The Lineup - Nine Potential Starting Pitching Acquistions

August 28, 2008 at 11:32 pm · Filed under AL West, Boston Red Sox, Chris Davis, Derek Holland, Elvis Andrus, Eric Hurley, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLB, Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers

It’s no secret that Texas is seeking starting pitching.

Speciaically, durable, ace level starting pitching.

It’s also no secret that rarely do you get those guys in free agency.

So, the only way to really acquire a guy is by the draft or by trade.

So that’s where Texas will look to this off-season:  the trade market.

There should be some solid pitchers available this off-season, especially with the quality of free agents declining and the value of prospects going up.  However, the problem with having a top of the line farm system is that too often, other teams will attempt to screw you for all you got because of the fact that you have a top system.  For example, the Tampa Bay Rays asked the Rockies the price for Brian Fuentes.

Their answer was David Price, arguably the top prospect in baseball.

WIth that said, the Rangers do have the luxery of protecting certain guys from being picked, due to the strength of their system. 

Here are five guys I would declare untouchable:

1. Neftali Feliz (RHP) - Flame throwing lefty in Double A that has Ace like stuff.
2. Derek Holland (LHP) - Lefty with good velocity and control could duel with Feliz for top pitcher in the system.
3. Chris Davis (1B/3B) - Nuff said.
4. Josh Hamilton (CF) - Ditto.
5. Taylor Teagarden (C) - The top defensive catcher, the Rangers love Tegarden’s glove and with his power, many feel he’ll become a Mickey Tettleton type of catcher.

With that said, here are nine names I expect Texas to be talking about this off-season.

Boof Bonser (RHP) - Minnesota

• The Twins were shopping Bonser around during the deadline in hopes of getting something in return for him.  Bonsor isn’t an ace, but he is an innings eater that, if nothing else, functions as a perfectly good innings sponge.
• Benefits Of A Deal:  Bonser would be fairly cheap to acquire, and overall could serve as an innings eater for the Rangers, who desperately could use one.  He also could offer a bit of upside in that he’d keep his ERA near the mid 4’s, which isn’t bad coming from your Number Four.
• Why The Team Would Be Interested:  The Twins would gain something of value for a pitcher that they seem to have run out of patienc ewith.
• Problems:  Really, the biggest issue would be that the Twins might ask for the moon for Bonser, killing any interest the Rangers may have.
• My Best Offer?:  The Twins would likely want a prospect of some relevance, but the Rangers need to stand firm that the Twins need to be reasonable in terms of what needs to be offered.  Utlimatley, I think the Rangers could offer Jose Vallejo, a toolsy second baseman that could fill in as a shortstop.  Vallejo is in Double A and could rise to the Twins fairly quickly.  He’s also the best quality prospect I’d be willing to offer right now, as Bonser’s value might not even be worth that.
• Chance Of A Deal:  60%.  The Twins would be inclined to move Bonsor this offseason, if only to put his future arbitration worries on the heads of someone else.  All in all, I see him as an excellent buy-low opportunity, and one that could pay dividends.

Zack Grienke (RHP) - Kansas City

• Greinke is another fairly good talent that is under team control for several years.  With Grienke not signing any long term deals, nor with the Royals farm system producing anything of releveance, it would behoove Kansas City to flip Grienke for what they could get to accelerate their rebuilding process.
• Benefits Of A Deal:  Texas would get a young pitcher that could be a top of the rotation starter.  Grienke has good stuff and is showing the ability to be durable.  He’s under team control for at least another couple of years and could be willing to be extended with a newer team. 
• Why The Team Would Be Interested:  Kansas City knows that Grienke is their most valuable trade chip and getting more pieces to go with what they have already would help immensely. 
• Problems:  Grienke is going to be really expensive, and thus far Kansas City has been reluctant to trade him.  Another worry how Grienke’s past emotional problems could be twisted into a general sense of him being non-committed to helping Texas.  Finally, what would it cost?
• My Best Offer?:  Eric Hurley would have to be a piece in the deal, as well as one of either Jarrod Saltalamacchia (whom Dayton Moore, who was with the Braves, might want) or Max Ramirez in terms of the catchers.  Aside form that, it would take two more prospects, perhaps a reliever, such as Wes Littleton or Frank Francisco, and another prospect, Joaquin Arias, whom the Royals have coveted in the poast, could get the deal done.  Arias could be a decent option at second base for Kansas City, should they choose to plug him in there. 
• Chance Of A Deal:  40%.  I’ve no doubt that Texas will ask about Grienke and that both sides will toss names and figures around.  Chances are against a deal right now, but perhaps the Royals could be more inclined as time passes during the off-season and the needs of the team become more evident.

Edwin Jackson (RHP) - Tampa Bay

• Jackson is another live arm that is supposedly being dangled for more prospects.  Would Texas oblige? 
• Benefits Of A Deal: Jackson is a live arm and has shown that he can be dominant when his stuff is working.
• Why The Team Would Be Interested:  Tampa Bay clears a space for David Price, while selling high on Jackson.
• Problems:  Jackson is so damn inconsistent, which makes things trouble when his stuff is not working.  Also, Tampa lacks any noticeable hole and they have a history of being notoriously difficult to trade with.  So what could be done for a possible deal?  The only noticeable hole on Tampa’s roster would be shortstop, to which Elvis Andrus would have to be a part of.  Perhaps David Murphy, who fits Joe Maddon’s style, could also appeal.  After that, it’s a wash, as it depends on who else Tampa and Texas could agree on sending back and forth. 
• My Best Offer?:  Andrus and Murphy, Plus A Player To Be Named Later.  That’s it.  Jackson is a solid arm, but not special, and doesn’t offer that Ace upside.
• Chance Of A Deal:  10%.  Ultimately, Jackson isn’t what the Rangers are looking for, though he could be had.

Justin Masterson (RHP) - Boston

• Masterson is the one young pitcher that I do highly covet from Boston’s system, and he seems to be the forgotten man on that team, and is underappreciated. 
• Benefits Of A Deal: Masterson could at least be an average starter, with the possibility of more if he can get a solid third pitch to go with his sinker-slider combo.  And if not, at least he could fill the role of a relief ace.
• Why The Team Would Be Interested:  Boston would be giving up a good arm, but they need a catcher to replace Jason Varitek.  It’s unlikely that Cleveland would trade them back Kelly Shoppach, unless it’s for a King’s Ransom, and the Rangers have more flavors to choose from in terms of catching.
• Problems:  Boston is notorious for lowballing teams in terms of trade offers, and often times try to expand a deal farther than the original intentions of the trade.  And Boston would likely demand Taylor Teagarden, while Texas would counter with Jarrod Saltalamacchia, which could lead to a lengthy disagreement that could end nowhere. 
• My Best Offer?:  For starters, I would actually offer to take half of Julio Lugo’s bad contract back.  Lugo could function as an overpaid utilityman, and would likely see time at third, short, and second, allowing the Rangers to rest their infielders.  Second, I’d include Jarrod Saltalamacchia as part of the deal.  Taylor Teagarden is a more valuable prospect, but he’s also the one catcher among the bunch that Texas wants to keep.
• Chance Of A Deal:  50%.  Texas and Boston had discussions over catchers, but those talks ended when Boston asked about Teagarden and nothing else seemed to be able to come to fruition.  Boston and Texas will resume negotiations this off-season.  We’ll see how far they go.

Shawn Marcum (RHP) - Toronto

• Marcum is rumored to be a person to be shopped around in a trade by the Jays, in hopes of reloading the team, rather than rebuilding.
• Benefits of A Deal:  Marcum is relatively young and would be under Rangers control for at least three years.  He’s shown the capacity to eat innings and could slot in nicely near the top of the rotation.
• Why The Team Could Be Interested:  Toronto would gain some young, cheap talent, all the while targeting some back of the rotation help that could benefit them.  Thanks to their defensive ability, Marcum is rather replaceable and his value is high.
• Problems:  Marcum isn’t all that great of a pitcher, as he benefits a lot from his defense, which would take a hit if he were to come over to Arlington.  Another issue is that because the illusion of Marcum is far from what Marcum is, and that illusion is overpriced.  Also, Toronto and Texas have duked it out in the past over player valuation (Kevin Mench), and relations remain strained still.
• My Best Offer:  I’d tell Toronto to pound sand, to be honest.  But if I really HAVE to come up with a deal, I’d offer them a package centered around John Mayberry Jr., a power hitting right fielder in the Texas system that is now emerging as a Jermaine Dye.  It’s likely that the Jays would want more, so I’d send them some other products, like Omar Poveda, a Rangers prospect in Low A that is roughly similar to Marcum or Eric Hurley, plus  Brendan Garr, a top relief prospect that touches 96, and Joaquin Arias, who could start at shortstop right now for Toronto.
• Chances Of A Deal:  10%.  Marcum doesn’t really fit what the Rangers would want, nor do I think that both sides can really match up in terms of a talent for talent match.  Toronto seems like they want to strike a home run on any trade of Marcum, and to be honest, when it’s all said and done, I really don’t think that Marcum is the type of pitcher the organization needs to be hunting for anyway.

Roy Halladay (RHP) - Toronto

• Toronto is in a bit of a transition, and could move their ace for a nice prospect package that would help the team in the short and long term.
• Benefits Of A Deal:   Halladay is a proven innings eater, keeps the ball in the park, throws strikes and all in all is a quality pitcher that could head up the rotation. 
• Why The Team Would Be Interested:  Halladay would bring back an impressive prospect package that would allow the Blue Jays to fill multiple holes with cheap talent. 
• Problems:  Toronto and the Rangers have had issues over dealings in the past, which doesn’t help the matters at all.  Plus, the bigger issues is that Hallady is over 40, he’s only signed for this coming and the following season, and his ERA at Rangers Ballpark and at Angels Stadium is over six. 
• My Best Offer?:   I’m not sure what I would want to give up.  It’s likely that Toronto would demand Feliz, Holland, or Davis, to which I’d tell them to go pound sand.  However, I would offer a solid package of John Mayberry Jr., Eric Hurley, Frank Francisco and their choice between Max Ramirez, a solid hitting prospect, or Omar Poveda, a good pitching prospect in the mold of Shawn Marcum. 
• Chance Of A Deal:  40%.  I think there is a chance that the Rangers could wind up with Halladay, but why would you want to at this point in his career?  I’m not certain that he’s worth a prospect package that big.  The next guy is…

Matt Cain (RHP) - San Francisco

• The Giants need help in multiple positions, and with Cain being their most most valuable trade chip.
• Benefits Of A Deal:   Cain is the young ace the Rangers need to head the rotation.  He’s entering his prime, he’s under team control for three years (two plus an option), and would be around when the Rangers’ young guns, Feliz and Holland, arrive.
• Why The Team Would Be Interested:  Though it’s hard for them to be trading away their past ace, Cain does bring them a lot of value, especially in terms of positional players, which the Giants sorely lack.  They’ve been able to develop pitching, however, and would gain one in the trade.
• Problems:  It’s the Giants.  How crazy of a package might they demand that would kill a deal?  And how commited would they be willing to break up the Cain-Lincecum two headed monster, even if it meant it would help the team.
• My Best Offer?:  Hurley would have to be in the deal, as would Andrus.  Mayberry could also be included as well, which give the Giants a Top Prospect And Two Very Good Prospects.  From there, it would be a working of minor players to be exchanged, though it’s very likely that the Giants could try to demand Chris Davis in a deal, which would be a deal breaker.  My final offer, in the end, would be Andrus, Mayberry, Hurley, and two player to be named laters.
• Chance Of A Deal:  60%.  San Francisco is likely on the short list of teams the Rangers plan on calling, and it’s possible that if the GIants, viewing the division as winnable and the hole in their rotation replacable, could agree if it would vault them ahead of Los Angeles, San Diego and Colorado.

Scott Kazmir (LHP) - Tampa Bay

• The Rangers could make an offer on Kazmir, who was briefly shopped at the GM Meetings, but only for a elite package of talent in return.  This offer was most recently tossed about by Jamey Newberg, so I’ll entertain it. 
• Benefits Of A Deal:  Kazmir would be under Rangers control for four years, with Kazmir signed for $6 million in 2009, $8 million in 2010, $12 million in 2011, and $13.5 million in 2012 (or a $2.5 million buyout).  Kazmir would be a legitimate top of the rotation starter and is young enough that he’ll still be around when Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland, who are among my five untouchables, would arrive to Arlington. 
• Why The Team Would Be Interested:  Tampa actually could afford to lose Kazmir considering that they have David Price and Jeremy Hellickson in the system, both of whom can be great additions to the Tampa Rotation.  It would also keep costs down for the Rays, who have to be careful with their budget due to their financial considerations. 
• Problems:  Andrus, Murphy, and perhaps John Mayberry Jr, who could play right field and is relatively cheap.  After that, it’s a wash, as it depends on who else Tampa and Texas could agree on sending back and forth. 
• My best offer?  Andrus, Murphy, Mayberry, with the offer of either Kasey Kiker or two player to be named laters as the final piece.
• Chances Of A Deal:  5%.  I think Tampa would at least hear out Texas, but at the end of the day, they aren’t nearly in the same straits as San Francisco, so this will likely remain a wet dream to Ranger fans.

Scott Olson (LHP) - Florida

• The Rangers could make an offer on Kazmir, who was briefly shopped at the GM Meetings, but only for a elite package of talent in return.  This offer was most recently tossed about by Jamey Newberg, so I’ll entertain it. 
• Benefits Of A Deal:  In the past, Olsen has been a above average left hander that has proven that he has the skill to dominate and get guys out.  He’s also been rather durable as well and is also entering his prime years as a starter. 
• Why The Team Would Be Interested:  Florida is interested in doing this deal solely because of monetary reasons, as Olsen is arbitration eligible. 
• Problems:  Florida is notorious for asking for the moon on their players and would demand near prohibative amounts of talent in exchange for a young starter.  Also, Texas and Florida attempted to get a Beckett deal, but Texas was angered after Florida secretly took the Texas offer and shopped it around in hopes of upping the price, which they did from Boston.  Lastly, and this has to deal with Olsen himself, aside from the character issues in the past, his strikeout totals are dropping, though he is becoming a more complete pitcher.
• My best offer?  God knows what crazy shit Florida would ask.  It would likely be a request for one of Holland and Feliz, which I wouldn’t do, John Mayberry Jr., Andrus, and potentially Taylor Teagarden.
• Chances Of A Deal:  5%.  Look for it to be disucssed, but in the end, I think Florida will probably price Olsen out of nearly everyone’s market unless they come down on their price.

So there you have it, a list of options that the Rangers could commit to following this season.  With the need for a quality ace at the top, it makes some sense to trade some of the farm wealth to fill that role.  Keep in mind, which prospects are valuable, they do expire, and not all work out.  So in the end, protect those that you feel can add to the organizations future.  Ditch the rest for parts that can help out the untouchable.

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Running Up The White Flag

August 13, 2008 at 10:54 pm · Filed under AL West, Ben Sheets, Boston Red Sox, CC Sabathia, Derek Holland, Justin Smoak, MLB, Neftali Feliz, Texas Rangers

Texas is officially out of the WIld Card Race.

I think that may have been the case all along, which is why Daniels and Co. didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline.   It may have been one final shot to see just what this roster could do.

And as it turns out, it’s not much different than what the Rangers had been seeing.

A big problem has been the implosion of the rotation, which has seen five rookies starting on it this season, and has three-fifths of the Opening Day rotation hurt.  This in turn has severely taxed the bullpen, resulting in it’s own implosion.

THe offense appears to be rolling on all cylinders, though a replacement for production at third base needs to be addressed this off-season.  The Rangers will have to make a move at catcher and moving Gerald Laird and possibly one of the Saltalamacchia-Ramirez combo would do wonders at improving the starting rotation.

I do expect the Rangers to also cut some dead weight at the roster.  Everyone that needed to be added to the 40 Man roster already has been, with the exception of John Mayberry Jr, who could wind up starting in left or right field come next year.  The cutting of dead roster spots not only makes it easier to claim talent off of waivers or exploit the Rule 5 Draft, it also makes signing free agents easier and not have to deal with designating a talent for assignment for someone else.

Overall, it’s a better season than most expected.  I’m hoping that a .500 record, and maybe a second place finish, would be a great way to finish off the year.  At the very least, it builds momentum for 2009.

Draft Picks Down To The Wire

The General consensus is that the Rangers are going to sign Justin Smoak and Robbie Ross, their first and second round pick.

If so, they need to hurry it up a bit.

THe deadline is Friday and there has been virtually no news on Smoak and only a random quote from Ross, who feels optimistic on a deal being struck.

Smoak, a first baseman, and Ross, a left handed pitcher, both are highly regarded talents and both would go a long way towards helping the Ranger organization.

One complicated bit of business is that of Harold Martinez, who seems gung ho about the Rangers giving him first round money or him going to the University of Miami.  I think Texas shoudl go ahead and pony up, as Boston and New York have done the exact same things.

In the prsopects race, you can’t afford to fall behind.

Powerful One-Two Punch Developing At Frisco

The Rangers have a powerful one-two pitching punch at Frisco with Neftali Feliz and Derek Holland now pitching in the same rotation.

Feliz you all know.  Holland, however, is a left handed pitcher that can throw in the mid 90’s and compliments it well with two breaking pitches and clean mechanics.

2011 is their projected date.  By then, a Major League ready staff should also have Eric Hurley, Matt Harrison, and Brandon McCarthy all ready for them to join in.

Making A Play For A Milwaukee Ace?

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggested that Rangers president Nolan Ryan will convince club owner Tom Hicks to spend this winter.  It’s likely that Ryan will target either C.C. Sabathia or Ben SHeets. 

I’m not against it, as the Rangers will have Padilla’s and Millwood’s contracts potentially leaving the books after 2009.  However, a lot of the politics in signing one or the other depends on the draft pick we get in 2009, as anything from 16 on can be lost in compensation.  Texas currently has the 18trh Pick in the 2009 Draft.  That could change, depending on whether or not Milton Bradley and Eddie Gaurdado stay, as both currently merit Draft Pick Compensation.  Either that or we do the Boston approach, meaning we pick off the top talent falling into the later rounds.

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Breaking Down The Bay-Ramirez-LaRoche Three Way

July 31, 2008 at 11:01 pm · Filed under 1, Andy LaRoche, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, MLB, Manny Ramirez, Pittsburgh Pirates

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Gain:  Andy LaRoche (3B), Bryan Morris (RHP), Brandon Moss (OF), Craig Hansen (RHP)
• Loss:   Jason Bay (LF)

First off, losing Jason Bay is a sad thing, as he’s served as the face of the franchise for a few years now.  It didn’t have to come to this, not if the Pirates ownership had hired competent General Managers, not if they didn’t skimp on the draft, not if they made wise trades instead of salary dumps.  It didn’t have to come to this.  Unfortunately, it’s too little, too late for Bay, who will now be sacrificed to help the future of the Pirates.

It’s a solid package for the All-Star, dwarfing that of the Nady trade.  Like the Nady Trade, it’s built around a central player, LaRoche, who is a capable third baseman that for some reason or another was never given the shot he deserved with the Dodgers.  LaRoche should hit for average, get on base and hit for some power.  He’s not a excellent defensive third baseman and could very well slide over to First Base once Pedro Alvarez arrives in Pittsburgh (don’t worry, he’ll sign.  Boras isn’t stupid and knows that there is a huge chance that Alvarez’ stock could drop in a repeat year in college.)   It also gives LaRoche the chance to play with his brother, though last I checked, that didn’t work out for the Giambi or Blalock brothers.

And also, like the Nady deal, there are a good deal of players that could help soon, and add some needed depth to the Pirates.  Hansen is a live arm that could be a closer, but he wouldn’t be able to hit the fucking ground if it weren’t for gravity.  He has a mid 90’s fastball and a slider that is hit or miss, but according to Keith Law, he also throws a curveball or a changeup that is very good, but never uses it.  If that’s true, than Boston fucked up in that respect of his development.  It may have been that the organization was unable to shake thoughts of Hansen’s frisbee slider in college (which may be, in fact, partially created by the baseball having higher seams in college.)  Moss will likely start playing left field to replace Bay.  He’s vulnerable against lefties and only has average power, which essentially makes him David Murphy (passable left fielder that is more valuable as a fourth outfielder.) 

Unlike the Nady deal, however, the Pirates did gain one really good prospect that could be missed.  Morris is in his first full year from Tommy John Surgery, is currently pitching in the Midwestern League (Low A), and is 2-4 with a 3.39 ERA in 16 starts, with a 70/29 K to walk ratio.  Morris throws in the low 90’s, touching 96, and has a solid out pitch with his curveball.  His changeup is coming along and has a chance to be solid.  He’s got a chance to be a solid Number Two starter, with a chance at the very least to be a nasty closer if starting doesn’t work out.

All in all, while it sucks that Bay is gone, the Pirates have more pieces of the puzzle to fuck around with, and hopefully to build the next great Pirates team that fans have been dreaming of since Barry Bonds bolted for the money in San Francisco. 

Boston Red Sox

• Gain:  Jason Bay (LF), Outfield Defense
• Loss:  Manny Ramirez (LF), $7 Million, Brandon Moss (FC), Craig Hansen (RHP)

Boston loses the best player in the deal in Ramirez, who is still one of the best hitters in baseball.  However, the headaches were just too much for them to bear and finally, it came to the point where they decided to win without him than with him.

However, Boston itself does nicely in this deal. Bay isn’t that much of a downgrade from Ramirez and should hit for some power and should also take advantage of Fenway Park’s hitter friendly dimensions.  He’ll also greatly improve the outfield defense, and should push Crisp and Ellsbury (both of which are providing below average offense for the outfield), into a quasi-time sharing role.  The added benefit is that Boston will now have Bay for 2009, which is a great thing as the outfield market was looking piss poor. 

Aside from the money involved, Boston really doens’t give up much in prospects.  Moss never was going to have a long term impact on Boston and Hansen likely would have been designated for assignment this off-season if the Red Sox needed the roster space.  So all in all, great trade for Boston as well.

One more added benefit is with the savings on Bay, plus the money coming off the books on Schilling, Varitek, and others, Boston could make a play for other spots of need, and perhaps even splurge on a Sabathia or a Sheets, depending on their confidence in their rotation.

 Los Angeles Dodgers

• Gain:  Manny Ramirez (LF), $7 Million
• Loss:  Andy LaRoche (3B), Bryan Morris (RHP), Outfield Defense

Of the three teams, the Dodgers probably are the ones that made out the worst.  Ramirez is still a great hitter and will be motivated after the trade to give the finger to the Red Sox.  However, he’s moving not only to a stadium that isn’t conductive for hitting, he also is going to be losing the benefit of Boston’s short left field, which will further expose his problems defending. 

There is also the question as to how the Dodgers are going to assemble their outfield.  Assuming Manny plays everyday, the best chance for a defensive outfield would be to play Kemp in center and Andre Ethier in right full time.  Instead, however, it looks like the Dodgers will isntead employ Juan Pierre in center and Kemp in right, which not only downgrades the offense, but sacrifices some defensive abilities as well.  The need to justify the contracts the Dodgers have done is laughable, and is more of a symptom of Ned Colletti feeling the need to satisify his ego and perhaps defend his job by sending out his purchases in hopes of a turnaround. 

And again, it cost the Dodgers something of value to make this deal.  LaRoche should have been given the opportunity to play everyday.  He wasn’t and if he becomes the player scouts and everyone else that follows the minors thinks he will be, the Dodgers will regret it.  And Morris was one of their better pitching prospects.  Should he develop, the sentiment will just be worse.

All in all, Manny makes them contenders in the NL West, but it was a high price to pay and one that didn’t make much sense really.  I wonder why the Dodgers didn’t just deal with Pittsburgh directly.  It would have been a better trade, with the Pirates perhaps getting something cooler than what they got from Boston.

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Possible Trades Involving Rangers Catching

July 29, 2008 at 9:34 pm · Filed under AL West, Chris Davis, Gerald Laird, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLB, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Vicente Padilla

With the Rangers likely out of the race thanks to the Mark Teixeira trade, plus the spectacular implosion of the Rangers rotation, it’s time to discuss the possible trades to be had, in particular the Rangers’ quartet of young catchers.  Here’s how things stand with each of them.

Gerald Laird

• Strongest Suitors - Marlins, Yankees, Brewers
• The Skinny:  Right now, the Marlins are the most aggressive suitor for Laird, who appears to be back on track this season.  However, New York is lurking and seems to have finally recognized the need for a long term replacement for Jorge Posada, hence their interest.  Finally, it also appears the fucking BREWERS are also in now, making this a three team race.
• Potential Deal:  Again, Texas is looking for a major league ready or near ready starter, which means to qualify for Laird, the Yankees would have to sacrifice Ian Kennedy, the Brewers maybe Manny Parra or someone along those lines and Florida Gaby Hernandez.  Texas would likely try to expand the deal for more pieces, likely tossing in a reliever, though which one is under question right now.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia

• Strongest Suitors - Many
• The Skinny:  Salty also still has his suitors, and it’s also thought that the Rangers are a little more eager to shop him around since he’s struggled.  I still believe in Salty, who has been battling injuries since he returned to the majors but is now healthy and has hit well in July.  Still, his value is still high as a trade chip, and it remains to be seen what he’ll earn in a trade.
• Potential Deal: 

Taylor Teagarden

• Strongest Suitors - Boston
• The Skinny:  Boston covets Teagarden, both for his game calling abilities and his bat, which has quite a bit of thunder in it.  Teagarden is also the catcher that Texas is most reluctant to trade away.  Overall, Texas has said it will deal it’s catching prospects only for near major league ready pitching, which means Boston has to part with one of it’s prized starting pitchers, be it Justin Masterson (who may be best off in the pen), or Michael Bowden (who, despite the Red Sox hype, may only be a Number Three or Four starter.)  I’m not expecting an ace, but I am expecting something of value for Teagarden, who merits at least a blue chip pitcher in return. 
• Potential Deal - If Texas makes the deal, it’s likely for one of Bowden or Masterson Plus a second prospect, which won’t be a pitcher.  It’s possible that Texas could expand a trade to include Eddie Guardado to give the Sox some relief help, all the while increasing the potential return for another highly regarded prospect.

Max Ramirez

• Strongest Suitors - Unknown
• The Skinny:  Ramirez is another Ranger catcher that looked quite good during his limited time up in the majors.  Ramirez showed he can hit and his glove wasn’t as bad as people thought it was.  Most importantly, Ramirez showed a catchers mentality, getting plowed twice and continuing to tick.
• Potential Deal:  Ramirez would merit a prospect of some caliber, but what type is unknown right now, because there isn’t much known interest right now.  Of the four, Ramirez is the one most likely to remain a Ranger, and is quite possibly destined for some backup catcher/DH/1B quasi role, which would enable him to reduce the wear and tear of catching while remaining in the lineup.

Other Potential Ranger Trades

Vicente Padilla

• Potential Suitors - Unknown RIght Now, But There Is Interest
• The Skinny:  Padilla is arguably the best pitcher available right now, and that’s not saying a whole lot.  He can still dominate, but also has gotten torched a few times, making it a bit of a roll of the dice when he takes the mound.  His contract isn’t unreasonable and could be partially paid by Texas depending on the quality of prospects.  Arizona could be worth talking to, depending on what they’d trade.  Chad Tracy would likely be a start.  Another option worth exploring, the Dodgers, could result in possibly Andy LaRoche being offered as bait, which would be a solid return.  Two other options that are out there, but not as attractive, are the Mets and Cardinals, but neither team is willing to sacrifice any major prospects and would want to treat such a deal as a salary dump and as a gift.

Frank Catalonotto

• Potential Suitors - Mets, Giants,
• THe Skinny:  Cat is kinda rendered useless thanks to the promotion of Chris Davis and the emergence of the Murphy/Hamilton/Byrd outfield, with Bradley at DH and Brandon Boggs serving as a fourth outfielder.  Cat still has the ability to be a decent DH and the Rangers would likely eat a lot of the contract to move him.  It just remains to be seen if someone would give him a shot.  Cat would be a solid fit on the Mets in left field, and wouldn’t be too bad for the Giants if they decided to find a bit of a stopgap before they can get a legitimate prospect at first base.  If I were Texas, I would offer Cat as a part of a larger deal that would net Jonathan Sanchez in return for an exchange of contracts and talent.  I’ll have to come up with one soon.

Ramon Vasquez

• Potential Suitors - Dodgers, Cardinals
• The Skinny:  Vasquez has been a surprise this season, and has been one of the Rangers’ better hitters.  He’s also pissy that he’s now riding the pine thanks to Hank Blalock and potentially Michael Young in a couple of years.  So, Vasquez is an intriuging piece of trade bait, which I would explore in terms of value.  The Cardinals could use Vasquez at second base or shortstop and could offer up a decent arm in Jess Todd, currently doing well in Double A.  THe Dodgers are another team that could use Vasquez, and they have begun looking at assorted utility men in an attempt to improve the situation.  I’d offer them Vasquez, again, in an attempt to pry away Andy LaRoche from them.

Coming On Friday - Draft Update, Plus Team Needs For 2009

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The Case To Leave Michael Young At Shortstop In 2009

July 24, 2008 at 5:44 pm · Filed under AL West, Elvis Andrus, Gerald Laird, Hank Blalock, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLB, Michael Young, Texas Rangers

The subject of Michael Young’s defense is a hot topic in Ranger land.  Young may potentially be one of the worst defensive shortstops in the game, as his range is beginning to decline (Jeter may still be worse) and it could be argued that moving Young to third base, of which the Rangers have no prospects of note, could benefit both him and the club in the short and long term.

Here’s the key issue that people are ignoring.

Who are you going to replace him with?

What a lot of people, Adam J. Morris of Lone Star Ball in particular, have overlooked is that there aren’t all that many quality shortstops growing on trees.  And while the Rangers do have a potential franchise shortstop to move Young over to third base eventually in Elvis Andrus, Andrus is hardly a lock to make the majors next season, and looks like he’ll require at least another year of development before the experiment can be done.

In reality, there should be no rush.  However, because the topic is starting to crop up on message boards, let’s delve into it, shall we?

• Joaquin Arias (Oklahoma) - Arias would seem to be the obvious choice, seeing that he’s already in the organization and would give the team and opportunity to see if he really can hack it at the major league level or not.  Arias has speed and would be capable at short, but he doesn’t offer much long term upside, not enough to justify moving Young from the position at least.  It’s too bad, because he could wind up being a short of Jack Wilson type shortstop, if given the chance.
• Jack Wilson (Pittsburgh) - Speaking of Wilson, I suppose Jack Wilson (who is an adequate defensive shortstop), could be had, but I’m not sure what sort of package could be put together for the Pirates to bite on.  At least, not a reasonable one.  Shooter and I should do a mutual post to see how we could improve both teams through wheeling and dealing.
• Adam Everett (Minnesota) -Everett is a supurb defensive shortstop, but isn’t a great hitter.  How the hell would this justify moving Young?  Next!
• Felipe Lopez (Nationals) - An interesting reclamation project, Lopez could rebound to his Cincinatti status in Arlington, but he hasn’t played shortstop regularly in years.
• Ramon Vasquez (Rangers) - Borat can play shortstop, but he’s isn’t this great of a hitter.  Honestly, I’d be shopping him furiously now if I were Jon Daniels.
• J.J. Hardy (Brewers) - There a lot of rumor that the Brewers will shop J.J. Hardy this off-season in order to clear a spot for their own top prospect, Alcides Escobar, who is a better defensive shortstop than Hardy.  Hardy is attractive in that he has several years of club control left and that he’s an exxcellent defensive shortstop.  However, the problem is that the price will be very prohibative on Hardy.  The Brewers will want multiple prospects in return, which could be counterproductive to the Rangers.  If the Rangers could acquire Hardy for a package of, say Jose Vallejo, Manuel Pina, Omar Poveda and another prospect, I’d be for it, as Vellejo is a decent second base prospect that’s blocked by Kinsler, Pina is another catcher in a system rich with them, Poveda is looking like a solid pitching prospect, plus maybe a lesser prospect.  Anything greater than that I’d be unwilling to consider.  The thing that pisses me off about Hardy is just how streaky of a hitter he is.  Come to think of it, wouldn’t the Brewers be best off calling up Escobar, moving Hardy to second base, and putting Rickie Weeks in center.  I think Weeks could be an excellent centerfielder.  Ah well, that’s not my call. 

 Hot Shots

Yankees Interested In Laird - The Yankees are reportedly looking at Gerald Laird to help out their catching situation, one that they’ve long overlooked.  It’s safe to say that Jorge Posada has been taken for granted by the Yankees for much of his career and only now is his value finally being…well, valued.  Texas would move Laird for a pitcher, of which the Yankees have long been reluctant to do.  I wouldn’t target any of the Yankees’ big three pitching prospects, though in my opinion Laird for Ian Kennedy straight up is fair (Kennedy isn’t an elite prospect and has been way overvalued because of his organization.)  An arm I would target would be Delin Betances, a live arm in the Yankees system who has had injury issues in the past, but is still something solid. 

Something That Should Be Pursued - I’d really try and get something done with Boston in terms of a pitching prospect close to the majors.  The Rangers and Red Sox match up well for a potential swap of Max Ramirez or Jarrod Saltalamacchia, as Boston needs a young catcher, and they’ve got nothing on the way. 

The Hell? - Apparently, the Braves shot down the Mike Gonzalez for a Texas outfielder rumor, saying that the only way they would have traded Gonzalez was for Josh Hamilton?  That’s insanity.

Hank Blalock Now Coveted By Dodgers, Giants, And Twins - Three teams are now in on Hank Blalock, who seems to be back and ready to contribute.  The Dodgers are particularly interested, and could be willing to give up something nice.  I’d ask them for Andy LaRoche and something else, straight up.  The Twins are another potential fit, but they seem reluctant to trade any of their pitching depth, which is what the Rangers want.  The Giants are interesting, in that they have several needs right now, but their only real collateral is in their young starters.  If I were the Rangers, i’d make a play for Matt Cain.  I’d offer them Blalock, Nelson Cruz, Joaquin Arias, Jose Vallejo, Poveda, and possibly another prospect for Cain, plus one of the Giants’ bad contracts in return.  I don’t know, they may pass on that.

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The Rangers Report - Travelling Sucks

July 21, 2008 at 5:32 pm · Filed under AL West, Elvis Andrus, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, MLB, Matt Harrison, Michael Young, Neftali Feliz, Nelson Cruz, Texas Rangers

The past two weeks, I’ve gone to Chicago, Milwaukee for Vacation, only to return and discover it’s off to San Antonio for business right after that.  Chicago and Milwaukee I’m not complaining about.  That was pleasure.  San Antonio?  Four days straight of meetings at a conference.  All there really was to do was to head to downtown and get trashed…

The Rangers Report

The Teixeira Deal, One Year Later

It’s been about one year since the Rangers traded away Mark Teixeira to the Atlanta Braves for a package of five minor leaguers.

At the time, the big piece of the package was Jarrod Saltalamacchia, while everyone else was generally thought to be high upside filler.

So, with the one year anniversary of the trade nearly upon us, let’s see how the kids from the trade have fared:

• Jarrod Saltalamacchia (C) - MLB.  Salty has struggled this year, but is still a young player with a bright future.  He’s got plenty of value as a trade chip, which may work considering the fact that Max Ramirez and Taylor Teagarden have made some huge impressions while they were up.  Despite all that, I’m still a beleiver in Salty.  Future - All Star Catcher Still
• Neftali Feliz (RHP) - Double A.  Seen at the time as just a raw arm with potential, Feliz has catapulted up prospect rankings and is now regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball.  Feliz throws in the high 90’s, but more importantly how has a solid enough curveball and changeup to compliment the heater.  He’s now in Double A, having skipped the California League entirely, and is currently 2-0, with a 2.65 ERA and 17 K’s in 3 starts for the Roughriders, and is coming off of a 6 inning, 8 K gem from Friday.  Future - Potential Ace.
• Elvis Andrus (SS) - Double A.  Andrus was one of the more highly touted prospects coming into the season based on his speed and his impressive glovework at shortstop.  Many feel he’s ready defensively for the majors defensively.  The big problem for Adnrus was that he was rushed quicker than he should have been by the Braves., which stunted him a bit offensively.  Texas has since slowed him down, which has helped Andrus adjust, as he is currently hitting .293 with 38 stolen bases.  That’s not bad for a 20 year old in Double A.  Andrus still has some warts, such as his plate discipline and lack of power, plus the fact he’s been caught stealing 11 times, but he’s young enough to improve on those.  All in all, the Rangers have Michael Young’s future replacement. Future - Poor Man’s Edgar Renteria.
• Matt Harrison (LHP) - MLB.  Harrison was impressive in Double A, but was still a bit raw in Triple A when he was called up to pitch for the Rangers.  Harrison has been shelled, but still has a bright future as a back of the rotation starter, a la Jarrod Washburn.  Future - Innings Eater Back Of The Rotation Starter.
• Beau Jones (LHP) - High A.  The sleeper in the picture, Jones struggled as a starter before being moved into the bullpen for the Braves, where he’s been a revelation.  Jones is currently sporting a 1.17 ERA in the pen for the Blaze and could soon rise to Double A by the end of the year.  Future - Power Lefty Out Of The Pen, Potential Closer.

Meanwhile, Teixeira has been very good for the Braves, but hasn’t done much to improve their post season chances.  And with Scott Boras wanting the bidding to start at $23 million a year for hsi client’s services, Atlanta is likely doomed to accept less than what they may have given up to the Rangers. 

Feldman Headed To The Bullpen

In what has been an impressive rebound season for Scott Feldman, it looks like tonight will be Scott Feldman’s final start.

He’s headed back to the bullpen.

The thing is, Feldman is starting to put up some highs in terms of innings, which in turn has lead to his recent fatigue in his last few starts.  It’s said that the Rangers are hoping to cap Feldman at around the 130 inning mark, which would in turn set him up for a possible 160 inning mark next season.

All in all, kudos to the Rangers organization for recognizing that Feldman did indeed have the talent to succeed, not just as a pitcher, but as a starting pitcher.  All in all, this sets up for a potentially exciting rotation next year, with the following rotation:

• Kevin Millwood (RHP)
• Vicente Padilla (RHP)
• Eric Hurley (RHP)
• Scott Feldman (RHP)
• Brandon McCarthy (RHP)

And that’s not counting Matt Harrison, Luis Mendoza, or Kason Gabbard, all of whom who have started for the Rangers.

Should be interesting.

Marlon Byrd And Nelson Cruz Potential Trade Chips

The Rangers are getting calls on Marlon Byrd and Nelson Cruz, the latter of which has flamed out with the Rangers, but is getting some love due to his 31 home runs in 314 at-bats at Oklahoma.  Byrd has been the subject of trade rumors before, but Cruz is a new one, considering his struggles with the majors.  For Cruz, I think it’s possible to get an arm, likely one in the lower minors, for him, maybe a positional prospect that has flopped or is blocked.   

As for Byrd, well, I’m not sure what he’d bring back.  Ideally, I’d like a young arm or a decent positional player.  Well see if the Rangers can get one.

Next Week’s Blog Schedule:

Thursday - Finding The Successor For Young

Monday - Finding Fits For Potential Trades

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