The Rangers Report - Off-season Editions

My Niece is staying over the night with me, so we're up right now.  She's playing with her toy frog (more like eating it, actually) as we speak.

So, let's take a look at some Non-Tender Musings

Ben Broussard Now A Ranger

All it really cost the Rangers was Tim "Tug" Hulett Jr., who was eligible for the Rule 5 Draft and wasn't taken.  He may make a career as a utility guy, he may not.  We'll see.

As for Broussard, right now I'm penciling him in as the starting first baseman.  That leaves a likely lineup of the following:

1. KInsler (2B)
2. Cat (LF)
3. Young (SS)
4. Blalock (3B)
5. Bradley (DH)
6. Broussard (1B)
7. Salty (C)
8. Murphy (RF)
9. Byrd (CF)

It's a slightly stronger lineup than before, but it's not going to strike the fear of god in you.

What this does raise questions about is what the future will be for Shelton, Botts and Cruz.  If this is the lineup, than something is going to happen soon to get rid of one of these guys.  I have a feeling that Cruz may not survive the off-season.  Botts could see everyday playing time in Left Field and at DH to give Bradley a break, while Murphy and Byrd could be rotated as needed.  Which means that Cruz is likely getting the boot.

God damn it, this team needs better outfield options.  This is getting #### ridiculous.

Bye Bye Aki

Akinori Otsuka was non-tendered, bringing the last remnant of the Chris Young/Adrian Gonzalez trade to an end.

Aki was hurt, but there was some progress in his rehab.  However, I wonder how long he would have been able to have pitched for the full season.  Would he have been ready in time for the season?  I'm not sure.

And does any of this have to do with the fact that he recommended San Diego over Texas to Kosuke Fukudome?

If so, that's petty.  But I'm taking the high road and choosing injury.

So long Aki.  We hardly knew ye.

Other Non-Tenders To Look At

• Mark Prior (RHP - Former Cub) - Eh, what the hell.  Gabbard's got options left and if Prior can bounce back a bit, he could be something worthwhile.  And could even be worth a draft pick or two if he books.
• Kiki Calero (RHP - Former A) - Could be a nice, buy low opportunity for the pen.
• Dallas McPherson (3B - Former Angel) - Maybe, still has some potential.  Is also made out of glass.
• Emil Brown (LF - Royals) - Could form a decent platoon with Cat.

Okay, someone's hungry.  Time to warm up a bottle...

The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition

Hot Stove Coals

Here's some of the names that the Rangers have been connected with so far:

• Carlos Quentin (OF) - The Rangers did make a inquiry to see what it would take to acquire the potential hard hitting right fielder from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  It was Eric Hurley.  I'm not opposed to trading Hurley, but only if it's for a pitcher, such as Santana or Haren.  I would even trade him if maybe Texas had other pitching prospects close to ready.   Since they don't, onto the new stop.
• Scott Rolen (3B) and Chris Duncan (1B/LF) - This was strictly a salary dump in exchange for Hank Blalock.  Duncan I'm not sure about, as he's a big hacking slugger that would be a fit as a platoon DH or FIrst Baseman.  Rolen is pretty much done.  Sorry.  I just can't.
• Andy LaRoche (3B) - There are also talks that Texas is looking to trade Hank Blalock to the Dodgers for Andy LaRoche and change.  However, it looks like the reports are that this was strictly smoke with no substance.  That's a pity.  I would have loved to have had LaRoche.
• Coco Crisp (CF) - And back to Mr. Crisp.  Word is that Boston asked for C.J. Wilson in return and are not interested in Gerald Laird.  Ummmm, no.  Wilson is the closer next year and is one of the few lefties available for the pen, with Murray heading to the rotation in Oklahoma next year, leaving only Rheinecker as the lone lefty aside for Wilson.  Still, this offer is a lot better than what the Red Sox originally asked for, which was Hurley, Luis Mendoza, who actually was a Red Sox, and another player.  TIme to find the next Ron Mahay...
• Josh Hamilton (CF) – Hamilton is attractive in that he’s young and is a physical freak of nature.  He’s got loads of talent and could be a fixture long term in Texas.  The only real question, aside from the past substance abuse issues (not fair, but unfortunately, still valid) are what potential trade matches could be done, as judging from the two teams and their respective farm systems, it doesn’t look like a match can be made.
• David DeJesus (CF) – This is still a valid rumor, especially if you consider the fact that the Royals are going hard after the batshit crazy outfielder we all know as Jose Guillen.  If they sign him, they’ll have a outfield of Mark Teahen, Joey Gathright, whom the Royals love, and Guillen, leaving DeJesus out in the cold.  The Rangers could make an offer of Joaquin Arias, Luis Mendoza, and either Doug Mathis or Michael Schlact in return for DeJesus and change. 
• Chris Shelton (1B) - Shelton was designated for assignment by the Tigers to make room for Kenny Rogers.  Were I the Rangers, I actually would make a play for Shelton, who could at least be a platoon partner for Cat at first next year.

Raid The Pirates

Actually, there is a way for the Rangers to be able to fill several holes at once to help fill their needs.

The Pirates are looking to move RF Xavier Nady and LF Jason Bay in order to stock on prospects, as they seem to have realized that this current core of the team just isn’t working and are looking to make some deals. 

Nady is a virtual lock to be traded, as the Pirates have shown no desire to pay him in arbitration and will look to either trade him or non-tender him.  Jon Daniels discussed Bay with the Pirates earlier today and is in the mix to try and get him.

I’d try to make a deal for both, which would take care of left and right field and allowing them to use some sort of Marlon Byrd/David Murphy combo in center.  It would also allow Texas to leave Frank Catalanotto at first base and would add a pair of decent bats in the middle.  The best part is, neither of them blocks any of the Rangers’ prospects long term and potentially could allow the Rangers to reap some draft picks if they do well in Texas. 

What would I hit the Pirates with for both guys?  Well, it looks like the Pirates are looking for a catcher and a pitching prospect in exchange for Bay and are just looking to get something for Nady.  So, here’s what I’d do:

First off, I’d offer them Laird, who is still three years away from free agency.  That would be for Nady, as it is a trade of pieces that just don’t fit with their current clubs.

For Bay, since I have already offered a catcher, I would ask them if a trade for Joaquin The Dream would work, with another pitcher, possibly Michael Schlact or Armando Galarraga would work.  If they elect for it, cool.  If not, I’d offer some potential Rule 5 picks that may get selected from the Rangers, likely Tug Hulett a utility man, and Jesse Ingram, who had a bounceback season last year, but was blocked from getting onto the Rangers’ 40 this year.

So, if all things considered fall into place, I’d offer the following:

The Texas Rangers offer C Gerald Laird, RHP Armando Galaragga, SS Joaquin Arias and RHP Jesse Ingram for RF Xavier Nady and LF Jason Bay

I know it’s more quantity than quality right now, but it would kill some holes on the team and would allow them to try and trade Jack Wilson while trying to eat some of his salary.  All in all, it’s a pretty fair deal.

Tomorrow, the San Diego Padres Farm System goes up, with the Seattle Mariners going up on Friday.  Look for a Rangers Report GM Meetings Wrap Up On Thursday. 

The Rangers Report - Offseason Editions

Yeah, I know it's early, but I can't sleep...

Centerfield Fixes

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.

Okay, as promised, here are my prospect rankings, according to those that asked for specific teams.  We'll be going in alphabetical order here, no favoritism.

Just to clarify some other things, here are my standards that I picked rookies for eligibility:

Positional Players - 150 AB

Pitchers - 75 Innings

Post Season Numbers Not Included

Arizona Diamondbacks – Prospect Report

After watching their 2002 team fall short of their goal of returning to the series and their 2003 team imploding in flames, the Diamondbacks began their slow process of rebuilding their roster for the future.  With Scouting Director Mike Rizzo at the helm, the Dbacks began taking high impact talent that fell their way in the draft, making sure no price was too hefty to pay, while acquiring overlooked talent that happened to fall their way.  They also managed to acquire some excellent players via trade, all of which has added up to one of the more productive farm systems in all of baseball.  The talent has fallen off a little bit with the mass of promotions over the past couple of years, but there is still a lot to like here, especially when it comes to outfield prospects and a couple of flamethrowers they’ve got in the system. 

Diamondbacks Top 15

1 – Justin Upton (CF)

• DOB: 8/25/87
• Drafted: 1st overall, 2005, Virginia High School
• 2008 Club: Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
• Height/Weight: 6-1/195
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  B.J.'s little brother, Justin was a highly regarded talent, too high for the DBacks to pass up.  However, unlike B.J., the Diamondbacks recognized Justin's defensive lapses and immediately moved him to centerfield.  Justin had a breakout season and was impressive in the Futures Game, before eventually getting promoted to the big league club and moving to right field.  Since I grade differently, Upton remains on my list (though not by much.)
• The Good: Upton is loaded with tools.  He has power to all fields, is extremely fast, and has a strong arm in center.  In centerfield, he showed great range and great instincts.  He's also got a pretty neat swing.
• The Bad:  Just improvement on plate discipline, though he should hit for a high average anyway.  Many also wonder if Upton at times plays on cruise control, though whether or not this is a result of his talent or not is unknown.
• Projection:  Moderate.  Upton can still fill out some more, but the thought is that he still may have some untapped potential within him, as hard as it is to believe.
• What He Can Be:  An elite centerfielder.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  With Upton now in Phoenix, he and Young should form one of the most exciting outfield tandems in the National League, and one of the best defensive ones as well. 

2 – Max Scherzer (RHP)

• DOB:  07/27/84
• Drafted:  1st Round, 2006, University of Missouri (D&F)
• 2008 Club:  Mobile Baybears (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-7/225
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  Medical insecurities caused Scherzer to begin to fall in the draft as many teams began to get ####ed about him.  However, former scouting director Mike Rizzo liked Scherzer’s arm as well as his ability to dial it up into the upper 90’s and pulled the trigger on Scherzer at 11.  Afterward, Rizzo left for Washington and Scherzer’s agent, Scott Boras, began to play hardball, demanding that Scherzer be paid like the top talent in the draft, possibly similar to Boras client’s Luke Hochevar and Andrew Miller.  Arizona refused and the result in that Scherzer headed to Fort Worth.  However, unlike the Hochevar situation, Scherzer still had doubts about him, enough that the Boras camp felt it had no choice but to sign with Arizona, which they did at literally the last minute.
• The Good:  Scherzer is a legitimate power arm, one of the few in the Arizona system.  The talent was there for Scherzer to dominate, as he has a plus fastball that can reach the upper 90’s, coupled with a plus slider that is clocked in the mid 80’s that is an effective out pitch.
• The Bad:  Scherzer has a history of shoulder problems, the most serious medical issue a pitcher can face.   According to Baseball America’s Jim Callis, Scherzer also lacks command over his secondary pitchers to succeed as a starting pitcher.  And to top it all off, he’s got a violent delivery.
• Projection:  Fair.  Scherzer hit a speed bump in Double A, where he’s been hammered and has had the usual issues with command and durability.  This year is really going to be telling, as I don’t think he’ll make the majors as a starting pitcher.
• What He Can Be:  A Dominant Closer
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Scherzer will likely be sent to Double A, as he was hammered during his promotion there.  As for how long Scherzer will be starting, give it a year until Arizona is forced to realize that he’s better off in the pen.  That’s not a bad thing.  If Scherzer is moved to the pen, he could eventually take over for the injury prone Jose Valverde.

3 – Carlos Gonzalez (RF)

• DOB: 10/17/85
• Signed: Venezuela, 2002
• 2008 Club:  Tucson Sidewinders (Triple A)
• Height/Weight: 6-1/200
• Bats/Throws: L/L
• The Skinny:  Gonzalez’s stock is took a bit of a tumble early one, but he was able to adjust to the more advanced level of pitching in Double A and earned himself a promotion to Tucson.  All in all, it was a good season and Gonzalez is yet another outfield prospect to keep an eye on in this system.
• The Good: Gonzalez has some of the best tools in the system.  Gonzalez has a smooth, fluid stroke, above-average power, good range in right field.  He hits to a decent average and has a cannon for an arm.  He’s got some wheels on him as well.
• The Bad: Gonzalez is a bit aggressive at the plate, leading to high strikeout totals.  There have been some concerns over his work ethic at times, but Gonzalez kicked it up a notch when competition arrived in the form of Aaron Cunningham.
• Projection: Average.  Gonzalez has the tools, the youth and some success in the upper minors, but he still needs some seasoning.  Should he remain in Tucson next year, he could put up some monster numbers in the Pacific Coast League next year, and give Arizona more questions than answers when it comes to their outfield of the future.
• What He Come: An All-Star Right Fielder
• 2008 Course Of Action: Gonzalez will likely be sent to Triple A, which I do think he deserves judging by his second half, but his long term future with Arizona is in doubt.  Still, another solid season could result in a trade to another organization.

4 – Aaron Cunningham (OF)

• DOB: 4/24/86
• Drafted: 6th round, 2005, Everett Junior College (White Sox)
• 2008 Club: Mobile Baybears (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 5-11/195
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  Cunningham was traded by the White Sox to the Diamondbacks for second base prospect Danny Richar, in order fill the hole in second base for 2008.  However, the Diamondbacks are rapidly looking like geniuses for making the trade, as Cunningham destroyed the California League from the day he reported to Visalia, earning himself a promotion to Double A Mobile.  All in all, Cunningham has had an impressive year.
• The Good: Cunningham doesn’t have something that he does best, but he does most things well.  He’s got a great swing and makes solid contact with the ball, plus some solid power potential, possible 25 bomb potential.  He hits to all fields and he’s got solid speed on him as well.  Many were wondering if Cunningham could play anywhere other than left field, but it turns out that he’s not bad in center or right field at all.  All in all, he’s a good prospect.
• The Bad:  Cunningham's pitch recognition still needs work, as he doesn’t draw enough walks. 
• Projection:  Average.  Cunningham is still developing as a player, but he's got a good tool set and is in a good organization for developing them.
• What He Can Be:  An above average centerfielder or an average corner outfielder. 
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Cunningham has been great since arriving to Arizona, however his future isn’t going to be in the desert, not with Eric Byrnes signed for three more years in left and uberprospects Justin Upton and Chris B. Young in right and center.  So, Cunningham will be allowed to develop, and he’ll bring in a bundle back in a trade. 

5 – Jarrod Parker (RHP)

• DOB: 11/24/88
• Drafted:  1st Round, 2007, Indiana High School
• 2008 Club:  Arizona League Diamondbacks (Rookie)
• Height/Weight: 6-1/175
• Bats/Throws:  R/R
• The Skinny: Parker and Michael Main were regarded to be the best pitchers in the draft not represented by Scott Boras.  Because the Diamondbacks paid a heavy price for last year’s 11th Overall pick, Max Scherzer, Parker was selected based on his signability, which turned out to be difficult.  Coming off of a high school senior year in which he went 10-0 with a 0.13 ERA and four complete games, Parker negotiated until the 11th hour and adds a legitimately powerful arm in the Arizona system.
• The Good:  Parker throws three pitches, but much of his high school success depended on his powerful fastball.  He throws in the 94-95 mph Range and can dial it up to 98 when he wants to.  He’s able to spot it well on both sides of the plate and has a promising low-80s slider and a average changeup.
• The Bad:  Because Parker depended so much on his heater in high school, both of his secondary pitches are well behind his fastball.  His slight build raises a few durability questions as he gets older.
• Projection:  Very High.  Parker is easily the best starting pitching prospect in the entire system, and that includes Scherzer.  Still, Parker has very much the ability to be a top of the rotation starter, similar to Roy Oswalt if he’s blessed with the same durability.  Even if he doesn’t make it as a starter, he’d be a valuable reliever.  Still, I have faith in him to get it done as a starter.
• What He Can Be:  A Front Of The Rotation Starter, Potential Ace
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Parker will likely be headed to the AZL Dbacks, with a potential finish in a short season league by the end of the year.  He’s got years ahead of him to get ready, but Arizona won’t push him more than they have to. 

6 – Gerardo Parra (CF)

• DOB: 5/6/87
• Drafted: 2004, Dominican Republic
• 2008 Club:  Visalia Oaks (High A)
• Height/Weight:  5-11/197
• Bats/Throws:  L/L
• The Skinny: Another toolsy player n the Arizona system, Parra had a breakout campaign in Low A, hitting .320/.370/.435 before being promoted to the at Low-A South Bend, and then holding his own in a one-month California League stint.
• The Good:  More tools here, as Parra has some power, good bat control and is able to hit to all fields.  He’s quick on the base paths and is an excellent defender with a cannon of an arm, good range and his instincts in the outfield are improving. 
• The Bad: The power is more of the doubles variety.  He also needs to improve on his walk totals.
• Projection:  Average.  Parra is quickly turning into one of my favorite prospects.  He compares favorable to Carlos Gonzalez, though he’s a better bet to stay in center and could have value in the two spot if he draws more walks.
• What He Can Be: A centerfielder that hits in the two hole.
• 2008 Course Of Action: Now that he’s gotten his feet wet in the higher minors, Parra will likely remain in Visalia for the year, though his star could keep on rising, forcing a promotion.  Long term, Parra is blocked and would be a valuable trade chip in a couple of years.

7 – Brett Anderson (LHP)

• DOB: 2/1/88
• Drafted: 2nd round, 2006, Oklahoma High School
• 2008 Club:  Visalia Oaks (High A)
• Height/Weight: 6-4/215
• Bats/Throws: L/L
• The Skinny:  Last year, Anderson was one of the more difficult high school pitchers to evaluate, and his bonus demands resulted in him falling out of the first and supplemental rounds.  The Diamondbacks were intrigued enough to pull the trigger on him, even though he wasn't a power pitcher and never will be.  His final line was 11-7 with a 3.07 ERA between Low and High A.
• The Good: The son of Oklahoma State coach Frank Anderson, Anderson's mechanics are solid and he has remarkable control of his breaking stuff and off-speed pitches.  He's got a very deep repertoire, with three solid pitches, the best being a changeup that he can throw for strikes.   He’s got a good pitcher’s build and could even add a little more mass.
• The Bad:  Anderson is also not very athletic and his fastball clocks in the high 80's, touching 91 on occasion.
• Projection:  Average.  Anderson still has a lot of work to do in terms of improving himself, but his ability to induce groundballs and log in innings should result in some success in the desert.
• What He Can Be:  An innings eater in the back of the rotaiton
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Anderson got hit hard in the California League and likely will repeat there to begin next year.

8 – Dallas Buck (RHP)

• DOB: 11/11/1984
• Drafted: 3rd Round, 2006, Oregon State
• 2008 Club:  Visalia Oaks (High A)
• Height/Weight: 6-2/195
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  Buck entered 2006 as one of the better college pitching prospects, but everything went wrong and combined with a drop in velocity, Buck fell hard until the Diamondbacks took a flier on him.  He signed and since then has been average and productive, but the lack of velocity prompted Buck to undergo Tommy John surgery in late July.
• The Good:  Buck is regarded to be a very good pitcher with a decent arsenal.  He currently has a filthy slider that is a solid out pitch and he also mixes in a good changeup and curveball.  He projects to be very much like Derek Lowe. 
• The Bad:  The concern was where Buck’s old velocity went, which is why he underwent TJ.  Hopefully, this will do the trick.  
• Projection:  Average.  Buck is tough to evaluate.  He’s got solid numbers, but considering what he once was, it’s kind of hard to figure out what he really can be. 
• What He Can Be:  A Back Of The Rotation Starter, right now.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Buck will likely be continuing his rehab until June or so, after which he’ll being a rehab program to build himself back up again.

9 – Dustin Nippert (RHP)

• DOB: 5/6/81
• Drafted: 15th round, 2002, University of West Virginia
• 2008 Club:  Arizona Diamondbacks (MLB)
• Height/Weight: 6-8/225
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny: Nippert, once one of the higher regarded Arizona pitching prospects, hasn’t done much to prove that he’s still an elite prospect, as he was very mediocre in Triple A Tucson and got shelled when he was shuttled back and forth to Arizona.
• The Good: Thanks to his huge height, Nippert is able to take advantage of his lo 90’s sinking fastball and curveball, which seem to drop out from the sky. 
• The Bad: Nippert has been inconsistent throughout his career and without a third pitch, he’s likely headed to the bullpen. 
• Projection: Low.  Despite all the potential, it’s time to start looking at Nippert in relief, as his development has now stagnated.  The Dbacks are hoping that he can somehow reclaim his value, but it doesn’t look very promising right now.
• What He Can Be: A capable setup man.
• 2008 Course Of Action: Nippert is likely headed with the Snakes back to Phoenix, where he’ll function as a setup/long man for the bullpen, though to be fair, his stuff is good enough where he could be given one final shot at starting.

10 – Wes Roemer (RHP)

• DOB: 10/7/86
• Drafted: 1st Round, 2007, Cal State Fullerton
• 2008 Club: Mobile Baybears (Double A)
• Height/Weight: 6-0/200
• Bats/Throws: R/R
• The Skinny:  A first round projected pick for much of the year, Roemer put up solid numbers (10-6, 3.33 ERA, with 136 SO and 22 BB in 127 IP) during his Junior Year at Cal State and was taken late in the first round. 
• The Good: A smallish right-handed pitcher, Roemer gets along thanks to his excellent command and control.  His repitoire consists of a fastball that clocks in the late 80’s, early 90’s, and a good slider and an average changeup.  The slider is his best pitch and is an excellent out pitch. 
• The Bad:  Stuffwise, Roemer is quite ordinary and none of his pitches are anything more than average.  His size and lack of explosiveness makes it very likely he’s going to be a setup man in the future.
• Projection:  Low.  Roemer will get every chance to start, but ultimately, I think he’ll be shifted to the pen, which isn’t a bad thing.  It’s just kinda what Roemer is, a very good, but not great prospect.
• What He Can Be:  A capable setup man.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Roemer will be headed to Mobile, where he’ll be pitching with last year’s top pick, Max Scherzer, in what should be a decent looking Baybears squad next year.

11 – Tyrell Worthington (OF)

• DOB:  8/2/88
• Drafted:  5th Round, 2007, North Carolina High School
• 2008 Club: Missoula Osprey (Rookie)
• Height/Weight: 6-0/190
• Bats/Throws:  R/R
• The Skinny:  Signed away from East Carolina, who saw him as a running back, the Diamondbacks signed to a $220,000 bonus, following the Devil Rays’ pattern of paying for talent. 
• The Good:  Worthington has an enticing power/speed combo, and projects a bit like Carl Crawford (Professionally) or Desmond Jennings (Prospect Wise). 
• The Bad:  Worthington is still raw as a baseball player, and he’ll need a lot of work.  However, he was a potential high pick in terms of tools, but his two sport status caused him to fall.  Hopefully in time, he’ll become similar to Desmond Jennings, who he projects a lot like.
• Projection:  Very High.  Though he’s at the bottom of my 15, Worthington is one of those players that can blow up big once he begins to take instruction and gains experience.  Hopefully, it’ll all work out for Arizona.
• What He Can Be:  A corner outfielder who can hit near the middle of the order.
• 2008 Course of Action:  Because he’s so raw, Worthington will start at the bottom, where he’ll be able to get his feet wet in the Pioneer league. 

12 – Mark Rosen (LHP)

• DOB:  6/30/84
• Drafted:  5th Round, 2002, Massachusetts High School
• 2008 Club:  Unknown
• Height/Weight:  5-11/210
• Bats/Throws:  L/L
• The Skinny:  A commitment to the University of Miami prevented Rosen from going higher than the fifth round in 2002, but the southpaw was considered one of the nation’s premier prep southpaws.
• The Good:  Despite his smallish frame, Rosen packs some serious punch in him, working with a heater that clocks in the low 90’s and can hit 94 consistently.  He’s got a good slider that is his out pitch.  He induces a lot of groundouts and, now that he’s a reliever, it’s become obvious that the Diamondbacks' patience in grooming him as a reliever finally paid off. 
• The Bad:  He’s very hittable, which comes with the territory as a groundball pitcher.  Really, the issue is that Rosen will may be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft this season if he’s not offered a spot on the 40 Man roster, meaning that all of the Diamondbacks’ hard work could pay off…for someone else.
• Projection:  Low.  Rosen posted some decent numbers in winter ball, and he should be ready sooner or later. 
• What He Can Be:  A lefty setup man.
• 2008 Course Of Action:  Rosen’s future with Arizona is murky at the moment, as he’s not on the 40 man roster and he’ll likely be taken in December’s Rule V Draft if he isn’t protected.  We’ll see what happens to him. 

13 – Barry Enright (RHP)

• DOB: 3/30/86
• Drafted: 2nd Round, 2007. Pepperdine
• 2008 Club:  Visalia Oaks (High A)
• Height/Weight:  6-3/200
• Bats/Throws:  R/R
• The Skinny: Enright was the Friday night starter for Pepperdine, but questions about his stuff resulted in him falling to the 2nd round, where he was converted to relief by Arizona.  Thus far, he’s been lights up and will likely return to Visalia to start the season. 
• The Good: Enright’s success has been mostly because he’s got good command and a large amount of deception to keep hitters off balance.  His fastball sits in the 88-89 mph range, but he can hit 91-92 if he reaches back.  He’s got a good slider that clocks in at 79-80 mph and has late life.  He’s also got a changeup that may be salvageable if he wants to be a starter, but it’s not great. 
• The Bad: None of Enright’s pitches are plus ones and his arsenal isn’t good enough for him to remain a starter unless he somehow manages to salvage the changeup.  He’s a bullpen guy. 
• Projection:  Low.  Enright could rise quickly, but overall he’s a middle reliever,
• What He Can Be: Middle Relief
• 2008 Course Of Action: Enright is likely going to be starting in the meantime for Visalia, as it's a quick way to build his innings and hasten his development.  I still feel he's bullpen bound, however.

14 – Edward Easley (C)

• DOB: 12/21/85
• Drafted: 1st Round (S), 2007, Mississippi State
• 2008 Club:  Visalia Oaks (High A)
• Height/Weight:  6-0/195
• Bats/Throws:  L/L
• The Skinny: Rated a second-team All-American coming out of high school, Easley has had a rather vanilla career at Mississipi State, where he has played catcher and third base.  His reputation was that of a solid hitter, but the Snakes felt that Easley has the tools to at least be a major league backup in time, though they probably picked him up way too high. 
• The Good: Easley is a fairly athletic backstop who has shown some ability to play the infield.  Easley's bat has improved each year he's been at Mississippi State and he's currently hitting .400, though he's not expected to hit that well at the next level.  During infield and between innings, Easley looked like he could barely reach second base with his throws. During the game, however, he threw a bullet to throw a guy out trying to steal, making it a little puzzling for scouts if the plus arm is always there.  Easley caught well, received the ball well and blocked balls in the dirt effectively, though his bat has always been better than his glove. He's also played a lot of third base in the past.
• The Bad: None of his tools stand out or profile to be above-average at the next level.  Easley is a below-average runner, but isn't awful for a catcher.  He's got some pop, with eight homers this season, but that's more a testament to the metal bats. He won't be a big power guy as a pro.
• Projection:  Average.  Plate discipline is a necessary, but he hasn’t been able to get the hang of it yet.  He’d better, or he’s pretty much screwed.
• What He Can Be: Fringy starting catcher/capable backup
• 2008 Course Of Action: Easley has shown at least some ability with the bat and behind the plate. He's got some power, but is more of a doubles hitter in the future. His skill set profiles more as a backup catcher in the Kelly Stinnett or Doug Mirabelli mold, where he won't get to hit enough to make it matter.

15 – Emilio Bonifacio (2B)

DOB: 4/23/85

Drafted: 2001, Dominican Republic

2008 Club:  Tucson Sidewinders (Triple A)

Height/Weight:  5-11/180

Bats/Throws:  S/R

The Skinny: Another toolsy player n the Arizona system, Bonifacio put up deceptively good numbers at Mobile this year, but didn’t do to well in limited action with Arizona.

The Good: Bonifacio has great speed and could at the very least have a career as a pinch runner/defensive replacement, a la Miguel Cairo.  He’s more of a slap hitter and tries to beat the ball to first. 

The Bad: The bat is what keeps Bonifacio as nothing more than a backup as he can’t hit consistently, can’t walk, and has some range issues as well. 

Projection:  Average.  Plate discipline is a necessary, but he hasn’t been able to get the hang of it yet.  He’d better, or he’s pretty much screwed.

What He Can Be: A leadoff second baseman.

2008 Course Of Action: Bonifacio will likely be down in Tucson to begin the year, but could be called up in the event a utilityguy gets hurt, or if he’s traded.

Final Thoughts

Mike Rizzo deserves a standing ovation for the job he did during his tenure as the Snakes’ scouting director, as he did a solid job.  Many of the building blocks for the current Arizona team are already there, with the potential for more on the way if the system keeps churning out talent.  Current GM Josh Byrnes deserves a lot of praise too, as he’s been able to continue to stock the system with solid players and talent in exchange for overpriced or overrated talents that had no place on what he had envisioned for the team (3B Troy Glaus, RHP Javier Vasquez, to name a few.) 

The big problem with Arizona is that the system has failed to produce any sort of impact prospects.  Outside of Brandon Webb, there really hasn’t been any sort of front line starter produced by the system in years.  This could be remedied if the Twins were ever willing to let go of some of their hoard of pitching prospects in exchange for bats (something the Twins suck at developing, but that’s for another column), or if Parker develops as expected.  All in all, this remains without a doubt, one of the Top 10 organizations in baseball.

Sources, Scouting Reports, and Thanks to:  Kevin Goldstein (Baseball Prospectus), Keith Law (ESPN), Soxprospects.com, B.J. Medrano, Jim Callis And The Rest Of Baseball America, Jonathan Mayo (MLB.com), MiLB.com, Sam Corral and Erica Belmontes, Ernie Carlson, Lonestarball.com, Jamey Newberg (Newbergreport.com), Brewerfan.net and Mike Hindman (Rangers Farm Report)

Before I being, congrats to the Kansas City Royals, as they appear to be getting ready to hire former Nippon Ham Fighters Manager Trey Hillman.  Hillman's a good man and will provide a lot of guidance to those players.

Onto the show!

On The Block - Coco Crisp

This is no longer out of the realm of possibility, as the Crisp himself has expressed a near certainty that he could be dealt. 

The Why:  Because Jacoby Ellsbury is bad ####.

Okay, aside from that.

Really, Ellsbury is ready to play now and the Red Sox don't seem too inclined to have him go into the 2008 Season as a supersub (which he'd still get reasonably playing time spotting Manny and Drew and Crisp).  Plus, Crisp is at the height of his value and would net some quality stuff in return for the Red Sox.

The Rumored Asking Price:  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......I'd say at least one stud prospect and a couple of B grade prospects, not stars, but good ones.   Or, potentially a third baseman with control left on him and a couple of prospects.  This is guesstimating right now.

Can A Trade Be Done:  Yes.  I should probably eliminate this section.  In all seriousness, Crisp is attractive because of his defense and because of his contract, which pays him $4.75 million in 2008, $5.75 million in 2009 and an $8 million club option for 2010.  That's a sweet deal, especially if you're gunshy about going after some of the centerfielders in the market this year. 

The Good:  Aside from his Gold Glove caliber defense, Crisp has a great deal of talent.  He was probably miscast as the leadoff man last year, but he's got a presence in the back of the order and reasonably could hit in the Number Two Slot if you've got an established leadoff guy already. 

Potential Hang-ups:

• Prospects – It really depends on what you're willing to give up for him.  Boston could easily scare off quite a few teams if they asked for several top prospects, especially in this day and age where prospects are overvalued a bit. Teixiera may have made the market harder for everyone else, as now everyone will be wondering if they could get a bounty of players in exchange for a player again.
• Lack Of Suitors - The quality of a lot of farm systems is down due to graduations or long term need.  As a result, many teams are either set with centerfielders, are playing a guy in center simply because of his contract, or don't have the goods to make a deal.

Potential Suitors – In Alphabetical Order

• Atlanta Braves – This is probably the most obvious one, as Atlanta needs a centerfielder.  Unfortunately, the Bravos are thin in the farm system after dealing prospects
• Florida Marlins – The Marlins could use a centerfielder and have some prospect depth to do it.  The Red Sox could even try to do a deal for Miguel Cabrera, although that likely would result in more being sent back to Florida in return.
• Los Angeles Dodgers - The Dodgers seem to be wanting to build more from other peoples' rosters instead of from their own, which is a shame.  Fortunately, there's a prospect in the Dodgers' minors that would be a solid swap for Crisp, Andy LaRoche, whom the Dodgers seem to have an allergy to playing. 
• Milwaukee Brewers - The Brewers could use a centerfielder and could concievably trade Bill Hall, who'd play third for the Red Sox, along with change elsewhere.
• Minnesota Twins – The Twins need a centerfielder and could part with some of their arms in the minors, but I don't have a feel for how the new regime in Minnesota thinks yet.  Terry Ryan wouldn't deal for anyone, so let's see how things shake out.
• Texas Rangers – Texas could use Crisp, but after restocking the system, I'm not so sure how much they're eager to start spending from it.  It's more likely they stand pat.

If I had To Hazard A Guess...Crisp Stays Put, Leaving Ellsbury to Supersub Duty.

If I Had To Make A Trade...The Boston Red Sox trade CF Coco Crisp to the Minnesota Twins for RHP Matt Garza.

Thoughts?

Taking some tiem out from watching the playoffs to update you all on some Ranger thoughts I had.  Let's kick it out the new title text:

The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition

Aki May Need Tommy John Surgery

This isn’t good news.

Reports are coming out that Akinori Otsuka, who hasn’t been seen since the All Star break, may need to undergo Tommy John, costing him all of 2009 and the last year of control under Texas before Free Agency.

Sigh.

Aki was likely going to exit Surprise next season as the closer for the Rangers.  If he needs to undergo Tommy John, he’s going to get non-tendered and released by Texas, giving a final and craptastic end to one of the worst Rangers trades of all time.

And, just because I like rubbing salt on my wounds, here is how the trade worked out for Texas:

• Adam Eaton – Posted a horrific year and didn’t even merit Free Agent Compensation, then bolted for the big bucks in Philly, where he’s been equally craptastic.
• Akinori Otsuka – Did a great job as a closer in 2006, was an excellent setup man in 2007, but would be gone if he has to undergo TJ.
• Billy Killian - A young catching prospect, Killian was terrible for Spokane and Clinton and was eventually sold to the White Sox for an undisclosed amount of cash and a cash of Milwaukee’s Best.

Bah.

Top Rangers Moments Of 2007

1. Michael Young’s 200th Hit – It’s great to see Mikie extend his 200 hit season streak to five.
2. The Return of Rangers Ballpark – The Rangers take back their ballpark by buying out Ameriquest and renaming the ballpark Rangers Ballpark In Arlington.
3. The 30-3 Game – This asskicking actually was able to help a lot of fans move on from Teixeira. ..well, expect for the Metroplex media (#### you Randy Galloway!)
4. Hank Blalock’s Return – And how!  A Grand Slam against the Angels that helped ice a win on Sunday Night Baseball.
5. The 2007 Draft – The fact that Texas was able to add so many quality arms, many of which began to preform right away, is making for a potential farm system Bonanza come 2009.

Da Pick!  Da Pick!  Where Is Da Pick!

The draft standings are more or less finalized, and Texas will make the 11th pick in next June's amateur draft.  It’s not a bad place to pick, really.  The Rangers won’t get an elite talent unless he falls, but there should be a solid talent there.

Here’s the last five 11th overall picks. 

• 2007 – Philipe Aumont (Mariners) – Love this guy, should be a solid major leaguer.
• 2006 – Max Scherzer (Diamondbacks) – Solid arm, potential closer.
• 2005 – Andrew McCutcheon (Pirates) – Tools city, has probably been rushed.
• 2004 – Neil Walker (Pirates) – Like the bat, not sure where he’ll play though.
• 2003 – Robert Aubrey (Indians) – Promising career short-circuited by injury.

The only real problem with this year’s draft is that it may be one of the weakest drafts in years.  Still, there should be a decent talent around at 11.

Cat On First?

The more I look at the first base market, in terms of trade and free agency, the more I think it’s going to be likely that Frank Catalanotto will likely be the Rangers’ starting first baseman in 2008.

The reason being is that there are no real attractive options out on the open market, with only glove men like Sean Casey and Mike Lamb available.  And the only first baseman that I know of that could wind up here, Todd Helton, would be a far too lengthy commitment for the Rangers, plus he would likely require the Rangers picking up an expensive option to come here. 

Actually, hold that thought, there is also Adam Dunn, who could play first base and is reasonably comparable to Ryan Howard, but what would the Reds want in terms of prospects?  I don’t think that enough of a deal could be reached for the two sides to swing a deal.

Meanwhile, playing Cat at first would allow the Rangers to use different outfielders, improving the overall defense, as Cat is rather bad in left.  It would allow the Rangers to play David Murphy regularly in right field, while allowing Jason Botts, who isn’t great, but is better than Cat in left, while allowing the Rangers to concentrate on obtaining help in centerfield and DH. 

Keeping An Eye On Felix Pie And David DeJesus

Two options in centerfield to keep an eye on are Cubs prospect Felix Pie and Royals centerfielder David DeJesus.

I think there was more truth than people realize when rumors surrounded Pie and the Cubbies’ apparent willingness to deal him in the right trade.  There was a rumored deal of Gerald Laird for Pie, but the deal was quickly killed and the Cubbies announced they had no real intentions of trading him.

I’m not so sure.

Lou Pinella wasn’t a big fan of Pie’s during his time up with the Cubs and wasn’t enthused about playing him every day. 

And, with rumors that the Cubs may go hard after a free agent centerfielder, that would all but block Pie from ever making it to Wrigley. 

Which would make trading for Pie much more valuable, as it would allow the Rangers to get something for not as painful of a price.  Pie is regarded to be a raw, Carlos Beltran type (then again, so is Rangers prospect Engel Beltre), and if he gets PT, he'll be able to blossom into something special.

Here's hoping the Cubs do so.

The other player is Royals centerfielder David DeJesus, who the Royals are supposedly looking into trading for younger, projectable parts, especially since they now feel that Joey Gathright has figured out how to hit.  Gathright has leadoff potential and is faster and can cover more ground than DeJesus.

If the Royals are willing, I'd be ready to call if I were GM.  I'm not sure what the price would be, but it wouldn't be real expensive, especially when you consider what the Royals got in exchange for Octavio Dotel (the mighty Kyle Davies). 

The Royals have tried for years to acquire prospect Joaquin Arias.  I'd be willing to deal Arias, especially since I got an Arias clone in Elvis Andrus.  If I were making a deal, and DeJesus were available, I'd call up the Royals and dicker, with Arias being in the deal. 

Arias is still very attractive, in that he's got loads of tools and is young.  It's becoming obvious that a change of scenery may be necessary for him to reach his potential and he could eventually be better than Tony Pena Jr, who is a backup at best or a starter while he's cheap.  The only real issue would be if Arias developed, which would potentially bite the Rangers in the way Hafner did, but really Arias is blocked in Texas by Young and Kinsler, so it would be for the best.

What Does The Future Hold For Loe, Laird, and Tejeda

The Rangers' final loss to the Mariners was likely the last for several Rangers, and the end for some of the Rangers’ current career paths.

Kameron Loe expereinced a odd season, where he seemingly found his mojo as a starter again before his old inconsistencies reached back to nab him again.  While Loe has developed better off-speed stuff to go with his sinker, he hasn’t been able to sustain his success long.  Overall, Loe has been better as a reliever, as he is 13-19 with a 5.08 ERA in 47 career starts and 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 46 relief appearances, but with the emergence of several young starters, Loe is likely going to be the long man coming into next year, or could be traded in the offseason to a team that could be able to work on him to be an average 5th starter. 

The same has gone for Robinson Tejeda.  What started out to be a promising season quickly devolved into disaster as Tejeda was shelled more and more as the seaosn went on, finishing 5-9 with a 6.61 ERA in 19 games before being sent down to Triple A, where he eventually had hsis eaosn ended due to injury.  Tejeda’s future with the Rangers is also going to be one of uncertainty, as the rotation appears to be set with Millwood, Padilla, McCarthy, Gabbard and Volquez going into next year.  Even worse, Eric Hurley is nearly ready and could challenge for a starting spot next year, leaving Tejeda’s opportunities for a third chance less and less likely.

Gerald Laird is a different story.  With his bat going into the ####, Laird’s future as a Ranger likely was doomed once the Mark Teixeira deal brought in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a natural catcher, over in the deal.  While Salty projects to be a average first baseman, behind the plate he could be a perrenial All Star and a capable middle to late in the order presence.  Laird was almost dealt at the deadline, but the Teixeira deal was swung too late to try and get a decent offer rolling.  With the lack of young catchers in the majors all around, Laird, despite his numbers, could be attractive to several teams needing a young catcher with at least three years of control left on him.

 

On The Block Manana guys.  Now, back to snoozing with the girlfriend and my niece...

 

 

 

 

 

Trade Deadline Wrap Up

Okay, time to deal out final grades on the trade deadline for each assignment. 

The Pittsburgh Pirates Acquire RHP Matt Morris From The San Francisco Giants For OF Rajai Davis And A Player To Be Named Later

This is probably the most puzzling deal of the deadline.  The Pirates really didn’t need Morris, whose production had fallen fast and far as of late and what’s worse is that they’ll be assuming the entire contract remaining on him.  Morris adds nothing really to the Pirates rotation except make it a lot more expensive.  He’s also going to PNC Park, where he’ll get lit up a lot worse than he did at A####mp;T.  As for the Giants, they get a fourth outfielder type in Davis, but the biggest coup is getting Morris’ salary off the books and allowing them to pursue a big bat.  So far, the Giants will have a total of $29 million off the books, counting Bonds’ and Morris’ salary.  Sexy!  The only real criticism is that the Giants could have gotten something of consequence from another team if they had traded him two months earlier…maybe back to the Cardinals for the young Anthony Reyes, who needs to get out of Missouri.

Final Grade:  Giants – B, Pirates – D

The Atlanta Braves Acquire LHP Royce Ring From The San Diego Padres For LHP’s Wil Ledezma and Will Startup

The Braves acquire more relief pitching, this time in Ring who may or may not be able to contribute something, but has options available, something Ledezma didn’t.  The Padres get a solid lefty reliever in Ledezma, who will benefit from pitching in Petco, and anything from Startup is gravy.

Final Grade:  Padres – B, Braves – B-

The Philadelphia Phillies Acquire RHP Julio Mateo From The Mariners For INF Jesus Mechan

What is it with the Phillies and acquiring ####s?  Mateo, a known wife beater, should upgrade the pen somewhat.  Thank god the Mariners were able to rid themselves of this ####.

Final Grade:  Mariners – A+, Phillies – F

The Boston Red Sox Acquire RHP Eric Gagne From The Texas Rangers for LHP Kason Gabbard, OF David Murphy and OF Engel Beltre.

Another upside play here.  The Red Sox gain Gagne, who has agreed to setup Jonathan Papelbon.  The Rangers gain more parts to possibly rebuild their team from.  Murphy can handle center and his bat is okay.  He has good plate discipline, but not a lot of power despite his size.  We'll see if he's another Rudy Jaramillo reclamation project here.  Gabbard is a 4th starter with average stuff, but he does induce ground balls, a plus in Arlington, plus he's left handed.  That leaves the Rangers with a lot of starting pitching options, with next year's rotaiton likely consisting of Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Brandon McCarthy, Gabbard and Kameron Loe, though Eric Hurley may force someone to promote him.  The biggest deal is Engle Beltre, one of the top prospects signed out of the Dominican Republic last season who is another toolsy player.  He's got a ncie swing, a great arm, and loads of power potential.  All in all, it's a good deal for Texas, who got parts for now and for later and could potential have a superstar in Beltre if they develop him right.

The San Diego Padres Acquire 3B Morgan Ensberg From The Houston Astros For PTBNL Or Cash

And this move was for…what?  The Astros get to do good on their guy by flipping him elsewhere for a fringe prospect.  And the Padres’ bench gets more and more cluttered.

Grade:  Padres – C, Astros – D

The Chicago White Sox Acquire RHP Jon Link From The San Diego Padres For UTIL Rob Mackowiak

What the hell?  Mackowiak was worth more than an average reliever in High A.  I usually like to give Kenny Williams the benefit of the doubt, as he has done some good deals in the past and usually identifies prospects he feels will turn out well.  But they could have gotten something better for Mackowiak, a solid utility guy with some thunder in his bat and his ability to play the infield and outfield corners.  Nice job on San Diego getting some bench depth to help for the stretch run.

Final Grades:  White Sox – C-, Padres – B+

The New York Yankees Acquire UTIL Wilson Betemit From The Los Angeles Dodgers For RHP Scott Proctor

A Rod Insurance.  Pure and simple, though Betemit may finally end Joe Torre's fascination with Miguel Cairo.  Betemit has some pop and can capably handle any of the infield positions.  The Dodgers could have something with Proctor, who is a capable reliever and setup man, provided Joe Torre has not already destoryed his arm.

Final Grades:  Dodgers - B, Yankees - B

The St. Louis Cardinals Acquire RHP Joel Pinero From The Boston Red Sox For PTBNL

Good job by the Cardinals, though I’m not sure what Pinero can do for them.  Well, actually, Pinero could develop nicely if he listens to Dave Duncan and might recapture some of his old promise.  It’s not a bad idea to give it a shot, especially for a PTBNL that won’t be of any consequence.

Final Grades:  Cardinals – B-, Red Sox – C-

The Houston Astros acquire 3B Ty Wigginton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for RHP Dan Wheeler.

Not a bad job here by Houston.  Wigginton is a above average bat that can produce at third without killing the defense.  The Devil Rays enhance their bullpen by acquiring Wheeler, a solid setup man with closing experience that was a part of the first every Devil Ray draft way back when.  All in all, this helps both teams.

Final Grades:  Astros – B, Devil Rays – B

The Philadelphia Phillies acquire RHP Kyle Lohse from the Cincinnati Reds for LHP Matt Maloney

A decent trade.  Lohse should help the Phillies with their current pitching problems and gives them a capable Number Five guy in the back of the rotation.  In return, the Reds get a decent prospect in Maloney, who could develop into what Lohse was.  Not a bad trade.

Final Grades:  Phillies – B, Reds – B

The New York Mets acquire 2B Luis Castillo from the Minnesota Twins for C Drew Butera and OF Dustin Martin

This was a great trade for the Mets, as Castillo can help them now and they’ll be able to reap draft pick compensation from him once he leaves.  As for the Twins, nice job on getting organizational filler that will be playing in the American Association in two years. 

Final Grades:  Mets – A, Twins – F

The Atlanta Braves acquire RHP Octavio Dotel From The Kansas City Royals for RHP Kyle Davies

I don’t get this deal at all.  Davies has flopped since coming up the Big Leagues and has struggled against National League lineups.  His command is awful and he gets hit hard by opposing hitters.  I don’t know what the Hell Kansas City was thinking. They could have gotten OF Wladimir Balentien, a solid prospect that helps them immediately from the Mariners.  What were they smoking?!  This is yet another reason why the Royals remain the Royals.

Final Grades:  Royals – F, Braves – A

This is a disturbing new tidbit that has begun to make itself known.  I don’t know how much of it is fact, but from what I’ve dug up, it’s starting to look like there is some truth to it.

The Boras corporation employs several people, including different coaches, to evaluate his clients and to possibly see where they are at in this stage of their careers.

But what if the Boras Corporation is starting to insist on their own player development?

This is apparently the story with the signals that the Mets have begun to leak out that Mike Pelfrey is in fact very much available for a trade.  The reason is because Boras and his operation have told the Mets prospect that their own coaching, scouting, and development guys know better than that of the Mets’ organization.

Another player that has begun to wear out his welcome is Mark Teixeira, who according to Peter Gammons in a recent interview, with a Boston Radio Station, has moved away from the advice of Rangers Hitting Coach Rudy Jaramillo and is instead taking instruction from Boras’ group.  This may have been the source of the earlier blowup between Ron Washington and Teixeira, which was apparently over the subject of Teixeira’s hitting.

This is a problem that needs to be stopped, as Boras can’t suddenly inject himself into the player development process of a player.  Do you really mean to tell me that Scott Boras has better coaches on his payroll than Rick Peterson and Rudy Jaramillo, two of the best coaches in the business for pitching and hitting? 

Gammons doesn’t stop there.

He also says that the Boras Corporation may have ruined pitching prospects Craig Hansen and Luke Hochevar, a pair of first round picks, Hansen by changing his delivery as throwing mechanics and Hochevar by changing his arsenal.  Apparently, Hochevar no longer throws the four seam fastball and curveball that made him a potential first rounder, and have changed it to a two seam fastball and a slider, new pitches that Hochevar doesn’t have as much experience throwing.

Again, I have my disputes with Gammons and take a lot of what he says with a grain of salt.  But there’s a ton of stuff here that makes a lot of sense and Gammons, for his faults and bias’, is very well connected and probably wouldn’t be slinging this #### out on the public if it were true.  

This also isn’t just ESPN saying this.  Baseball Prospectus, one of the more objective baseball think factories on the web is also alleging this and broke the story about Pelfrey. 

In any case, this shouldn’t be happening.  As good as Boras can be, he doesn’t have better coaches on his staff than those in major league baseball.  Tinkering too much with a client risks destroying a clients career, something which you were entrusted to work and guide.  Doing this isn’t only irresponsible, it should be grounds from banishment for the game, as you are tampering with competitive balance.

Boras may have his heart in the right place, as he may be just trying to extend clients’ career.  However, what he is doing is wrong and he’s going to make the game worse for it if he continues.

Or maybe it’s simply just another liberty that Boras has taken on himself.  He already controls the players’ negotiations, career choices, and even the types of relationships that the player may have with the team.

This is wrong.

I know it.

Does he?

Why Coco Crisp is not long in Boston, why J.P. Riccardi is a horrible GM that should have been fired a long time ago, 2007 Free Agent Pitchers (Part 1 of 3) and the Royals' Rookie Closer.

Coco Not Long In Beantown

Tired of Coco Crisp yet Boston?

Don't worry.  He won't be there for long.

Simply put, for two reasons:

1. Andruw Jones is a free agent after this season
2. Jacoby Ellsbury has reached Triple A

Crisp has long been seen as a stopgap for Ellsbury, who is an OBP machine in the minors and looks to be the second coming of Johnny Damon in the Red Sox system.  He's a excellent centerfielder with speed, plate discipline, and insticts in the outfield.  And at this point in time, there's going to be a desire to see him sooner rather than later in Crisp continues to struggle.

As for Jones, Jones was pursued by Boston last season and was almost dealt for until the Red Sox balked at the Braves' demand for Jon Lester to be included in the deal.  With Jones nearing Free Agency and the Braves not likely to bring him back, he would be a excellent addition in the short term for the Red Sox, who could play him in center for one year while Ellsbury remains in Triple A for one more year.  Afterward, the Red Sox would allow Manny Ramirez to leave, then promote Ellsbury to center while allowing Jones to slide over to left field, where the overall Boston Defense would improve.  Jones would also serve as protection for Ortiz in the lineup, as his bat is just as potent as Ramirez'

Crisp in the meantime, would be quite attractive as a trade chip to teams needing a centerfielder and would net another prospect for the Red Sox, who need a third baseman who can succeed Mike Lowell. 

It's not a trade rumor, it's simply an obersvation that bears watching.

J.P. Ricciardi - A Disaster That Walks Like A Man

Apologies to the Daily Show for the tagline, but it fits Toronto's hapless GM.  For some reason or another, ownership is steadfastly standing by their GM, even though he's probably done far more harm to the organization than good, in terms of his wheeling and dealing.

Let's rewind a bit.  The Blue Jays dominated the American League in the early 90's, winning the World Series in 1992 and 1993, but had to jetison most of the team because of the strike and a decline in fan base.  The team worked itself back to try and rebuild itself from within, but the process cost then GM Gord Ash his job.  Ricciardi, then one of Billy Beane's lieutenants in Oakland, had made a name for himself as Oakland's director of personnel and was given the job.

Since then, Ricciardi has made some severely questionable decisions, in terms of the talent brought in and given away.  Here are the players Toronto has brought in that have made any sort of impact that are still on the roster:

• B.J. Ryan (LHP) - The O's former closer had an All Star caliber season before his Tommy John procedure cost him his season and Ricciardi's credability.
• Troy Glaus (3B) - Obtained in a trade with Arizona and probably one of the few trades where Toronto may have gotten the better deal.
• Lyle Overbay (1B) - Brought in to counterbalance Glaus.  A minor deal, really.
• A.J. Burnett (RHP) -

And here's who's gone, by trade or by free agency:

• Michael Young (SS) - Traded for Esteban Loaiza.  Loaiza was average in Toronto and left via free agency.  Despite his slump, he's done far better than any of the Toronto Shortstops they've fielded.
• Ted Lilly (LHP) - This capable lefty wasn't shown enough love to stay with the Jays.  Now he's knocking them down in Chicago.
• Felipe Lopez (SS/2B) - Traded to Cincinatti, I wonder how Toronto would be fared with a infield combination of Young and Lopez instead of what they're running out right now.
• Orlando Hudson (2B) - A smooth second baseman, Hudson has a decent bat that provides depth to the lineup.  The DBacks send their thank yous.
• Miguel Batista (RHP) - Oooh, another starting pitcher that's far better than what Toronto has right now.
• Dave Bush (RHP) - Milwaukee says Thanks Again.
• Carlos Delgado (1B) - A face of the franchise, Delgado was simply allowed to walk.  Terrible.
• Justin Speier (RHP) - A solid relief pitcher that helped cement the bullpen.  He was also allowed to walk and all the Jays got was the Angels' second round draft pick.
• Chris Carpenter (RHP) - Drafted by the organization and was let go.  Found stardom in St. Louis.
• Kelvim Escobar (RHP) - Another player allowed to leave, became a solid starter for the Angels.
• Cory Lidle (RHP) - The late Corey Lidle had success in the Blue Jays and then was also allowed to leave.
• Mark Hendrickson (RHP) - Traded to Tampa Bay, Hendrickson is actually a decent starter, who Toronto could use right now.

Ouch, that a lot of talent to let go, especially when you consider that many of these players would have helped Toronto compete in the short and long term and may have severely affected the race of the AL East and the American League as a whole.

But, the counterarguement is that in Oakland, the team has found ways of competeing in spite of losses of talent, for the draft pick compensation would result in high quality players that would help the big league club contribute immediately.  Such a strategy would work for Toronto, right?

Not exactly.

Here's the rundown of Ricciardi's drafts, which have been focused mostly on college players, and the players that have Toronto has passed on that have become productive major leaguers.  It should be noted that the two franchise cornerstone players, Vernon Wells and Roy Halladay, were not drafted by Ricciardi, but rather by the previous regime. 

• 2002 - Russ Adams.  Passed On:  Scott Kazmir (Mets), Nick Swisher (Oakland), Cole Hamels (Philly), Jeff Francouer (Atlanta), Joe Blanton (Oakland), Matt Cain (Giants).
• 2003 - Aaron Hill.  Passed On:  Chad Cordero (Nationals), Brandon Wood (Angels), Chad Billingsley (Dodgers)
• 2004 - David Purcey, Zach Johnson.  Passed On:  Josh Fields (White Sox), Philip Hughes (Yankees), Eric Hurley (Rangers), Huston Street (Oakland)
• 2005 - Ricky Romero.  Passed On:  Troy Tulowitzki, Mike Pelfrey, Cameron Maybin, Andrew McCutcheon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Matt Garza,
• 2006 - Travis Snyder. 

Of all of these drafts, the Jays have let better players fall past them in order to draft college talent that they figured would have less of a change of a bust potential.  Of all of Ricciardi's drafts, only Snyder looks like he'll become anything special and allow Hamels and Cain to slip past them, along with Street, Garza and others, make Ricciardi's draft decisions look questionable at best.

Typically, it takes 5 years for it to see i####