Seattle is going into a deep rebuild from what I've read. I don't think they'd have much interest in taking on Choo's contract. And like I said, I wouldn't really think the Rangers are in position to give up top prospects in the organization, unless its a guy or two who is very low level. Either way, I'd be surprised if that trade happened.

If we fast forward to 2020 I could see us taking on Grenke's contract. But not for 2019.

KT 90 said:

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Would a Felix addition, help, here?!

jtstanley

Choo would give them a little more favorable contract than Felix, and likely a player that might give them an additional trade chip.

They won't be able to dump Felix at full price and get prospects. They'll either eat some salary, or get no real prospects.

What the heck are they going to do with Cano?!
Age: 36
$24M for the next 5 years. Tested once for PEDs.

The Rangers have the problem that they have too many DHs and mediocre OFs.

Josh Lewin is leaving the Mets. He says he'll make an announcement soon. *fingers crossed*

Josh is great when you have a crappy team that you need to fill commentary about Cookie Time, obscure movie references and recent pop culture.

If you enjoy learning more about baseball, I'm not sure why you'd want him.

DallasAg 94 said:

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Josh is great when you have a crappy team that you need to fill commentary about Cookie Time, obscure movie references and recent pop culture.

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So JD's gonna give him at least a 2-year deal?

Did I miss something about our crew this last year?

DallasAg 94 said:

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Josh is great when you have a crappy team that you need to fill commentary about Cookie Time, obscure movie references and recent pop culture.

If you enjoy learning more about baseball, I'm not sure why you'd want him.

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I enjoy learning about baseball, and I absolutely want Josh Lewin back.

The guy knows the game, and I always thought he had plenty of insight.

Maybe you should read some of his books on baseball to work your way through this decade's old sore spot. They won't win the Pulitzer but there is plenty to learn about the world of baseball within their pages.

I am a huge Lewin fan. This would be great news.

I want him back too but has there been talk of it happening? I can't find it anywhere.

Raymond actually improved this season. The low point was when he didn't know that Rickey Henderson batted right and threw left. Felt like I was listening to an ex-girlfriend announce the game.

TXAggie2011 said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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Josh is great when you have a crappy team that you need to fill commentary about Cookie Time, obscure movie references and recent pop culture.

If you enjoy learning more about baseball, I'm not sure why you'd want him.

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I enjoy learning about baseball, and I absolutely want Josh Lewin back.

The guy knows the game, and I always thought he had plenty of insight.

Maybe you should read some of his books on baseball to work your way through this decade's old sore spot. They won't win the Pulitzer but there is plenty to learn about the world of baseball within their pages.

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Maybe I can get some of his books as audio books in his voice and see if the therapy helps.

I absolutely hated guy the past couple years, so Josh would certainly be an upgrade.

Don't get me wrong... I like Josh... I found him entertaining. I just didn't find him insightful about baseball. Grieve was insightful, but not very entertaining, so they made for a great duo.

PatAg said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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Josh is great when you have a crappy team that you need to fill commentary about Cookie Time, obscure movie references and recent pop culture.

If you enjoy learning more about baseball, I'm not sure why you'd want him.

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People listen to the broadcast to "learn about baseball"?

I want my play by play guy to call the game accurately and not put me to sleep. I want him to call exciting plays with enthusiasm.

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I grew up listening to Vin Scully, until we left LA. I guess I just have different expectations. If you are watching a game, you don't need a play-by-play guy detailing the game, like you would a radio broadcast.

Eric Nadel and the radio team is awesome. I would listen to Mark Holtz, while at A&M. He was awesome, as well.

Raymond spent most of his time bashing the Rangers and talking up the opposing team. He spent most of the time telling me about players on the other team, whom I really didn't care much about.

gomerschlep said:

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Josh Lewin and Tom Grieve are easily the best tv team we've ever had, and they are head and shoulders above what most teams have. Bring Lewin back.

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The day I tuned in and found out Josh left, I stopped watching games religiously because of this. Now they are mostly on mute or I listen to the radio. Nadel does a great job on there.

Doesn't look like he will be heading back, according to this update

There isn't any evidence that he is or is not coming back. All we know is he's not going to be back with the Mets next year, that he has a new unannounced gig lined up, and it won't be in Detroit.

Lewin to San Diego

Didn't realize that Lewin does UCLA football & basketball broadcasts. Stated reason that he's leaving the Met's booth is to improve the travel logistics for his family's sake. Can't imagine that Arlington or anywhere other than a West Coast gig would be that much of an improvement.

Is that official then?

NM - dug a little deeper and it's official as you said. So... Raymond

agent-maroon said:

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Is that official then?

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NY news is saying that's where he's going, and it makes sense as far as the other sports he's doing.

Crazy that we run the guy off but he's considered talented enough to work for the Padres, Chargers, UCLA and the Mets.

My all-time favorite player ran off my all-time favorite announcer 8 years ago and it still suuuuuuucks

DallasAg 94 said:

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PatAg said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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Josh is great when you have a crappy team that you need to fill commentary about Cookie Time, obscure movie references and recent pop culture.

If you enjoy learning more about baseball, I'm not sure why you'd want him.

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People listen to the broadcast to "learn about baseball"?

I want my play by play guy to call the game accurately and not put me to sleep. I want him to call exciting plays with enthusiasm.

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I grew up listening to Vin Scully, until we left LA. I guess I just have different expectations. If you are watching a game, you don't need a play-by-play guy detailing the game, like you would a radio broadcast.

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Are you saying you don't think TV broadcast teams should have a play-by-play man?

TXAggie2011 said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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PatAg said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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Josh is great when you have a crappy team that you need to fill commentary about Cookie Time, obscure movie references and recent pop culture.

If you enjoy learning more about baseball, I'm not sure why you'd want him.

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People listen to the broadcast to "learn about baseball"?

I want my play by play guy to call the game accurately and not put me to sleep. I want him to call exciting plays with enthusiasm.

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I grew up listening to Vin Scully, until we left LA. I guess I just have different expectations. If you are watching a game, you don't need a play-by-play guy detailing the game, like you would a radio broadcast.

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Are you saying you don't think TV broadcast teams should have a play-by-play man?

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No, that isn't what I'm saying. In most cases, I think there should be 2 people on a TV broadcast. One is a play-by-play, the other a color commentator. I think on the radio it is about 70/30, in terms of play-by-play/color. For TV I don't know what the split should be...

More specifically what I meant was:

Quote:

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play-by-play guy detailing the game,

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When you listen to Nadel, he'll say something like, "And Perez brushes his red jersey from right-to-left with his glove, as he leans towards the plate and looks intently for the sign from Chirinos."

On the radio, the extra details of a red jersey gives the listener information about the game that he doesn't see, he gives him directional information, like right-to-left, and might provide context for maybe his emotional or mental request.

If I'm watching the game, telling me a jersey is red isn't necessary. Telling me relevant contextual information.

The Radio broadcast usually has 3 people. IIRC, Nadel does like 1,2, 3, 5, 6 Innings. Matt Hicks does the 7th Inning, and I think the 3rd or 4th Inning. Jared Sandler is like Emily Jones, and provides occasional input and anecdote... He also fills in as the #2, when either Nadel or Hicks are out. I get the sense they are grooming him. I've listened to a number of conversations about them working together. They give the impression they really like each other and gel well. Mutual respect and they swim in their lanes without getting pissy.

Scott Lucas email update on the 40 man roster considerations. 40 Man roster additions are due by 7pm tomorrow (Tues).

Quote:

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The Rangers must declare their additions to the 40-man roster by 7pm CDT Tuesday. They have six open spots at present plus a few players who arguably could be removed if need be. On the other hand, they need (lots of) starting pitching and perhaps a backup infielder, so they must keep spots ready for players who'll help immediately.

Who's eligible for the Rule 5 draft if not on the 40? Everyone signed during the 2014 season or earlier, and anyone signed during the 2015 season who was 19 or older. Also, pretty much every minor league free agent signed between the end of the season and the draft is eligible (for example, catcher Jett Bandy, who joined Texas recently). In general, a team must keep a Rule 5 pick on its 25-man roster for a full season or place him on waivers. If he clears, he is then offered back to the original club.

Click the "Rule 5" tab here for my list of eligible players, which are in the second column. This is my list, not the team's, so I can't claim it's definitive, but I'm confident that everyone worthy of consideration is labeled properly.

This is a weird year. More than any in recent memory, I don't even have a strong feel for how many players Texas will protect, much less than actual names. Back in 2016, I offered a very abbreviated list because it seemed clear that Ronald Guzman would be the only addition. Last year, the Rangers added six, but none was that difficult to project. In this year's group, which is light on top-tier talent but deep in potential MLB contributors, I can see anywhere from two to five additions. Heck, maybe six. Even with a maximalist approach, somebody omitted is going to be of interest to an opponent, if not ultimately selected.

My thoughts:

LHP Taylor Hearn (#6 prospect per MLB.com and Fangraphs.com) Book it.

OF Pedro Gonzalez (#17 MLB / #7 Fangraphs) Doubtful, despite the high rankings. In March, I wrote about several players entering watershed seasons including Gonzalez. My fear was that he'd be a tweener like Yohander Mendez in 2015: too green for MLB but showing enough potential to force his addition. Gonzalez didn't show enough, and I'd guess even the most optimistic of opposing teams can't envision him sticking on a 25-man roster throughout 2019.

OF Scott Heineman (#22 MLB) A likely addition, if not assured. He turns 26 next month, handled AAA well and could help a team in an auxiliary role. So-so power limits his upside, and he can play center but will never feature there.

RHP Edgar Arredondo (#30 MLB) Under consideration, but I think enough organizations already have an Arredondo-like player that he'll slide through. His strikeout rate plummeted upon promotion to AA.

RHP Mike Matuella (#20 Fangraphs) Whew I can argue both sides. The stuff is first-rate, unquestionably MLB-caliber. In March he looked like the pitcher Texas dreamed about. Come April, his control and command disappeared for long stretches, and in a year in which the results mattered, he posted an 8.24 ERA. A mid-season switch to multi-inning relief produced only a slight upgrade in results, and he missed the season's tail end. He's not ready, but I think he's the type who could become ready in short order. If he's added, he's the last guy added.

RHP Wei-Chieh Huang (#34 Fangraphs) I assumed Huang was a lock when acquired, but I have mixed feelings now. Biased feelings, perhaps: aside from his dazzling Frisco debut, he never looked good when I happened to be watching. Losing him would leave 19-year-old lefty Joshua Javier, who hasn't pitched above rookie level, as the sole return for Jake Diekman. That would sting a little.

LHP Wes Benjamin Not a top-thirty prospect but has some appeal, and he'll enter 2019 as an SP depth option. I don't sense much danger of him being swiped right now, however, and I think Texas can wait.

RHP Emerson Martinez Bubble. Martinez repeated high-A as a 23-year-old and didn't earn a second-half promotion like the younger Arredondo, but he owns three respectable pitches plus a developing curve. As with other SP prospects lacking one superior pitch to drool over, he won't stand out in the draft.

RHP Reed Garrett I'd think hard about it. Garrett throws a steady upper 90s with an upper 80s slider. Ignore that catastrophic first month and you've got a 1.23 ERA, .207/.263/.293 opposing line and 28% strikeout rate. (Here's Garrett recording the final out of Round Rock's last home game as a Texas affiliate, complete with a foul ball that missed my camera by two feet.)

LHP Brady Feigl Lefty, big curve, not overpowering but roughly as successful as Garrett and without the opening-month misery. Given the choice (and under the availability constraints, keeping both is unlikely), I'd choose Garrett, but Feigl could very well aid a Major League team during 2019.

LHP Adam Choplick He entered 2018 with a decent shot at being added to the 40, but the Texas League was tough on him, and he didn't pitch after mid-July. Not this time.

RHP John Fasola Ugh. A relief prospect on the rise in 2016, Fasola lost the next year to elbow surgery and tore his ACL backing up a throw to the plate last July.

RHP Jake Lemoine Injured when drafted, Lemoine spent the first two of his four professional years on the shelf. He has a respectable repertoire and quietly tendered a nice season in Down East. I see too many pitchers in front of him.

RHP Jairo Beras Still a Ranger! Beras didn't earn service time during his year on suspension, so he can't become a free agent until after 2019. His upper-90s velocity will draw some interest, but I doubt even the tankiest of tanking teams will be able to abide his wildness.

C/IF Josh Morgan As with Isiah Kiner-Falefa, one night management shoved a bunch of cumbersome protective gear into Morgan's locker with a note saying "it would be so hot if you wore this." In his second year behind the plate, he reached AA but missed two months with injuries, didn't hit all that well and struggled to throw out runners. Despite increased emphasis on positional flexibility, I think feel-good stories like IKF's will be infrequent. Catching is tough enough on its own, even more daunting when combined with other duties. Give Morgan another year.

C Melvin Novoa Novoa began 2018 in Hickory's crowded backstop rotation. He hit well enough to earn a rapid promotion to Down East but struggled mightily (.184/.215/.265). Not yet.

C Yohel Pozo Novoa revisited. Pozo hit better (albeit entirely in low-A) but isn't ready.

2B/3B Andy Ibanez The Cuban took two big steps forward in 2018, hitting capably at a higher level while becoming proficient at third base. That said, what he does well is also done well by a decent number of minor league free agents who lack the onerous roster requirements.

MIF Yonny Hernandez Hernandez plays the middle infield, has a keen batting eye and can run, but he's far from ready to attack MLB pitching.

IF Michael De Leon De Leon improved marginally at the plate in 2018, but not enough to suggest he'd stick in MLB.

RHP Edinson Volquez Forgot about him? Texas bet on the come, signing Volquez to a two-year deal the previous winter in the midst of his TJ rehab. He'll be over 18 months away from the knife next spring and should join the rotation barring a really poor performance or further complications. Do the Rangers need to add him now? That would be the low-risk move, and presumably (hopefully) they would be adding him in late March anyway.

Elsewhere

AAA Nashville and RARE Design (known for its NBA work) announced a rebranding. They're still the Sounds, and they opted for a clean, traditional look in stark contrast to the increasingly flamboyant creations of Brandiose, which has unveiled the Amarillo Sod Poodles, Rocket City Trash Pandas, and Rocky Mountain Vibes in recent months.

Texas re-signed RHP Richelson Pena, who was eligible for minor league free agency. He'll don those new Nashville unis in April. Also rejoining the Rangers are righty Walker Weickel a former San Diego 1st-rounder who reached AA last year, IF/OF Eliezer Alvarez, and IF Christian Lopes.

Rightly Demarcus Evans posted a 6.30 ERA in the Arizona Fall League and allowed a homer on a poorly located bender in the Fall Stars game, but on the whole he acquitted himself well for someone who'd never pitched above low-A. Evans whiffed 15 of 45 batters. Down East awaits.

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Hats off to Adrian Beltre's marvelous career. He will be missed

Well today is a sad day.

free_mhayden said:

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Well today is a sad day.

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I agree. But it was time. Didn't want him to be one of those guys who hangs on too long. Injuries were catching up with him, and we aren't going to contend in 2019 anyway. He's already headed to the HOF, no need to hang on for one season too long IMO.

Spending the rest of my day tearing up watching AB clips.