All star break approaches as rangers visit Baltimore 07/13-07/15

[DT LUNA]

All star game / home run derby used to be fun. It sucks now.

Lack of Rangers don't help much

 

[WastinSomeTime]

That was as annoying as it gets having Buck talk to Lindor during the entire inning. Media just keeps messing with the game.

 

[DT LUNA]

Choo comes thru

 

[Duane1952]

Choo with a hit.

 

[DT LUNA]

Good for Mitch too.

 

[saddles]

From Baseball America.

RANGERS
Where they stand: 41-56, last place AL West

What they need: Pitching, pitching and more pitching – The Rangers have the seventh-worst ERA in the majors and no one in their system that can help anytime soon. Of their top eight pitching prospects, the most advanced has a 7.01 ERA in Double-A (Jonathan Hernandez). To contend anytime in the foreseeable future, the Rangers need a wholesale infusion of arms.

What they have to offer: Three veterans who’ve still got it – LHP Cole Hamels, 3B Adrian Beltre and OF Shin Soo-Choo are all 34 or over but still produce at a level that can help multiple contenders. Hamels, 34, isn’t the ace he once was but is still an above-average lefthanded starter when you account for cozy Globe Life Park. Beltre, 39, is hitting .286 with a .345 on-base percentage while still playing a stout defensive third base. Choo, 35, just made his first All-Star team and is one of the most productive lefthanded hitters available, although the $42 million he’s owed for 2019-20 adds a twist. Beyond them, RHP Jesse Chavez is a quality reliever performing well in the last year of his deal while RHPs Keone Kela and Jose Leclerc and LHPs Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman offer varying degrees of bullpen help.

Potential fits: Yankees RHPs Albert Abreu, Domingo Acevedo, Matt Sauer; Phillies RHPs Adonis Medina, Enyel De Los Santos, Jojo Romero; Giants RHPs Shaun Anderson, Logan Webb; Indians RHPs Aaron Civale, Luis Oviedo

 

[WastinSomeTime]

From Baseball America.

RANGERS
Where they stand: 41-56, last place AL West

What they need: Pitching, pitching and more pitching – The Rangers have the seventh-worst ERA in the majors and no one in their system that can help anytime soon. Of their top eight pitching prospects, the most advanced has a 7.01 ERA in Double-A (Jonathan Hernandez). To contend anytime in the foreseeable future, the Rangers need a wholesale infusion of arms.

What they have to offer: Three veterans who’ve still got it – LHP Cole Hamels, 3B Adrian Beltre and OF Shin Soo-Choo are all 34 or over but still produce at a level that can help multiple contenders. Hamels, 34, isn’t the ace he once was but is still an above-average lefthanded starter when you account for cozy Globe Life Park. Beltre, 39, is hitting .286 with a .345 on-base percentage while still playing a stout defensive third base. Choo, 35, just made his first All-Star team and is one of the most productive lefthanded hitters available, although the $42 million he’s owed for 2019-20 adds a twist. Beyond them, RHP Jesse Chavez is a quality reliever performing well in the last year of his deal while RHPs Keone Kela and Jose Leclerc and LHPs Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman offer varying degrees of bullpen help.

Potential fits: Yankees RHPs Albert Abreu, Domingo Acevedo, Matt Sauer; Phillies RHPs Adonis Medina, Enyel De Los Santos, Jojo Romero; Giants RHPs Shaun Anderson, Logan Webb; Indians RHPs Aaron Civale, Luis Oviedo

Wonder if Machado going to the Dodgers places more interest for AL teams now to look at Beltre. I know we are not going to get a ton for him but as much as I hate to say it, it is time for us to move on. Regardless on his being traded or not this should be the last year and we just need to turn it over to youth. It will save us 18 mill.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Q&A with Jon Daniels: Gallo, Perez, trades a focus in second half

 

[saddles]

Rangers looking for young pitching at Deadline

The Rangers aren't opposed to trading for young Class A pitchers with high upside, but really could use starters with a chance to contribute in the next year or two. So if Philadelphia is interested in Hamels, Texas may prefer to discuss Triple-A pitchers Tom Eshelman and Ranger Suarez or Double-A pitchers JoJo Romero or Franklyn Kilome. The Yankees are deep in Minor League pitching, including Chance Adams and Giovanny Gallegos at Triple-A and Domingo Acevedo, Trevor Stephan and Jonathan Loaisiga at Double-A. Hamels will likely have three starts before July 31, and the Rangers need him at his best to maximize his trade value.

I very much disagree with this take. We have to have quality over being ready in a year or two. If we can get a better pitcher in "A" ball than we can in "AA" ball then that is what we need to pursue. Now, if the better pitcher is in Double A then all the better.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[Kelleyman]

Rangers looking for young pitching at Deadline

The Rangers aren't opposed to trading for young Class A pitchers with high upside, but really could use starters with a chance to contribute in the next year or two. So if Philadelphia is interested in Hamels, Texas may prefer to discuss Triple-A pitchers Tom Eshelman and Ranger Suarez or Double-A pitchers JoJo Romero or Franklyn Kilome. The Yankees are deep in Minor League pitching, including Chance Adams and Giovanny Gallegos at Triple-A and Domingo Acevedo, Trevor Stephan and Jonathan Loaisiga at Double-A. Hamels will likely have three starts before July 31, and the Rangers need him at his best to maximize his trade value.

I very much disagree with this take. We have to have quality over being ready in a year or two. If we can get a better pitcher in "A" ball than we can in "AA" ball then that is what we need to pursue. Now, if the better pitcher is in Double A then all the better.

Ranger Suarez. Nice!

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[Nightcrawler]

That makes me feel better about the Darvish trade.

 

[saddles]

Ex-Ranger Harrison trades baseball for a different farm system ... and reality TV?

A good update on a good guy, Matt Harrison.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

The Texas Rangers most likely to be dealt (or at least discussed) as MLB trade deadline looms

 

[saddles]

One Ranger makes Keith Law’s top 50 prospect list

Keith Law’s 2018 mid-season top 50 prospect list has been released, and the Texas Rangers have one prospect in the top 50 — Leody Taveras, who checks in at #30.


I’m a bit surprised Leody is this high — Law notes that he’s slashing just .236/.309/.316 this year, which is not good, but he’s doing it as one of the youngest players in the Carolina League, with a relatively low K rate and quality defense, which propelled him to the #30 spot. This is probably as high as you’ll see Taveras this year, and going forward, unless and until he starts putting up more impressive offensive stats.


I am not surprised no other Rangers made the cut, as Law didn’t have Willie Calhoun in his top 100 before the season, and there aren’t any other Rangers who would seem to be in the mix for his top 50. Law was high on Cole Winn going into the draft, however, and it wouldn’t surprise me if Winn cracked Law’s top 100 list this offseason.

 

[saddles]

The theory that we should not pay much attention to the offensive numbers when our top prospects are playing with older guys at their level always intrigues me. I used to hear that about Martin Perez as well. When they get to the big leagues there will be an even greater difference between their age and the average age for that level. I still like Taveras, but at some point he is going to have to excel against players who are older than him. I hope by this time next year he doesn't need any age-related excuses.

 

[saddles]

Evan mentioned that this time we don't have a Mark Teixeira to trade. We should have shopped Beltre at the 2014 deadline. We could have had a big return for him at that point. Hopefully, it is a lesson learned.