Time for another team preview, our third in a series of 30. Time to see who the hat wants to see today…
The last of the Divisions makes their debut.
Atlanta Braves – Team Preview
The Braves, they of the long division winning streak, have finally tasted some humility in recent years, due to the churning of a productive farm system and the result of the increasingly tight restrictions of their budget, which once allowed them to spend freely.
However, the Braves still have some talent on the team, also thanks to the farm system, but many of the pieces that make up the Braves are aging and might not hold up for much longer. You'll see what I mean in a moment.
Starting Rotation
John Smoltz (RHP) – Still dominant at his age, Smoltz’s stuff hasn’t dimmed much, but he has begun to break down a bit, missing time last season due to injury. Still, he’s a quality staff ace and one who will serve as a stopper when needed.
Tom Glavine (LHP) – Glavine returns for a farewell tour with the Braves this season. While he has proven that he can at least be an innings sponge, I’m not sure how much he has left. It may have been better for him to just retire.
Tim Hudson (RHP) – Hudson remains a potential top of the rotation starter and will likely rise to the role of staff ace once Smoltz finally retires. Though Hudson should be the Number two man, expect the Braves to separate him and Smoltz with Glavine.
Chuck James (LHP) – James too is another player I’m not high on. He’s got enough stuff to be a middle of the rotation starter, but he has faded badly during the last month of season. He’s very homer prone and his control isn’t great. I’m also not sure he can last a whole season. So call me skeptical when it comes to how successful I think James will be.
Mike Hampton (LHP) – On the other hand, I’m a lot more confident in James than I am in the one time ace of the Houston Astros, who has been an out and out disaster for the Braves. This is supposed to be the season Hampton will actually contribute. As a fifth starter, the Braves aren’t risking much, as they have an assortment of young starters they can plug in here if Hampton fails or gets hurt.
Bullpen
Rafael Soriano (Closer) – Soriano is one of the biggest steals that the Braves have made in recent memory. A lights out reliever that should succeed in the closer’s role, he was acquired for Horatio Ramirez, who has been disastrous for the Mariners. He should take the next step to eliteness this season.
Mike Gonzalez (Setup Man) – A solid reliever who could also close if necessary, Gonzalez will likely setup Soriano, depending on whether or not he’s ready. I’m assuming he is.
Peter Moylan (RHP) – A dependable reliever, this Aussie is an amazing story, having been virtually signed off of the Australian World Baseball Classic team last March. He’s since made good on the opportunity.
Will Ohman (LHP) – Ohman is a more than adequate replacement for Ron Mahay, as he’s an effective lefty specialist.
Royce Ring (LHP) – Ring finally got his shot in the majors with San Diego, but was dealt to the Braves in the Wil Ledezma deal. Ring has decent stuff, enough to be a solid middle reliever, but his big issue has been control.
Manny Acosta (RHP) - Called up late in the year, Acosta was rather good and should see time with the Braves this season.
Buddy Carlyle (RHP) – Carlyle was an adequate fifth starter for a bit, but it looks like he’ll be moved back into the swingman role for Atlanta, which may suit him better anyway, as he was figured out late last season.
Starting Lineup
Kelly Johnson (2B) – The only real choice here for a leadoff man, Johnson has the potential to be an All-Star second baseman after the Braves shrewdly moved him back to the infield after playing left. Johnson has decent hands moderate pop for a second baseman, though he isn’t quite as fast of disciplined as your stereotypical leadoff man. Still, he’s a solid bet to improve and I’m willing to be that he’ll break out this year.
Yunel Escobar (SS) – The starting job is all his now after Escobar was impressive filling in for Edgar Renteria last year. I doubt he’ll hit .326 again, but if he lives up to his minor league numbers, what the Braves will be getting is .294/.367/.411 out of the second spot in the lineup, which still isn’t nothing to sneeze at. Still, I wonder if maybe shortstop prospect Brent Lillibridge might be the better bet long term.
Mark Teixeira (1B) – Teixeira offers a lot of power, but also is a disciplined enough hitter to hit for a high average and get on base. He’s a Gold Glove defender at first base and is one of the better players in the game. He adds a major power threat to this Braves lineup, but to be quite honest, he is a mercenary player, as he is likely going to walk after this season for a bank breaking contract. Atlanta has said they would try to extend him, but Teixeira is one of Scott Boras’ most devoted clients. Which means, in the long run, Atlanta will likely only get a pair of draft picks for him.
Chipper Jones (3B) – Still a formidable offensive presence in the middle of the lineup, you do have to start looking for Jones’ replacement if you’re the Braves, as Jones is older and will only be good for able 130 games or so. Still, getting that level of power production for 130 games is nothing to sneeze at and for the most part, he’s still able to handle the hot corner well.
Jeff Francoeur (RF) – Probably a bit overrated, Francoeur is an excellent right fielder that carries a lot of thunder in his bat. He has also been very prone to striking out and needs to improve on his walk total. He has improved a bit in the past few years, so it might not be surprising to see if he takes that next step from a masher to an all around offensive force.
Brian McCann (C) – Possibly the best young backstop in the National League, McCann is a solid defensive player that is respected by his pitchers and calls a good game. He also has excellent power numbers and is a solid fit here in the sixth spot, especially when you consider the heavy hitters ahead of him. While the dip in homers is a concern, McCann does get a bit of a pass because he got hurt, which may have affected him.
Matt Diaz (LF) – Not a bad left fielder, as he has nice pop in his bat, is decent defensively and can be a solid contributor until Brandon Jones is ready. I like him a lot and though Tampa and Kansas City gave up on him too quickly a while back. He’s a bit of a free swinger, but he’ll likely see his walk totals increase this year because of the pitcher and the next guy on the list.
Mark Kotsay (CF) – The Braves are gambling that Kotsay can at least contribute something to the team this year, as Kotsay looked done last year. Really, I’m not sure what the Braves can expect out of him, as his power looks gone, he no longer looks like he’ll handle the rigors of centerfield everyday anymore and there is no guarantee that he’ll be able to stay upright for most of the season. Honestly, the Braves should have just offered arbitration to Andruw Jones, hoped he accepted, and just gutted out the season with a big salary.
Bench
Brayan Pena (C) – A decent backup catcher, Pena doesn’t have much of a bat, but he’s a solid glove that can be relied on in a pinch.
Omar Infante (UTIL) – A solid utilityman, Infante can adequately play nearly every position except catcher. His bat is decent and he'd be a adequate stopgap in case of injury.
Josh Anderson (OF) – Anderson will likely be the main backup for the Braves outfielders and could see time in center if Kotsay is unable to stand up to the rigors of the position. Anderson is merely a fourth outfielder, but he could be a decent one, as he has a decent approach at the plate and a little bit of pop.
Martin Prado (INF) – Prado will likely serve as the other infield backup. He’s okay, but not stellar.
Minor League Notables
Jair Jurrjens (RHP) – Acquired from the Tigers in the Edgar Renteria deal, Jurrjens was solid in his major league debut and works with a low 90's fastball and a decent curve and changeup. However, he's also been overworked in his career, so he could be injury prone later. Still, he wouldn't be bad as a fifth starter for the Braves.
Jojo Reyes (LHP) - Another young lefty, Reyes has enough stuff to become a good 4th starter or so. He could also see time later in the year.
Brandon Jones (LF) - Jones has a lot of power and is eventually going to succeed Matt Diaz in left, sooner rather than later.
Final Analysis
The Braves do have enough talent to keep things interesting in the National League East, but overall I think the aging rotation and the Braves essentially punting away two lineup spots will eventually cost them. Sorry Braves fans, but you won't be winning the division again for a little while.
The title screen aside, I throughly enjoyed the Rangers 30-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles, partially because of the Teixeira connection, partially becaue I had enough of seeing the Rangers get no hit. Though I wish some of that thunder could have been busted out in some of the other games, I'll take what I can get.
So, to honor my Rangers, I'll raise a beer, toast them, and hope they can break the record for most runs in a doubleheader, 40.
One final update of the signings and the status of the Rangers’ picks in the first five rounds. There will be a follow up Thrusday once all the signings have drawn.
1st Round – Blake Beaven (RHP) – Very Likely. Beaven and his company have still had a lot of posturing on both sides, but Beaven will sign. He won’t go nearly as high in the draft next year if he re-enters, plus he’ll have developed a reputation for being difficult. Though he’s asking for $2 million, he won’t get it and it’s high time he figures that out. Hopefully, things will work out, though according to a quote attributed to his mother, there has been progress. Beaven has kind of pissed away a year of his development. Instead of possibly joining Michael Main in Clinton next season for full season ball, Beaven will likely be retained in extended until the short season ball clubs start up, where he’ll likely be sent to Spokane.
1st Round – Michael Main (RHP) – Signed.
1st Round (S) – Julio Borbon (CF) – Likely. Borbon has had almost nothing written about him, mostly because Scott Boras likes it that way and because he’s been focused on working on deals for Rick Porcello. Borbon is likely going to get signed, probably for above slot money, but Boras should have gotten a deal done weeks ago.
1st Round (A) – Neil Ramirez (RHP) – Very Likely. Ramirez wants to be a Ranger and has himself said that he’s very close to a deal. The Rangers are going to pay above slot for Ramirez, who is a first round talent that slipped because of some bad showings toward the end of his season.
1st Round (A) – Tommy Hunter (RHP) – Signed.
2nd Round – Matt West (SS) – Signed.
3rd Round – Evan Reed (RHP) – Signed.
4th Round – Garrett Nash (CF) – Won’t Sign. Nash’s reps have told the Rangers that their client will not be signing with the Rangers. Instead Nash will be headed to Oregon State. This was to be expected and realistically, it was a wasted pick.
5th Round – John Gast (LHP) – Doubtful. Gast’s representatives have been back and forth in contact with the Rangers, but it’s looking like Gast won’t be coming to Texas, though I think this has more to do with money than anything else. Gast is regarded to be a solid lefty that could be a solid middle of the rotation horse. But, realistically, Gast and his advisors are probably weighing the difference in money and they probably decided that if Gast sits one year, rehabs, and has a pair of solid seasons at Florida State, it would be much better than what the Rangers could offer him.
Vicente Padilla’s Progress
Vicente Padilla, who hasn't pitched for the Rangers since June 21 because of right triceps irritation, is scheduled to start for Texas tomorrow against Kansas City. He’ll be held on a 80 to 85 pitch count and will be shadowed by one of the long relievers, John Rheinecker, Mike Wood and Jamey Wright. Padilla hasn’t had any problems with his forearm but there are some wonders if he’ll be able to dominate. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow. With the season already gone to hell, there’s not much we can go on.
One Final Teixeira Nugget
One final note on the Teixeira non-trade to the Angels. They apparently never offered 1B Casey Kotchman and LHP Joe Saunders. The offer was Teixeira straight up for Casey Kotchman and RHP Ervin Santana, plus maybe Terry Evans, a right fielder. I like Evans, but come on, Kotchman and Santana. Really?
Rangers Notes (Majors)
Rangers setup man Akinori Otsuka has begun to throw off flat ground and reportedly had no problems. If things work out, Otsuka will return in September, in time for roster expansion.
3B Hank Blalock is still feeling some soreness in the nerves along his side muscle and that has been restricting him from making strong throws to the infield. Once he’s able to do that, he should be able to go on a rehab assignment. I’m beginning to wonder if the Rangers might have to look at Blalock as a first baseman and give someone like Travis Metcalf, who’s rotting down at Triple A, a shot to make himself a legitimate major leaguer. It’s not like there’s a hell of a lot of attractive other options on the Corner Infield market and it would save the Rangers from having to re-sign Wiffy Wilkerson for another year.
Toronto released former Rangers shortstop Royce Clayton. He had a good career, much more than what one with his skill set would normally expect.
Rangers Notes (Minor)
2007 First Round Michael Main has done enough on the mound to earn himself a promotion to Class A Spokane, where he’ll be working in relief for the time being. Main has currently raised his stock well after acclimating himself quickly to the Arizona Rookie League. All this is likely in preparation for him to join the Clinton Lumberkings next season.
Frisco righthander Armando Galarraga was named the Rangers’ minor league pitcher for July after he went 3-1, 1.58 in six starts, including a one-hit shutout and a two-hit shutout.
Ken Rosenthal recently lamblasted Tom Hicks over his disclosure of the contract extension offered to former Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira, saying Hicks needs to shut up, as the contract extension was surely lip service, as Scott Boras prefers to let the open market dictate the contract.
Is he right? To a point. But here's the reality of the situation.
Hicks has been blasted in the media for not wanting to keep his own players and for not handing out the money needed to fund a contender.
But Hicks, despite the contrary, has tried to do that. And all of those contracts handed out to pitchers, save Kevin Millwood, have been absolute disasters. He's recognized that the team needs to rebuild from within and there can't be any more rent a players that the team has tried and failed with time and time again.
But it does show that the Rangers really didn't want to give up Teixeira and would have tried to keep him.
The Rangers are a team in flux and are now going full bore at rebuilding from within. The reality is that this tells a lot about Teixeira's motives and how he felt about the Rangers.
Teixeira had stated that the Rangers that the Rangers didn't make any long term effort to sign him.
Two weeks ago, the Rangers approached Scott Boras and asked him if they could talk contract and presumably offered the 8 year, $140 million contract extension, roughly Albert Pujols money.
Boras' reply: Teixeira wasn't prepared to make a long-term commitment.
Afterwards, Teixeira, when asked, replied that the Rangers had never approached him about an extension.
The club had tried on at least to occassions to sign him long term, both times where shot down by Teixeira and Scott Boras.
What does it mean?
Teixeira never had any intention on remaining with the Rangers beyond this year. He was never interested in being a Ranger long term, for the rest of his career and the Rangers really had not chance to get him.
Only after this last occassion did the Rangers finally realize it was time to cut Teixeira loose, especially after Teixeira publically burned his bridges, calling the Rangers a small market team, making flirtations with the Balitomore Orioles and expressing his love for them and chastizing the management for not spending money.
I dont' blame Hicks for going public. If anything, it shows that the time had come and that the only reason why the Rangers got rid of Big Tex is because there wasn't anything else they could do.
As for Teixeira's response to all of this.
"I'm not talking about any of that. I'm an Atlanta Brave. That's done. I'm very happy. That's it."
Well, there was a quote on Baseball Prospectus that said it best:
"Draft picks matter. The Rangers made one good pick and got four years of production out of Teixeira, and flipped that into five and half years of Saltalamacchia, plus whatever they get from the other guys. All that out of one pick and the smarts not to be cheap in the draft."
I agree, but the deed is done and Teixeira will be heading to the Braves.
Will he be missed? By some, yes, but most of the fan community has already reconciled themselves to the fact that he was good as gone and have moved on. The fact that the Rangers were able to get as good a hitter as Saltalamacchia just made it better.
The loss of Teixeira means the loss of a big bat, but Jason Botts has been destroying Triple A and will be called up within the next week in order to fill in the DH position, likely also signalling the departure of either Brad Wilkerson or Sammy Sosa, most likely the latter.
How do I feel about the trade?
Surprisingly Okay.
I wasn't as broken up over it when Nolan Ryan left, nor am I as angry about it after Kenny Rogers left (the first time), nor am I as broken hearted over it when Pudge Rodriguez finally left the Rangers after years of being the rock of the franchise, nor would I have been upset with it had the Rangers traded Michael Young instead.
I'm just neutral toward it.
Part of it was that I've never really gotten close to Teixeira, I've more or less been somewhat neutral, similar to how I was with Alex Rodriguez. There was always something that seemed manufactured about him, which isn't surprising considering the history of Boras clients.
But what's done is done.
Onto the new arrivals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) - The jewel of the deal, Saltalaphabet could potentially be replacing Gerald Laird as the Rangers' current backstop, depending on whether or not Texas feels Satly will remain at catcher or not. Either way, it's an excellent deal.
Elvis Andrus (SS) - Tools galore, Andrus could be Edgar Renteria when it's all said and done. The Rangers typically haven't had great success with this type of prospect, so it's possible he could be flipped. Also, Andrus has been rushed through the minors, so it's likely that when the deal is finalized, Andrus will be sent to Low A Clinton for development, as he should NOT be in High A.
Neftali Feliz (RHP) - A teenager with a lightening arm, Feliz already thorws in the mid 90's and touches 98. Texas usually has good success with this type of prospect, Edinson Volquez aside, and things should be promising for him, as he's got the stuff to be a dominant starter or closer.
PTBNL - Reportedly, it's Matt Harrison, a left with good velocity that could eake out a Jarrod Washburn type of career, or it could be Joey Devine, the Braves' first round pick from two years ago. Either way, this player is gravy.
So, it's a good trade for Texas, as they obtained the Braves' Top 3 prospects, plus a fourth while Atlanta gets a good bat. It adds depth to the minors and gives the Rangers yet another valuable trade chip for the future, as many of the prospects are stepping up and doing well now.
The Market On Gagne
Eric Gagne is now the top closer left on the market and interest is peaking as well.
The Red Sox, Yankees, Mets and Brewers are all supposedly after the Rangers' closer, though Gagne can block deals to all except the Yankees.
The only issue is what the Rangers can get in return.
The Yankees are reluctant to part with ANY of their pitching, and are offering #### in return. Texas has reportedly asked for Ian Kennedy, the Yankees have countered with Alan Horne. The Red Sox aren't so high on sending anyone back either, so things are going to get dicey soon. The Mets and Brewers really don't have much to offer.
But it's looking like Gagne will get traded, and it will be soon.
2007 Draft Rewind – The Rest Of The AL West
I’ve gotten quite a bit of requests for what I thought of the rest of the American League West’s draft.
Okay then, I’ll oblige.
Here are the picks I loved from each of the Rangers’ chief rivals.
Los Angeles Angels - Matt Harvey (RHP). Though the Angels lost their first and second round picks to Texas and Toronto, they made up for it by acquiring a first round talent in Harvey, a savvy right handed pitching prospect that could develop into a middle of the rotation stud, possibly even as high as a Number Two Starter. Great pick, one that I wish the Rangers had done earlier (stupid Garret Nash).
Oakland Athletics – Sean Doolittle (1B). A classic Oakland pick and a very good one. Doolittle projects to be a first baseman that hits for contact and has very good plate discipline. I guess you could compare him to Kevin Youkilis of Boston. The only problem is that Daric Barton is likely going to be the first baseman for the considerable future, but Doolittle could be a very good trade chip.
Seattle Mariners – Phillipe Aumont (RHP). I loved the Aumont pick. Great pick by Seattle. Aumont is a raw prospect, but he's got great makeup, loads of potential, and can be a top of the rotation stud in the future. He throws a mean sinker and his off-speed pitches have a lot of promise. The only issue I have is that Seattle has the annoying habit of rushing prospects, which could hurt if they rush him too quickly.
Rangers Notes (Majors)
The trade of Ron Mahay to Atlanta likely means that we could see Wes Littleton in the bullpen for good. John Rheinnecker is going to be a swingman for the time being.
Rangers Notes (Minors)
On the heels of the Max Ramirez trade, both 3B Chris Davis and C Taylor Teagarden, who is regarded to be the top catching prospect in the minors (he's not, that's Jeff Clement, but it's close) were promoted to Double A Frisco.
On the heels of that, Ramirez was assigned to Bakersfield and 3B John Whittleman, one of the Rangers' Futures Game Reps, was promoted to the Blaze.
Okay, I know I promised a posting yesterday on the deals, but I'm prepping a trade deadline special instead for later on today or for early tomorrow.
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.
Okay, I've now begun to lose my patience with the "World Wide Leader."
I have an ESPN membership, mostly because I greatly enjoy Keith Law's work on ESPN and his chats are usually informative and filled with humor.
But the rest of the analysts on ESPN's baseball coverage, notably Peter Gammons and Buster Olney, have begun to draw my ire as of late, mostly because of Gammons' bias toward the Northeast Corridor and Olney's constant Ranger bashing and his constant citing of his "time in New York." (Note To Buster: You last covered the Yankees as a beat report in 2000. It's been almost seven years. Get over it.)
But Jayson Stark has really pissed me off today, mostly because of this following column. Starks are in Bold, mine are standard.:
More Rumblings: The Texas two-step
What team has the biggest names to sell off this month? Everyone agrees it's the Rangers. But the Rangers' asking price for Teixeira, Eric Gagne, Akinori Otsuka and everyone else has been so off the charts, an official of one team predicts: "The way they're going right now, I don't think they'll make a trade -- any trade."
Okay, usually the first thing you do in any negotiation is state your terms. Once you've stated the terms, you try and negotiate into a happy medium that both sides are happy with.
In this case, J.D. approached the negotaition like normal, and was lowballed enough that things haven't progressed at all towards the desired happy medium. Daniels has stated live during Newberg Night at the Ballpark that a lot of the offers he's gotten have absolutely sucked. If I were him, I'm not going to do a trade, just to do a trade. I don't want your ####. I want value. If you're not willing to give up something of value, then we have nothing to discuss and I'll take the draft pick compensation for Gagne in 2007 and Teixeira in 2008. It makes no difference to me.
An official of another team that has been talking to Texas says: "Here's how they're thinking: Take a guy like Otsuka. They basically traded Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez for Otsuka, right?
Uhhh, No. The Rangers traded Chris Young and Adrian Gonzalez for Otsuka and half a season of Adam Eaton.
Well, how does that look now? So you think they could take back, like, one B-level prospect for Otsuka and sell that to their fans when they traded two All-Stars for him?
Depends who the B level prospect is and how he's valued. Who is this mysterious GM? I want to know who the prospect is that they're offering. If it's ####, I'll #### crucify your ####.
We might look at him as a set-up man. But that's how they look at him. So it's going to be tough."
What was the offer? Come on Stark, you're holding out. If this mystery GM has disclosed the offer, publish it, let the public decide if it was a #### offer or not? Is this Doug Melvin? Is this that #### deal for Tony Gywnn Jr. that failed to go down? Tony Gywnn Jr. is a joke.
Then there's Eric Gagne.
A deal that has been hammered by ESPN but has actually worked out rather well.
A team trading for him could owe him close to $6 million for the rest of the year, between his salary and games-finished incentives. The only big-market contenders his contract allows him to get traded to are the Red Sox, Angels and Yankees. And he won't waive his no-trade to go anywhere else unless he becomes the closer, because it could cost him millions of dollars in incentives.
He shouldn't. It's just business. And besides, Gagne is a solid closer and is better than several of the following options that Stark is about to name.
So what contenders could even consider making him their closer? Maybe The Phillies or the Cubs.
And those teams have other reasons not to deal for him. So the Rangers are facing a very limited market.
And he's right. Here's why:
Philies: Nothing to offer.
Braves: Don't want to give up anything of value.
Cubs: Also have nothing to offer and don't want to give up anything particularly useful. No, I don't want Cesar Iztruis types.
"If it were me running their team, I'd already have gone out and made the best deal for that guy I could have made," says an official of one team that inquired and gave up.
Thank god you aren't because god knows what this happy #### would have done.
"And that's just because of the injury factor. Would it surprise you if you woke up tomorrow and found out Eric Gagne's hip was sore, or his back, or his knee, and he was going on the DL? It wouldn't surprise me. So I'd move him while he's healthy if I were them."
As I've said before, you make the best deal necessary and sell while his value his high. It's not there yet. Give it another week.
One team to watch if Gagne softens that I-have-to-close stance: Detroit.
And here's where the column about the Rangers ends. And why should he soften his stance with Detroit. Do you mean to tell me that Gagne is a lesser closer than Todd Jones?
By now, you’ve probably already ready about Mark Teixeira’s comments and his growing frustration in Arlington, where he went after management for the problems with this years team and past Ranger teams in the past. From the tone and the language in the comments, Teixeira is all but burning the last bridges and will be in another uniform after next season, if not within the next month.
What’s even more telling, however, is the change of attitude toward Teixeira by the fans.
Once on of the more popular Rangers, there is a growing sentiment among several fans that is shifting against the All Star First Baseman Once regarded to be a francise cornerstone, Teixeira is now persona non grata to many fans, and this recent outburst, plus the comments he made about the Orioles and his desire to play for them, only further hurts his standing.
Perhaps that is why the Rangers went ahead and approved an extension for Michael Young, seeing that there was only a chance to sign one of their two stars and that Young, long seen to be the clubhouse leader by fan and player alike, was the better investment.
It's going to be tough to see Teixeira go, no doubt about it, but the way things are progressing, it seems inevitable that next year, Big Tex will be in another uniform.
Rangers Potentially On The Move
Kenny Lofton (CF) – There are several clubs currently after Kenny Lofton, who is likely the first Ranger to be traded. Reports have linked the Indians and Cubs to the Rangers in terms of trading for the mercenary centerfielder. Lofton still has solid tools and can still play everyday. The Indians likely intend on using him in right field while the Cubs would keep him in center. As for what could be offered in return, Lofton would command a decent prospect or so.
Akinori Otsuka (RHP) – According to Ken Rosenthal, the Rangers nearly traded Akinori Otsuka to the Brewers for Tony Gwynn Jr. Fortunately, Bill Hall’s injury resulted in the deal being called off. I’m not opposed to dealing for a young centerfielder, but Junior Gwynn is more or less a fourth outfielder. Really, there are better centerfield prospects available that could be targeted in a trade and there will be better offers out there for the Rangers to pick and choose from.
Sammy Sosa (DH) – While Sosa has not drawn as much interest, his success against left-handed pitching could make him useful to a team, such as Minnesota, that has struggled against lefties. Plus, Sammy has a lot more power than what the Twins have been running out there in their DH spot.
Hunter Signs
Two down, three to go.
The Rangers have signed another first round pick, Tommy Hunter, a draft eligible sophmore who was picked 54th overall by the Rangers. While I had speculated that it would take a large bonus to sign Hunter, he signed for slot money, $585,000.
Hunter will be assigned to short season Spokane, where he’ll be a reliever for the remainder of the season. However, Jon Daniels has said that he is willing to try Hunter in the rotation next year and sees him doing well there in the future.
As far as how Hunter profiles, he's similar to Rangers prospect Thomas Diamond in that he's got a big fastball, though Jonathan Broxton is another name that's thrown about. We'll see how he does.
Rangers Notes (Majors)
The John Koronka era in Texas is over. Koronka was claimed by the Indians, who sent him to Triple A Buffalo. This scenario has some similarities to when the Rangers waived Doug Davis back in 2003, but Davis was essentially a league average pitcher who had already stockpiled 350 Innings for the Rangers. Koronka is one of those pitchers that may be enternally bouncing back and forth between Triple A and the Show.
Former Ranger Julio Franco was designated for assignment. Franco was a second baseman for Texas and is one of the only Rangers to ever win the batting title (Michael Young was the other.)
Rangers Notes (Minors)
Chris Davis is only one hit away from tying the California League'#### streak record. Davis has 34 straight hits and one more would tie the record. He's fast becoming a solid prospect and has improved his standing as far as top prospects are concerned. A new list will be done this fall.
The Rangers announced late Monday night that they were promoting pitcher Edison Volquez from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Oklahoma. Volquez dominated the Texas League and is a big reason why Frisco is heading to the minor league playoffs. He'll join Frisco's former ace, Eric Hurley, in Oklahoma City.
Mark Redman opted out of his contract at Triple A Oklahoma Saturday, making him a free agent. Redman made nine starts for the RedHawks, going 2-4 with a 5.34 ERA. However, he wasn’t going to be called up any time soon and it’s likely that he was heading elsewhere to see if he could find an opportunity.
Oklahoma lefthander A.J. Murray over the last six weeks has notched four saves in four opportunities, 1.93 ERA in 18.2 innings. It's widely thought that Murray will succeed Ron Mahay as the other Ranger relief specialist, making Mahay's status as of the trade deadline uncertain at best.
Two Ranger prospects that are undergoing Visa Problems, pitchers Omar Beltre and Alexi Ogando, will be pitching for the Dominican Republic in the Pan Am Games in Brazil.
The Angels are currently rolling in the American League West and need only another power bat in the lineup to help themselves out.
Unlike most years, where the Angels have been content to march out whatever team they had available, the Angels have actually tried to upgrade several parts of the team. There seems to be a sense of urgency around the Halos, possibly because this may be the last year that they can win with the current set of Halos before they begin to transition some of their players in the minors to the majors.
The Angels are said to be considering using the speedy and versatile Chone Figgins as part of a trade package for an impact bat, along with a seeminly resurgent Ervin Santana. Santana's attributes we've discussed in detail in this blog. Figgins is very popular among many general managers who like that "sparkplug" type of player in their lineup. Several teams have expressed interest in the super-utility player, the White Sox and the Yankees being the chief suitors for both.
Looking at the Angels' lineup, the team needs more offense coming out of Third Base and Left Field, as Garrett Anderson and Vlad Guerrero will likely be making rounds at the DH spot to allow not only both players time to rest, but also to be able to allow the team to work in regular DH Juan Rivera and to keep the surprise of this season, Reggie Willits, in the lineup. So, it looks like Third Base will be the best option for the Halos to upgrade, unless Kotchman is able to slide over to third for a season or so.
That seemed to be the theory recently when reports came out that the Angels inquired about possibly getting Adam Dunn from the Reds. Talks died when the Reds asked for "a proven Major League starting pitcher, a Major League infielder - preferably a second baseman - and a top prospect."
Translation:
RHP - Ervin Santana (understandable, since the Angels have been shopping him)
INF - Erick Aybar or Chone Figgins (don't the Reds already have a full middle infield? Does that mean that Brandon Phillips is on the way out? Figgs would make more sense then Aybar in this case and would be understandable, as he could eventually move to the outfield to sub for the loss of Dunn.)
Top Prospect - Likely either 3B Brandon Wood, RHP Nick Adenhart, or Aybar anywhay.
And that, my friends, was probably the deal breaker. The Angels hoard their prospects like a dragon does gold and to lose a top prospect would kill any deal that they choose to do.
The Angels could give Jermaine Dye a shot if they thought they could get him for just Figgins and Santana, and such a role would work, as the Angels would be getting rid of a pair of players nearing arbitration and the White Sox would be getting more pieces to rebuild. Y ou have to admit, Figgins manning center would be a lot better than seeing Darin Erstad and his porcelian knees running around out there.
Other options:
Mark Teixeira (1B - Rangers) - Possible, but unlikely, as the Angels would hate to see some of the players that they traded away come back to haunt them in the same division.
Mike Lowell (3B - Red Sox) - The only way I could see this happening only if the Red Sox slide Youkilis to Third and obtaining Teixeira from the Rangers. That's the only way, but both teams are stingy with their prospects and won't give up anything of value if they had their way, which is a shame, as a package of LHP Jon Lester and SS Ericky Aybar would be tempting.
Scott Rolen (3B - Cardinals) - The Cards need positional players and they could get a couple of good ones if the Angels are willing to dicker. Rolen starting slowly, but he may need a change of scenery and maybe get away from Tony LaRussa.
Nomar Garciaparra (1B - Dodgers) - Nomar could be able to handle Third, as I think he's got enough left to man it for a year and a half. Unfortunately, neither team has parts that they would be able to match up with.
Mark Loretta (UTIL - Astros) - Loretta is currently hitting well and the Astros are pretty much out of contention. If the Angels were willing to offer pieces that the Astros needed, say catcher Jeff Mathis, I think the Astros would be willing to go for it. Morgan Ensberg is another option.
Zambrano Likely To Hit Free Agency
I hate to break it to you Cubs fans, but it sounds like Carlos Zambrano is done in Chi-Town. Zambrano has been awful for much of the season and his brawl with Michael Barrett only figures to spur the Cubs to allow their one time ace to leave via free agency.
Part of the reason is the sale of the Tribune Company, which as pretty much frozen the Cubs’ assets and prevents the Cubbies from spending a ton on extravagant contracts like they did this past off-season, where they spent over $300 million. With ownership in flux, the Cubs are under a strict budget and will not toe the line anytime soon.
Another part is the fact that the Cubs appear to have a set young core of talent in the rotation. Rich Hill is looking like another Barry Zito and Sean Marshall looks like he may yet become a capable end of the rotation lefty. Jason Marquis and Ted Lilly, two players that the Cubs were chastised for signing, are instead looking very much like they’re worth their money. And while Zambrano’s presence at the top of the rotation is a plus, the Cubs may be able to stay in contention with their rotation as is and look for a capable fifth starter option instead.
There is one other reason why Zambrano also won’t stay with the Cubs. Zambrano is said to be considering re-hiring Scott Boras as his agent. Should he go that route, Zambrano will almost certainly be priced out of the Cubs’ range, as the two New York Teams would love to have Zambrano’s youth and ability in their rotation.
The Cubs Make More Mistakes With Murton
Matt Murton was sent to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, returning to the minors for the first time since being called up in July 2005. The reason, given by Lou Piniella, is that Murton’s changed his batting stance over the winter that that Pinella advised him to return to his original stance.
Murton, however, has a different opinion, stating that his low production isn’t about a chance in his stance (he says he hasn’t changed it, btw). It’s about the fact that he hasn’t gotten any playing time because the Cubs signed one too many outfielders. They signed Alfonso Soriano and have abandoned the experiment after Soriano tweeked a hamstring. They decided to go hard after Cliff Floyd to platoon with Murton even though Murton didn’t need a platoon partner and now they are rushing Felix Pie to play center and they failed to trade Jacque Jones, who would have welcomed a trade and even better yet, can play centerfield.
I really don’t think the Cubs know what the hell they are doing?
Murton will probably be dangled in exchange for bullpen help, and as I’ve said several times, teams need to take advantage of the Cubs’ incompetence for just badly managing Murton this year.
Here is the latest tidbit from resident whipping boy Randy Galloway.
Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse at the local ballpark -- any worse than what you see, any worse than the Rangers' record -- consider this:
In a classic case of be careful what you wish for, there's now a clubhouse suffering from "Buck fever."
Really? This is the first time I've read about this.
Buck Showalter is suddenly missed by the same players who last October eagerly slammed the door when the former manager's fired butt was given the heave-####.
And that Ron Washington lovefest of March in Arizona? Well, it lasted about as long as a Britney Spears rehab session.
Ooh, a pop culture reference. You're suddenly hip Randy! Anything else we should find out about.
A bit hypocritical on the players' part? Sure, but, then again, ballplayers are no different than the rest of the human race when it comes to occasional workplace disenchantment with the boss.
Best rule of thumb is never allow grumbling players in any sport to fire a manager or a coach. Eventually, what happens on the field, the court or the ice will provide the dismissal guidelines.
Actually, from what I understand, Buck has done more harm than good in Texas. He pushed for Chris Young and Fabio Castro to be traded because he either didn't think they'd be able to handle the workload or because he absolutely refused to play them. Also, consider the fact that Buck is one of the most controlling managers in baseball and you'll see how fast that wears on not only players, but management. Why else do you think that Showalter has been released and fired from two other previous jobs.
I feel I should also point out that Galloway and Jim Reeves, another personal favorite whipping boy, are both big Buck Showalter homers and both wanted the Rangers to hire Nippon Ham Fighters' manager Trey Hillman.
Shockingly, what the Rangers' rookie manager has done is quickly lose the love that embraced him just two months ago as the regular season opened.
"I said when I took the job I would be judged on how we played," Washington told me Wednesday night, "and I'm being judged now as not very good."
Accountability in a manager. I've liked that quality in Ron Washington since he arrived, but it's not all his fault.
Ron's first problem goes beyond himself. His team is not very good. It's gawd-awful in all areas. (Allow me to apologize again for actually predicting an 81-win season in early April. Actually, a .500 record was one of the least optimistic media forecasts around here, but it still looks real stupid at the moment.)
Panic arrived early, once the reality of ineptitude surfaced by late April, and it appears that Washington then committed the rookie mistake of attempting to be all things in all areas. Hitting coach, fielding coach, pitching coach. That's a trap few managers can survive, and even fewer are capable of handling.
Yes, I do believe that Washington tried to do much. I don't think he's been a pitching coach, but he's tried to work with the infielders and has tried to make the Rangers lineup a bit less freeswinging. That's not a bad thing, although the hitting should be handled by Rudy Jaramillo. As for the team not being very good, it's not that. It's just severely underperforming. There are about five key guys on the team (Kevin Millwood, Frank Catallanotto, Vicente Padilla, Scott Feldman, and Nelson Cruz) that all severely underperformed. Felman and Cruz have since been sent down, but the damage is done. Combine this with the injuries to Millwood, Blalock, and others and it's no wonder Texas is where they're at.
Billy Martin comes to distant mind. He could do it. So could Bobby Valentine.
Both were also more gratting than buck and both have been fired several times over by respective teams who couldn't stand them. Nice try.
But even a control freak like Showalter maintained dividing lines and delegated authority.
Ummm, no he didn't.
Also, remember that Washington was hired knowing he would inherit key coaches, but, if he had a problem with that, then don't take the job, and the same can be said for Wade Phillips at Valley Ranch.
I wasn't never sold on Mark Connor as a pitching coach, still am not and probably never will be. Connor's specialty is bullpens.
The ground rules were established going in for Ron, so work within those guidelines, and, most important, convince the players you are an ally, not an extension of the front office. It's a fine line that all successful managers learn how to walk.
Washington, of course, is still learning. Unfortunately, he's now learning the hard way.
And there's nothing worse than a bad team that is also tense, particularly if the manager shows signs of also being uptight. The manager cannot at times control the talent provided by the general manager, but it's foolish if he fails in the other areas.
Speaking of tense, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com is a longtime baseball writer and a good one. He first reported this week that Washington's constant badgering of young catcher Gerald Laird led to a back-of-the-dugout verbal showdown with pitcher Kevin Millwood during a recent game.
As the manager, angry with Laird's handling of pitchers, was being loudly critical of his catcher, Millwood spoke up to Washington, defending Laird, saying, "It's the pitchers' fault, too."
Galloway does actually make a valid arguement here, as it's easy to pick on a catcher for his handling of pitchers. The big problem is that the Rangers are running out less than desirable players while their two youngest and most talented pitchers are going through growing pains.
Rosenthal quoted sources as saying it was "a particularly tense moment."
But based on what I heard Wednesday, this was a moment that almost got much uglier than just "tense."
Really? Can you fill us in?
Millwood is having a miserable injury-slowed season, but he's a veteran, highly respected by his teammates and the media as a standup guy.
This is Laird's first season as a full-time catcher, and handling pitchers is an art form that requires experience. But to make him the whipping boy for this starting rotation is flat wrong. Washington lost clubhouse respect by doing so.
Still haven't filled us in about what really happened....
In the AL West alone, the Rangers don't run one starter out there who could make the Angels' rotation, the A's rotation, or maybe the Mariners' rotation. Millwood, if he's healthy, would be the exception, but that's not the case.
Can I just say something real quick?
Here is who the Rangers are running out and have meant to:
Kevin Millwood - A solid vet who is underperforming.
Vicente Padilla - A quality innings eater that is also underperforming.
Brandon McCarthy - A talented young pitcher that is experiencing some growing pains, but has been money for most of the season.
Robinson Tejeda - Another talented youngster that is trying to adjust to a major league workload.
That's a real solid rotation if everything fell together.
Now, as for the arguement that none of the Rangers' pitchers would hold a candle to any of the other starting rotations in the starter, it's real hard when the rest of the division, who has taken their knocks while Yahoos like Galloway and Rangers Owner Tom Hicks have advocated winning now and have lost draft picks, and while incompetants like Grady Fuson have been running the farm system, have had the time to draft and cultivate premium talent. The Rangers' farm system is at least three years behind the rest of the division, though it could come together a bit quicker if the talent in the A and Double A squads continue performing like they have been.
If Washington wants to yell at anyone about his rotation, it should be Jon Daniels.
Actually, if you want to yell at the rotation, yell at the rotation. Daniels assembed what is a solid staff on paper. They've just been underperforming.
The new manager also quickly appointed Michael Young and Mark Teixeira as his clubhouse leaders, and coming out of spring training, he couldn't have had two stronger supporters.
But, at the moment, who knows? Teixeira asked, politely, Wednesday night that all questions pertain to getting the team straightened out, but he also answered the nightly "when will you be traded?" inquiries.
Which seems to be spurred on mostly be SI's Jon Heyman and ESPN's Buster Olney and Tim Kurkjan (however the #### you spell his name.)
In the Rosenthal article, however, Washington admitted to "conflict" with Teixeira over a hitting philosophy. The manager wanted Tex, and all his hitters, to take more pitches in certain situations.
When I asked Washington about the "conflict," he answered tersely: "There was a difference of opinion. I don't know how that is blown up to be a problem." But he was the one who told Rosenthal it was a "conflict."
While Tex is not commenting, several team members said they have heard loud and heated arguments between player and manager behind the closed door of Washington's office, and, apparently, some of the disagreement didn't center on hitting philosophy.
Tex didn't get along with Buck and he's not getting along with Ron, all the while saying how much he would love to play for Baltimore or another squad. Look Randy, sooner or later it stops being the managers' problem and starts being on the player. I'm beginning to wodner if maybe Teixeira is a player that's a little hard to work with.
Remember, this is the manager's self-appointed team leader. If the manager is picking a fight with Teixeira, it's another mistake.
Actually, I thought Michael Young was the team leader.
As far as any hitting philosophy, Tex is known for being good at situational hitting, depending on the count. Plus, because of those hitting behind him in the batting order, good pitches he sees are at a premium.
Washington, in his defense, is suffering with a lineup that is not hitting, and he wants to change things. But Tex is now rolling after a slow start and, in the entire batting order, only Young and Frank Catalanotto are proven hitters not yet producing. What exactly were the expectations for anyone else?
Actually, Young is on a roll lately. It's Cat that's been screwing it up, as well as the obsession with playing Matt Kata. And this should have been mentioned earlier before you publically wnet after Washington's head in this column.
"There is no division in there," Washington said Wednesday night about his clubhouse.
Easy, Ron. The "division in there" seems no different than anything else involving the Rangers these days.
I don't really know how to respond to this.
The fact is that Randy Galloway is a lousy columnist that should just stick to radio. The only problem is that he's an insanely popular lousy columnist that has a cult following in the metroplex that take his opinions and run with it. That's dangerous, especially when you have a team that's trying to reverse years of flawed thinking and logic and trying to do the right thing and rebuild.
Which is why I regularly trash him at every chance I get.
Hopefully, if there is a dissenting opinion, maybe I can at least help make things a bit more levelheaded.
I'm a long time Texas Rangers fan who has come to love baseball as a whole. I recently began this blog as a way for me to showcase my opinions, provide some analysis, and hopefully entertain those who happen to stumble upon my little soapbox online. I'll toss in an NFL, College, or NBA nugget every now and then. Enjoy the posts everyone, and yes, getting a little love in a Deadspin post was probably the highlight of the year, blogwise.
Do You Have Comment You Don't Want All To See? Just Want To Talk Baseball? Email Me at morisatos_blo g AT yahoo.com. Email's edited to keep away the Spam.
