Because the Rangers have one of the deepest farm systems in the majors, this list will be split into two, with the high impact talent being posted tomorrow. But first, here are the other talents that deserve some notice by everyone:
21 – Marcus Lemon (SS)
DOB: 6/3/88
Drafted: 4th round, 2006, Florida High School
2008 Club: Bakersfield Blaze (High A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/173
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: Coming off of an impressive Rookie League campaign, the Rangers felt that Lemon was advanced enough to hold his own at a full season assignment in Clinton. What transpired was a good, but not great batting line of .261/.352/.363, which isn’t bad considering he’s only 19.
The Good: The Rangers like Lemon a lot, as he’s very much a throwback player that does a lot of things well. He’s got a solid approach to hitting, is a good shortstop with soft hands and is an efficient baserunner. He also blossomed well once put into the leadoff role.
The Bad: The problem with Lemon is that his build doesn’t project for much durability, though many scouts feel that he may just will himself to the big leagues. As far as his tools, he’s got several of them, but power will never be one of them.
Projection: High. Lemon has shown some solid potential as a prospect and the Rangers’ $1 million investment in him may prove to be worthwhile in the end. He’s got a lot of work to do and probably should repeat Clinton again.
What He Can Be: A good hitting, good defensive shortstop.
2007 Course Of Action: Lemon is likely going to be sent to Bakersfield, from what the early indications are from the Rangers.
22 – Tommy Hunter (RHP)
DOB: 7/3/86
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, Alabama
2008 Club: Clinton Lumberkings (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/250
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Regarded to be a first round quality arm, body concerns resulted in the Alabama product, who split time in the rotation and in the bullpen, to fall some. As a draft eligible sophomore, many felt that he would be more of a fourth round gamble, but the Rangers took him with their last sandwich pick. Hunter signed quickly and would head to Spokane, where he was money in the pen, and served as a mentor of sorts to hot headed Ranger Prospect Blake Beaven.
The Good: A big pitcher, Hunter draws many comparisons to Dodgers setup man Jonathan Broxton. Hunter has an arsenal that could work well as a starter, with a 93 mph fastball that is pretty good, along with a changeup and slider to help the cause. His best pitch is a power slurve at 82-84 that ranks as a plus pitch.
The Bad: People hammer Hunter for his size, and those questions will always remain, though I wonder why not as much hate has been lobbed at Broxton for his ####. You would think a double black-belt, two-time Junior Olympic judo champion would get more respect. His changeup is his worst pitch at the moment, but the Rangers feel that the changeup will eventually be a plus pitch. There is also a question as to weather or not he’ll remain a starter, but at the very least a starters schedule will allow him to build innings faster.
Projection: Average. Hunter could rise quickly as a reliever, but the Rangers are more interested in him as a starter, as he does have the weapons to pull it off. He is a lot like Thomas Diamond in that he’s got a big fastball, big out pitcher and a fringy third pitch, though I hope that he eventually refine his changeup into a useful weapon at the very least.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter or a very good relief ace
2008 Course Of Action: I think Hunter will likely be beginning the year at Clinton, though he could wind up at Bakersfield, not the most conductive place to begin starting. I think he’ll end the year there regardless.
23 – Joaquin Arias (SS)
DOB: 9/21/84
Signed: 2001, Dominican Republic (Yankees)
2008 Club: Oklahoma Redhawks (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/165
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Things keep getting worse for Arias, as missed almost the entire 2007 season with a shoulder injury. Now fully healthy, Arias will be headed to Spring Training with the Rangers to compete for a job.
The Good: Arias is an outstanding athlete that is loaded with tools. He’s got a good feel for contact and has great raw power. He’s got a strong arm and outstanding range at shortstop. He’s got great speed and could be dangerous if Ron Washington has anything to say about it.
The Bad: A lack of plate discipline results in a lot of strikeouts as well as negating what power he has. Speaking of power, Arias has long had the potential for 20 home run power, but hasn’t grown into it. He’s also an inconsistent defender and makes some stupid mistakes in the field.
Projection: Average. Arias hasn’t developed the way the Rangers have hoped and it’s starting to look like he’s not going to either. That’s kind of the problem with the ultra-toolsy players that some GM’s fall in love with. What happens when the tools never come?
What He Can Be: A super utility player, similar to Chone Figgins
2007 Course Of Action: Arias will be invited to Spring Training, but I doubt he’ll make the club. To be honest, I think it’s time for the Rangers to move on and trade Arias to another team, one who could offer the Rangers a prospect not as close to the majors, but still worthwhile enough to make the deal palatable.
24 – Neil Ramirez (RHP)
DOB: 5/25/89
Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, Virginia High School
2008 Club: Arizona League Rangers (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 6-3/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Another young prep arm, Ramirez was thought to be a first rounder, but some inconsistency late in the year dropped him, along with the rise of several college players in the draft. The Rangers pulled the trigger on him and, while the negotiations were touch and go, the Rangers managed to get a deal done by paying Ramirez a cool million.
The Good: Ramirez is all about projection, as his raw stuff was first round caliber. He’s got a live arm and a body that could eventually result into a power pitchers build. He has an excellent heater, clocking up to 96 mph, but sitting comfortably in the low 90’s, while showing above average command on it, a good thing for a young pitcher. His curve clocks into the upper 70’s-low 80’s range and has the makings of a plus pitch. He also mixes in a changeup as well, which could be a useable third pitch.
The Bad: Despite heater, Ramirez’s secondary pitches aren’t as neat or clean as his fastball is. His command over both breaking pitches are below average. He’s also got rough mechanics that need to be smoothed over.
Projection: High. Ramirez could wind up being a power pitcher in the rotation, as he already throws his fastball for strikes and has the potential for a solid complimentary pitch in his curve. He’s a long way off, but he could eventually be a beast.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation pitcher that contends for strikeout titles.
2008 Course Of Action: Ramirez will likely get some work during the Instructional League and in extended before he joins the Rangers complex team in Arizona. If he does as well as Main did, he could be headed to Spokane near the end of the season.
25 – Cristian Santana (C)
DOB: 6/18/89
Signed: 2005, Dominican Republic
2008 Club: Spokane Indians (Short Season)
Height/Weight: 6-0/175
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: One of the more highly sought after prospects during the International Signing Period, the Rangers were able to sign Santana for a hefty bonus in 2005. Though he missed all of 2006 thanks to Tommy John surgery, but he appeared to be completely back during this tenure with the Arizona League Rangers this year, hitting well enough to get a promotion to the Indians, where he continued his solid season and establishing himself as prospect of note, even in a system stacked with catching like Texas is.
The Good: Santana’s best tool is his bat and he put up exceptional numbers for an 18 year old not only in Rookie League, but against more advanced pitchers, some of them high picks, in the Northwestern League. He’s got developing plate discipline, good raw power that should evolve from doubles to home run power, and is gifted athletically and even has some speed, rare for a catcher. The sky is the limit when it comes to seeing how the bat will come around.
The Bad: Despite a strong arm, Santana is very raw defensively. Base stealers can steal on him at will and he’ll need to improve on his game calling and glove work to stay a catcher.
Projection: Very High. Of all the Rangers’ catching prospects, it’s Santana that has the potential to be a potential All Star catcher, similar to Pudge Rodriguez, whom many like to compare him to. The key is working on his defense and game calling, which will be necessary if he’s going to stay behind the bag.
What He Can Be: A franchise catcher
2008 Course Of Action: Santana will likely get some work with the catching instructors in the Instructional League and likely will be worked on with the Rangers’ catching instructors until June or so, when he’ll be likely assigned to Spokane.
26 – Evan Reed (RHP)
DOB: 12/31/85
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2007, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
2008 Club: Clinton Lumberkings (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-4/225
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: During the third round, the Rangers’ rivals made some sexy picks, as the Angels took Matt Harvey (whom they did not sign) and the Mariners took TCU reliever Sam Demel (a former Ranger pick) shortly afterward. However, Reed was fairly good with the short season Spokane club and his big arm makes him a popular sleeper.
The Good: Reed has drawn comparisons from many of the Ranger fans on Lonestarball to Thomas Diamond, though Reed is slightly bigger and doesn’t have anywhere near Diamond’s changeup. However, Reed throws almost as hard, in the mid 90’s, while complimenting it with a plus slider that is an effective out pitch.
The Bad: Reed's heater is fairly straight, with means he could get taken deep by more advanced hitters. Reed also has inconsistent command and a lackluster third pitch, meaning that he could be a bullpen arm.
Projection: Average. Reed has the potential to rise fast, but he could also be a potential rotation candidate if he’s able to handle the transition and develop at least and average third pitch. The Rangers are likely going to give him a shot to be a starter in Clinton, which shouldn’t be bad for a Clinton team potentially losing it’s top two starters to promotions.
What He Can Be: A power arm, but I don’t know where to place him yet. To Be Continued…
2008 Course Of Action: Reed is likely going to join the Lumberkings, as it’s a full season league and it allows him to work on his arsenal to be a starter. Beginning in Low A isn’t a knock on Reed. Personally, I think if he were strictly left in relief, he’d be in Bakersfield to star the year.
27 – Brennan Garr (RHP)
DOB: 2/22/1984
Drafted: 9th Round, 2006, University of Northern Colorado
2008 Club: Frisco Roughriders (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After a so-so debut, Garr debuted in Clinton as the Lumberkings’ closer, a role in which he thrived. Soon after, Garr was aggressively promoted through the system, each time delivering until he finally finished the season in Double A, a jump of three levels.
The Good: Garr’s stuff is crazy good. He’s got a low to mid 90’s fastball with wicked movement, and has been clocked as high as 100 mph. He compliments this with a solid slider that is an effective out pitch.
The Bad: Garr was used pretty conservatively, so no one knows if he can be more than a 1 inning guy. . He also became a bit more flyball prone in the upper minors.
Projection: Low. Garr is rising fast and could be a option in the pen as soon as early next year, which could potentially allow the Rangers to let Joaquin Benoit opt for free agency and reap the draft picks that they would get in return. Long term, he’s an effective weapon out of the pen that could be used to bridge the gap in the pen to C.J. Wilson, who will likely be the Rangers’ closer.
What He Can Be: A power set up man or a closer.
2008 Course Of Action: Garr will likely be the Roughriders’ closer, a welcome change after having to rely on Ingram and, at times, Kometani, last year for saves. Hopefully, he’ll finish the year in Triple A and will warrant a September call up.
28 – Zach Phillips (LHP)
DOB: 9/21/86
Drafted: 23rd Round, 2004, California High School (D&F)
2007 Club: Bakersfield Blaze (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/178
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Just one year after Phillips went 5-12 with a 5.96 ERA for the Clinton Lumberkings, Philips made a return engagement with to the Kings and has since evolved into one of the better left-handed pitching prospects in the organization, posting a 2.91 ERA and fanning 157 batters in 151 2/3 innings.
The Good: Phillips has a solid arsenal on him. His fastball sits in the 90-91 mph with plenty of sink and his curve is very good, one of the best in the system. He also throws a decent changeup, giving him a workable arsenal. His delivery has a lot of movement and gives him a lot of deception. But his primary calling card is his solid control, which allows him to throw for strikes. He has healthy groundball ratios and has shown the ability to last during innings.
The Bad: Phillips struggles to hold runners at times because of his deliberate, herky-jerky motion. He doesn’t have great stuff and gets results based on his deception and control.
Projection: Medium. Philips is likely a back of the rotation starter in the future, but he’d be a very good one, capable of eating innings and keeping the team into games.
What He Can Be: A innings eating lefty in the mold of Jarrod Washburn.
2007 Course Of Action: Philips will likely be joining Beau Jones, Omar Poveda, ####r and likely Evan Reed in Bakersfield, giving the Rangers a very prospect studded rotation.
29 – Derek Holland (LHP)
DOB: 7/3/86
Drafted: 25th Round, 2006, Wallace Community College - D&F
2008 Club: Clinton Lumberkings (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: The Rangers’ 25th round pick in the 2006 draft, Derek Holland made his professional debut this past summer after signing just prior to this year’s draft. Holland was quite good in his pro debut, where he posted a 3.32 ERA in 16 games (14 starts) with Spokane. All in all, he is quite definitely on the rise.
The Good: Holland has a pretty decent heater for a southpaw, clocking in the low 90’s, but a major adjustment as been his slider, with an adjustment in his arm slot, made it a plus pitch. He’s also throws a changeup.
The Bad: Holland is still pretty slight, and for the most part, he doesn’t have any pitch that will wow you, though the slider may be on it’s way there. Really, there’s not a lot of data out there for me to post anything bad…yet!!! Don’t think I’m holding anything back because he’s a Ranger.
Projection: Moderate. Holland is a pretty good draft day find and now that he’s had some development time, could eventually contend to be a average left handed starter, more or less depending on whether or not he keeps his numbers up.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter
2008 Course Of Action: Now that the instructional league is over, Holland will begin the season with Clinton, where he’ll eventually be joined by Michael Main, who will be making his single season debut with him as well.
30 – Jacob Brigham (RHP)
DOB: 2/10/88
Drafted: 6th Round, 2006, Florida High School
2008 Club: Rehab
Height/Weight: 6-3/190
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Drafted in the sixth round out of Central Florida Christian Academy, Brigham was a first round talent that fell because he struggled early and because of signability issues. The Rangers were able to get him to sign after paying an above slot bonus and had a solid year with the Arizona League Rangers. Held in extended until Spokane began, Brigham emerged as the ace of the Indians’ staff and lead the team to the playoffs. Unfortunately, he also would require Tommy John surgery, shutting him down for the 2008 Season.
The Good: Brigham is a projectable arm that gives you some things to dream about. He’s a good athlete and is calm on the mound, showing great poise. As for his arsenal, Brigham has a great fastball that clocks in the low to mid 90’s and he’s got decent secondary pitches. His curveball looks like it has plus potential and his changeup is looking like it will be an average pitch. He’s got nice, clean mechanics. Overall, he kinda looks a lot like another talented, but raw Ranger arm at the time he was drafted, Eric Hurley.
The Bad: Brigham’s fastball is fairly flat with little movement, making it a problem, while also prone to command issues and he can get wild at times. The biggest concern, however, is that the quality of his struff drops off late into games, though this is likely due to fatigue, something that can improve in time.
Projection: High. Brigham is one of many young projectable arms the Rangers have added into their minor league system and while the TJ is certainly disappointing, he gives the Rangers a quality arm to look forward to in the future.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter.
2007 Course Of Action: Out of commission until next year, Brigham will remain in Arizona where he’ll work his way back from TJ.
31 – Kyle O'Campo (RHP)
DOB: 4/9/88
Drafted: 13th Round, 2007, California High School
2008 Club: Arizona Rangers (Rookie)
Height/Weight: 6-3/185
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: O’Campo is an arm that has been on the radar for quite a while no, as seen from his perfect game reports, but there appeared to be enough doubt as to whether or not he’d go on to college that a lot of teams passed up on him. The Rangers, with the death of the draft and follow and seeing a chance to get a few good arms, passed up on a lot of signability picks to go after three talented young arms. Only O’Campo signed, but that’s a worthwhile gamble. I prefer to draft three guys with high ceilings and only sign one than sign three guys who become organizational filler.
The Good: Blessed with a live arm, O’Campo has a tall, rangy build that has a lot of projectability. His raw stuff makes him an immediate prospect, with a fastball that clocks in the low 90’s and touching 95 with good life. He’s got a slider that has the makings of a plus pitch and he worked on his changeup during the instructional league. Many feel that he may be able to add more velocity as he fills out and he’s got an impressive mound presence, looking confident as he throws. All in all, the makings are there for something special.
The Bad: O’Campo’s is as raw an arm as any in the system. His changeup is far behind his fastball and the slider, so he’s going to take some time to develop him as a starter. His mechanics are also a bit rough, making some wonder if he can get smoothed out.
Projection: Very High. O’Campo is one of those diamonds in the rough that I like and with some work and some care, he could be a very solid starting pitcher, or even a dominant closer if he doesn’t develop the changeup or any other third pitch. While he’s got a couple of flags, in time he could help out the Rangers in some capacity.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: O'Campo headed to the Instructional League and will likely stay in the Rangers’ farm complex, where he’ll work with other kids his age as they develop. All in all, he won’t be rushed, but he’s work keeping an eye on.
32 – Tim Smith (OF)
DOB: 6/14/86
Drafted: 7th Round, 2007, Arizona State
2008 Club: Bakersfield Blaze (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/225
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: Overlooked by many who follow the draft, Smith posted solid numbers at Arizona State before signing with the Rangers, where he posted a solid showing over for the Lumberkings, hitting .284/.383/.779 overall.
The Good: Smith was one of the college ranks’ top available hitting talents available in the draft. He has excellent bat speed, good plate discipline, as well as some speed. He’s also an average outfielder as well who can play all three positions, but will likely end up in left.
The Bad: Smith lacks power potential for a corner outfield position.
Projection: Low. Smith doesn’t have a lot of projection on him and he could rise quickly through the system if he’s able to continue hitting. Overall, he could windup being a similar player to Frank Catalontto, who does a good job of getting on base, but can’t hit a dinger to save his life.
What He Can Be: A leadoff left fielder.
2008 Course Of Action: Smith will be started off in Bakersfield, where he should be able to take advantage of some of the California League’s smaller parks to eventually push himself to Bakersfield.
33 – Doug Mathis (RHP)
DOB: 6/07/83
Drafted: 13th Round, 2005, University Of Missouri
2008 Club: Oklahoma Redhawks (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/220
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: After an attempt to fast track him to the majors backfired with a disastrous three game stint with the Redhawks (0-3. 10.66 ERA), the Missouri Product was demoted back to Frisco, where he should have started the year, and overall finished with a respectable 11-7, 3.76 ERA for his troubles.
The Good: Mathis is a extremely bright pitcher with good poise on the mound. He’s primarily a sinkerball pitcher and he’s able to get a good amount of groundballs. He’s gained some velocity since entering the system and the addition of a curveball has given him an arsenal of four good pitches with his sinker, slider and changeup.
The Bad: Mathis was shut down for part of the season thanks to back issues. Also, keep in mind that despite his good numbers, Mathis isn’t an overpowering pitcher and had limited projection, meaning that there is a limit to what the Rangers could conceivable expect Mathis to do in the majors.
Projection: Low. Mathis, despite his lack of overpowering stuff, is still one of the more complete pitchers in the farm system. He could very well be a back of the rotation starter for the Rangers, or at the very least, a middle reliever.
What He Can Be: A Back Of The Rotation Starter
2008 Course Of Action: Mathis will likely be sent to Triple A at the start of the season, but he could be called up if injury requires someone to make an emergency start and Hurley isn’t ready.
34 – Brandon Boggs (CF)
DOB: 1/09/83
Drafted: 4th Round, 2004, Georgia Tech
2008 Club: Oklahoma Redhawks (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/205
Bats/Throws: S/R
The Skinny: Boggs is an internal favorite in the Rangers’ organization, who finally had a breakout season in 2007, hitting .262/.385/.507 across two levels while hitting 23 Homers. The result was enough for the Rangers to decide to protect him on the 40-man roster this off-season, and they hope that he could at least provide an internal solution to centerfield in the future.
The Good: Boggs, defensively, is solid, with outstanding range and an excellent arm. But it’s the progress with the bat that has gotten him notice, with him showing above average power as well as a good eye at the plate.
The Bad: Boggs is prone to striking out and he has some platoon issues as well, hitting.236 from the left side. He’s also old for the level, making one doubt his breakout a bit.
Projection: Low. Boggs’ skills are coming into their own and if he’s able to overcome his platoon issues, he could be a decent starter for the Rangers, not a star, but a average regular that provides league average numbers from the position until a better option manifests itself.
What He Can Be: Fringe Starter/Excellent Backup.
2008 Course Of Action: Boggs doesn’t have much left to prove in the minors, and will likely be headed to Triple A to begin the year. Still, with all his flaws, I expect Boggs to see some time in center whenever Milton Bradley makes his inevitable trip to the disabled list.
35 – A.J. Murray (LHP)
DOB: 3/17/82
Drafted: 19th Round, 2000, Salt Lake Community College
2008 Club: Oklahoma Redhawks (Triple A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/220
Bats/Throws: S/L
The Skinny: Old to be a prospect, Murray was still very much raw after missing two entire seasons thanks to injuries. After beginning the 2007 season for the Redhawks, Murray posted a a 3.08 ERA in 41 appearances, spanning 52 2/3 innings while also seeing time with the big league club, serving as a middle reliever and in two spot starters near the end of the year, where he gave up four earned runs in 11 innings. Is the Pirate back on the map as a Rangers prospect? I would say so.
The Good: Murray has earned a lot of comparisons to former Ranger Kenny Rogers. He throws a upper 80’s fastball and pairs it with a plus pitch in his changeup. His curveball is average; giving him a respectable three pitch mix. He has excellent command and is able to spot his pitches well.
The Bad: Murray hasn’t been fully healthy for much of the past few years and to be honest, the jury is still out as to whether he can stay healthy enough to maintain a starter’s workload.
Projection: Fair. Murray is near ready to contribute, he just needs to get readjusted to a starter’s workload and schedule. Should he be able to do than, Murray could easily be fighting Kason Gabbard for his rotation spot later in the year. If he’s unable to, he would at the very least be a solid lefty middle relieiver.
What He Can Be: A Back of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Murray will be heading back to Oklahoma to adjust to a starter’s workload. He should get a call now and then for a spot start, depending on the situation and how long ago Hurley or Mathis have pitched before the necessary start.
36 – Jorge Quintero (RHP)
DOB: 4/1/87
Signed: 2006, Venezuela
2008 Club: Bakersfield Blaze (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-1/175
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Another one of the Rangers’ big 2006 International Signings (along with Pimentel and Font), Quintero didn’t quite have the same accolades that came with Font, but he is the more advanced of the trio. He began the year in the Dominican League and wound up finishing in Bakersfield. Wow!
The Good: Quintero throws three pitches, a fastball with sinking action that clocks in the high 80’s/low 90’s and mixes in a curveball and a changeup. He showed good command in his outings stateside and scores a lot of groundballs.
The Bad: Quintero doesn’t have the overpowering stuff that Font has and his two breaking pitches are still developing. Also, he’s a pitch to contact guy, meaning strikeout totals won’t be high with him.
Projection: High. Quintero has value in that he can be a groundball guy who maybe could eat up innings as he gets older and could even refine his pitches to become plus ones with more work and innings. We’ll see. He’s a hard one to figure.
What He Can Be: A back of the rotation innings eater.
2007 Course Of Action: I don’t see any reason why the Rangers should screw with Quintero. If he was able to handle the jump to Bakersfield well, then he’ll probably stay there. Otherwise, he could be demoted down to Clinton, which would be more appropriate age wise for him.
37 – Mitch Moreland (1B)
DOB: 9/6/85
Drafted: 17th Round, 2007, Mississippi State
2008 Club: Clinton Lumberkings (Low A)
Height/Weight: 6-2/230
Bats/Throws: L/L
The Skinny: A two way star at Mississippi State, the Rangers liked Moreland’s offensive potential (he won the Cape Cod League’s Home Run Derby in 2006) enough to draft him and move him off of the mound permanently. However, he got off to a rough start, hitting only two bombs in 108 at bats with Spokane.
The Good: Aside form hitting the low 90’s as a lefty pitcher, Moreland has tremendous power potential and could be a major league power source if everything goes together.
The Bad: Because Moreland isn’t a great defender and is limited to first base, it’s going to have to be the bat that carries him. Though, if he is a bust, the Rangers could always just re-convert him.
Projection: Average. Moreland has potential; he just needs some time, especially since he split time in college. One would hope that with regular playing time and some coaching, he might be able to turn that power into performance.
What He Can Be: A major league power source.
2008 Course Of Action: Moreland likely will be the starting first baseman at Clinton, where the Rangers hope that he might be able to rise as high as Bakersfield by the end of the year.
38 – Michael Schlact (RHP)
DOB: 7/3/83
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2004, Georgia High School
2008 Club: Frisco Roughriders (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-8/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: One of the most bizarre studies of player development in the minor leagues, Schlact was once regarded to be potentially as good as Eric Hurley. However, upon his promotion to Bakersfield, Schlact was asked to stop throwing his sinker, his best pitch, in order to develop his other pitches. His showing for Bakersfield was awful, but upon a promotion to Frisco, he did much better, with a bad outing at the end of the season inflating his ERA on what was otherwise a promising debut.
The Good: Schlact gets a lot of props for his maturity. Towering at 6-8, Schlact has a lot of promise. His sinking fastball sits in the low 90’s and he now mixes in a 90-92 mph four-seam fastball, a slider and a changeup. His mechanics are nice and clean as well.
The Bad: Schlact is very inconsistent and will need time to be able to incorporate all of the Rangers’ training into performance. As a result, next year should be a bit of a roller coaster for him, but overall, I feel he’ll do fine.
Projection: High. It’s hard to figure out where exactly Schlact is right now. Because of his wonky development, I can’t really peg what he is or where he is in terms of development. A full season with his entire arsenal should help.
What He Can Be: A number two starter.
2007 Course Of Action: The Rangers are going to leave Schlact with the Roughriders for the season, where he likely won’t be promoted to Oklahoma until next season. Still, he’s a bit of a sleeper and could breakout this season.
39 – Carlos Pimentel (RHP)
DOB: 12/1/89
Signed: 2006, Dominican Republic
2008 Club: Spokane Indians (Short Season)
Height/Weight: 6-3/180
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Another young Rangers’ phenom, Pimentel had an excellent season for the most part until a pair of six run outings at the end of the season shot his ERA up to 5.53. Still, his stats are pretty good, with him amassing 59 strikeouts in 42.1 innings with the Arizona Rangers while also showing some good control, giving up only 17 free passes.
The Good: Pimentel has a projectable frame with a loose arm that has a lot of promise. He throws from a three quarters slot and gets good movement on his fastball, which is currently in the low 90’s, but could gain velocity as he matures. He also throws a curveball and a changeup.
The Bad: Pimentel is extremely hittable and lefties lit him up to a.358 average. He’ll need to improve his command and develop his off-speed pitches in order to reach his potential.
Projection: Very High. Pimentel is one of many young, raw arms that the Rangers have in their system to build upon. As with all international signings, Pimentel is a long ways off, but he’s yet another quality arm the Rangers have that is looked upon by other clubs with envy.
What He Can Be: A middle of the rotation starter.
2008 Course Of Action: Pimentel’s stats, for the most part, are promising, and he could be reasonably ready for the Rangers to sent him to Spokane when the short-season leagues begin, provided he’s kept in extended for a bit.
40 – Chad Tracy (LF/C)
DOB: 7/4/85
Drafted: 3rd Round, 2006, Pepperdine University
2008 Club: Bakersfield Blaze (High A)
Height/Weight: 6-3/205
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: Lauded as one of the more advanced talents in college baseball, Tracy was switched to left field and ultimately was inconsistent and fell off the map.
The Good: Tracy still has a promising bat. He’s got a decent plate discipline and could hit for some power. He’s regarded to be at least average in the outfield as well.
The Bad: Tracy wore down last summer, likely due to the first full experience of a major league season and many feel his power potential will be okay, but not great from what is regarded to be a power potential.
Projection: Average. Tracy still has the potential to be a contributor, but he needs to rebound quickly from his winter disappointment and prove he’s ready to be an option in Bakersfield.
What He Can Be: An Average Regular
2007 Course Of Action: Tracy will likely be moved up to Clinton, where he’ll also see some time at first base and DH. Hopefully, he’ll get back on track and look like more than just organizational filler.
Tomorrow, Prospects 1-20
Thanks To: Jamey Newberg (Newberg Report), Kevin Goldstein (Baseball Prospectus), Baseball America, Major League Baseball.com, Lonestarball.com, Rangers.scout.com, Rangers Farm Report, Eric Jones, Keith Law (Scouts Inc/ESPN), Brewerfan.net
The Rangers may not be making a big splash with a centerfield this off-season.
The price for a centerfielder may be too cost prohibative.
So, the Rangers are looking for the next best thing.
Trade.
That's looking a little off-kilter as well, but we'll see what happens.
Here's a few of the trade candidates that are out there that could be reasonable expectations to start for Texas next season, via trade:
Coco Crisp (Boston) - This is the sexy pick, as Crisp is not only a proven defender, but he's also under contract for three years. He's also now been surpassed by Jacoby Ellsbury and will likely needs to be traded before Spring Training starts. However, Boston won't let him go for a pittance and they would probably like a pair of prospects in exchange. There have been talks about Gerald Laird, which I would totally do, especially if I were to decide to include a player to be named later option on the deal, though for the moment, we'll just have to wait and see.
Ryan Sweeney (White Sox) - A former Number One pick, Sweeney has had a hard go of it with the White Sox, with many wondering if he's still has a future with the franchise, especially since Kenny Williams has been shopping him aggressively for a reliever. Sweeney seems like a decent reclaimation project and would be a reasonable centerfield option for a few years as a stopgap, and if he's ever able to tap into the batting practice power he shows, this could be a steal. One problem: White Sox GM Kenny Williams is notorious for overvaluing his own players and will demand someone like Joaquin Benoit or C.J. Wilson in return, which he won't get.
Joey Gathright/David DeJesus (Royals) - It seems to flip flop each week on which one is getting placed on the table. Of the pair, I would gladly take DeJesus, who's still young and plays a good centerfield, over Gathright, who is quick, but very mistake prone. RIght now there were rumors of a trade for Gathright centered around Joaquin Arias, a shortstop prospect made expendable by current Rangers' prospects Elvis Andrus and Marcus Lemon. I'd see what the interest is for Arias, and would also throw in a player to be named later option to see if that wouldn't hurry things along for a deal.
Rocco Baldelli (Rays) - Baldelli is definately being shopped, but right now the Rays are hoping to get pitching back, something Texas doesn't have an abundance of near the big league level. Another potential deal breaker is the fact that Baldelli is very injury prone, which could result in the Rangers taking a pass on this.
Long Term Deal For Kinsler Likely To Be Explored Again
With the emeregence off Ian Kinsler as a leadoff man, the Rangers are likely to try and see if they could possibly sign Kinsler to a five year deal, buying out one year of free agency, while also providing Kinsler with some financial stability in the process. My guess is that something gets done. With the $21 million from A-Rod now available, why would you not spend it on something as logical as locking up your OWN players!!!!
Why has there not been any public talk about signing Kinsler this year? He has shown that he has what it takes to be a solid player in the league and was one of only a few success stories this year. Why not lock him up right now? The Rangers will meet with Kinsler's agents at some point this offseason and discuss a long-term contract that will lock him up for several years. Count on it.
Upgrading The Bench
One thing that caught my eye was that the Padres declined Rob Mackowiak's $3.25 million option for 2008. Mackowiak has some history of being a decent bat, but didn’t do much with the Padres and was hurt. I would be all about bringing him in as the utilityman. He’d be a solid upgrade over Raul Vasquez and could platoon with Cat at first against lefties. Another thought would be to offer Rod Barajas another shot in Texas, where he’d be the backup to Salty and possibly mentor him.
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...
After watching yet another lineup consisting of Jerry Hairston Jr., Sammy Sosa and company, it’s becoming painfully clear that one of the biggest weaknesses on the Rangers this year is the lack of any sort of bench players.
Unlike last year, when the Rangers were able to use Mark DeRosa almost anywhere on the field, from right and left field to second, third and first base, there hasn’t been that sort of utility guy that’s able to hit enough that he just won’t kill you. And while you may say that a utility guy is supposed to be an excellent defensive stopgap/pinch runner, only one of these guys, Travis Metcalf, is a plus defender. Everyone else on the Ranger bench is mediocre.
I would be okay with a bench featuring the following:
Backup Catcher To Be Named Later
David Murphy/Marlon Byrd (OF) - One of these guys will likely be sent to the bench.
Raul Vasquez (CINF) - He hasn't been real awful and I wouldn't mind him coming back next year.
And this is assuming that Metcalf gets sent back to Triple A to work on his bat a bit more.
With the Rangers likely going with a 12 man staff and bullpen, plus the regular starting nine, this allows for one more, true utilityman type to be added.
Is there such a person available?
I'm not sure.
Usually, utilitymen are players that either had the potential to be starters, but were derailed by injury (such as Rosie), or are former starters entering their decline phases, such as the player the Rangers were looking at, Mark Loretta, who has gotten regular playing time with the Astros (and would have with Texas.)
The Rangers could go inhouse with their decision. Joaquin Arias is near ready, can play the entire infield and likely most of the outfield positions except for center, and does have some offensive talent as well. He's also speedy, which would allow him to be used as a pinch runner as well as serving as that defensive replacement.
Jack Wilson could also be an option, provided he comes cheap, though I'm not sure either Pittsburgh or Texas could come up with a suitable compromise for him.
Tampa Bay's Brendan Harris could also be an option, especially when you consider the infield talent coming up for Tampa soon. Texas may be able to try and swap him for the unfortunate Robinson Tejeda (see below), and potentially something else as well. Laird could be inserted into the deal if the Rangers want to try and see if they could swing a deal to include Rocco Baldelli or maybe even Jonny Gomes.
Washington’s Wish List
Ronny’s got a wish list for the Rangers to go after this off-season.
His three priorities for improving the Rangers this year are center field, first base and right field and in that order.
Left field isn’t a problem for Wash, as he feels that he could get an ideal left field performance out of combining both the Byrdman and Cat in left field, which would be cool, as it would allow the Rangers to be able to keep Byrd in his utility outfielder role that works best. It also sounds like David Murphy will be starting in either center or right, making the future bleak for Nelson Cruz.
As for options, there are plenty of centerfielders on the free agent market, namely Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Aaron Rowand, Mike Cameron and Corey Patterson.
Of that bunch, Hunter is the one that's made the most noise about coming here and will try to get 5 years, $75 million out of the Rangers. To that, I say hell no. I would love Rowand, but I think he's headed back to Philly and Cameron is likely headed to Atlanta unless the Rangers can convince him to come here by moneyfight.
Jones is a name I think we should probably keep an eye on. After the hellish season he's had, Scott Boras will likely try a one year deal for Jones to re-establish his value before Jones would re-enter free agency, on a much reduced market for centerfielders.
As for First base, Washington has stated taht he wants a defensive guy at first. That would mean Sean Casey, which I'm not all about. Resigning Wilkerson would be a bit more prefferable over that. I think that's lightly what you're going to see at first next year, unless the Rangers are able to pull a rabbit out of their hat for a temporary fix from somewhere.
Hawaiian Baseball League Candidates
The Rangers have also announced who their Hawaiian Baseball League Candidates are.
Craig Gentry (CF) – Gentry ranked high on my prospect lists, as I felt he'd be a good leadoff man, similar to Jacoby Ellsbury in the minors. Instead, Gentry was hurt and was mediocre at best. So, I'm willing to give him a mulligan and hope that his Hawaiian campaign shows more of what I thought he'd be instead of what he was.
K.C. Herren (OF) – Herren is regarded to have the range and speed to play center, but he doesn't have the bat for it.
Chad Tracy (LF) – Tracy struggled this year after switching to the outfield full time. The Rangers are hoping that he'll be able to re-establish himself as a solid prospect, as well as improve defensively.
Ian Gac (1B) – Gac's been a disappointment of sorts since he's been drafted. He's shown good power potential, but not much else.
Jose Marte (RHP) – A reliever with good stuff, Marte was destroyed in the california league this year and will try to resurrect his year in Hawaii.
You probably won't see any of these guys on the Rangers list, well, maybe Gentry, as the system is much, much deeper. Needless to say, this list doesn't leave me as jazzed as the Arizona one did.
That's all for now, I've got something cooked up for tomorrow.
The Skinny: Hurley was a first-round pick in 2004 coming out of high school. In the three years since the Rangers expended such a high pick on him, he hasn't disappointed. He is 20-16 with a 3.74 ERA in 66 games (60 starts) over his career. Last season was a breakout season for him, as he went 5-6 with a 4.11 ERA at Bakersfield, an impressive feat when you consider how hitter friendly the California League is, and he was 3-1 with a 1.95 ERA in six Texas League starts for Frisco. Hurley has since emerged as the Rangers’ top pitching prospect, especially after John Danks was traded. Expect the Rangers to develop him with care, however, as they don’t want to risk damaging him like they did with Volquez.
Positives: Hurley’s got a true power arm and has yet to stumble at any level at which he's pitched. He has a fastball that sits in the 92 to 95 mph range that touches 97 later in the innings. He compliments this with a filthy slider that just moves through the strike zone. His command and control are excellent and his mechanics are clean and his maturity level is excellent.
Negatives: Hurley relies too much on his fastball and slider and doesn’t use his changeup enough, even though it is a really nice one. Hurley also tends to elevate his fastball at times, leading to him getting hammered.
Projection: Medium. Hurley was pretty much ignored thanks to the DVD trio, but with that trio now broken up by trade and injury; Hurley is now in the spotlight to shine. He’s still got the capacity to gain some weight on his frame and possibly a bit more velocity on his fastball.
In A Perfect World, He Is: A number one starter, with stuff just falling below ace potential.
2007 Course Of Action: Hurley began the season back with Frisco and has been quietly dominating the Texas League, forcing the Rangers to promote him to Oklahoma. There's an outside chance he can see Arlington, but I wouldn’t count on it.
2 – Edinson Volquez (RHP)
DOB: 7/3/83
Signed: 2001, Dominican Republic
2007 Club: Frisco (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-0/200
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: The former Julio Reyes, which Volquez was known as until he was caught in the 2003 Age-Gate that cracked down on so many players, Volquez has tantalized the Rangers for a couple of years now with outstanding minor league performances. He’s been compared a lot to former Red Sox ace Pedro Martinez because of his height and his stuff.
Positives: Volquez is believed to have the best pure stuff in the organization, starting with a 92-95 mph fastball has touched 98 in the past, and he compliments this with a filthy changeup that features excellent action and fade. His curve isn’t as good, but it’s far enough where he can mix it in from time to time. He was also tinkering with a slider last season, to help give him a fourth pitch. He’s also very aggressive on the mound as well.
Negatives: The problem is that Volquez works high in the zone and his control comes and goes at times. As a result, he gets pounded badly, as see by his last two call ups (though in 2005, the Rangers had no business calling up Volquez from Double A, as he wasn’t even dominating that league.) It’s not apparent yet as to whether or not Volquez is still scarred from his 2005 call up, but it’s apparent that he’s become at least somewhat damage.
Projection: Low. Aside from improving his control, there’s really nothing left for him to prove.
In A Perfect World, He Is: A power pitcher, either in the rotation or in the bullpen
2007 Course Of Action: This year will be a telling year, as the Rangers need for Volquez to succeed in the worst way. I would almost be tempted to carry him in the bullpen for the moment, in order to allow pitching coach Mark Connor time to work with him. However, the Rangers instead did the highly unusual move of sending Volquez all the way down to High A, much as the Toronto Blue Jays did to Roy Halladay early in his career, in hopes of him being able to get his control together without having the pressure of a possible big league call up resting on his shoulders. We’ll see if Volquez sinks or swims with this course of action.
The Skinny: There was talk that the Rangers were actually hoping for Tim Lincecum to fall to them in the draft, but the Giants screwed that up. Still, they didn’t do bad with ####r, who was regarded as one of the nation's most electric lefthanders and he’s got a excellent track record for a high school pitcher. At 15, he was the winning pitcher for Team USA when it won a gold medal in the World Youth Championship in Taiwan. He was the ace of national champion Russell County High's staff in 2005 as a junior, going 12-1, 0.52 with 173 strikeouts and 24 walks in 94 innings. He also appeared in the Aflac All-American Classic in August and numerous other high profile showcases and tournaments, showing guile and aggressiveness each time out. The Rangers had worked ####r out twice at Rangers Ballpark in the weeks before the draft and the Rangers were impressed enough that he rose on their draft boards. ####r was also high on Milwaukee’s and Atlanta’s draft boards as well and would have been snapped up had he fallen. There were some makeup questions, as with Kyle Drabek, but after interviewing the both, the Rangers felt that ####r’s questions were more or less unfounded.
Positives: ####r’s similar to Lincecum in that he’s a big arm in a small package and has drawn a lot of similarities for Billy Wagner. ####r has a polished delivery and he throws in the mid 90’s, hitting 97-98 at times. He’s got a hammer curve and a changeup that’s showing the potential to be a plus pitch. His control over his pitches is excellent.
Negatives: ####r is far too dependant on his fastball and doesn’t mix his pitches well. He also needs to improve his command.
Projection: High. ####r was challenged by the Rangers, who though that he was far enough along to skip a level after all of the high school competition he went through and they were right. ####r also has another motivation for himself to succeed. He’s promised that he would arrive in Arlington no latter than 2009.
In A Perfect World, He Is: A middle of the rotation starter or a power closer.
2007 Course Of Action:####r s currently being retained in Extended Spring Training, where the Rangers are planning on limiting his workload, but he will likely be assigned to Low A Clinton at some point this season.
4 – John Mayberry Jr. (RF)
DOB: 12/21/83
Drafted: 1st round, 2005, Stanford University
2007 Club: Bakersfield (High A)/Frisco (Double A)
Height/Weight: 6-6/230
Bats/Throws: R/R
The Skinny: R/R
The Skinny: Mayberry spent the season down in Clifton, where he started slowly, but caught fire at the end of the season, before tearing up the Hawaiian Winter League this season.
Positives: Mayberry is a HUGE outfield that is also one of the best athletes in the system. He’s got immense power potential and some decent speed on the bases. He’s got a true right fielder’s arm and has a solid approach at the plate.
Negatives: Mayberry’s swing can get long at times, resulting in some strikeouts. However, this has been getting better, as the Rangers have worked on Mayberry’, who tinkered too much with his swing in college and have worked on a new swing that results in a shorter, quicker swing as well as to have him stand closer to the plate. He also needs to continue to adjust to the outfield, as he does make some mistakes, mostly due to his adjustment of the position.
Projection: Medium. Mayberry just needs to continue to do what he’s doing and adjust to the higher levels of competition, where the Rangers hope he’ll make an appearance sometime next year.
In A Perfect World, He Is: A corner outfielder that can hit for average and for power, similar to Jermaine Dye.
2007 Course Of Action: After spending all of 2006 in Low A, Mayberry was promoted to Bakersfield, where the power was there but so were the strikeouts. Mayberry filled in at Frisco when Ben Harrison was hurt, but he’s still not progressing as fast as the Rangers would like.
5 – Marcus Lemon (SS)
DOB: 6/3/88
Drafted: 4th round, 2006, Florida HS
2007 Club: Clinton (Low A)
Height/Weight: 5-11/175
Bats/Throws: L/R
The Skinny: With the Rangers lacking a second round pick, the Rangers aimed high and took Lemon, who was thought to be a hard sign. It took a signing bonus around $1 million to convince Marcus Lemon to skip playing baseball for the Longhorns and sign with the Rangers, but so far it looks like money well spent. As a senior at Eustis High, where his father, former big leaguer Chet Lemon is the baseball coach, Lemon the younger hit .451 with six home runs and 24 RBI in 31 games, drawing 33 walks while striking out just five times, and stealing 23 bases in 24 tries. One interesting thing to note about Lemon is his toughness. Two years ago, during an East Coast showcase, Lemon played with 17 stitches and 11 staples in his right leg after getting spiked in a previous tournament. In the opening game of the showcase, the wound was reopened. He went to the ER, had his leg sewn up again and was back on the field the next day.
Positives: Obviously, Lemon has a great bat with a good approach to hitting and he’s a excellent defender with soft hands. He’s not fast, but he is an extremely good baserunner. His skills make him a solid fit as a potential leadoff man, which he has been doing in Clinton.
Negatives: The problem with Lemon is that he’s got limited power potential and is a bit short, making some wonder about durability in the future.
Projection: High. Scouts love Lemon a lot and while he may lack the high ceiling that many high school prospects do, Lemon is a gamer and plays with a lot of heart. It may be that Lemon could force himself to the majors by sheer will alone.
In A Perfect World, He Is: A solid shortstop with leadoff capability.
2007 Course Of Action: Lemon did everything right in his Arizona League debut, thanks to his hitting .310 in 24 games with nine RBIs and 11 stolen bases, while drawing 16 walks and striking out only 10 times in 84 at-bats. As a result, he’s was tested by skipping Spokane to move directly to Clinton, where he’s expected to stay for the season. So far, he’s making the Rangers look smart for their investment.
Price Tag Rising On Rangers’ Supplemental Picks
Well, this draft is going to be a bit more expensive.
Aside from Beaven’s bonus demands, the Rangers now have to worry about the bonus demands of all three of their supplemental picks.
Julio Borbon, the Rangers’ first supplemental first rounder, is represented by Scott Boras, who wants a high bonus for Borbon and may want to ask for a major league contract as well, which means an immediate placement on the 40 man roster. Boras will argue that Borbon deserves mid round money, but he fell due to injury and it shouldn’t be held against him. Boras will likely have Borbon hold out as long as possible, but in the end, I think a deal will be made because of the reasoning that while Borbon could return to Tennessee for his senior year, next year’s class is going to be increasingly big on college position players. And while Borbon would immediately jump to 15 on the top 20 college players, that’s without factoring in players that suddenly have their stock rise, as well as any prep or JUCO players that are coming in. He’s going to be a Ranger, no doubt about it.
Neil Ramirez is also another one that’s going to be difficult to sign. According to Baseball Prospectus prospect guru Kevin Goldstein, Ramirez is seeking above slot money and will honor his commitment to Georgia Tech if he doesn’t receive it. Last year’s 44th Overall Pick, Caleb Clay, signed for $775,000 from the Boston Red Sox. With draft demands trending down, Ramirez’s slot would likely be $697,500. Ramirez would want significantly more than that. Considering Ramirez was projected to be a late round pick going into the draft, I would roughly offer him about $900,000 to sign, maybe more. I would pay it, however. I like Ramirez’s potential and view him as I do Lemon, as a investment worth taking.
The big question is whether or not the Rangers will go all out to sign Alabama right hander Tommy Hunter, drafted 54th overall, and who entered the draft as a sophomore eligible. Hunter has enormous leverage against the Rangers, as he can return and try for a higher bonus next year and could demand a lot to buy out his last two years at Alabama. Hunter’s slot calls for a bonus of around $540,000 and he’s going to want to make sure that the Rangers make it worth his while to buy out the last two years of his college eligibility. As a result, Hunter’s potential for joining the organization is going to depend on how ready Hunter is willing to begin his career and how willing the Rangers are going to want to go above slot.
And as far as the Commissioners Office frowning on Texas paying above slot, I only have to say the following: what the hell has the commissioners office done for Texas? As far as the All-Star Game way back when, not a whole lot.
Rangers Notes (Majors)
Here’s something that you may notice is a bit odd. With Ian Kinsler out thanks to a foot injury, Michael Young is the only remaining player from the Opening Day infield.
Eric Gagne has long been linked to trade talks. However, Gagne has stated that he wants to remain a Ranger for the long haul and doesn't want to be traded. This is a new development and I don't know if it's posturing or not, but personally, I would hate to see Gagne go, but I understand that nature of the business.
Former Ranger prospect Mike Nickeas, who was traded last season for Victor Diaz, currently on the Rangers, has been demoted from Double A to High A after only hitting .213 for the Barons. To say that the Rangers sold high is an understatement.
Former Ranger pitcher, Juan Dominguez, has a job again, playing in the Mexican League, pitching for Saraperos de Saltillo.
To make room for Desi Relaford, the Rangers designated LHP John Koronka for assignment. Koronka was a big reason why the Rangers got off to a hot start and a big reason why the Rangers collapsed in August.
Rangers Notes (Minors)
In yet another prospect setback, Bakersfield pitcher Glenn Swanson, one of the only pitchers in that squad to actually play well this year, has undergone Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season and possibly most of next season as well. Swanson, despite a 4.87 ERA, actually was doing well, striking out a man per inning and allowing only one homer per 13 innings. I was really expecting him to breakout. Now, we’ll have to wait another year for that.
Frisco second baseman German Duran won the Home Run Derby at the Texas League All-Star Game last Tuesday, defeating A's catching prospect Landon Powell.
Joaquin Arias, one of the Rangers' top prospects, has undergone shoulder surgery and will likely miss the rest of the year. While this means that Arias will accrue a year of service time and will be heading to free agency sooner, it does mean he can be optioned next year to the minors.
Okie Dokie. Happy Fourth Everyone and check out Thursday's post, where I rebuild the White Sox. Whoot!
No matter what happens before the season starts, Brandon McCarthy will be a marked man in Arlington, from the moment he takes the mound against the Boston Red Sox on April 6th to the end of the season, McCarthy will be watched closely more than any other pitcher in the Rangers organization.
Because McCarthy will have the ghost of John Danks floading over him.
You're all probably sick of the talk of Danks. This will be the last of it, as Danks is now a member of the opposition and as painful as it may be to some of the Ranger fans out there, the time he spent in Texas won't mean squat when he's called up by the White Sox in August.
But the fact is, those Ranger fans won't forget Danks.
If there was ever a prospect more closely followed in minor league baseball, it was John Danks, a fresh faced 18 year old kid from a high school in Texas that was drafted Number One overall by the Rangers in the 2004 draft, who many viewed to the the heir to homegrown Ranger pitchers Kenny Rogers, Kevin Brown, Doug Davis, and Rick Helling.
Danks was watched as he played with Spokane, moved on to Clifton, marched through Bakersfield, and arrived at Frisco, practically in Ranger Country.
Danks was introduced and met by many of the fans. Danks' parents, who would watch their son from time to time, were met by many fans who were following their son's ascension into the minors, as he rose from raw arm to semi-polished prospect.
When Danks was mentioned in a possible deal for Josh Beckett, Ranger fans revolted, not wanting to trade their young lefty for another organization's pitcher, even though Beckett was a native Texan and could be a ace for the rotation for the years to come. Many fans blew a sigh of relief when Boston jumped in at the last minute to outbid the Rangers for Beckett, leaving Danks a Ranger.
When Danks blossomed this past season and forced his way to Oklahoma, many Ranger fans hoped that Danks would be able to crack the rotation as a fifth starter, but understood that another year would be beneficial.
And then the trade happened.
Fans agonized over the trade, disliking the fact that their prospect was now gone, even though the pitcher they acquired, McCarthy, has five years of service time left and compares to a young Matt Morris, but with better command.
But what's done is done. And fans will move on.
But they won't forget their prodigal prospect.
And that spells bad news for McCarthy, who only wanted a place to play.
Is it unfair? Yes. Is it understandable? Of course.
But, as unfair as it is, it's going to happen, and McCarthy will be under close scrutiny by the fans, many of whom will never feel he is good enough to replace what they have lost.
And that, my friends, would be a crime.
Sosa Deal Done
Sammy Sosa's deal is done. It's a one year, minor league deal for $500,000 plus incentives if he makes the team.
Good lord, let the circus begin...
Joaquin Arias Spending Time In Center
Shortstop prospect Joaquin Arias is learning a new position: center.
Shortstop and second base are both blocked for a long while and management likes Arias enough where they won't trade him. His bat isn't good enough to carry him at short or second either.
But he's quick, has great defensive presence and is agile enough to take to the position change. Depending on how well he adapts to the change, Arias could very well make the big club if he does well. More likely, Arias will play center in Oklahoma and get a legitimate shot to win the job in a September callup.
Mail Call, Why Bud Selig Is Pissed At the Red Sox, and more Free Agent Rumblings & Grumblings
Mail Call
I don't normally post email, but I figured that this email would actually be worthwhile to checkout.
Morisato,
I see you talk a lot about how the Rangers’ did on the draft? Of the first rounders that were taken in 2006, who will be the first to the majors?
Albert. Alvin, TX
Hmm, well, if you were watching Tigers games this past fall, you would have seen the Tigers’ 2006 First Rounder, Andrew Miller, coming out of the bullpen. While it was still technically by a contract clause mandated by Scott Boras, Miller owns the honor of being the first of the class of 2006 to hit the majors.
I’m going to post a column in the first week of December about the status of how the Draft Class of 2006 has done this year, so you can check out all the ETA’s I’ve estimated per prospect. But if I had to say any prospects that would have a shot at cracking the majors next year, it would be a tossup between Devil Rays first rounder Evan Longoria or Giants first rounder Tim Lincecum, both of whom have done well in their first season of pro ball. Longoria destroyed the minors before stopping at Double A. Lincecum, easily the best prospect in the Giants’ system, also did a fair job in the minors, coming to rest in the Giants’ advanced Class A affiliate in San Jose. Longoria could get a few at bats as a DH next season, while Lincecum could crack the rotation, which isn’t far fetched judging by the mess that is the Giants’ rotation, with a solid Spring Training.
Selig Not Thrilled With The Red Sox
The onus is on the Red Sox to sign Matsuzaka, as their large bid has apparently drawn the ire of Commissioner Bud Selig.
Selig apparently did not expect, nor want the bidding for Matsuzaka to become more than $20 million per year. With the Red Sox placing the huge bid, plus Scott Boras’ complicated negotiations, the cost is sure to exceed that. And thus Selig is overseeing the negotiations carefully. The pressure is really on Boras to make this work, as he’s under pressure to get a deal done, as a breakdown in the negotiations could result in Matsuzaka having no choice but to return to Japan, as well as a hit on Boras reputation.
However, if negotiations do break down, Selig could use his ability to award the negotiation rights to the next highest bidder. Matsuzaka does not want to return to Japan, and Boston wants this deal to look as if they are making a good faith attempt to sign a promising player, instead of the affair looking like an attempt to block the Yankees.
Free Agency Thoughts And Rumblings
With the loss of Bengie Molina, Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi spoke with representatives of free-agent catcher Rod Barajas. Barajas is likely to be much more inexpensive than some of the other options, plus he brings a solid bat to the lineup. Plus, Toronto would also block the Red Sox from acquiring Barajas, as they are interested in Barajas being Tim Wakfield’s catcher due to Barajas’ ability to catch a knuckleball. Barajas wants at least a two-year deal. And wants to start, which is why Texas let him go.
The Red Sox are expressing some interest in bringing in starter Tomo Ohka to serve as a mentor for Daisuke Matsuzaka. Ohka is certainly good enough to serve as a suitable fifth starter, but this would leave the Red Sox with a rotation of Schilling, Beckett, Matsuzaka, Wakefield, Ohka and Clement.
The Texas Rangers, apparently not secure with their outfield, are talking to the Boston Red Sox on a possible deal for Manny Ramirez. Ramirez has two years left on a contract and may need an option exercised as part of the deal, but Boston would surely pay part of the salary. The only problem is whether or not the Rangers are willing to pay the price in prospects, as the Red Sox will demand SS Joaquin Arias, RP Nick Masset, SP John Danks or Eric Hurley, plus 1B Nate Gold.
Outfielder J.D. Drew, who opted out of the remaining three years and $33 million on his Dodgers contract, is expected to sign a two-year, $30 million deal with Boston.
San Francisco is believed to have made three-year, $30 million offers to center fielders Juan Pierre and Gary Matthews Jr. with the idea that whoever says yes first gets the deal.
Oddly enough, last year, the Twins had the best offer for Frank Thomas. However, Thomas said no because he was worried that the FieldTurf at the Metrodome would raise hell with his feet. Hence why he went to Oakland. Here’s the problem with that logic. The Rogers Centre in Toronto, where Thomas is headed, has the exact same surface.
A pair of split series have reduced the magic number to five, but the road to .500 isn't going to be easier. Texas plays a Seattle team that is better than it's record and a dangerous Cleveland team. If the Rangers
DOB: 9/17/85 
DOB: 11/19/87 
DOB: 6/3/88