*****Official Texas Rangers Offseason Thread*****

91,736 Views | 1008 Replies | Last: 6 yr ago by Lt. Joe Bookman
bigcat22
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Best phone case ever?

https://instagr.am/p/BXd4xG7lJaV
_lefraud_
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Meh, Bautista got the last laugh by punching the Rangers out of the playoffs.

It is a cool phone cover though.
jtstanley4621
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bigcat22 said:

https://instagr.am/p/BdtRMcpnQX9
Isn't Yelich under a somewhat team-friendly long term deal? I feel like you'd have to give up so much to get him, and it doesn't feel like the Rangers would be smart to do that. We need to hang on to our prospects and let them build quality depth in the farm system.
DallasAg 94
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jtstanley4621 said:


Isn't Yelich under a somewhat team-friendly long term deal? I feel like you'd have to give up so much to get him, and it doesn't feel like the Rangers would be smart to do that. We need to hang on to our prospects and let them build quality depth in the farm system.
Yes, somewhat. He has 2 more fairly cheap years, then 3 more higher cost years.

He went .282, 18 HRs, 16 SB, .369 OBP.

The question is at 26, how much more upside do you think he has. Those aren't terrible numbers... but they are also not organizational changing. Not sure he defense.

Delino (24) went: .269, 6 HR, 29 SB, .347 OBP. <- Terrible arm
Yelich (24) went: .298, 21 HR, 9 SB, .376 OBP (2016)

So, he'd likely be a big upgrade, inters of power and overall contribution...

Delino: Serf (2018), Arb, Arb, Arb
Yelich: $7M (2018), $9.75M, $12.5M, $14M, $15M

Unless he is spectacular in the OF, I just hate seeing this mid-tier players getting contract money like that.

Rangers of the '90s used to pay huge FA money to hitters and skimp on pitching. They'd draft 20 hitters, 3 3rd basemen and 3 1st basemen, and forget to get pitching.

JD has done it right. Draft P, P, P and then figure out the field. When he goes big on FA/trade hitters, ir rarely works out. Fielder, Napoli, Choo, etc. Beltre is an exception. Bargains trying to make a come-back have been mixed.
KT 90
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NIck Martinez to Japan ( LINK )

Might as well, he never could quite get over the hump as a big leaguer. Had some flashes, but the overall consistency wasn't there. He may be able to put it together in Japan and make it back someday.
mhayden
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Astros going after Gerrit Cole.

Can't decide if I like that or not... Makes them even tougher the next 2 seasons, but those are seasons they were realistically going to be significantly better than we were anyways. Would hit their farm system fairly hard, which would help us when we climb back into contender status...
bigcat22
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Just saw Yu has narrowed it down to the Yankees, Twins, Cubs, Astros, and Rangers
bigcat22
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Looks like there's another, mystery team still in the running

https://instagr.am/p/Bdy2KYbgwVn
Mr Gigem
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Would be a real nice birthday gift if Darvish went ahead and signed with the Rangers today
DallasAg 94
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Anaheim? or the Dodgers?

If the Dodgers know Kershaw bolts after 2019, they could backload a contract to avoid salary cap issues.
jtstanley4621
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DallasAg 94 said:

Anaheim? or the Dodgers?

If the Dodgers know Kershaw bolts after 2019, they could backload a contract to avoid salary cap issues.
Man... That would be insane if he did. I guess they couldn't force him to stay, but I feel they'll offer him whatever it takes to keep him there. It'd be pretty shocking if he left.
DallasAg 94
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jtstanley4621 said:

DallasAg 94 said:

Anaheim? or the Dodgers?

If the Dodgers know Kershaw bolts after 2019, they could backload a contract to avoid salary cap issues.
Man... That would be insane if he did. I guess they couldn't force him to stay, but I feel they'll offer him whatever it takes to keep him there. It'd be pretty shocking if he left.
And that was supposed to be after 2018.

He can opt out after this coming season.

He has 3yr/~$35M per left, with Opt out after 2018.

The Dodgers have insane money tied up to win a World Series.
$188M for 2018 (including ~$27M for Arbs)
$129M for 2019 (already).

The FA group after the 2018 season is phenom.

After 2019, the Dodgers only have 3 notable players under contract.
Kershaw (SP): $35.6M
Turner (3B): $20M
Jansen (Cl): $18M
Lots of Serfs and Arbs...
bigcat22
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What's all this news of the Rangers opening their own public golf course
TXAggie2011
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bigcat22 said:

What's all this news of the Rangers opening their own public golf course
They're not opening a public golf course.

The City of Arlington and the Rangers made a cheesy agreement to re-name the public Ditto Golf Course the "Texas Rangers Golf Course." They'll sell Rangers merchandise at the pro shop, I think

The name doesn't make me want to golf Ditto anymore than I did before, but maybe some folks will be attracted by the name.

(The city is playing it up as part of a $20 million renovation...that was announced and started over a year ago.)
bigcat22
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Gotcha, I just saw the below and didn't know much about it

https://instagr.am/p/Bd3Ek5mHFfh
Mr.Ackar07
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Sorry for the intrusion:

Logan Kensing elected free agency. Someone get someone in your front office to give him a minor league contract, and then actually use him in the MLB for a cheap arm.
gougler08
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free_mhayden said:

Astros going after Gerrit Cole.

Can't decide if I like that or not... Makes them even tougher the next 2 seasons, but those are seasons they were realistically going to be significantly better than we were anyways. Would hit their farm system fairly hard, which would help us when we climb back into contender status...


Oops...
AggieDPT
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Astros picked up another potential stud for basically nothing while JD keeps putting bandaids on.
DannyDuberstein
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LOL at the lurkers. I guess seeing their team win doesn't magically transform them from being a little schoolgirl bich that has to check in
DallasAg 94
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AggieDPT said:

Astros picked up another potential stud for basically nothing while JD keeps putting bandaids on.
Did they pick up a stud or a "potential stud?" Potential.

Did the Astros give up a stud... or a potential stud? Potentially.

We'll have to see how it plays out.

The Astros get 2 more Arb years of a 27 year old guy who went:
33GS, 4.26 ERA, 1.251 WHIP, 8.7 SO9.

They gave up
Jason Martin - 21 year OF, in 79 AA games went: .273, 11 HR, 7 SB
He is the 18th ranked Pitt prospect

Michael Feliz - 24 year RP, in 46G gave up 5.63 ERA in 48.0 IP and 70 SO.
Colin Moran - 25 year Util IF, with limited MLB experience.
Joe Musgrove - 24 year SP, with 171.1 IP and a 4.52 ERA and a 1.284 ERA.

JD could sign Andrew Cashner and cost him nothing in terms of prospects.
Cashner went 28 GS, 3.40 ERA, 1.320 WHIP.

The Rangers could sign Yu Darvish - No prospect cost.

Let's see what we have in ST before deciding if JD fields a good team.
TXAggie2011
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It makes sense for the World Series champions to trade some guys that don't so clearly fit into neither the short term or the long term plans for a guy who could "potentially" help them a lot over the next couple of years.


And sure, anyone can sign Yu Darvish without giving up prospects. They'll just have to commit $20 whatever million a year for the next 5 years, or whatever it turns out to be.
KT 90
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BarryProfit said:

Good analysis of the Cole deal. Stros crushed it.

https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/01/13/gerrit-cole-trade-astros-pirates-hot-stove

You sure you are on the right thread?
mhayden
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DannyDuberstein said:

LOL at the lurkers. I guess seeing their team win doesn't magically transform them from being a little schoolgirl bich that has to check in

It's actually rather amazing. I give Astros credit for winning the Series (despite needing a historically epic tank job to do it)... but that fan-base is still so desperate for validation.
KT 90
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Scheppers to Japan: https://www.lonestarball.com/2018/1/15/16893178/tanner-scheppers-japan-contract

KT 90
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Interesting Darvish update, at least interesting in terms of the dollars mentioned.

https://www.lonestarball.com/2018/1/14/16890294/mlb-rumors-yu-darvish-a-yankee-or-ranger-target-at-16-18-million-per-year

mhayden
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It's interesting to watch the free agent arms not getting the contracts everyone envisioned and guys like Gerrit Cole being flipped for what many to believe a pretty cheap offer (though I'd guess based on how it went down that there's something that popped up in the medicals lowering his trade price).

Makes me feel a little bit better about the return on the Darvish trade.
DallasAg 94
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IMO, all signs point to "enhanced hitter techniques" which will make ALL SP suspect for big contracts.
Ag2012
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Yeah not sure what to make of that. I wonder if ballclubs just see the huge 2019 FA class looming on the horizon and they'd rather stand pat and maintain as much flexibility as possible approaching this year's trade deadline and next offseason's FA feeding frenzy.
DallasAg 94
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We are doing it... filli g the 40 with players who will win us a WS ring.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/01/rangers-sign-deolis-guerra.html
bigcat22
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This might be the first time I've heard him speak English.

https://instagr.am/p/Bd6pFO7lJ5w
DallasAg 94
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25 days until Pitchers report to ST, and still nothing.

This MLBTR article implies the Rangers seem to not even have engaged Darvish's agent, convinced he'll be out of their range. Comments about Delino being our CF.

Just seems JD has pretty much sat out this off-season.

Fan Fest is now past.

If JD doesn't pickup a FA of note... We'll have a relatively low payroll.

Maybe he plans to go "Florida Marlins" and sign a bunch of expensive guys in off-season next year to make a splash for STHs?!

Terrible place to be in, having duped Arlington into a new stadium, only to go Expos and Marlins and Rays and ...

There has been nothing to get excited about and if the Rangers lose Andrus and Beltre in the off-season, the Rangers will struggle to get STHs even with big-splash FA signings next winter.
Quincey P. Morris
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I don't know what they're doing but it ain't good. I've never been a JD fan and this whole offseason sucks ass so far. Either spend the money or go full on rebuild but they're half assing it and sitting right between the two which is a recipe for not doing anything productive for the foreseeable future.
mhayden
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This offseason has gone exactly how it should.

Low risk, high upside arms. Dont tie yourself to any long term deals. If things swing your way and look good in July then you go for it.

It's stupid to spend another 40 million to still only likely be a wildcard team. On the other hand its stupid to have a firesale if the pieces are there to possibly be competitive.

The Astros tanked for 4 years to create this window. It sucks, but that means another year of seeing how things play out.
ChipFTAC01
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Gagree
bigcat22
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free_mhayden said:

This offseason has gone exactly how it should.

Low risk, high upside arms. Dont tie yourself to any long term deals. If things swing your way and look good in July then you go for it.

It's stupid to spend another 40 million to still only likely be a wildcard team. On the other hand its stupid to have a firesale if the pieces are there to possibly be competitive.

The Astros tanked for 4 years to create this window. It sucks, but that means another year of seeing how things play out.
 
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