bigcat22 said:

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Lucky #007 said:

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Woohoo! We signed post TJ Shawn Tolleson who can't pitch any time soon! Oh happy day!

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Anyone know the status of Neftali? Maybe he can come in and be the set up man for Tolly

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Interestingly... he is a FA.

Made $5.35M last year with KC.

He has made $21M.

I really need to get my boys pitching.

KT 90 said:

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... had Tommy John surgery in May, 2017, which likely means he won't be major league ready until August at the earliest

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I'm sure it was low budget, so why not. But would like to see some more moves to help field a competitive big league team in 2018. Also reacquired Paolo Espino as well. LINK to story on both.

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Yeah, they're both minor league deals with spring training invites. Low risk, low cost, just taking up a roster spot in AAA so a little bit of opportunity cost.

Wasn't Espino with the Rangers at the end of last year?

Neftali got cut not once, but twice last season. He'll probably find a MLB job somewhere but I wouldn't be just shocked if he has to sign a minor league contract and earn his way back up.

Darvish seems to have a pretty great twitter presence and does not take himself too seriously.

I keep looking... waiting for updates.

Football is officially over.

Please don't make me watch basketball.

Right there with you DallasAg, the waiting is killing me.

Yeah, definitely agree it's been slow. Read (skimmed) an article earlier this week that discussed how the free agent market is slow this year. Not many teams are in rebuild mode and too many teams believe they have a legitimate shot; everyone is sitting back and waiting for the bargains and not wanting to overpay.

The Rangers need to find a way to address the Profar/Odor issue. Need to trade one or the other. Need to maximize our assets, and leaving Profar buried in AAA isn't the answer. One of them can play 2b for the Rangers and the other one needs to be moved.

If you happen upon the article, again... I'd be interested in skimming it.

With the Marlins getting sold, and then distributing their overpaid players it is like one less MLB team.

Add to that, that the Braves got smacked. Darvish with a less than stellar post-season and it is a weird off-season.

There are several teams at the top. The next tier of teams are stuck between rebuilding and plugging holes to compete.

Profar illustrates it. Who wants to trade legit prospects for a guy who could be a player to plug in with above average numbers (or could be back in the minors). He has more value to the Rangers, than the Rangers can get back for him. Will Starlin Castro get moved?

Tyson Ross just signed a minor-league deal with the Padres.

I know Boras is hoping as ST nears, team owners will flinch to plug their roster.

If we are back in a renewed '90s-era PED period... then you only need just good enough pitching to keep the other team from outscoring you.

I think Odor, Mazara and Gallo could all have big seasons. In which case, if the Rangers are banging out 6-7 R/Gm... bend but don't break. Load up on long-relievers.

DallasAg 94 said:

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If you happen upon the article, again... I'd be interested in skimming it.

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Not 100% that it's the same article, but these get to the same info.

Higher level, mentions slow free agent market and "only a few pure selling clubs" https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/how-have-mlbtrs-top-50-free-agents-fared-thus-far.html

Within the article above THIS article is linked, which goes into more detail (note that this article is more dated, some signing info out of date). This article is based on something Jeff Passan published, but I haven't read or even skimmed that one yet.

Something I ran across of note, an article on Choo and his contract by one of the local beat writers. Seems to go out of his way to indicate that there IS money for a front line starter. So not sure if he is trying to indicate that the Rangers plan to sit on some money this season rather than putting it into the 2018 team on the field, or if he is hinting that perhaps Daniels will be angling to pull in one of those free agent starters.

article: http://www.star-telegram.com/sports/mlb/texas-rangers/article192000454.html

quotes from article: "Reminder: Ownership can afford Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, Zack Greinke or Alex Cobb without dumping any player's contract".
"The owners, meanwhile, have left general manager Jon Daniels to explain that the Rangers have no money to spend"

KT 90 said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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If you happen upon the article, again... I'd be interested in skimming it.

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Not 100% that it's the same article, but these get to the same info.

Higher level, mentions slow free agent market and "only a few pure selling clubs" https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/12/how-have-mlbtrs-top-50-free-agents-fared-thus-far.html

Within the article above THIS article is linked, which goes into more detail (note that this article is more dated, some signing info out of date). This article is based on something Jeff Passan published, but I haven't read or even skimmed that one yet.

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Thanks. I think I've seen\skimmed both of those. Both good articles. The one with a signing tracker is telling. Some players with crazy contracts. Mikolas. Eye-popping 2yr deal having no success at MLB level. Tommy Hunter? Seriously?

Something else of note. It does mention the new CBA coming and building within. I think Bellinger and Judge are examples of GMs thinking they may have some players have break-outs. For the Rangers, I still contend that Odor, Mazara and Gallo have great 2018s. Odor signs a huge contract, and I think trying to be something he wasn't. Mazara? Maybe a sophomore slump? Can Gallo get his BA up?

Gallo: .209/41 HR / .333 OBP
Mazara: .253/20 HR/ .323 OBP
Odor: .204/30HR/15SB/.252 OBP

Hard to not believe they'll all improve.

Regarding JD saying he doesn't have money to spend. He says that every year and then spends. It is his way of saying, "My mom won't let me go," and hiding when he doesn't want to pay.

I don't think there's ever been much question that there's money for a frontline starter. The only writer I've seen that ever pushed that ownership wasn't opening up their pocketbooks was Engel, but I'm fairly certain within the same week he had an article about Daniels being at fault for not getting a frontline starter... and had Texas signed a guy like Darvish make no mistake that he would have written an article that week about how Darvish isn't a legitimate frontline starter.

Texas has the money, but at the current asking price for Darvish or Arrieta - both with huge question marks -- they are smart to keep their checkbooks closed. Those guys haven't been signed yet for a reason.

If you can get a Darvish, Arrieta, Lynn or Cobb for a good price - great. But over-paying for a frontline starter? That's OK when it takes you from good->great or great->WS-favorite... But over-paying to take you from average->good just isn't worth it.

another article with some on thoughts on why this years free agent class is proceeding slowly... NEXT years class which includes Harper, Machado and others. LINK

KT 90 said:

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another article with some on thoughts on why this years free agent class is proceeding slowly... NEXT years class which includes Harper, Machado and others. LINK

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That's a very good article.

I was curious what next year's crop looked like, but was too lazy to research it.

I have to believe if Andrus gets off to a strong start, he'll have the Rangers renegotiating.

Many laughed at JD and deemed it one of the worst contracts (like Odor is deemed) by the Rangers.

DallasAg 94 said:

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KT 90 said:

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another article with some on thoughts on why this years free agent class is proceeding slowly... NEXT years class which includes Harper, Machado and others. LINK

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That's a very good article.

I was curious what next year's crop looked like, but was too lazy to research it.

I have to believe if Andrus gets off to a strong start, he'll have the Rangers renegotiating.

Many laughed at JD and deemed it one of the worst contracts (like Odor is deemed) by the Rangers.

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It WAS horrible. He has only performed up to the level of it the last 2 years, so it's nowhere near as bad. I bet you think BK was worth keeping because he went to the tourney once

PatAg said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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KT 90 said:

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another article with some on thoughts on why this years free agent class is proceeding slowly... NEXT years class which includes Harper, Machado and others. LINK

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That's a very good article.

I was curious what next year's crop looked like, but was too lazy to research it.

I have to believe if Andrus gets off to a strong start, he'll have the Rangers renegotiating.

Many laughed at JD and deemed it one of the worst contracts (like Odor is deemed) by the Rangers.

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It WAS horrible. He has only performed up to the level of it the last 2 years, so it's nowhere near as bad. I bet you think BK was worth keeping because he went to the tourney once

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I assume by BK... you mean Kennedy. I don't do basketball. I might catch a Tourney game or two... but generally don't do NBA nor NCAA.

The contract has only had 3 years, so the Rangers didn't get their money's worth in yr 1. At age 26.

26 (2015): 160 GP, .258, 7 HR, 25 SB, .309 OBP
27 (2016): 147 GP, .302, 8 HR, 24 SB, .362 OBP
28 (2017): 158 GP, .297, 20 HR, 25 SB, .337 OBP

Presumably he'll go over 150 GP, maybe 15-17 HRs, 25 SB... .300 BA and .350 OBP.

Bargain at $15M in 2018.

Becomes a 4yr/$60M deal. Compare that to anyone else the Rangers have picked up over the past couple years (Napoli, et al).

Next year's FA class will be outstanding. I do hope the Rangers are able to get another top of the rotation pitcher. Hopefully, the longer everyone holds out on Darvish and Arrietta, the more the price will drop. I wouldn't mind going 4 years for maybe 20 mil/year for Darvish. I also want to add a true OF (Cain or Jon Jay).

Arreita To Rangers Prediction

Interesting article that predicts we sign Arrieta and also resign Carlos Gomez. But it does mention that Arrieta has seen his fastball dip from 94.6 MPH to 92.1 MPH...

Wouldn't be opposed to resigning Gomez at a similar price but I worry that he may be asking a lot more now.

rwhitlock3 said:

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Arreita To Rangers Prediction

Interesting article that predicts we sign Arrieta and also resign Carlos Gomez. But it does mention that Arrieta has seen his fastball dip from 94.6 MPH to 92.1 MPH...

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The "Buyer beware" in that article for most players is pretty depressing.

MSFC Aggie said:

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From the article above this...

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Buyer beware: Cain still grades as a plus center fielder, but he turns 32 in April. Since 2010, only two players 34 or older have played at least 100 games in center field in one season (Coco Crisp in 2014 and Andres Torres in 2012). If you give Cain a five-year contract, he might not spend all of it in center.

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I'm fine with Cain on a 3 year deal.

Not going to be a guy that wins you a division, but could be a guy that helps you snag one of the WC's without killing your future budget.

free_mhayden said:

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I'm fine with Cain on a 3 year deal.

Not going to be a guy that wins you a division, but could be a guy that helps you snag one of the WC's without killing your future budget.

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Hold my beer until we sign him and see the terms...

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That font is unfortunate.

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.... or is it?

Diekman spiking the ball... "She's gorgeous and my wife."

https://instagr.am/p/BdsO5qqHELx

Are we sure she doesn't have a beard or really screwed up grill?

DannyDuberstein said:

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Are we sure she doesn't have a beard or really screwed up grill?

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I saw them on a plane together several months ago..... I assure she does not. She is a smoke show.

https://instagr.am/p/BMg4W4tgBIP

Former Miss Nebraska

https://instagr.am/p/BdtRMcpnQX9