The OFFICIAL Texas Rangers thread

[BERT]

Just heard on SportsCenter that the Yankees are OUT of the running for Lee. Don't know if that helps the Rangers, but at least the Yanks won't have him.

[Kenny_Stang]

6 is all i am comfortable with, screw any of this 7+ year bs

I don't mind Vlad coming back as DH, would prefer to have moved Michael Young there and gotten a better defensive solution for 3rd.

[bucky]

A few reputable sources have said they are very close to resigning Vladdy to be DH again.

8 years is ludicrous for Lee. Hell, i think 7 is crazy

[Lone Sailor]

Agreed. Its probably his agent that's pushing for it. Rumor says the Yanks were worried even about a 7 yr, so they likely won't go 8. Supposedly they only offered a 7th, because they assumed TX wouldn't go that long, so that was their 'Wow' offer to lure him away.

If those numbers are accurate, I think he stays here. $5 million is a drop in the bucket when you factor family, ease of getting home, etc.

So, let's say he accepts the TX offer. Do you think they still pursue Greinke? What about other prospects? Don't they still need to sign several current players? What about a DH?

Not only is it only $5mil less, but don't forget about the taxes he will have to pay if he goes to NY. Not sure how much, but from what they were saying on the ticket it will be quite the sum.

[mstng86]

So, let's say he accepts the TX offer. Do you think they still pursue Greinke? What about other prospects? Don't they still need to sign several current players? What about a DH?

No, they move away from Greinke and start looking at bringing up those two nice prospects, sheppard and I don't remember the other guys name.

They really need to figure out how they are going to pay Hamilton next year and Wilson. I don't know who elses contract is up after this current year.

DH is a big question mark. You can always find a good bat on the market, so something will come up. It isn't worth trading those pitching prospects for, IMO.

[bcoop]

8 years? Come on, let's not get greedy here for fuck's sake.

Agreed. Its probably his agent that's pushing for it. Rumor says the Yanks were worried even about a 7 yr, so they likely won't go 8. Supposedly they only offered a 7th, because they assumed TX wouldn't go that long, so that was their 'Wow' offer to lure him away.

If those numbers are accurate, I think he stays here. $5 million is a drop in the bucket when you factor family, ease of getting home, etc.

So, let's say he accepts the TX offer. Do you think they still pursue Greinke? What about other prospects? Don't they still need to sign several current players? What about a DH?

[Lone Sailor]

8 years? Come on, let's not get greedy here for fuck's sake.

[bcoop]

The Ticket just reported that the Rangers have offereed Lee 7/$155 million, and NY's offer was 7/$160 million. When TX came back with the 7/$155, Lee's agent is trying to squeeze an eighth year out of NY.

I think the deal is almost done.

[BP]

Everyone knows he's going to get $22-24 million for at least 5 years, the bickering is over years 6 and 7. The Rangers probably offered a mutual option for 6 with a $5 million buyout while the Yankees offered $15 million with another $10 million available with performance incentives and an option on year 7.

A 38 year old pitcher wants guaranteed money, not performance incentives. The Yankees have had good luck with older veteran pitchers like Petitte and Clemens, the Rangers haven't (Ryan obviously excluded).

I hope he stays here and the Rangers make a smart decision. I'd just really hate to end up with a 38 year old pitching coach making $25 million a year in a few seasons if he can't play.

[Lone Sailor]

I just hope that he signs a long term deal with the Rangers and can prove that there is at least one player in this league that can't be bought by the Yankees.

[mstng86]

No, not that at all. They did in fact have a meeting with Lee on Wednesday.

He was just insinuating that most of these reports about terms, length, money, etc are bullshit. He was a minor league owner previously, so while this is his first year as a major league owner he said it's about the same as far as truth behind the stories. For instance, the Report that they out Young on the trading block.

Where there is smoke there is fire. We can all safely assume the Yankees are the highest bidder. There is no doubt reports are exaggerated or misinformed, but I have to think the numbers they are telling us are pretty close to spot on with all the money Worth and Crawford got.

[bcoop]

So it isn't true that they sent the big money dog, Ryan Davis, up to see Lee? I guarantee there is truth to alot of what is being said.

Greenberg doesn't want to back down to the Yankees. That is just my opinion from my seat on the 7th floor in this big building in downtown dallas.

No, not that at all. They did in fact have a meeting with Lee on Wednesday.

He was just insinuating that most of these reports about terms, length, money, etc are bullshit. He was a minor league owner previously, so while this is his first year as a major league owner he said it's about the same as far as truth behind the stories. For instance, the Report that they out Young on the trading block.

[mstng86]

Interesting...

Norm had Chuck Greenberg on this morning, and he said that 95% of these speculation articles/rumors are untrue. I guess we will see soon enough.

So it isn't true that they sent the big money dog, Ryan Davis, up to see Lee? I guarantee there is truth to alot of what is being said.

Greenberg doesn't want to back down to the Yankees. That is just my opinion from my seat on the 7th floor in this big building in downtown dallas.

[bcoop]

Interesting...

Norm had Chuck Greenberg on this morning, and he said that 95% of these speculation articles/rumors are untrue. I guess we will see soon enough.

[Lone Sailor]

I think he is going to look at both deals and decide what he and his family wants to do. Yea the Yankees will have the most money, but New York has state taxes that I heard will take at least 3 million dollars off a year. So it could be up to 21 million dollars.

Plus his wife hates NY and all the Yankee fans.