HR Derby now. Bullpen throwing BP

This is now a save situation if they pull Martin

Hello win column!

But damn our BP is has to be better

Overworking the bullpen in the first half of the season is going to catch up with us.

Trade Idea

Rangers Get:
Juan Soto
Patrick Corbin

Nationals Get:
Josh Jung
Justin Foscue
Cole Ragans
Owen White

I just don't see any angle that doesn't involve Leiter

Mr Gigem said:

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Trade Idea

Rangers Get:
Juan Soto
Patrick Corbin

Nationals Get:
Josh Jung
Justin Foscue
Cole Ragans
Owen White

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Honestly think Owen White may end up being the best of that bunch. Worth it.

There are plenty of combos we could put together that don't involve Leiter.

Okay throw in Josh Smith. Now you have

Josh Jung #2 (#30 national)
Justin Foscue #4 (#61 national)
Owen White #6 (#93 national)
Josh Smith #8
Cole Ragans #29

My ideal package would be:

Winn
Jung
Foscue
Thompson
+another infield prospect or potentially Ragans if it puts us over the top.

The Nationals are going to want every prospect that you guys want to keep. There is no deal without Leiter, Jung, a couple of prospects that will sting and probably Taveras.

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/juan-soto-trade-rumors-cardinals-emerge-as-potential-frontrunner-nationals-want-4-5-top-young-players/

This article was posted two hours ago. No mention of the Rangers. I found this quote interesting.

"The Nationals, according to major-league sources, are telling teams they want four to five top young players for Soto, a combination of prospects and major leaguers with low service time. To meet that price, one club official said, 'you would have to rip up your farm system.'"

rbtexan said:

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https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/juan-soto-trade-rumors-cardinals-emerge-as-potential-frontrunner-nationals-want-4-5-top-young-players/

This article was posted two hours ago. No mention of the Rangers. I found this quote interesting.

"The Nationals, according to major-league sources, are telling teams they want four to five top young players for Soto, a combination of prospects and major leaguers with low service time. To meet that price, one club official said, 'you would have to rip up your farm system.'"

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And my counter would be that Soto is absolutely worth it if you are able to sign him to an extension. Soto is only 23y/o, and he is a generational talent with proven experience. You have no clue if any of your top prospects will pan out or come even close to what Soto already is. So, IMO, it would be worth it to give up 4-5 top ten prospects. The kicker is you would need to have an agreement in place to extend his contract before following through with the trade.

Deadline is 8/2. Tick tock...

I completely agree, but only if you can extend him. And that's a huge "if".

Soto is a Boras client, right?

Yes

He just passed up $440m.

There won't be any "extension in place" on a trade.

I think I read he passed up $440 because the APY was not what he wanted. And he probably wants to get the hell out of DC

Mr Gigem said:

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I think I read he passed up $440 because the APY was not what he wanted. And he probably wants to get the hell out of DC

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What incentive does Soto have to agree to a contract before he hits free agency?

For a team he's never played for?

And even when he does agree to a contract, what makes you think there won't be opt-outs after Year 2, 4, etc... where he can re-test the market?

We're trading for the remaining time on his contract and exclusive "selling him on the franchise" window, nothing more.

A guy who missed half of last season with one injury and all of 2022 so far with a different injury isn't going to be the centerpiece of a deal that lands Soto. Especially labrum surgery, even if non-throwing. We still don't know if Jung can hold up for one full professional season.

Yeah, Corbin decreases the value a bit, but he's owed 2 more years. Not five or something crazy like that.

Proposition Joe said:

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Mr Gigem said:

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I think I read he passed up $440 because the APY was not what he wanted. And he probably wants to get the hell out of DC

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What incentive does Soto have to agree to a contract before he hits free agency?

For a team he's never played for?

And even when he does agree to a contract, what makes you think there won't be opt-outs after Year 2, 4, etc... where he can re-test the market?

We're trading for the remaining time on his contract and exclusive "selling him on the franchise" window, nothing more.

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I understand what you're saying. But the Rangers are in no position to trade for Soto and only have him for the next two years. You better trade for Soto and have a sure fire plan to shore up the glaring needs the team currently has -- SP & RP -- with more offseason acquisitions.

I wonder if Soto sees Texas as an intriguing place to go after seeing them invest $500 million on Semien and Seager. It probably helps that Boras is the agent for all three, plus others in the Rangers system.

Mr Gigem said:

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I think I read he passed up $440 because the APY was not what he wanted. And he probably wants to get the hell out of DC

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That and the fact that it would end up being the only big contract he signs because it's 15 years.

6 for 280 could probably get it done and he'd be able to sign another big one.

Boras said you want to know who you are working for, before you commit long-term, like that.

I'd agree. The Nats are kinda stuck. They won't complete the sell for quite some time and most expect the Soto issue to be resolved before new ownership so that the current owner can take the backlash.

I would think current owner group is more inclined to want to dump payroll and less concerned about the haul. They'd likely want at least 1 or 2 players they can promote.

Guys like Josh Smith (24-R), Ezequel Duran (23-R) and Nathaniel Lowe (4 yrs control) probably have a quicker impact for the Nats.

I would think Ragans would need to be included.

Plus one of Bubba Thompson or Dustin Harris.

Are all Rule V.

A reminder:

Quote:

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Rule V Guys:
Bubba Thompson (24), Cole Ragans (24)

Guys who will be RuleV in Dec '22 and NOT on the 40.
AAA: Josh Jung, Wendzel,Winn

AA: Dustin Harris,Owen White,Blaine Crim

A+: Englert

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I mention that because guys like Ragans, Winn, and Owen White could benefit a team like the Nats who are rebuilding, where as, we'll have a problem carrying those 3 on our 40 if we have any level of injury.

We can afford to include more guys if they are Rule V.

With Corbin's money, he could lower the price, as mentioned.

I think it will take 10 years and $400 mill, with a player opt-out starting in the 5-7 year range. He guarantees himself $400 mill while leaving himself a chance for a bigger deal around age 30

Yep, kinda sucks that a single player can **** over a team so easily

Mr Gigem said:

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Yep, kinda sucks that a single player can **** over a team so easily

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Yeah, the game still has some great aspects to it but it's definitely different from the 80's and 90's "teams". Now it's a lot of rent-a-player.

Next up, college football

I don't think I would do it because Soto would almost certainly be going to another team in almost the same situation the Nats after the trade dust settles.

The biggest factor IMO is we really don't have any current star players who aren't on huge deals. Maybe Adolis Garcia but he's not a huge star. So the bulk of the offer would most likely have to come from the minors, and the asking price would basically completely crater our apparent plan for this rebuild. Almost certainly Lieter and Rocker plus probably 3 other prospects. Basically the entire top 5.

I could see him wanting to jump ship and go somewhere that puts him in a better position to compete, and losing out on him after what they're asking for would be absolutely brutal. You're fully back in rebuild mode again

Rocker and the other 2022 picks can't be traded until after the World Series, or if they don't sign until after the WS, then not for 90 days after that.

But I'd expect Leiter to be in it, then another 3-4 of their top 6-7 prospects/rookies

"It probably helps that Boras is the agent for all three, plus others in the Rangers system."

Scott Boras being listed as any sort of asset isn't a very ringing endorsement of a team's negotiating skills.

Tongue ever so slightly in cheek.

I would prefer to take our chances with the prospects we have instead of big bat. Some of us still have Arod battered syndrome.

I'd be completely on board with getting Soto if we were one or two players away from being a World Series contender. We aren't, we have a number of missing pieces. I just don't think getting one player is worth gutting the farm system at this point.

Danny Vermin said:

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I would prefer to take our chances with the prospects we have instead of big bat. Some of us still have Arod battered syndrome.

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This is where I'm at. Arod was absolutely amazing here and the team was dog crap anyway. They need multiple hits from this bunch of prospects. And you need numbers for that to happen because some will flame out

If the Rangers weren't so reliant on getting at least one superstar/ace out of Leiter, Rocker, Winn and their entire prospect pitching talent pool, then I would trade all of them plus some to get Soto. Soto is one of the best hitters in the MLB, a superstar, and on track for the Hall Of Fame, but, the Rangers need pitching and they have invested so much in their young guys, they have to see it through.