The OFFICIAL Texas Rangers thread

[Vertnut]

Yeah, I was thinking about that same thing... if the Nationals are paying that much for an old outfielder, what will a premier pitcher bring?!?

What about Hamilton after a MVP season???

[Kenny_Stang]

I'm hoping Werth's new 7-year $128 mil deal didn't just make Lee worth about $28 mil a year. I know it sounds crazy, but damn! The National's are paying a 32-year-old outfielder $18 mil a year?

Yeah, I was thinking about that same thing... if the Nationals are paying that much for an old outfielder, what will a premier pitcher bring?!?

[Vertnut]

Things should heat up this week in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes. Lots of rumors floating arround that it will take a six year contract to keep Lee in Texas, what do you guys think?

I would be fine with a 6 year 140 mil contract, but I really think the guy is a top three talent. We wouldn't have made it past the first round without him.

I'm hoping Werth's new 7-year $128 mil deal didn't just make Lee worth about $28 mil a year. I know it sounds crazy, but damn! The National's are paying a 32-year-old outfielder $18 mil a year?

[BP]

I really like the guy and he's worth every bit of the money they are throwing at him but 6 years on a pitcher isn't ever a good idea. Not only is it a gamble but what do you do when CJ or one of the other pitchers is putting up better numbers and comes up for an extension? You can't tell him he's not worth it since he's not Cliff Lee.

Eventually you'll have a player like Jeff Bagwell, a local hero that takes up 25% of your payroll for what he used to do, not what he can do now. A few years later you'll be in the cellar and can't even afford to sign your home grown ace or first basemen and you'll stink for 3-4 seasons in a row.

[Kenny_Stang]

Things should heat up this week in the Cliff Lee sweepstakes. Lots of rumors floating arround that it will take a six year contract to keep Lee in Texas, what do you guys think?

I would be fine with a 6 year 140 mil contract, but I really think the guy is a top three talent. We wouldn't have made it past the first round without him.

[mustang_marc]

More Rangers news...about current and former players.

One link has the Rangers trading Crash Davis to the Cubs, which I know more than a few of you would be happy with. I just hate to see him blossom somewhere else (no guarantees that happens)...but at least it would be in the NL. http://cubbiescrib.com/2010/12/03/cu...n-chris-davis/

And former Ranger Adrian Gonzalez appears to be headed to the Red Sox - http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big...urn=mlb-291837

Oh - and John Daniels has been named Exec of the Year - http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_tex

[71chevellejohn]

I'd really love to see Joba as the Yankees closer in 2011. He should be good for 7-8 blown saves in April and without Jeter they'll have a rookie at short who can't hit. They aren't talking to Posada either but I don't think he's going to platoon very well with what we have.

If nothing else we need to at least talk to the guys and beat whatever token offers the Yankees are giving them right now. There isn't anyone else interested in Jeter right now, the Yankees have him over a barrel. Someone needs to step in and force them to overpay for their own players like they do to the rest of the league. I'd also love to see Jeter playing for the Red Sox!

The best thing for Joba would be for him to get traded - the Yankees inability to make up their mind on his role has cost him a few years. I think he'll be trade bait for the Yankees. but if he stays in NY and continues to stumble, that's be fine with me too.

They screwed up when they signed Posada for that much money at his age - they are paying him for what he has done, not what he will do. I think with Jeter, they are trying to avoid repeating that mistake while not angering the Yankee faithful. Nobody will step in and raise Jeter's price - nobody wants a 37 yr old SS. The only way he ends up wearing another uniform is if the Yankees piss him off enough that he takes less money to prove a point. That's not going to happen either - Jeter doesn't need the money that bad.

In the end, I think he'll get 4yrs $18-19million per. They'll bend over backwards to keep Mariano. Pettite may be decided by whether or not they get Lee.



Only 13 weeks until spring training....

[BP]

I like that.I like that even more.

I'd really love to see Joba as the Yankees closer in 2011. He should be good for 7-8 blown saves in April and without Jeter they'll have a rookie at short who can't hit. They aren't talking to Posada either but I don't think he's going to platoon very well with what we have.

If nothing else we need to at least talk to the guys and beat whatever token offers the Yankees are giving them right now. There isn't anyone else interested in Jeter right now, the Yankees have him over a barrel. Someone needs to step in and force them to overpay for their own players like they do to the rest of the league. I'd also love to see Jeter playing for the Red Sox!

[Nash B.]

You know the Lee - Yankees thing sure is entertaining to watch. They're bickering with Jeter, Petitte and Rivera right now trying to keep money in the bank for him.

I like that.

Personally I'd love to have Rivera as a closer and add Jeter on as a 3rd basemen. Young wouldn't like being DH but at least he wouldn't be a defensive liability anymore. Then you could move Feliz into the rotation and try to pickup Greinke.

I like that even more.

[BP]

You know the Lee - Yankees thing sure is entertaining to watch. They're bickering with Jeter, Petitte and Rivera right now trying to keep money in the bank for him.

Personally I'd love to have Rivera as a closer and add Jeter on as a 3rd basemen. Young wouldn't like being DH but at least he wouldn't be a defensive liability anymore. Then you could move Feliz into the rotation and try to pickup Greinke.

[Vertnut]

The Rangers have signed Japanese right-handed sidearm reliever Yoshinori Tateyama to a one-year major league contract with options for 2012 and 2013. The 34-year-old was a free agent, and thus didn’t have to go through the posting process.

Since it’s being described as a major league deal, Tateyama presumably goes on the Rangers’ 40-man roster.

Tateyama posted a career-low 1.80 ERA in 58 games (55 innings) for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in 2010, working primarily in set-up relief. Opponents hit .213 (including .186 by right-handed hitters) and he fanned 59 of them, issuing only 11 walks and yielding three home runs.

That sounds like some stats from "Major League II" for crissakes...

[Kenny_Stang]

The Rangers have signed Japanese right-handed sidearm reliever Yoshinori Tateyama to a one-year major league contract with options for 2012 and 2013. The 34-year-old was a free agent, and thus didn’t have to go through the posting process.

Since it’s being described as a major league deal, Tateyama presumably goes on the Rangers’ 40-man roster.

Tateyama posted a career-low 1.80 ERA in 58 games (55 innings) for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters in 2010, working primarily in set-up relief. Opponents hit .213 (including .186 by right-handed hitters) and he fanned 59 of them, issuing only 11 walks and yielding three home runs.

[Kenny_Stang]

That looks like a solid signing. And coming to the Ballpark, you'd think his offensive numbers would even come up a bit...not that I'm complaining about his current stats.

He hit .312 when playing at home in San Diego last year, which would be amazing production from a catcher, especially since SD is considered a pitcher friendly park.

I like what I've read about Torrealba so far, I think he'll be an upgrade over an aging Molina and should solidify a position which had been one of our largest questions going into 2011.

[mustang_marc]

That looks like a solid signing. And coming to the Ballpark, you'd think his offensive numbers would even come up a bit...not that I'm complaining about his current stats.

[Kenny_Stang]

Rangers signed catcher Yorvit Torrealba yesterday.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101129&content_id=16225872&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex&partnerId=rss_tex

He has a reputation for being a good defensive catcher and a calling a great game.

Torrealba, who has spent almost his entire 10-year Major League career in the National League West, comes to the Rangers with an excellent reputation for calling games and handling a pitching staff.

Torrealba started 89 games for the Padres in 2010 and had a catcher's ERA of 3.14, the lowest in franchise history (minimum 81 games) and the lowest in the Majors since Paul LoDuca had a 3.14 ERA for the Dodgers in 2003.

At the plate, Torrealba hit .271 with seven home runs and 37 RBIs in 325 at-bats. He also had a .343 on-base percentage. He hit a career-high .291 with a .351 on-base percentage with the Rockies in 2009.