Explaining The Rangers' Moves, Playing Russian Roulette For A Fifth Starter, And What To Do With Gerald Laird.

The Rangers Report – Offseason Edition

Rangers’ Moves Make Some Sense When You Look At It

Despite it being a rather quiet off-season for the Rangers, without the signings of some of the sexier names that were available on the free agent market, many of the moves that the Rangers did do are designed to allow for some of the youngsters in the minors some additional time to develop.

Many of the moves correlate to several of the Rangers’ rookies in the minors, designed to delay them for at least another half a season.  Let’s check it out:

• Alex Rodriguez Opts Out Of 10, Year, $252 Million Deal – A+.  This was possible the best deal that the Rangers had happen to them this off-season, as the Rangers now have $21.3 Million to spend on THEIR OWN players.  If this deal had been it, the Rangers may have had arguably the best off-seasons based on this alone.  What this deal also does for the Rangers is to allow them to toss in a bit more coin on the draft, allowing them to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox for more lower round gems, as well as allowing them to attack the International Signing Period more vigously.
• Sign RHP Joaquin Benoit To 2 Years, $6 million – A.  To add another cherry on top, the Rangers also extended the ace of their bullpen to an extension, buying out his final year of arbitration and his first year of free agency.  Benoit will now be competing for the role of closer next season.  Suffice to say, this is good news, as Benoit could have gotten a lot more coin out on the open market.
• Sign RHP Warner Madrigal To A Major League Contract – A.  This makes the list simply because of the fact that the Rangers in essence get a prospect for free, without giving up anything.  This was more thanks to the Angels’ screwing up than Texas monitoring the situation, but nonetheless, they get a relief prospect that throws hard and could be a potential closer.  All in all, it’s a great way to add to the farm without giving anything other than a 40 Man spot.  As for how he rates, think of a younger K-Rod.
• Re-Signed UTIL Ramon Vasquez For 1 Year, $810,000 – D.  Okay, Vasquez is a decent little utility man, but I think there were better options internally that could have been used, such as Tug Hulett, until German Duran is ready.  Not loving this, really, but considering the salary and that he could be DFA’d with no trouble, ehh, whatever.
• Trade CF Freddy Guzman To The Detroit Tigers For 1B Chris Shelton – B.  Guzman wasn’t going to be with the Rangers for much longer anyway.  While he is fast, his bat is rather anemic, making it hard to project him on the Rangers' as more of a fourth outfielder, pinch runner.  As for Shelton, he's a valuable bench player that will see playing time as part of a platoon with Big Ben Broussard.  More on how this helps in a minute...
• Trade INF Tug Hulett to The Seattle Mariners For 1B Ben Broussard - A.  Here's where the Shelton move comes in.  For the price of a prospect that had no future here anyway, the Rangers get themselves a stopgap first baseman in the Bris Broulton combo that will now play at first.  Broussard will take the majority of the at bats while Shleton spells him against lefties.  This gives Texas roughly the equivalent of a major league first baseman.  It also allows the Rangers to keep Chris Davis in the minors for another year, allowing him to benefit from coaching, at bats, and the opportunity to fine tune his skills until he gets the job next season.
• Sign RF Milton Bradley For 1 year, $5 million - B.  This one could blow up either way for the Rangers.  Bradley could be a model citizen like Jurassic Carl was during his tenure with the Rangers or he could be a disaster and DFA'd soon after.  However, Bradley is an elite bat that is now instantly the second best outfielder on the squad and will give the lineup a temporary boost.
• Trade RHP Edinson Volquez and LHP Danny Ray Herrera To The Cincinnati Reds For CF Josh Hamilton - A-.  For all the outcry of the Rangers trading pitching, this deal does make a lot of sense.  Texas has no outfielders.  On my top 40 Rangers prospects, only two prospects in the top 20 were outfielders, both of whom were acquired this year and both of whom are not anywhere near ready.  Volquez, while he has talent, I'm beginning to think that he wasn't going to make it, long term, as his control was just too inconsistent.  The Rangers jumped at the chance of adding a impact centerfielder and Hamilton also gives the Rangers a legitimate power presence that was lost when Mark Teixeira was traded.  Plus, when Borbon is ready, the Rangers could then slide Hamilton to right field, where he'd be a solid fit.

All in all, that's my take on the Rangers' off-season activity.  This Rangers' team is vastly improved from what the Rangers ended the year with, so with some luck, the Rangers will keep things respectable, but won't contend for the most part.  However, with the kids arriving soon, the future does look like it will swing for the better.

However, Volquez's trade does leave the rotation short an arm.  What to do about that?

Playing The Free Agent Russian Roulette For Starters…

Despite the Rangers publicly saying that they will likely fill in the hole in the rotation created by the Josh Hamilton trade, I do expect the Rangers to make a play for one of the free agent starters looking for a bounce back year due to injury.  This is a good way to either waste money (which usually happens) or to cash in on a suddenly viable asset if a pitcher were to suddenly return to form (see Paul Byrd’s last stint with the Royals).   This is also meant to give two prospects, Eric Hurley and Matt Harrison, more time to develop in the minors to ensure that they won’t get torched immediately once they get promoted.  For the most part, the Rangers are doing their homework on the options available.  Mark Prior was recently shot down by the Rangers after deeming his medicals a mess along with his refusal to take a club option with his deal.  Kyle Lohse is also not going to be an option, especially when you consider just how inconsistent he was in the American League when he was in Minnesota and that his agent, Scott Boras, is going to hold out until teams get desperate and start to jump all over themselves for a pitcher.  Lohse is a option I would not take if I was Tom Hicks, nor is it a contract I would want, when you consider, again, Harrison and Hurley’s near readiness for the majors.  That means that the Rangers will be looking for a pitcher willing to take a one-year deal, likely with a club option if they can get it.  This would also rule out starters like Livan Hernandez and Josh Fogg.  With that in mind, here’s who is available:

• Jason Jennings (RHP) – Pass.  Jennings is going to get the most run because of his Baylor roots and because of his ability to pitch at hitters parks, as well as his age.  However, Jennings really is a guy without any real out pitch who can eat innings and keep you in games.  Basically, he’s the embodiment of a Number Three starter, not an ace.  With that said, he’s probably better off staying in the National League and recently, his agent has made noise that Jennings will be at full strength by opening day and isn’t going to be willing to take a one-year deal, with lots of incentives. 
• Bartolo Colon (RHP) - Already Ruled Out.  The Rangers have already ruled out Colon, who despite looking strong in winter ball so far, but apparently, not only are his medical reports a nightmare, he also wants a long term deal. 
• Freddy Garcia (RHP) – Strongly Consider, But Won’t Come To Texas.  Garcia would be an option I would consider strongly.  He has success pitching in the American League, as well as in a pitchers park, and is still reasonably in his prime as far as a starting pitcher could be considered.  However, he likely wouldn’t be an option for the Rangers for two reasons:  first off, he’s considering holding himself out of the market until June, allowing him to sell himself to the highest bidder, and second, there’s been a lot of smoke signals that he will likely end up with the Mets.
• Kris Benson (RHP) – Strongly Consider.  My crush on the wife with the big ta-ta’s aside, Benson would be what the Rangers would consider as far as a guy hoping to be brought in as a 4th/5th starter.  He’s able to keep you in games, can flash a little more at times and may be willing to take a one-year deal in an attempt to build up his value.  I’d be fine with him as a one year option in the back of the rotation.
• Roger Clemens (RHP) – Pass.  In spite of the Mitchell Allegations, Clemens may be willing to return for one more year, just to try and prove the doubters wrong in an attempt to prove that he’s clean.  Hicks may choose to consider Clemens due to his Texas roots and because Clemens was still able to dominate in games last season.  However, the negatives outside of the Mitchell investigation outweigh any benefits from Clemens.  First off, he will undoubtedly want to come back on a shortened season, which does Texas no good whatsoever, and he broke down late last year, as his body began to break down.  Finally, in spite of some dominating performances, Clemens for the most part looked average against American League lineups.  While the Rangers wouldn’t be looking for an ace, Clemens’ agents would demand a paycheck worthy of the Clemens of old, not the Clemens of the present.
• Jon Lieber (RHP) - Pass.  Lieber should stick to the NL.
• Josh Towers (RHP) - Strongley Consider.  Towers' stats, on the surface, do match up a lot to Carlos Silva, who the Mariners paid a lot for.  He's a groundball pitcher that won't walk a lot, nor strike out a lot, but he'd be a reasonable option as a fourth or fifth starter, provided that the defense keeps runs off the board.  He'd be a smart signing.
• Jamey Wright (RHP) – Last Choice.  There is always the return of the Jamey Wright experience.  Wright was tolerable as a starter for the most part and was excellent in relief.  He’s still got good stuff and may be amendable to taking another one year deal from the Rangers.  But at this point, you have to wonder if maybe it wouldn’t be better just leaving Kameron Loe back in the rotation and hoping it goes well.
• Jeff Weaver (RHP) – Oh Hell No!  This is really only here as a comparison to where the market is at.  Weaver will get consideration because he’s a live body. 
• Mike Maroth (RHP) – Are You #### Kidding Me?  Yes, the Rangers have looked at him for a possible minor league deal with a spring training invite.  No, I don’t think it’s a good idea.  The last thing the Rangers need is for a washed up vet like Maroth to take up space in the minors. 

Gerald Laird’s Situation Getting A Little Ugly

Gerald Laird’s situation is starting to get a little…annoying actually.

Two months into the off-season, Laird is still a Ranger and the situation has the potential to get ugly.  Laird has already made several comments about how he feels that the Rangers have never given him the opportunity to play full time and that it seems he has always had to fight for what he’s been able to get in the majors.

Laird could start for about ten teams and backup for another five if he were shopped, but the Rangers aren't able to find a buyer yet.  There was a mention of Laird being traded for Coco Crisp, which made sense at the time, but Boston killed the deal by changing course and demanding Eric Hurley and Luis Mendoza in the deal as well.

Texas could flip him to the Yankees, but New York would demand the Rangers accept a lesser prospect in return, or worse, demand more in return for one of them lesser prospects, which would be a good way to just #### me off.

The Mets were rumored to be interested, but rejected a trade of Laird and Benoit for Lastings Milledge.  They then traded Milledge for Brian Schneider's carcass and Ryan Church.

The Pirates would be an option, seeing as how they want Paulino out of the starting role, but what would the Pirates send back in return?  Would it be an Xavier Nady deal, with the Pirates possibly accepting Robinson Tejeda in return? 

I'll work out a more detailed list next week, as the Rangers not only need to move Laird, but need to make some decisions on other 40 Man Roster spots soon.

Draft Nugget I Missed

The Rangers have apparently scored well in Baseball America’s Draft Scores, with them receiving the second best grade of all,