Rangers 2013 !!

[BP]

Not team news, but division news. Mariners sign Robinson Cano to a 10 year 240 million deal.

And now Jay Z looks like a good agent. I don't know what Seattle is thinking but at least he's not playing for the Angels.

Now the Granderson deal? That's awesome for the Mets. I would have loved to see him here.

[pHILSANITY07]

Not team news, but division news. Mariners sign Robinson Cano to a 10 year 240 million deal.

[BP]

Apparently Martin had a lot more baggage than we thought.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-rangers/headlines/20131204-report-rangers-leonys-martin-and-his-family-victims-of-kidnapping-and-extortion.ece

Glad it's over with and he's here now, I'm sure this isn't the first time it's happened. Between Uegeth Urbina, Ogando and the Pedro Strop deal they've had some weird problems with human trafficking/kidnapping.

[BP]

I propose a new statistic that takes into account OBP minus outs on the bases (caught stealing or trying to take an extra base). Kinsler would probably be around .200 adjusted.

IKPF (inning killing pop fly) should be a stat, Kinsler would be .800 at that.

I liked Gentry but I like Martin a lot more. He stole 36 bases last year and hit 8 homeruns, while not being an every day player. He'll get bigger and stronger with MLB coaching and his defense has already improved greatly. Rios is a lock already and I'm sure we'll have a platoon in left for a while with Moreland, little Beltre, Choice and maybe even Rafael Ortega (he's already on the 40 man roster). Assuming of course we don't pick up someone in a trade soon. I'd love to see Matt Kemp out there.

[Nash B.]

It's just going to be weird to see Kinsler with the Tigers. After so many years, I guess I kind of expected him to stay with the Ranger for his full career.

Like Michael Young? Oh, wait! Kinsler seemed like a likable guy but I didn't like him much as a player.

Choice is a 6-years younger Gentry that can hit for power. I don't see a lot not to like, especially given that he's under club control for 6 seasons.

I just liked watching Gentry on the bases and in the outfield, and I know nothing about Choice. I'm not saying it's a bad move at all, I'm just sad to see him go.

Sometimes I feel like the Rangers are just a minor league prep team for the rest of the MLB. Of course, that's just my uneducated opinion.

They used to be but aren't any more.

Seriously, losing Kinsler improved our baserunning immediately, even with taking on Fielder.

I propose a new statistic that takes into account OBP minus outs on the bases (caught stealing or trying to take an extra base). Kinsler would probably be around .200 adjusted.

[Slowhand]

Losing Kinsler made our baserunning better. How many times did he run into an out this year on the base paths?

Mustang_Marc and I agree on something!

Seriously, losing Kinsler improved our baserunning immediately, even with taking on Fielder. Trading some basestealing prowess giving up Gentry for Choice, but Choice should be competent.

[Slowhand]

I figured they would bring someone young up from the farm teams, wait until they are experienced and doing well, then trade them off.

Sometimes I feel like the Rangers are just a minor league prep team for the rest of the MLB. Of course, that's just my uneducated opinion.

They had the best farm system in baseball and still rank very highly as it sits. Your minor league talent is as much there to deal as it is to bring up. The fact that it appears that way is a testament to the job they're doing, because their best prospects are still with them.

Besides, the Gentry trade is the exact opposite; they took a good but aging player and exchanged him for a similar caliber prospect that's 6 years younger with more upside.

[mustang_marc]

Losing Ian and Gentry sure did make the baserunning slower.

Losing Kinsler made our baserunning better. How many times did he run into an out this year on the base paths?

[SC457A]

I have mixed feelings about trading Gentry. I liked him as a player. Was never going to hit 40 Hr's, but was fun to watch on base. I sure hope Choice is better than Kittenface in the end.

Losing Ian and Gentry sure did make the baserunning slower.

[Chili]

Per JD: Engel Beltre, Choice, and Adduci will compete for the third outfielder spot. According to most sources Choice is MLB-ready.

I figured they would bring someone young up from the farm teams, wait until they are experienced and doing well, then trade them off.

Sometimes I feel like the Rangers are just a minor league prep team for the rest of the MLB. Of course, that's just my uneducated opinion.

[Slowhand]

they must be about to sign someone else to play outfield...Beltran? Cruz? cant believe they would let Gentry go with who we currently have. Think they let Nathan go with the combination of cost and in house replacements. Honestly figured they would resign Pierzynski for another one year deal,if he wanted to stay.

Per JD: Engel Beltre, Choice, and Adduci will compete for the third outfielder spot. According to most sources Choice is MLB-ready.

[Slowhand]

They've only made a handful of changes on top of re-signing a number of guys they already had. I liked the Fielder/Kinsler trade. I'm not a fan of the Gentry trade, but I always liked Gentry over Martin.

Choice is a 6-years younger Gentry that can hit for power. I don't see a lot not to like, especially given that he's under club control for 6 seasons.

[Lone Sailor]

Yeah, he's a step up over Pierzynski defensively.

Offensively I felt Soto was more consistent. AJ was about like Kinsler, never know if you're going to get a mile high popup to deep infield, strikeout, or the occasional long ball.

[Chili]

I honestly don't blame them one bit. Something has to give. They missed the playoffs the last 2 years in a row after having 2 great seasons until the last 2-3 weeks before seasons end. You can't implode 2 straight years and not expect big changes.

I definitely get that. Far too many "near misses" to not change things up.

They've only made a handful of changes on top of re-signing a number of guys they already had. I liked the Fielder/Kinsler trade. I'm not a fan of the Gentry trade, but I always liked Gentry over Martin.

It's just going to be weird to see Kinsler with the Tigers. After so many years, I guess I kind of expected him to stay with the Ranger for his full career.

[Nash B.]

Just based on these posts, they seem to be making a lot more changes than I would have expected?

They've only made a handful of changes on top of re-signing a number of guys they already had. I liked the Fielder/Kinsler trade. I'm not a fan of the Gentry trade, but I always liked Gentry over Martin.