SB Nation User Blog: venturafearsnolan

Free Agent Relievers

venturafearsnolan — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:17:57 -0000

I don't know if a free agent or two is the answer to the bullpen's woes, but looking out there, there are some intriguing arms that it might be worth kicking the tires of. People that might be willing to take a minor league contract, let them pitch their way back into shape in Extended Spring Training or some of the lower levels, and see if they're worth anything.

AL REYES - 2 seasons off from a 26 save season with Tampa Bay, he wasn't bad as far as I can tell last year, but was hurt. He's no spring chicken, and missing significant time with injuries (to the extent the Mets signed him and cut him after 5 AA appearances).

RUDY SAENZ - had a decent season last year, and would probably be an interesting addition, even though he has control issues. Of course, according to a report last month, he doesn't seem very interested in playing, so this might be for naught.

KEITH FOULKE - Is there anything left?

AQUILINO LOPEZ - There had to be some reason why Detroit hasn't made a play for him to come back, after 80 decent innings last year, when he was one of their better pitchers. Is there more to the story here that I haven't seen?

Are there any other FAs that are worth a look?

OT: Oscar Nominations

venturafearsnolan — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:43:19 -0000

Performance by an actor in a leading role

* Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
* Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
* Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

* Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
* Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
* Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
* Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an actress in a leading role

* Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
* Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
* Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

* Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
* Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
* Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
* Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year

* “Bolt” (Walt Disney), Chris Williams and Byron Howard
* “Kung Fu Panda” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount), John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction

* “Changeling” (Universal), Art Direction: James J. Murakami, Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando
* “The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Art Direction: Michael Carlin, Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway
* “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Art Direction: Kristi Zea, Set Decoration: Debra Schutt

Achievement in cinematography

* “Changeling” (Universal), Tom Stern
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Claudio Miranda
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design

* “Australia” (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin
* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West
* “The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Glicker
* “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Albert Wolsky

Achievement in directing

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Gus Van Sant
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature

* “The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)” (Cinema Guild), A Pandinlao Films Production, Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
* “Encounters at the End of the World” (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment), A Creative Differences Production, Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser
* “The Garden” A Black Valley Films Production, Scott Hamilton Kennedy
* “Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn
* “Trouble the Water” (Zeitgeist Films), An Elsewhere Films Production, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

Best documentary short subject

* “The Conscience of Nhem En” A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki
* “The Final Inch” A Vermilion Films Production, Irene Taylor Brodsky and Tom Grant
* “Smile Pinki” A Principe Production, Megan Mylan
* “The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306” A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Achievement in film editing

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lee Smith
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Elliot Graham
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year

* “The Baader Meinhof Complex” A Constantin Film Production, Germany
* “The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France
* “Departures” (Regent Releasing), A Departures Film Partners Production, Japan
* “Revanche” (Janus Films), A Prisma Film/Fernseh Production, Austria
* “Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
* “Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (Universal), Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.),Alexandre Desplat
* “Defiance” (Paramount Vantage), James Newton Howard
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Elfman
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

* “Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel
* “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar
* “O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman andMaya Arulpragasam

Best motion picture of the year

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production,Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
* “Milk” (Focus Features), A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production, Nominees to be determined
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production,Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film

* “La Maison en Petits Cubes” A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Kato
* “Lavatory - Lovestory” A Melnitsa Animation Studio and CTB Film Company Production, Konstantin Bronzit
* “Oktapodi” (Talantis Films) A Gobelins, L’école de l’image Production, Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
* “Presto” (Walt Disney) A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland
* “This Way Up”, A Nexus Production, Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best live action short film

* “Auf der Strecke (On the Line)” (Hamburg Shortfilmagency), An Academy of Media Arts Cologne Production, Reto Caffi
* “Manon on the Asphalt” (La Luna Productions), A La Luna Production, Elizabeth Marre and Olivier Pont
* “New Boy” (Network Ireland Television), A Zanzibar Films Production, Steph Green and Tamara Anghie
* “The Pig” An M & M Production, Tivi Magnusson and Dorte Høgh
* “Spielzeugland (Toyland)” A Mephisto Film Production, Jochen Alexander Freydank

Achievement in sound editing

* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King
* “Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Tom Sayers
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
* “Wanted” (Universal),Wylie Stateman

Achievement in sound mixing

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Mark Weingarten
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney),Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt
* “Wanted” (Universal), Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Achievement in visual effects

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
* “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
* “Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Adapted screenplay

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Screenplay by Eric Roth, Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
* “Doubt” (Miramax), Written by John Patrick Shanley
* “Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan
* “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Hare
* “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay

* “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Courtney Hunt
* “Happy-Go-Lucky” (Miramax), Written by Mike Leigh
* “In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh
* “Milk” (Focus Features), Written by Dustin Lance Black
* “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

To me, the biggest shame was the lack of love for The Wrestler. I was hopeful for a directing nod for Aronofsky, original screenplay, and for sure, Springsteen for Best Song.

On the other hand, I'm thrilled about Richard Jenkins and Michael Shannon getting nominations when both seemed like long shots.

The 10 Best Free Agent Signings in Rangers history

venturafearsnolan — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:35:43 -0000

After seeing this done, in a pair of fanshots at Royals Review, I figured that creating a similar list for the Rangers would be a lot of fun. So I went through the years, picking out good candidates, for both best and worst, following the same, basic rules. Today we get the good, probably tomorrow we get the bad.

"1. I only included Major League free agents, not waiver wire pickups or minor league free agents.

2. I only included free agents signed from other teams, not contracts given to players already on the club.

3. I only included the initial contract figure, but not extensions."

10. Will Clark – 5 years, $30 million (1994-1998)
Clark joined the team replacing Rafael Palmeiro. He might not have matched Raffy's middle of the order production, but he put up several above average seasons in Arlington that included a trip to the All Star Game, and a Top 15 MVP finish in 1994.

9. Kenny Lofton – 1 year, $6 million (2007)/Eric Gagne – 1 year, $6 million (2007)
A pair of bargain basement pickups, these two former all stars joined the team together in 2007 on low-risk, one year deals. Each performed rather well for the team, Lofton with a 116 OPS+ and over 20 SBes, providing stability to the lead-off spot, Gagne with an ERA+ over 200 and 16 saves in an injury-shortened half season. However, their performances alone are not what warrants their inclusion on this list. On July 27th, Lofton was traded from the Rangers to the Indians, where he began his career, for Max Ramirez. 4 days later, Gagne was traded to the Red Sox for Engel Beltre, David Murphy, and Kason Gabbard. Of those acquired, Beltre and Ramirez are among the Rangers top prospects, David Murphy was a Rookie of the Month last season, and Gabbard has shown flashes of brilliance in his season plus in the bigs.

8. Milton Bradley – 1 year, $5.25 million (2008)
Milton Bradley's talent has never been in question, but his firey temper and ability to stay healthy were when the Rangers signed him to a one year deal before this season began. Many speculated that the deal, much like Gagne and Lofton the previous season, was made with the idea of trading him for some coveted young prospect if he could rebuild his value. As the story goes, Bradley reached 500 PAs in a season for only the second time in his career and found a certain sense of belonging and peace in the Rangers locker room. He then proceeded to tear up the AL, starting the All-Star game as the designated hitter, finishing third in the league in batting, first in on base percentage, and fourth in slugging. The Rangers, largely thanks to Bradley's play, found themselves within striking distance at the All Star break and unable to deal the switch hitting star. Bradley finished the season 17th in MVP voting.

7. Mickey Tettleton – 1 year, $1 million (1995)
After the strike-shortened 1994, Tettleton signed with the Rangers a couple of weeks before the 1995 season began. Originally signed to play DH, Mickey ended up playing all over the field, spending time at 1B, RF, LF, and catcher. Tettleton ended up arguably having the finest season of his career in 1995, and lead the team in home runs. Tettleton ended up resigning with the team, and was a Ranger until his retirement early into the 1997 campaign.

6. Alex Rodriguez – 10 years, $252 million (2001-2003)
Stats-wise, you could make a case for Rodriguez at #1 on the list. In the three seasons he spent in Arlington, he started three All Star Games, won two Golden Gloves and finished no lower than 6th in the MVP voting, winning the award in 2003. However, with the largest contract in baseball history, you're expected to win, and he couldn't on his own. When Hicks realized that the contract was an albatross on the day to day dealings of the team, he originally tried to deal Rodriguez to Boston for enigmatic slugger Manny Ramirez, and when the MLBPA refused to rework A-Rod's contract, he was dealt to the Yankees for Alfonso Soriano and Joaquin Arias.

5. Tom Henke – 2 year, $7.5 million (1993-1994)
Henke came up in the Rangers organization, but later joined the Blue Jays as a compensatory pick due to a Free Agent signing. However, when Henke rejoined the team in 1993, he was no longer the kid with a lot of promise, he was an all-star closer who had just come from the World Champions. Over his two years in Arlington, he amassed 55 saves and had some very solid years, providing stability in the Rangers bullpen.

4. Kenny Rogers – 2 year, $6 million (2004-2005)
In his third stint in Arlington, Rogers joined the team after a decent, but unremarkable 2003 in Minnesota. Over the next two years, for a team that always needs pitching, he filled the role of #1 starter, going 32-17, making the All Star team and being awarded Gold Gloves both years. This run is probably remembered more for the cameraman incident than how good Rogers was on the mound.

3. John Wetteland – 4 year, $23 million (1997-2000)
Wetteland came to the Rangers after a very successful career in Los Angeles, Montreal and later New York. Wetteland almost immediately became the greatest closer in Rangers history, saving more than 30 games every season in Rangers Red, making two All Star teams along the way. Wetteland still holds the Rangers career saves record with 150.

2. Nolan Ryan – 2 year, $3.2 million (1989-1990)
After a falling out with Houston Astros owner John J. McMullen over a little under half a million dollars, Ryan signed with the cross-state Texas Rangers before the 1989 season. Although Ryan ended up spending his final 5 years in Arlington, over the initial contract, he went 29-19, made one All Star team and had a Top 5 finish in Cy Young voting. In addition, he immediately became the face of the Texas Rangers franchise, and reached several key accomplishments: 5000 strikeouts, 300 wins, and his sixth no-hitter.

1. Rafael Palmeiro – 5 year, $45 million (1999-2003)
When Rafael returned to the Rangers in 1999 after 5 years in Baltimore, he played like a man possessed. Each of the five seasons he hit 39 or more home runs, and drove in over 100 RBIs. Although in the post-Juiced era, the accomplishments will never be looked at the same way again, he was an absolute force out of first base for the Rangers over the entire course of the contract.

And there's the Top 10. While I might do the Top 10 Worst over the weekend, Monday seems more likely.

OT: Tuesday Night Music

venturafearsnolan — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:32:34 -0000

With their being no World Series game tonight, and a lot of baseball news kind of stagnant until the offseason actually begins, I figured it was a good time for an off topic post.

Any recommendations for some recent albums? Personally, I've been listening to the new Ryan Adams & The Cardinals album Cardinology a lot, and think it might not only be my favorite album of the year, but also the best thing Adams has ever done, top to bottom.

How about upcoming concerts? I'm seeing R.E.M. this weekend, with Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, Mars Volta and a few other bands supporting. I'm really excited, as R.E.M.'s one band that I've wanted to see for years, but it's just never happened, before now.

And on one final note, something that I think a lot of you out there might dig, MTV is in the process of putting up it's entire video catalog at mtvmusic.com. Might as well put it somewhere since they don't play them on TV anymore, but even in it's beginning stages where a lot of shit is missing, there is just a TON of music there.

Oklahoma City Redhawks unveil new logos/uniforms

venturafearsnolan — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:53:56 -0000

Flash video here.

I'm not in love with the set, I mean, obviously, I think it's an upgrade to what they had, but while before, it felt rather dated and just.. unattractive, with the new set, it seems like they are trying too hard to create a retro look.

In addition, I don't like the way there isn't a primary color between the red and the blue... it feels very mix-and-match, and not in a good way. I'm also not sold on the primary, with the C being twice the size as everything else in the package.. if you were going to go faux old-school, why not go with the collegiate style or, the style of the White Sox, with OKC cascading down.

As I've said, it's basically an underwhelming upgrade. I do like the underused hawk head logo, though.

Nolan wants to own the Rangers?

venturafearsnolan — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 21:25:17 -0000

via Jon Heyman:

• Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggested that Rangers president Nolan Ryan will convince club owner Tom Hicks to spend this winter. And that may be so, but I'm told that what Ryan would most like is to convince Hicks to sell -- that is, to sell the team to him. There is no evidence to this point that Hicks is interested in selling, though.

I know Nolan has his share of people who aren't that fond of him out there, but wouldn't he be a damn better owner than Hicks? I mean, worst case, he can't be any worse.

Rangers infield

venturafearsnolan — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:37:34 -0000

While watching the YES feed for tonight's game, the announcers kept talking about how hard the infield was to play at RBiA, because of how hard and fast it was, comparative to the rest of the league.

Is there actually something to this, or were they basically just filling airtime?

If it is true, could it be a contributing factor to why we're defensively so bad, especially when we promote ground ball pitchers? And is there something the Rangers can do in terms of keeping the infield grass that could change it?

Rangers sign Kiko Calero to a minor league deal

venturafearsnolan — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 09:22:00 -0000

Didn't see this talked about anywhere, but per the Rangers blog at Dallas Morning News, Kiko Calero has been signed to a minor league deal and is joining the Oklahoma Redhawks.

I figure that if he can stay healthy, and if the Rangers have an open roster spot, he'll be in the show sooner rather than later.

Even though he wasn't very good at all last year, and with the health concerns, I've always liked him as a player and hope that if given the chance, he can help solidify our bullpen.

Where did these guys come from?

venturafearsnolan — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:14:42 -0000

(note: when I was browsing around at other blogs on the SBNation site, in order to see about proposing the ASG vote trading ideas we had in an earlier fanpost, I came across Amazing Avenue, which had this idea. So the credit for the idea, and the name - as I couldn't think of a better one, goes to that blog.)

Here is our 40 Man Roster, and how they came to join the club.

Joaquin Benoit - signed as an amateur free agent, May 20, 1996
Thomas Diamond - drafted in the first round of the 2004 Amateur Draft (10th overall)
Scott Feldman - drafted in the thirtieth round of the 2003 Amateur Draft
Frank Francisco - traded by the Chicago White Sox, along with Josh Rupe and Anthony Webster for Carl Everett
Kason Gabbard - traded by the Boston Red Sox, along with David Murphy and Engel Beltre for Eric Gagne and cash
Eddie Guardado - signed as a free agent, January 11th, 2008
Matt Harrison - traded by the Atlanta Braves, along with Beau Jones, Elvis Andrus, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Neftali Feliz t for Ron Mahay and Mark Teixeira
Eric Hurley - drafted in the first round of the 2004 Amateur Draft (30th overall)
Jason Jennings - signed as a free agent, January 17th, 2008
Wes Littleton - drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 Amateur Draft (106th overall)
Kameron Loe - drafted in the twentieth round of the 2002 Amateur Draft
Warner Madrigal - signed as a minor league free agent, November 17th, 2007
Doug Mathis - drafted in the thirteenth round of the 2005 Amateur Draft (399th overall)
Brandon McCarthy - traded by the Chicago White Sox, along with David Paisano for John Danks, Nick Masset, and Jacob Rasner
Luis Mendoza - traded by the Boston Red Sox for Bryan Corey
Kevin Millwood - signed as a free agent, February 26th, 2006
A.J. Murray - drafted in the nineteenth round of the 2000 Amateur Draft
Vicente Padilla - signed as a free agent, December 8th, 2006 (was traded before the season by the Philadelphia Phillies for Ricardo Rodriguez)
John Rheinecker - traded in a three-team trade, along with John Koronka and cash, for Juan Dominguez, who went to the Oakland Athletics. In addition, Freddy Bynum was traded from the Athletics to the Chicago Cubs.
Josh Rupe - traded by the Chicago White Sox, along with Frank Francisco and Anthony Webster for Carl Everett
C.J. Wilson - drafted in the fifth round of the 2001 Amateur Draft (141st overall)
Jamey Wright - signed as a free agent, January 25th, 2007

Gerald Laird - traded, along with Jason Hart, Ryan Ludwick, and Mario Ramos by the Oakland Athletics for Carlos Pena and Mike Venafro
Max Ramirez - traded by the Cleveland Indians for Kenny Lofton
Jarrod Saltalamacchia- traded by the Atlanta Braves, along with Beau Jones, Elvis Andrus, Matt Harrison, and Neftali Feliz t for Ron Mahay and Mark Teixeira

Joaquin Arias - traded, along with Alfonso Soriano by the New York Yankees for Alex Rodriguez and cash
Hank Blalock - drafted in the third round of the 1999 Amateur Draft (105th overall)
German Duran - drafted in the sixth round of the 2005 Amateur Draft (189th overall)
Ian Kinsler - drafted in the seventeenth round of the 2003 Amateur Draft (496th overall)
Travis Metcalf - drafted in the eleventh round of the 2004 Amateur Draft (321st overall)
Chris Shelton - traded by the Detroit Tigers for Freddy Guzman
Ramon Vazquez - signed as a free agent, November 17th, 2006
Michael Young - traded, along with Darwin Cubillan by the Toronto Blue Jays for Esteban Loaiza

Brandon Boggs - drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 Amateur Draft (111th overall)
Julio Borbon - drafted in the 1st round (supplimental) of the 2007 Amateur Draft (35th overall)
Marlon Byrd - signed as a free agent, December 8th, 2006
Frank Catalanotto - signed as a free agent, November 21st, 2006
Josh Hamilton - traded by the Cincinnati Reds for Edinson Volquez and Daniel Ray Herrera
David Murphy - traded by the Boston Red Sox, along with Kason Gabbard and Engel Beltre for Eric Gagne and cash

Milton Bradley - signed as a free agent, January 3rd, 2008

Moves you would make (if still in contention at the ASB)

venturafearsnolan — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:28:32 -0000

Let's play hypothetical.

It's July 15th, and the Rangers are 2 games back.

Who do you kick the wheels of?

I think this team's biggest gap right now is someone right handed who can bat 5th or 6th, breaking up a series of lefties and Milton, whose a switch.

After looking around and thinking, perhaps the most viable option, in terms of what he would cost, is Xavier Nady.

Other options would be Jason Bay, or Magglio, although considering his contract I can't see us making that move.

Nady could play right field regularly, allowing Hamilton in center and Murphy in left to be your general everyday lineup, but also rotate in on days off for Blalock or Davis, whoever is manning first(I assume it would be Blalock unless he is on the DL or decides to move back to third).

Pitching wise, I could see us making a splash for one of the free agents to be, more likely Ben Sheets, if we felt we could resign him and he is healthy. Those of course are monster sized question marks, but this is a hypothetical.

In the bullpen, we could use a steady guy, doesn't have to be a blow-away guy, with good control. Quite frankly, I would have no idea who to target there, but I'm sure there would have to be someone on the market who would fit this.

I have no idea what Pittsburgh would want, but I figure Milwaukee would be interested in either Teagarden or Ramirez and a pitcher, especially if they are out of it and don't expect to resign him.