I know that it is likely he will return to St. Louis if they can come up with the cash, but here is what I think would be a reasonable Rangers overture. 6 years, $180 million. Basically use the money budgeted (and advanced from TV deal) for Cliff Lee and give it to Albert. 2012, $35 mil; 2013, $33 mil; 2014, $31 mil; 2015, $29 mil; 2016, $27 mil and 2017, $25 million. It wouldn't hamstring the finances of the team later in the contract, leaving you some flexibility if there is mutual interest to stay. Thoughts... and please remember this is IF he is available, not a debate of if we should sign him.

Poll

Should the Rangers consider a $30 million annual average contract for Albert Pujols beginning in 2012?

63%

Yes.

106 votes

36%

No.

61 votes

167 votes | Poll has closed

Rangers receive: Bradley, Tom Gorzelanny and $5 million from Cubs

Rangers receive: John Maine and $5 million from Mets

Mets receive: Kevin Millwood and a player that we will expose in Rule 5 anyway

Cubs receive: Luis Castillo and a player we will expose in Rule 5 anyway

We get two serviceable pitchers to let Maddux try and re-discover, plus our RH bat for $10 million over two years.

If Bradley behaves for two years and gives 100%, I would rather do this deal and lose Byrd.

I know the teams are saying the original rumor isn't happening, but maybe there is a combination out there like this to make a deal better for the Rangers.

Now that the play-by-play position is open with the Frisco Roughriders... what does this mean?

Did they just get rid of Scott Garner or will he join the big club?

I hope this isn't the case... but my gut wonders if Garner will join Eric in the radio booth, Dave Barnett moves to TV PBP to join Tom and Josh Lewin doesn't have his contract renewed. Especially since Garner did a few Rangers games last season.

Like I say, I hope not because I like the pairing of Lewin and Grieve, and do not like Garner. The Barnett experiment on radio failed miserably last season. Just wasn't very good.

What would you like to see happen with the Rangers radio & TV?

Poll

What Radio/TV pairings would you like to see in 2010?

30%

Lewin/Grieve on TV and Nadel/Barnett on radio

65 votes

47%

Lewin/Grieve on TV and Nadel/Garner on radio

101 votes

3%

Barnett/Grieve on TV and Nadel/Garner on radio

8 votes

10%

Grieve and Nadel joined by new partners

22 votes

7%

None of the Above

16 votes

212 votes | Poll has closed

In a perfect world where money is no object, and the team ownership is settled, I would love if the Rangers brass improved our outfield for 2010... here's how I would do it:

<strong>1) Sign Matt Holliday to a five-year deal and put him in left field. </strong>
Since we have two first round picks next year, lets use one to sign this free agent (or another Type A outfield type) and still use the second one on a pitcher in the draft.

<strong>2) Let Marlon Byrd walk.</strong>
If he achieves Type B status this is a must. I like what Marlon has done and appreciate it, but wouldn't you trade Byrd and a swap of 1st round picks for Holliday? Of course you would!! By giving up the lower 1st round pick to sign Holliday and gaining a supplemental for Byrd when he signs somewhere... its a no-brainer.

Rangers 2010 outfield to start season (Smoak in AAA):
LF- Holliday, CF- Borbon, RF- Hamilton/Cruz, DH- Hamilton/Cruz, fifth outfielder is Murphy.

Rangers lineup...
1) Borbon, 2) Andrus, 3) Young, 4) Holliday, 5) Kinsler, 6) Hamilton, 7) Cruz, 8) Davis, 9) Pudge

I know we won't have the money to sign Holliday. But I think our pitching will be fine and we need runners on base. Holliday certainly delivers and I like him more than Ramirez and Bay at that price.

If you want pitching maybe we do Jamey's Greinke/Cruz deal and call it a winter.

Lets hear your ideas for a winter with a maximum of one major free agent signing and a maximum of one trade... you can get your pitching or hitting either way. Two hitters, two pitchers, one of each. What would you do to give us a great shot to win in 2010?

If the Royals and Twins just took care of business, the Rangers would be in first place in teh AL West. Come on American League, the Angels are ripe to be beaten! Are the Rangers the only team capable of beating on a consistent basis!?!?

a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z z z z z z

Sheesh!

According to Yahoo's Tim Brown, the Giants "believe they are closing in on signing shortstop Edgar Renteria."  Brown also says the Giants have discussed trading Jonathan Sanchez to the Marlins for Jorge Cantu.  That'd be a steal for the Marlins, who plucked Cantu off the scrap heap in January for a half-million bucks.

That better not be true. If I were JD, I would immediately get on the phone and offer all of our spare parts for Sanchez. If the Giants trade Sanchez for just Cantu there should be an investigation.

 

When reading all of the many opinions of this deal a really interesting thought crossed my mind...

Could the Marlins have grabbed Ceda for the Rangers to help complete a deal for one of our catchers? Could we still get a Boston package and do both deals?

If they could plug him in right now, we might as well consider it too.

Hey, I would pay some of Laird's contract for a chance to acquire Ceda.

Chicago Sun-Times reporting that Rich Hill's lost 2008 season killed his trade value.  He'll be out of options next spring.

I would be in favor of overpaying the Cubs to acquire Hill. If we could find a match it would be a risk worth taking. Just part of the turn over every rock to improve the club scenario.

Bring in Hochevar, Hill and Nippert and see what Maddux can do with them.

Saw this on MLB Trade Rumors:

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star says the Braves appear willing to trade Jeff Francoeur.  While no trade talks have taken place, it's known that Royals GM Dayton Moore is a fan.  Dutton speculates that the Royals would not give up Zack Greinke for Francoeur, but may consider offering Luke Hochevar, Danny Cortes, or Mark Teahen.

I'm not real interested in Teahen, but I would have interest in Hochevar and/or Cortes. Wouldn't it be a reasonable risk to take if the Royals would accept David Murphy to KC for Hochevar?

Don't we have better outfielders to trade than Francoeur!?!

As much as I would like Peavy (whom we can give the two pitchers, CF and catcher they want in a deal) and Sabathia (just don't see us winning his services)... why don't we get creative, while also getting our kids some experience in 2009.

Randy Johnson:  Because it looks like Arizona doesn't seem to want to pay him, lets go after Randy on a 1yr/$11 million deal. 

I would also offer him a sweetheart package like Clemens to make it easier for him.

Ben Sheets:  Because of his late season injury, I would go after him with a 3yr/$39 million deal with two option years and incentive bonuses for innings pitched. 

I think adding those two and entering 2009 with a rotation of: Johnson, Sheets, Padilla/Millwood (one traded for anything in winter/the other traded at the deadline for anything), Harrison, McCarthy and Feldman... with Hurley, Hunter, Mendoza and Mathis in AAA as reinforcements... and mid-season replacements in Feliz and Holland by August 1 if need be.

Wouldn't mind Greg Maddux as a player/coach as mention in USA Today. Name him Pitching Coach and let him pitch as much as he wants. Interesting thought.

 

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times says the Angels have considered acquiring Dan Uggla as a way to compensate if Teixeira leaves.  Uggla would probably play third base.

HELLO! There could be our answer for third base in 2009. The Rangers and Marlins could come together and make a blockbuster deal that helps BOTH teams get stronger!

The Palm Beach Post says that Uggla ($417k in 08) and 1B Mike Jacobs ($395k in 08) could be among those dealt this offseason along with LHP Scott Olson ($405k in 08).  The Post thinks that Uggla and Jacobs would make a combined $6 million in arbitration next season and that Olson should make $6 million himself.

So for $12 million you could have a long-term 3B, a nice DH/1B and a left handed starter. Consider their average stats over the past three years:

Uggla, 28yo righty bat: 153gp, 105r, 155h, 37dbl, 4trip, 30hr, 90rbi, 64bb, 153k, 13 errors at 2B.

Jacobs, 28yo lefty bat: 130gp, 59r, 118h, 30dbl, 2trip, 23hr, 71rbi, 37bb, 108k, 8 errors at 1B.

Olson, 25yo LHP: 32starts, 186ip, 10w, 12l, 194h, 111r, 96er, 27hr, 76bb, 137k.

I believe you give Uggla and Jacobs to Rudy as a project to try and cut down the strikeouts and increase the walks. That is all they need to be above average hitters.  And then you let Nolan and Hawkins work with Olson to cut down the hits, home runs and walks while increasing the strikeouts and you have a solid lefty for a long time.

If you could make a deal for these three with Florida (or even just Uggla and Olson), then get either Jackson or Sonnanstine from the Rays or Snell from the Pirates... you would be finished dealing this winter.

Then you would have an infield of Davis, Kinsler, Young and Uggla. An outfield of Hamilton, Byrd and Cruz with Boggs/Murphy as 4th outfielder, and Jacobs as 1b/DH.

I would send Laird, Murphy/Boggs, Arias and two pitching prospects to Florida for Uggla, Jacobs, Olson and a pitching prospect. 

Do we want Uggla... Jacobs... Olson? And at what price? Could we sign Uggla long-term and trade Young and cash to the Dodgers for low level prospects?

One other question... if we are just looking for a stopgap at 3B until we move Young there, would you consider trading a prospect or two to Seattle for Beltre? Hate to trade with Seattle but it could be a nice 3B bridge to Young.

According to Olney:

Jake Peavy, Padres: He won the 2007 Cy Young Award and posted a solid 10-11 record with a 2.85 ERA, with 166 strikeouts in 173 2/3 innings this season. He is under contract for the next four seasons, at salaries of $8 million, $15 million, $16 million and $17 million (with a $22 million option for 2013). But he has become increasingly vocal in his frustration with the Padres, and with the team reducing its payroll to something in the neighborhood of $50 million this year, Peavy's salary will increasingly become top-heavy within the San Diego budget. General manager Kevin Towers has been quoted as saying that the Padres have no untouchable players, and there are executives who say they think Peavy could be taken for the right package of prospects. Peavy has a full no-trade clause and would have to agree to any deal.

I would rather pay a little more in prospects for five years of Peavy than two years of Greinke.  Get Peavy and let the chips fall where they may.

Lets discuss. What would we be comfortable trading for Peavy?

At MLBTradeRumors.com...

According to the AP, the Marlins released righty Sergio Mitre today.  He would've been a non-tender candidate later in the year anyway.  Mitre had Tommy John surgery in July, so he'll miss at least half of the '09 season.  Mitre, 27, can be a decent back-rotation starter when healthy given his strong groundball rate.

Since he is recovering from TJ surgery... how about signing him to a backloaded deal.  We'll pay him $500,000 in 2009 to rehab and go to the minors to work on his stuff and strengthening his arm.  Then we see where he is in spring training 2010 and see if he can help us as either a starter or reliever.  I would give him 2mil in 2010 and a club option for 4 mil in 2011.

Small dollar, low risk gamble to possibly strengthen our pitching staff when the kids arrive in 2010.

In our search for a good bullpen, I think it would behoove JD and the Rangers to take a flyer on R.J. Swindle who was designated for assignment by the Philadelphia Phillies.  He is a 25yo, 6' 3", 190lbs lefthanded reliever.

In 2008 between AA and AAA, he pitched 53ip, 3-1, 1.53era, 1sv, 1hr, 67k & 8bb.

In 2007 between low and high A, he pitched 44ip, 2-2, 2.25era, 13 sv, 3hr, 57k & 8bb.

In two seasons he has 124 strikeouts and 16 walks.  That is tremendous.

Because of his youth and mastery of the strike zone, I have no problem throwing the Phillies a low prospect to take a chance on him.

Rob Neyer's Blog Comments:

"Why? Because the Astros are interesting. Since trading for Wolf, the Astros are 28-12. Have they played so well because of Randy Wolf?  Since joining the Astros, Wolf is 3-1 with a 3.80 and the team is 7-1 in his starts. So yeah, he's played his part."

Wolf keeping options open in 2009.

Inexpensive and solid when healthy.

He seems to finally be getting over his injury issues and could be set up for two or three years of nice success.  When looking over his numbers... I like him!

2.25/1 K/BB ratio, 4.28 ERA would be nice at RBiA.

Is 08 a fluke or is he getting back to the Wolf of 00-04?

Could be worth a 3 year, $27M deal to bridge the gap to our kids. It would be even better to pair him with Derek Lowe for a couple years and see where the chips fall.

Would a rotation of Lowe, Harrison, Wolf, Feldman and Millwood/Padilla be OK for 2009? Seems like a nice starting point to allow for patience with Hunter/Feliz and Holland by 2010-11.

MLB Trade Rumors says:

"If the Padres are so cost-conscious that they must discard an effective hitter like Giles, it may make sense to go all-in and sell off the young veterans too.  Gonzalez and Peavy are currently at peak value given their salaries, age, and performance.  Kouzmanoff and Young also have good trade value, though Greene is at a low point."

Since so many Rangers "fans" can't get past the Eaton/Otsuka for Young/Gonzalez/Sledge deal that began JD's tenure in Arlington, I had a brainstorm after reading the above blogpost today.

How about JD tries to "make up" for that deal by doing a blockbuster:

Jake Peavy, Chase Headley and Chris Young in exchange for Matt Harrison, Salty, Elvis Andrus, John Mayberry Jr. and another pitcher not named Feliz or Holland?

Or maybe Peavy, Headley, Young and Gonzalez for Harrison, Padilla, Salty, Andrus, Mayberry and Davis?

Obviously this only works if the Padres pack it in for 09 (which I don't think they should do). If somehow Peavy is available, THAT is the pitcher to use the farm system to acquire and we would STILL have enough pieces to trade for another ML ready pitcher from Florida or San Francisco.

Lets discuss and see if we can craft a deal that would work for both parties.

 

 

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/771971.html

It looks like the Royals might be a good match for the Rangers in the trade market. With Olivo not returning and Buck only passable as a starter at this point, should the Rangers offer up Salty or Laird plus others for Greinke and others?

I like Jamey Newberg's offer ideas http://www.newbergreport.com/article1.asp and would probably be OK with sending them Salty, Hurley, Mayberry, Arias and any of the players Jamey mentions as a fifth player for Greinke and Ramon Ramirez.

Would you trade with KC or try a different partner? I have really liked Jamey's trade scenarios lately. Upgrading the starting pitching would upgrade the performance of even THIS bullpen... even though I think it has a couple holes regardless.

I like Rupe, Wright, Francisco, Wilson, Mendoza, and Nippert in the bullpen but would get Madrigal some more experience in Oklahoma City next year.  Add Ramon Ramirez to that bullpen group and Greinke as one of two upgrades in the rotation and you've got something going.

Thoughts?

When I think about the lack of a roof, the fear of pitchers to come here and that there are things I don't like about RBIA, I find myself asking... should RBIA go under a major foul pole to foul pole outfield reconstruction and major scoreboard and sound update or should the Rangers just build a new retractable stadium?

In a reconstruction I would tear down EVERYTHING in the outfield (the office building, the left field seats (all levels) back to the foul pole, tear down the bleachers, tear down the bullpens and get rid of the home run porch in right field.)

I would remove a few rows of seating and move the home bullpen down the 1st base side and include an air conditioned extension to the air conditioned Rangers dugout. I would leave the visitors bullpen in a reconfigure left field setup.

I would move the fences back 10 feet from left to the right-center alley, then back 20 feet from the RF alley to the right field foul pole and create a symetrical outfield wall that is 10 feet high.  In rebuilding outfield seating I would include a nicer looking Arlington Stadium-like bleacher setup.

The out of town scoreboard would go INSIDE the left field wall.

What would like changed in the structure of RBIA and do you think it would help at all as far as helping the pitchers?

 

Poll

What would choose if it was your money?

3%

Major outfield reconstruction of RBIA

4 votes

35%

Major scoreboard and audio updating

38 votes

18%

BOTH of the above

20 votes

42%

Build a new retractable roof stadium

45 votes

107 votes | Poll has closed

Ken Rosenthal of SI.com is saying that the Tigers will probably move Nate Robertson this winter.  He earns $7MM in '09 and $10MM in '10.  I would also have no problem extending him an extra year at $13 to make it $10mil/yr for three years. Very reasonable and a nice bridge to the kids.

That seems like a small price to pay for a solid LH starter for the rotation.

He is 31 and has only 5 years of experience. He is averaging the following per season and is pretty consistent:

30 starts, 200 IP, 200 H, 111 R, 27 HR, 66 BB, 132 K

His GB/FB ratio has gone the wrong way each season, but he would seem to have some good years left on his arm. So why not try to acquire him for a catcher and another prospect.

Also: if the Dodgers were to buy out Brad Penny, I wouldn't mind taking a flyer on him for next year with a one year $8 million deal with an option for another year at $12 million. Would be a great risk if he can prove he can stay healthy.

Just for fun, after reading the Vernon Wells waiver thread, I wondered if their might be a waiver solution to our long term 3B problem.

Would you claim Adrian Beltre knowing that he has one more year at $13.4 million?

He will be 30 years old in 2009 and has averaged 23 HR, 82 RBI in the last ten seasons.  Do you think he could hit 30HR and drive in 110 RBI in RBIA with the stadium and the rest of the roster factored in? PLUS, he is a righthanded bat!

I know Seattle probably wouldn't just let the Rangers take him (could somebody select him for us), but this is just hypthetical.

If not Beltre, what other 3B that will be put through waivers would you claim to plug into our lineup?

http://eastwindupchronicle.com/rangers-check-in-with-first-korean-amateur-signing/

The Korean newspaper Il Gan Sports is reporting the Texas Rangers have signed Ahn Tae-kyeong, a right handed pitcher from Busan High School. It’s the team’s first amateur signing in Korea. The paper reports the signing bonus is $800,000.

Ahn is a third year senior at Busan and according to the newspaper throws four pitches, including a fastball that touches 93 MPH on the radar gun and a cut fastball. He stands at about 6 ft. 1 in. and typically throws at a 3/4 angle.

Looks like an interesting prospect.

What caught my attention in the article was that Jim Colborn was mentioned as being largely credited with the development of Ian Snell while Jim was with the Pirates. 

I wonder if it wouldn't be prudent to see what the Pirates would want for Snell.  Even if Colborn isn't the bullpen coach next year, maybe he can figure out what is going wrong with Snell this season and get him going again. 

No, Livan he is not a great pitcher, but the Rangers merely require average pitching to get the job done. Livan could be used to AT LEAST settle the rotation down and give the bullpen a little easier time. Sure it would be cheaper to wait for him to clear waivers, but then all the contenders can grab him. If the Rangers pick up Hernandez off waivers, his contract was only $5 million plus $2 million worth of incentives. That is a small price to pay for an innings-eater starter with post-season experience.

I would have no problem with a Padilla, Harrison, Hernandez, Mendoza, Millwood/Hunter rotation the rest of the way. Put Feldman in the bullpen along with Nippert, Hurley and Mathis when he returns. Get rid of Jamey Wright and send Madrigal down to Frisco for some AA playoff experience. Use a committee approach of Wilson, Francisco and Guardado to close out games.

Hernandez, 33, was 10-8 with a 5.48 ERA with the Twins, averaging almost exactly six innings in his 23 starts; he had allowed 199 hits in 139.2 innings, with 29 walks and 54 strikeouts.

Other than giving up too many hits and 25 HRs a year, he has pitched 200 innings for ten straight years and would make it 11 if plugged in for the wild card run. He has always been about a 2 for 1 K/BB ratio which is fine. He has a career ERA of 4.32. Anything under 4.50 will be fine for the Rangers of right now.

PLUS... He is 6-3 with a 3.97 ERA in nine post-season series in his career.

This is just an opinion, but it seems like the Yankees and White Sox are vulnerable. So lets give them a run for their money and have a fun final seven weeks!

 

 

How about this nutty thought... but lets use this to generate some creative ideas to help enjoy a pennant race in August 2009.

Trade Salty, Bradley, Murphy and Guardado (and more if necessary) to the Red Sox for Manny, a mid-level pitching prospect and a couple A level prospects.  As part of the deal, the Rangers pick up the two years worth of $20 mil/yr options in his contract.  The Red Sox get their catcher of the future, a good DH/RF, a LF and relief help. We get our DH/LF that will be the RH bat between Hamilton and Davis for the next two years. Then Max Ramirez or Smoak takes over in 2011.

Sign Sheets to the first FA deal of the winter for 5yr/$95 mil (AAV $19). Year One salary for Sheets is $18 mil and you add $500k each season to end up at Year Five salary of $20 mil. This will get Ben to age 35 and, if healthy, leave room for one more 3 or 4 year deal to end his career.

Then, Sheets would help recruit his current teammate to Texas when we would offer CC a 7yr/$165 deal (AAV $23.5).  Year One salary is $22 mil and you add $500k each season to end up at Year Seven salary of $25mil. This will get CC to age 35 and, if healthy, leave room for one more 3 or 4 year deal to end his career.

I would try to include deferred money to Sheets and Sabathia for the five years after they retire to leave a little wiggle room for the salaries the youngsters will eventually require.

These three deals would allow us to keep most of our young pitchers at affordable prices to methodically move through the system and onto the major league staff a few at a time. In this scenario, we would field a 2009 rotation of Sabathia, Sheets, Padilla, Harrison, Hurley and use Mendoza as a fill-in starter and long relief.  This would give us time to get Feliz here in 2010 to replace Padilla.

Sure it is crazy, but it actually makes sense. We get that big RH bat in the 5 spot of the order for 45hr/140rbi a year in Manny and even if CC and Ben miss a little time (injury or rest), we have all of our young pitchers to fill the gaps and get experience.

2009 batting order is:
2B Kinsler
SS Young
CF Hamilton
DH/LF Ramirez
1B Davis
RF N. Cruz (Gets one more chance beginning August 2, 2008)
3B Blalock
LF Boggs/DH Max Ramirez is backup catcher
C Laird (Teagarden gets one more year in AAA before starting 2010)

I know this is pie in the sky, but it only requires one trade and two FA signings. THIS would definitely show the fans JD and Hicks are serious about winning and set us up for a decade of contention.

BTW, I don't mind trading with the Red Sox or Yankees because they will be strong regardless.  Give us your thoughts and other similar cheaper alternatives that could accomplish the same thing.

 

There isn't a whole lot that interests me on the Pirates roster, but some of the near major league ready talent of the Rangers would fit the Pirates very well.

I wonder if a package of Nelson Cruz, Joaquin Arias, Jarrod Saltalamachia and a pitcher could be enough to acquire Ian Snell and/or Zach Duke and/or Damaso Marte and a couple decent prospects? We wouldn't have touched anyone on our major league roster to improve our pitching. As a matter of fact, I would immediately flip Marte to the highest bidder too.

The Pirates obviously would like the deal with a catcher, SS and LF of the now and future... while the Rangers would be able to get a major league level starter, solid reliever (unless we flip him) and a couple more steals from their system.

I like Duke first and Snell second based on age, although I think they both would appreciate a change in scenery AND the support of the Rangers offense to pick them up on a rough day.

This is the kind of trade I would like to make... using the chips we have (but don't necessarily need) to get at least one starter and one reliever to plug in now.