Series Thread: Rangers Host Cleveland For Three Games July 14-16

[scotsman1948]

Agree and then maybe the FO will give up on King and/or Howard

 

[jaar01]

I'd trade a loss today for series wins against the Rays and Dodgers this week.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Just goes to show you this stuff happens to all teams except this is really extreme.

"The Reds are the 1st team in at least 130 years with 0 runs & less than 8 hits in a 3-game span," the stat account wrote on Twitter.

Reds manager David Bell spoke about the team’s struggles after Saturday’s loss.

"There's no question we'll break through," he said, via MLB.com. "You really have to look at what we've been up against the last couple nights, too. These guys, they're executing their pitches, there's no doubt. So just keep working at it, keep competing, keep battling and we know we'll break through."

 

[Kelleyman]

Interesting

 

[saddles]

Interesting

I almost posted about Duffy last night, wondering why it has taken so long to give him a look.

 

[saddles]

No resting guys today for the Rays series. That's good.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

No resting guys today for the Rays series. That's good.

Glad Duran is back in instead of Garver.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

One trade target for Rangers on every non-contender or pretender

American League East​

Red Sox, Chris Martin, RHP: The former Arlington High star and former Rangers reliever has done great things since being traded in 2019 for Kolby Allard and is doing them again for Boston. He's also under contract for 2024, so it might take a good prospect to get him depending on how much money Boston would take on. Though the Red Sox are five games over .500, they are in last place in the East.

American League Central​

Tigers, Jason Foley, RHP: Foley is having an excellent season out of the Detroit bullpen, and he does two things very well: He doesn't walk many hitters and he doesn't allow many home runs thanks to a 97-mph sinker. Foley doesn't hit free agency until 2028, so the Tigers would be seeking a couple prospects.

White Sox, Dylan Cease, RHP: Chicago has Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn available as rentals, but Cease is young, under control through 2026 and really good. Acquiring him would be really expensive in terms of prospects and young big-league talent, but that's fine. He's better than any pitching prospect the Rangers have.

Royals, Scott Barlow, RHP: Since allowing three earned runs to the Rangers on April 19 (he also allowed three earned to them April 11), Barlow has 2.73 ERA and has allowed only one homer in 29 1/3 innings. The Royals already know the Rangers' system well after the Chapman trade, so finding a deal here should be easy.

American League West​

Angels, Mike Trout, CF: Heck, yes, I'm serious. But it only works in one scenario: The Angels trade Shohei Ohtani and decide to go ahead and tear the whole thing down. Trout is owed around $275 million over the next 7 1/2 seasons and has been hurt each of the last three. He's hurt now. That's fine. The Angels will take on a lot of the money ... and a lot of prospects. Why not Ohtani? There's no guarantee he would re-sign after the season.

A's, Luis Medina, RHP: Like trying to find a needle in a haystack of bad players, Medina is young and has a big arm. Oakland is rebuilding and might not want to part with him, but it's not like he's Emmanuel Clase. He might not pitch for the Rangers this season, and that's fine.

National League East​

Mets, Max Scherzer, RHP: Scherzer wants to win, and he's running out of years to do it. He's making $43.3 million this season and has a player option for that amount in 2024. Mets owner Steve Cohen would have to take on some of the money, and would be repaid in good young talent. Scherzer and pitching Mike Maddux were together in Washington.

Nationals, Hunter Harvey, RHP: Kyle Finnegan gets a lot of attention as a trade-worthy piece, but Harvey is younger and his having a better season while under contractual control for the same amount of years. Harvey has an extensive injury history, but there's risk with every acquisition and this wouldn't be terribly costly.

National League Central​

Cubs, Marcus Stroman, RHP: Stroman would likely be a rental, as it seems unlikely that he will exercise his $21 million player option. He's having a very good season in Chicago and has pitched in big games in his career. He would be an upgrade to the rotation and would push a starter to the bullpen for potential help there. As a rental, he wouldn't be as costly as some other pitchers.

Pirates, David Bednar, RHP: If Pittsburgh's intent is to remain in rebuild mode, keeping a closer doesn't make a ton of sense. Bednar is very good and is under control until 2027. It would take more to get him than a rental or, say, Barlow from Kansas City, but the Rangers would be getting a closer for at least the next four seasons.

Cardinals, Jordan Hicks, RHP: Ryan Helsley would be the more attractive (and more expensive) option, but forearm soreness has clouded his availability even though he has started a throwing program. Hicks might actually throw harder, which saying something, and he has been a solid closer the past six weeks.

National League West​

Padres, Josh Hader, LHP: The Sunday Read floated left fielder Juan Soto a few weeks ago and stands by it if the Padres decide to sell. The loaded-but-disappointing Padres also have one of the game's best relievers on an expiring contract, Josh Hader. He has recovered from a shaky second half last season and is dominating while San Diego is floundering.

Rockies, Brad Hand, LHP: This one is from the Sunday Read archives and seems like a slam dunk for a rental with postseason experience. But it would give the Rangers three left-handers at the back of their bullpen along with Chapman and Will Smith. While late-inning lefties make some nervous, that trio would be pretty good. So would Hader, Chapman and Smith

 

[saddles]

 

[WastinSomeTime]

From Jeff Wilson:

One trade target for Rangers on every non-contender or pretender

American League East​

Red Sox, Chris Martin, RHP: The former Arlington High star and former Rangers reliever has done great things since being traded in 2019 for Kolby Allard and is doing them again for Boston. He's also under contract for 2024, so it might take a good prospect to get him depending on how much money Boston would take on. Though the Red Sox are five games over .500, they are in last place in the East.

American League Central​

Tigers, Jason Foley, RHP: Foley is having an excellent season out of the Detroit bullpen, and he does two things very well: He doesn't walk many hitters and he doesn't allow many home runs thanks to a 97-mph sinker. Foley doesn't hit free agency until 2028, so the Tigers would be seeking a couple prospects.

White Sox, Dylan Cease, RHP: Chicago has Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn available as rentals, but Cease is young, under control through 2026 and really good. Acquiring him would be really expensive in terms of prospects and young big-league talent, but that's fine. He's better than any pitching prospect the Rangers have.

Royals, Scott Barlow, RHP: Since allowing three earned runs to the Rangers on April 19 (he also allowed three earned to them April 11), Barlow has 2.73 ERA and has allowed only one homer in 29 1/3 innings. The Royals already know the Rangers' system well after the Chapman trade, so finding a deal here should be easy.

American League West​

Angels, Mike Trout, CF: Heck, yes, I'm serious. But it only works in one scenario: The Angels trade Shohei Ohtani and decide to go ahead and tear the whole thing down. Trout is owed around $275 million over the next 7 1/2 seasons and has been hurt each of the last three. He's hurt now. That's fine. The Angels will take on a lot of the money ... and a lot of prospects. Why not Ohtani? There's no guarantee he would re-sign after the season.

A's, Luis Medina, RHP: Like trying to find a needle in a haystack of bad players, Medina is young and has a big arm. Oakland is rebuilding and might not want to part with him, but it's not like he's Emmanuel Clase. He might not pitch for the Rangers this season, and that's fine.

National League East​

Mets, Max Scherzer, RHP: Scherzer wants to win, and he's running out of years to do it. He's making $43.3 million this season and has a player option for that amount in 2024. Mets owner Steve Cohen would have to take on some of the money, and would be repaid in good young talent. Scherzer and pitching Mike Maddux were together in Washington.

Nationals, Hunter Harvey, RHP: Kyle Finnegan gets a lot of attention as a trade-worthy piece, but Harvey is younger and his having a better season while under contractual control for the same amount of years. Harvey has an extensive injury history, but there's risk with every acquisition and this wouldn't be terribly costly.

National League Central​

Cubs, Marcus Stroman, RHP: Stroman would likely be a rental, as it seems unlikely that he will exercise his $21 million player option. He's having a very good season in Chicago and has pitched in big games in his career. He would be an upgrade to the rotation and would push a starter to the bullpen for potential help there. As a rental, he wouldn't be as costly as some other pitchers.

Pirates, David Bednar, RHP: If Pittsburgh's intent is to remain in rebuild mode, keeping a closer doesn't make a ton of sense. Bednar is very good and is under control until 2027. It would take more to get him than a rental or, say, Barlow from Kansas City, but the Rangers would be getting a closer for at least the next four seasons.

Cardinals, Jordan Hicks, RHP: Ryan Helsley would be the more attractive (and more expensive) option, but forearm soreness has clouded his availability even though he has started a throwing program. Hicks might actually throw harder, which saying something, and he has been a solid closer the past six weeks.

National League West​

Padres, Josh Hader, LHP: The Sunday Read floated left fielder Juan Soto a few weeks ago and stands by it if the Padres decide to sell. The loaded-but-disappointing Padres also have one of the game's best relievers on an expiring contract, Josh Hader. He has recovered from a shaky second half last season and is dominating while San Diego is floundering.

Rockies, Brad Hand, LHP: This one is from the Sunday Read archives and seems like a slam dunk for a rental with postseason experience. But it would give the Rangers three left-handers at the back of their bullpen along with Chapman and Will Smith. While late-inning lefties make some nervous, that trio would be pretty good. So would Hader, Chapman and Smith

I really like Cease 1st of all and I would like Stroman but with him being a rental I am concerned on what we would have to give up. I also like David Bednar who is on his 3rd straight year of pitching very well and Chris Martin or Jason Foley. Foley we would have more years of control while Chris we would have just 1 more year.

 

[DT LUNA]

Bet that lead off HR got Scotty out of his set.

 

[saddles]

I really like Cease 1st of all and I would like Stroman but with him being a rental I am concerned on what we would have to give up. I also like David Bednar who is on his 3rd straight year of pitching very well and Chris Martin or Jason Foley. Foley we would have more years of control while Chris we would have just 1 more year.

I have read in some places that the White Sox aren't trading Cease because they intend to contend next year.

 

[DT LUNA]

Marteen no longer has what he had in the past.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Marteen no longer has what he had in the past.

Agree. We definitely need to find someone to take his spot in the rotation. It seems he has officially bit the dust.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Perez is cooked.

 

[saddles]

 

[Senator_fan]

Agree. We definitely need to find someone to take his spot in the rotation. It seems he has officially bit the dust.

Bradford.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

DH candidate?

 

[Senator_fan]

To me and I mentioned it twice before, Foley is the guy I want to see come in with men on as he can get the strikeout, or the double play and can squash sacrifice fly attempts. 8th inning guy to go along with Smith, and either can close when Chapman is not available.

I could be wrong but I think Chapman is the unofficial closer. I don’t know when it will happen but at some point you’ll only see him pitch in the eighth again when it’s a four out close.

 

[DT LUNA]

Offense can not flail like that. Marteen is not sharp and we need to get runners home from 3rd with one out.