SB Nation User Blog: Adam J. Morris

M's trade Carlos Silva for Milton Bradley

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:48:30 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

7 months ago: Chicago Cubs' Milton Bradley, right, argues with home plate umpire Larry Vanover after being called out on strikes during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Thursday, April 16, 2009. The Cardinals won 7-4. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

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The Mariners have reportedly made a deal with the Chicago Cubs to send Carlos Silva to the Cubs for Milton Bradley.

The money here is similar. The difference is that Silva is not a good pitcher, and Bradley is a good hitter.

By adding Cliff Lee, Chone Figgins, and Bradley, the M's have pretty well established themselves as the primary contender to the Angels in the A.L. West.

The Rangers, as things stand right now, are the third best team in the A.L. West. It continues to be distressing to see the Rangers' competitors make moves to improve their teams, in the year that was supposed to be the Rangers' year to compete for a playoff spot, while the Rangers seem to be treading water.

Friday morning Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 15:23:46 -0000

More photos » by Mike Fuentes - AP

7 days ago: New Texas Rangers baseball player Rich Harden, left, talks with team president Nolan Ryan during a news conference in Arlington, Texas, on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Mike Fuentes)

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Quiet day in Rangerland today.

Richard Durrett has blog entries up about Clint Hurdle working with the Ranger hitters and Michael Young's thoughts on the Rich Harden acquisition.

Evan Grant says that Chuck Greenberg is saying all the right things at this point.

T.R. Sullivan is a fan of the Newberg Report.

And David Brown offers six Rangers prospects he thinks are the most likely to surprise next year and put themselves on the prospect map.

Chances of Lowell deal going through are 50/50

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:28:46 -0000

Chances of Lowell deal going through are 50/50

MENDOZAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:32:32 -0000

MENDOZAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Davidoff: Nick Johnson heading to New York

Adam J. Morris — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:42:17 -0000

Ken Davidoff is reporting that Nick Johnson is about to sign a one year, $5.5 million deal with the Yankees.

This bothers me.

Johnson, of course, started his career with the Yankees, and I would wager that, money being equal, Johnson would prefer to play there, for the defending World Series champs, rather than for the Rangers, the defending second place A.L. West team.

That being said...would Johnson have signed with Texas instead of New York if Texas had offered, say, $6.5 million? $7 million?

The difference between Mike Lowell and Nick Johnson is not insignificant, and an extra $3.5-4 million for Johnson would have been money well spent. He's actually a DH who is a really good hitter, as compared to a DH who is a decent hitter for a third baseman.

This frustrates me. And I'm not sure if this is a situation where the Rangers just simply couldn't afford him, in which case my frustration is with Tom Hicks (which, of course, is just a drop in the bucket overall), or a situation where the Rangers just decided that Lowell at $3 million was a better deal than Johnson at $6.5 million (for example), in which case my frustration is with Jon Daniels and the rest of the front office.

Would you like to see an "Ignore" option on LSB?

Adam J. Morris — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:03:21 -0000

Would you like to have an "ignore" option on LSB, so that you could put certain commenters on "ignore" and not see their posts?

Cast your vote...

Poll

Would you like to have an "ignore" option on LSB, so that you could put certain commenters on "ignore" and not see their posts?

MLB, UFC working with Congress to stop pirated live streams of events

Adam J. Morris — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:59:38 -0000

MLB, UFC working with Congress to stop pirated live streams of events

Thursday a.m. Rangers things

Adam J. Morris — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:04:45 -0000

More photos » by LM Otero - AP

3 days ago: FILE - This is an April 8, 2008, file photo showing Texas Ranger owner Tom Hicks in his box during a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Arlington, Texas. Baseball commissioner Bud Selig called Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009, a "hard and fast deadline" for Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks to submit a prospective buyer for the team to the commissioner's officer. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

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The stories this morning are still largely about the ownership issue...

T.R. Sullivan writes that the best-case scenario is that the new ownership group is in place by Opening Day, but that nothing is going to happen in time to change what the Rangers are able to do this offseason. Sullivan also writes that the Rangers expect to have Mike Lowell in for a physical this week, and that their interest in a front-line catcher has waned, with the team being more inclined to bring in a someone to compete for a job, rather than a John Buck type established major leaguer.

Richard Durrett offers highlights from Chuck Greenberg's comments to the media yesterday. He's saying all the right things, including that there will be more money in the budget for payroll that there is right now, and that he's going to let the baseball people run the baseball side of things.

Sullivan has a story up with quotes from Nolan Ryan about the change in ownership, with Ryan saying that he does not expect significant changes.

Jeff Wilson writes that, at one time, Chuck Greenberg had David McDavid, not Nolan Ryan, has his primary local partner.

Randy Galloway has a column up on Ryan has team president, talking about the Matt Purke situation and Ryan's efforts to install his own people in the baseball side, saying that some in Ryan's camp think he's been too slow in removing the "other element" from the baseball side of things.

Esteban German and Clay Rapada have each cleared waivers and been outrighted, reducing the 40 man roster to 38. In addition Geoff Geary and Ray Olmedo have signed minor league deals.

Think Hicks staying on could save Daniels' from getting canned. Personality differences with Ryan,...

Adam J. Morris — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:00:49 -0000

Think Hicks staying on could save Daniels' from getting canned. Personality differences with Ryan, more than anything.

From Maury Brown's Twitter feed this morning.

Evan Grant on the ownership situation

Adam J. Morris — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:50:17 -0000

Evan Grant has a piece up with some questions and answers about what this deal means as far as the Rangers go.

In particular, Grant suggests that Nolan Ryan's role will actually increase with Chuck Greenberg taking over...he indicates that Ryan wasn't as aggressive or forceful in imposing his will last year, because of the organization being in flux, but now that he's part of an ownership group and is secure in his position, Ryan will be more likely to "assert his stances."