Lowrie, a shortstop, Jon Lester, a ready made pitcher, Coco Crisp, a centerfielder, and likely a fourth prospect, possbly Brandon Moss, another outfielder, which could DH for the Twins, or something else.
Los Angeles Angels – Artie Moreno and Co. look like their willing to go all in this offseason, with the acquisitions of Garland and Hunter. It would be tough to see who Santana would replace, though it would likely come at the expense of Jered Weaver, a pitcher who is nowhere near as good as he's made out to be. The Angels could offer Minnesota a package of Reggie Willits, who could man center and bat leadoff, Brandon Wood or Erick Aybar, both of whom can play shortstop, Weaver, who could slot in right away, and likely a fourth prospect, maybe Mark Sweeney, a power hitting first baseman in the lower minors.
Los Angeles Dodgers – The Dodgers MIGHT be able to make a deal now. Since the outfield is now out of player, the Dodgers would likely have to center a deal around Andy LaRoche, their top third base prospect, Chin-Lung Hu, their top shortstop prospect, as well as Clayton Kershaw and one more player. That would be too rich for me.
New York Yankees – The one team that the Young trade screws over the most is the Yankees, who now not only have to include Melky Cabrera in a trade, but would also have to include Robinson Cano, along with Kennedy and Hughes for a deal to work. And before the Yankee hate mail comes it, there aren't ANY positional prospects in the Yankees' minors aside from Austin Jackson, thanks to a lot of pitching centered drafts.
If I Had To Pick A Deal Right Now...Traded To The Boston Red Sox for SS Jed Lowrie, LHP Jon Lester, OF Brandon Wood and CF Coco Crisp.
Will A Trade Happen - Yes. The Twins are nowhere near close to competing in a very stiff AL Central and the window with this current nucleus closed about two years ago, making a rebuilding effort long delayed. At the very least, the trades of Santana and Joe Nathan would allow the Twins to get enough young pieces that the farm has failed to produce to put together a nice, young talent core to mount a challenge to the Indians and Tigers in two years.
Texas took two of three from Oakland this past series, a good sign that the Rangers could finish over .500 for the first time since 2004. They only need ten more to pass the mark. They should get to it, making the season a success.
The more concerning issue is Tom Hicks calling out the team, saying that there is a lack of toughness on the team and calling into question Michael Young's leadership abilities.
It's never a good idea to call out your best player, let alone one was beloved and respected as Young.
Young has done nothing but play with the team's best interests at heart. Young has performed in the clutch, helped guide the team's young rookies, including Ian Kinsler and Joaquin Arias, and has also has stepped up into a role left by the departed David Dellucci and a role that was often shirked by another one of Tom Hicks' genius deals, Alex Rodriguez.
Hicks needs to step back and allow Jon Daniels and Company to keep the team going on the right track. At the present, Texas has a collection of talent that is capable of winning the World Series, being only two starting ptichers away from doing so. Robinson Tejeda, the player that has replaced Dellucci, has proven in the past month that he is capable of being a solid workhorse.
Hopefully, Young won't hold a grudge against the team when it comes time to give him an extension. If Young is allowed to leave the Rangers, the team will only have it's owner to blame.
Well, the Rangers fared well enough in their games where they are still in the race. Texas has a chance to pass the Angels to take second for a while if they sweep the Angels. The Rangers have Vicente Padilla going against Ervin Santana in what should be a great pitchers duel, then have Joe Saunders against Adam Eaton, another good matchup if Eaton has his best stuff and doesn’t try and nail Juan Rivera again.
After that, it’s a tough matchup against Detroit, who will be looking to make up ground and try and put some distance between them and the White Sox. If the Rangers can split the series, they’ll be in great shape.
Eric Young Is Back
One of the contributors from the 2004 team that nearly made the post-season, Eric Young, is back in the fold. Young, who has been largely ineffective with the Padres, will be assigned to Triple A Oklahoma, where he’ll be brought up in September.
Teixeira’s Future: Breaking Down Ken Rosenthal and the Organization
Earlier last week, Ken Rosenthal brought up the possibility that Mark Teixeira could get traded. The Rangers are likely to give Michael Young a lucrative extension. That much is certain. But, taking a look at the Rangers’ contracts at the moment, the payroll is going to increase significantly. The Rangers will save money when Rod Barajas’ and Chan #### Park’s/Phil Nevin’s contract expire, taking about $20 million off the books. But, the Rangers will have to pick and choose between retaining Gary Matthews Jr. and Lee, with Lee likely being the odd man out since he has a replacement in the farm system in Nelson Cruz.
However, Rosenthal is correct in assuming that Mark Teixiera won’t be a Ranger beyond 2008. His agent, the ever-present evil of Scott Boras (who I heard on Mike and Mike a few weeks ago. Is it just me, or does he try a little too hard on being sophisticated), who prefers his clients to determine their values on the open market. This works bad for Texas, because in 2008, two power crazy teams in the Northeast, the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, will have a clear need at first base and will price Tex out of Texas’ range.
Unfortuantely, the Rangers may not be able to trade Teixeira, because of the lack of a ready replacement in the farm system. The Rangers have a lack of first basemen in the farm system, that was a weakness that they tried addressing in the draft. Because the team would need to move a player that has the proper power desired from a corner infielder, the amount of choices grows even narrower.
Here’s who could replace Tex, if he leaves:
Ian Kinsler (MLB) – I mention Kinsler only because he has the offensive ability to play first base. However, Kinsler has already had to switch from Shortstop to second and it wouldn’t be fair to have him switch again.
Jason Botts (AAA) – The next likely candidate as Botts has already spent a lot of time playing first. Botts certainly has the power numbers to play at first, but he’s a horrid defender, which is why he’s strictly projected as a DH.
John Mayberry Jr. (Low A) – Mayberry played first base in college, but has already made the transition to the outfield. If he were to be asked to switch back, there is no guarantee he’d be ready to play once 2008 rolls around.
Chad Tracy (Short Season A) – Tracy was drafted for his bat and has thus far proven that he’s a powerful offensive threat. However, if the Rangers really wanted Tracy to move to first base, they would have to move him now.
Chris Davis (Short Season A) – Davis played First in Junior College. However, the Rangers really don’t think much of his defense because he’s now in the outfield.
All in all, not a good sign, particularly since Tex in a few years could be worth the Yankees trading Chien Ming Wang for or for the Red Sox sending over John Lester.
Free Agency – An Updated Look
Carlos Lee – Go. I’m not saying that I wouldn’t want Lee around, but if he demands a huge contract, one that will break the bank for the Rangers, then I’ll take the draft picks. Plus, Nelson Cruz came over in the deal, so the Rangers could always stick him out there in left.
Gary Matthews Jr. – Unknown. There are rumors that the Rangers may attempt a trade during the off-season for Blue Jays centerfielder Vernon Wells. If the Rangers do swing the trade, then yes, Gary should go. If not, then the Rangers should sign Matthews. He plays a mean centerfield and has some power to boot. However, he also has a injury history that makes it a little harder to sign him.
Vicente Padilla – Stay. The Rangers have to re-sign Vicente Padilla next season. Besides the fact that he’s proven that he can be a valuable workhorse in the rotation, Padilla also gives the Rangers a safety net as they gradually begin to integrate John Danks, Edinson Volquez, Josh Rupe, and either Thomas Diamond or Eric Hurley (like the latter as the former is still struggling a bit in Double A) into the rotation.
Adam Eaton – Stay. The Rangers need Eaton for one more year, to give Danks and Volquez another year for the two to mature and gain more valuable experience that could make the difference between them blossoming into solid players or flaming out.
Mark DeRosa – Stay. Even if DeRosa falls off his career year and reverts to the average player, he’s still valuable in the fact that he plays multiple position. He’s earned a short to be a Ranger For Life.
Rod Barajas – Go. Barajas arrived at a time when the Texas farm system was all but barren and Ivan Rodriguez was just dismissed from Dallas, which he never should have been. He was a acceptable stopgap until the catchers in the farm system bloomed. With Gerald Laird now ready to start, defensive specialist Taylor Teagarden returning to play, Chad Tracy tearing up Class-A Spokane and a variety of young Latin American catchers signed during the past two off-seasons, it’s time to say goodbye.
Matt Stairs – If he’s willing to play off the bench, stay. If not, go.
Kip Wells – Go. For all we know, Wells could somehow rebound and become a 20 game winner in the future. However, such a thing won’t happen here. Eventually, the competition and the ballpark will catch up to him.
Jerry Hairston Jr. – Go. Quickly. Now, if possible.
I'm a long time Texas Rangers fan who has come to love baseball as a whole. I recently began this blog as a way for me to showcase my opinions, provide some analysis, and hopefully entertain those who happen to stumble upon my little soapbox online. I'll toss in an NFL, College, or NBA nugget every now and then. Enjoy the posts everyone, and yes, getting a little love in a Deadspin post was probably the highlight of the year, blogwise.
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