I can't believe that Evan feels like it's too early to give up on Perez.

It depends on what you consider "give up". I think Perez can be a decent, low to mid 4's ERA pitcher that is useful for filling out a rotation, if he has some proper instruction in place. He and Brocail were clearly oil and water. Now is he worth $7.5 mill to be that guy? that is the real question

It's worth giving Perez another year with whoever is the new pitching coach next year. We aren't contending next year anyway, let's see if the new pitching coach can turn him around.

This is what I think as well. I'd be curious what I could get for $7MM, but I most likely would land on exercising the Perez option and seeing what he can do with a new pitching coach. He did eat nearly 200 innings per season in 2016 and 2017 with reasonable results. Mid 4 ERA, .500 pitcher in both years, even with Brocail who he clearly didn't mesh with.

I would rather have Holland back than keep Perez.

The general expectation is the Rangers are not going to be able to fill enough holes this off-season to be very good in 2019.

What is the general consensus on approach?

Do you sign a couple players to fill holes this off-season, and then build on that progress for 2020 and the new stadium?

Or, do you continue with the status quo... sign 3-4 more SPs who are low cost, high ceiling risks, hoping to hit on something... then either (a) go all in for 2020, or (b) begin your slow rebuild starting to lock in key players?

My expectation is that the Rangers will go status quo this off-season. Then, after the 2019 season, they will fill a couple key pieces, based on the performance this year... and then start adding pieces after that.

Trevino should be set for 2020. You'll still have:
Andrus and Rougie under contract through 2023
Mazara and DeShields will be Arb through 2021
Bush, Gallo and Leclerc will all still be Arb through 2023
Guzman, YoMen, Jurado, Calhoun and Trevino will all be controlled.

I think JD puts the team together for 2021. 2019 will be a mediocre year. 2020 will be an improvement with a sniff of the WC and then competitive in 2021.

Anyone listening to the Woodward presser right now? Sounds like he will bring a totally different vibe to the clubhouse, more in the vein of Wash than Banny. Interesting that he brought this up as well.

bigcat22 said:

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Anyone listening to the Woodward presser right now? Sounds like he will bring a totally different vibe to the clubhouse, more in the vein of Wash than Banny. Interesting that he brought this up as well.

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I would argue the only fans that "feel that sting" would be Buffalo Bills fans. It's not just that it was back-to-back losses. It was the way the 2nd one happened, similar to "wide right" for the Bills fans.

And most Dodgers fans were still alive to see a World Series title (coupled with one of the most historic walk-offs ever).

They have to be in a position to at best be competitive and at worst be watchable in 2020 with the new stadium opening up don't you think? Hopefully JD saw what the Braves did and can replicate it.

Capt_Crunch 14 said:

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They have to be in a position to at best be competitive and at worst be watchable in 2020 with the new stadium opening up don't you think? Hopefully JD saw what the Braves did and can replicate it.

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If this team is not even watchable into a 4th year then something has gone very, very wrong.

AL West has been pretty competitive, maybe it'll soften up just a tad if this comes to fruition:

KT 90 said:

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AL West has been pretty competitive, maybe it'll soften up just a tad if this comes to fruition:

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I might shed a single tear of joy if Kyle Seager is shipped to some NL team.

It's terribly boring.

They need pitching and a closer, let the young guys hit and get ready for the new park to open

bigcat22 said:

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Would hate to see him in another team's uniform, but do hope he has a chance to get a ring if he comes back. That ain't gonna happen in Arlington.

.974 OPS in September. One of the few guys left in baseball who is still willing to hit a single to RF with 2 outs and a runner on 2nd.

Bout damn time they axed Brocail.

YES!!!

Any ideas who gets the spot? Could we bring maddux back?

So how do we feel about Luis Ortiz?

gigem1223 said:

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So how do we feel about Luis Ortiz?

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Here is a write up with some background:

https://www.lonestarball.com/2018/11/14/18095909/texas-rangers-name-luis-ortiz-hitting-coach

AgBQ-00 said:

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Any ideas who gets the spot? Could we bring maddux back?

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Pretty sure they could replace him with a keg of hard cider and not see any change in staff performance. Well, I could be wrong. They might get better.

If Seattle burns it down, any thoughts on trading for Felix? Does Seattle keep him?

DallasAg 94 said:

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If Seattle burns it down, any thoughts on trading for Felix? Does Seattle keep him?

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We shouldn't be trading for an aging pitcher with the state of the current team.

Ken Rosenthal
@Ken_Rosenthal
#Rangers in agreement with free-agent catcher Jeff Mathis on a two-year contract, pending a physical, sources tell The Athletic. Mathis, who will play next season at 36, batted only .200 with a .544 OPS in 218 PAs with the #DBacks last season, but teams value his defense highly.

powerbelly said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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If Seattle burns it down, any thoughts on trading for Felix? Does Seattle keep him?

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We shouldn't be trading for an aging pitcher with the state of the current team.

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Agreed. He wasn't good last year and probably is still owed quite a bit. Not a good combo. Will be interesting to see if he can get it back together or if he becomes a bullpen guy at some point.

The question on Felix is not a matter of taking on an aging SP. Yes, he sucked, last year. It is a question of would he add value to the team. I'm never one to give up on a season, until the FO or team gives up. So, I'm looking at 2019 as a season in which we should put the best team on the field, that we can.

Felix is 32, and will be 33 by ST.
2014 (28): 34 GS, 2.14 ERA
2015 (29): 31 GS, 3.53 ERA
2016 (30): 25 GS, 3.82 ERA
2017 (31): 16 GS, 4.36 ERA
2018 (32): 28 GS, 5.55 ERA

Owed $27.8M in 2019. $1M buyout for 2020 if he spends more than 130 consecutive days on DL.

If Seattle is dumping, we might get him for little in terms of prospects. I wonder how much they'd be willing to pay.

It is rumored Greinke is being shopped. He IS an aging SP. Currently 34.
However his last 2 seasons:
2017: 32 GS, 3.20 ERA
2018: 33 GS, 3.21 ERA
He is owed:
2019: $34.5M
2020: $35.0M
2021: $35.0M <- He will be 37.

Right now we're going into 2019 with:
Minor (30): 28GS, 4.18 ERA
Smyly (29): Last pitched in MLB in 2016.
Jurado (22): 8GS, 5.93 ERA
YoMen (23): 5GS, 5.53 ERA

Maybe you find a way to get Choo packaged, who is owed $21M for 2019 and 2020.

Quote:

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Right now we're going into 2019 with:
Minor (30): 28GS, 4.18 ERA
Smyly (29): Last pitched in MLB in 2016.
Jurado (22): 8GS, 5.93 ERA
YoMen (23): 5GS, 5.53 ERA

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Sheeeesh. That does not inspire much confidence.

Also I don't think I'd touch Felix unless the Mariners were willing to eat a lot of his salary. That being said. I don't think I'd trade for him. Rangers don't need to go giving up any prospects of note.

Greinke would probably command a decent return, which frankly I would not do were I the Rangers.

jtstanley4621 said:

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Quote:

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Right now we're going into 2019 with:
Minor (30): 28GS, 4.18 ERA
Smyly (29): Last pitched in MLB in 2016.
Jurado (22): 8GS, 5.93 ERA
YoMen (23): 5GS, 5.53 ERA

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Sheeeesh. That does not inspire much confidence.

Also I don't think I'd touch Felix unless the Mariners were willing to eat a lot of his salary. That being said. I don't think I'd trade for him. Rangers don't need to go giving up any prospects of note.

Greinke would probably command a decent return, which frankly I would not do were I the Rangers.

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Consider:
Choo is owed 2yr/$21M
Felix is owed 1yr/$28M, and I'm not sure how much 2020 is, but likely similar for 2020, if picked up (likely).

So, would you be willing to pay $7M/yr for 2 years to swap Choo and Felix? What else would likely need to be added?