Texas Rangers 2018-2019 Offseason Thread

[DT LUNA]

Getting Yu is likely a bit more complicated

Not sure Yu works for me unless the salary is reasonable and contract is no more than 3 yrs.

 

[Kelleyman]

Not sure Yu works for me unless the salary is reasonable and contract is no more than 3 yrs.

No way Cubs are going to let Yu go this offseason and eat this much money without getting prospects for cash. If Yu has another bad year then maybe. YU is getting 20+ per year for another 5 years

To me though we should be signing guys beyond 2020 or just one year contracts with options

 

[scotsman1948]

elected free agency:

Rangers: C Juan Centeno, LHP Anthony Gose, RHP Drew Hutchison, INF Tommy Joseph, RHP Chris Rowley

 

[saddles]

No way Cubs are going to let Yu go this offseason and eat this much money without getting prospects for cash. If Yu has another bad year then maybe. YU is getting 20+ per year for another 5 years

To me though we should be signing guys beyond 2020 or just one year contracts with options

Bacsik's contention is that the Cubs will be desperate to shed salary because they want to spend on offense and still keep under the cap. I think he is using some wishful thinking. To me Evoldi for 4 years is not a good idea. He is a mediocre starting pitcher. That kind of guy will be plentiful in a couple of offseasons when we need him more.

 

[Kelleyman]

Bacsik's contention is that the Cubs will be desperate to shed salary because they want to spend on offense and still keep under the cap. I think he is using some wishful thinking. To me Evoldi for 4 years is not a good idea. He is a mediocre starting pitcher. That kind of guy will be plentiful in a couple of offseasons when we need him more.

I am not hopeful of any spending spree this offseason but it would be nice to pick up a pitcher who can be of use 2020. I am not writing that season off. And don think we are blocking any one next season. But yes one good playoff outing. Is likely to raise his price

 

[saddles]

I am not hopeful of any spending spree this offseason but it would be nice to pick up a pitcher who can be of use 2020. I am not writing that season off. And don think we are blocking any one next season. But yes one good playoff outing. Is likely to raise his price

To me it would have made more sense to spend last offseason and go for it in 2018 than to spend heavily next offseason on pitching to try and contend in 2020. I say that knowing that it didn't make any sense to spend last offseason.

A year from now we will be a year closer to these young pitchers being ready so why block their path with free agents who most likely won't live up to their contracts. Certainly not for a pitcher who is mediocre. By this time next year we will be so far along in the rebuilding that it just wouldn't make sense to short circuit it that far into the plan.

If the right premier pitcher comes along and we decide to gamble on him then maybe that works, but certainly not multiple pitchers and not at all for mediocre pitchers.

And certainly no more Cole Hamels or Lucroy type trades.

 

[scotsman1948]

To me it would have made more sense to spend last offseason and go for it in 2018 than to spend heavily next offseason on pitching to try and contend in 2020. I say that knowing that it didn't make any sense to spend last offseason.

A year from now we will be a year closer to these young pitchers being ready so why block their path with free agents who most likely won't live up to their contracts. Certainly not for a pitcher who is mediocre. By this time next year we will be so far along in the rebuilding that it just wouldn't make sense to short circuit it that far into the plan.

If the right premier pitcher comes along and we decide to gamble on him then maybe that works, but certainly not multiple pitchers and not at all for mediocre pitchers.

And certainly no more Cole Hamels or Lucroy type trades.

doesn't that pretty much eliminate anyone

 

[saddles]

doesn't that pretty much eliminate anyone

It doesn't eliminate signing anyone to a 1 or 2 year deal this offseason. Or 2 years and an option maybe. There are other situations that would make sense as well.

We do have some good young pitching on the way up and the way to develop long term success is to let those guys develop and use them. Then you spend your money on the pen and a hitter or two. If you find you are in strong contention a little early like we found ourselves in 2010 then you look into a Cliff Lee type trade where you trade lesser minor league talent like we did for a rental like Lee.

In 2019, 2020 and 2021 guys like Hernandez, Hearn, Palumbo, Phillips, Alexy, Crouse, Cody, Ragans, and Winn are going to be ready to make their debuts. If half of those guys falter or succumb to injury that still leaves 4 or 5 of them. The first 6 of those guys should be ready between the middle of next year and the end of 2020. The last 3 should be ready before 2021 is over.

Long term success will come from developing those guys and not from stop gap pitching that has to be replaced by more stop gap pitching and so on and so on. It also doesn't come from signing the starting pitching version of Choo.

That list doesn't even include maybe a very good prospect that we draft in 2019, Mendez, Y. Rodriguez, R. Pena, White, and Englert. In other words we have a strong line of pitching reinforcements on the way, and their reinforcements are just behind them and another group is almost ready if case any of those first two groups needs help.

 

[scotsman1948]

It doesn't eliminate signing anyone to a 1 or 2 year deal this offseason. Or 2 years and an option maybe. There are other situations that would make sense as well.

We do have some good young pitching on the way up and the way to develop long term success is to let those guys develop and use them. Then you spend your money on the pen and a hitter or two. If you find you are in strong contention a little early like we found ourselves in 2010 then you look into a Cliff Lee type trade where you trade lesser minor league talent like we did for a rental like Lee.

In 2019, 2020 and 2021 guys like Hernandez, Hearn, Palumbo, Phillips, Alexy, Crouse, Cody, Ragans, and Winn are going to be ready to make their debuts. If half of those guys falter or succumb to injury that still leaves 4 or 5 of them. The first 6 of those guys should be ready between the middle of next year and the end of 2020. The last 3 should be ready before 2021 is over.

Long term success will come from developing those guys and not from stop gap pitching that has to be replaced by more stop gap pitching and so on and so on. It also doesn't come from signing the starting pitching version of Choo.

That list doesn't even include maybe a very good prospect that we draft in 2019, Mendez, Y. Rodriguez, R. Pena, White, and Englert. In other words we have a strong line of pitching reinforcements on the way, and their reinforcements are just behind them and another group is almost ready if case any of those first two groups needs help.

I think you are a year early I see them being ready over a period from 2020 to 2022 so for the year 2019 at best we have Mike Minor, 3 holes and possibly Mendez (who could find himself in the bullpen as LR). I could see the Rangers looking at 3 or 4 short-term FA signings in the 1+1 or 2+1 year range for starters in the rotation. bullpen is fairly set and position-wise that is also true.

 

[saddles]

I think you are a year early I see them being ready over a period from 2020 to 2022 so for the year 2019 at best we have Mike Minor, 3 holes and possibly Mendez (who could find himself in the bullpen as LR). I could see the Rangers looking at 3 or 4 short-term FA signings in the 1+1 or 2+1 year range for starters in the rotation. bullpen is fairly set and position-wise that is also true.

I think Mendez will be the only one ready to begin the year. Hearn and Hernandez could very well be up at some point during 2019. None of the ones I mentioned would be ready to begin 2019 I wouldn't think.

I think Mendez is a stop gap option until the ones I mentioned are ready to fill out the rotation.

 

[Kelleyman]

I think Mendez will be the only one ready to begin the year. Hearn and Hernandez could very well be up at some point during 2019. None of the ones I mentioned would be ready to begin 2019 I wouldn't think.

I think Mendez is a stop gap option until the ones I mentioned are ready to fill out the rotation.

Let’s hope Sampson and Volquez are ready.

I would like us to pick up 2 FA pitchers. One multi year and another one year with option.

My theory is if you get good talent at a reasonable rate then we can flip them come ASB. No one is really blocked

 

[saddles]

Let’s hope Sampson and Volquez are ready.

I would like us to pick up 2 FA pitchers. One multi year and another one year with option.

My theory is if you get good talent at a reasonable rate then we can flip them come ASB. No one is really blocked

If we are within 6 games of a wildcard I doubt they trade anyone though. Also, we could have done that this past year and didn't so I am not sure if they are interested in doing that.

 

[Kelleyman]

If we are within 6 games of a wildcard I doubt they trade anyone though. Also, we could have done that this past year and didn't so I am not sure if they are interested in doing that.

Why would you say that? We unloaded a lot minus Minor who many incorrectly though he was near innings limit including me. Surely your beef is not that we did not unload him or is it Choo?

 

[Kelleyman]

Also I am not thinking we will be within 6 of Wild Card this year.

 

[saddles]

Why would you say that? We unloaded a lot minus Minor who many incorrectly though he was near innings limit including me. Surely your beef is not that we did not unload him or is it Choo?

I am just saying that we didn't flip a starting pitcher. We certainly could have done what you are suggesting last year, but they don't appear to be wanting to do that.

There is no beef. I am simply saying it isn't their MO.

 

[saddles]

Also I am not thinking we will be within 6 of Wild Card this year.

I don't expect it, but stranger things have happened. They could be a little over .500 and be that close, but I don't think they will be.

 

[DT LUNA]

I don't expect it, but stranger things have happened. They could be a little over .500 and be that close, but I don't think they will be.

Without knowing the rotation it's anyone's guess but I doubt it.

 

[Kelleyman]

Without a decent rotation I don't think we will be over 500 but I think our rotation 2020 will be vastly improved

Just not thinking we get more then one above average pitcher this offseason

 

[saddles]

Without a decent rotation I don't think we will be over 500 but I think our rotation 2020 will be vastly improved

Just not thinking we get more then one above average pitcher this offseason

Volquez, Mendez and Sampson might be the deciding factors on how close to .500 we get. Who knows what we will get from those three wildcards.

Vastly improved may be a stretch if our young pitching struggles in their first year as young pitchers are wont to do.

I still don't see some of those guys being ready for 2020 like you do. It is funny that I seem to serve as a kind of a balance between yours and Scotty's expectations as to when they arrive. My guesses are too late for you and too early for him.

You would think everyone's vision for 2020 would be clear seeing how it will no doubt be the year of vision in a lot of places.

 

[saddles]

Rangers Prospects of Year: Heineman, Phillips

"I think it is what got into Tyler Phillips at the end of last year," Rangers farm director Jayce Tingler said. "Three swing-and-miss pitches. He has always had good fastball command and a good changeup. The evolution of his curveball was a big pitch for him. And just maturing. He was one of the youngest guys out of the Draft a few years ago, as a 17-year-old."

Phillips made one start at Class A Down East and that could be where he begins next season. His ability to eventually make the crucial jump to Double-A Frisco will be most telling, but the Rangers believe a strong pitching prospect has emerged in their system.

"We see him as a Major League starter and continue on that route," Tingler said. "I don't know his ceiling, is he a No. 2 or a No. 3? I don't think we know yet at his age and development. I just know we believe he has a chance to log innings as a starter and be a successful Major League pitcher."