2014 Offseason Plans Thread

[Hambombs]

I've seen reports of 3/39 to 3/45

Yeah I rather do that

 

[Justinkm83]

I've seen reports of 3/39 to 3/45

Cruz 3/48 and wouldn't cost a pick. I guess either way we would only be losing the 1 pick for Choo. I feel Morales' HR's would go up especially being a switch hitter in our park.

 

[jta4437]

Cruz 3/48 and wouldn't cost a pick. I guess either way we would only be losing the 1 pick for Choo. I feel Morales' HR's would go up especially being a switch hitter in our park.

Morales is 3 years younger and Cruz has already shown some obvious signs of regression in his peripheral numbers

 

[jta4437]

So far so good, return on the investment for Darvish

9.9 WAR in 2 years, a value of about 46.8 million provided, only 54.9 million more to go! Including the posting fee of course

 

[Hambombs]

So far so good, return on the investment for Darvish

9.9 WAR in 2 years, a value of about 46.8 million provided, only 54.9 million more to go! Including the posting fee of course

So pretty much averaged out to 5 WAR seasons! I still think he has a 7-8 WAR years in him he's that good!

 

[TheRangerDude]

I told you why I thought it was a bad idea, if you can't handle a differing opinion then maybe this isn't the place for you, seriously why posit a suggestion if you're not prepared to handle a different opinion, it seems now like you expected people to agree with you

I could only assume by your recommendation of Rios for leading off that you were looking at steals as his OBP is pretty substandard for a leadoff hitter

Didn't say steals were bad, just not the best measure of a leadoff hitter

I'm all about saving money and looking towards the future but leadoff is a pretty big whole along with another OFer, seems like two birds one stone to me

Little bit of right now is important, if the goal is to not contend next year, then no point in spending money on either then and play the young guys, which I'm also OK with

Signing Cruz still leaves a big hole in the leadoff spot, signing Choo fills both

Actually the beginning of my original post said "I know this isn't going to be popular with most of you..." So I was really prepared for a lot of people to disagree with me. That is not really the point of what I said before. I can handle someone disagreeing with me. I am married. It's just you seem to disagree with just about everything I have ever posted on here and when I read responses that you offer others, it also seems like you just want to point out what is wrong with what they are saying. Forgive me if this is harsh or blunt but it really makes you come off as a know it all and pretty stubborn as well. I will even admit at times I can come off this way, so I get it. Thats really all I was saying at the end of my last post, I wasn't really referring to just this one instance but an overall experience. And listen, really I am not even telling you this in an effort to offend, I am just pointing it out because maybe you don't realize it. I am sure you are a nice respectable guy.

I do agree with you that signing Cruz does still leave a hole at leadoff and that leadoff is an important role to fill. I just know there is no guarantee we land him and I know we are not going to throw in the towel if we don't. Someone is still going to lead off and beyond Choo, are there and FA leadoff hitting OFs that excite you? I feel like signing Cruz is the next best option which will indeed leave a bit of a whole at lead off but there are people their that can fill the role, maybe not ideally, but fill them nonetheless. I think that is the next best lineup we can roll out there if they can't make a deal with Choo.

Cruz has made it pretty clear that he wants to be here and will do so on a short contract that will in turn save the Rangers some money, a draft pick, and allow them to still be players on trade and FA market. To me those advantages outweigh a stalemate with a great leadoff hitter that might lead no where. I think they are looking for too much and I think they are willing to hold out on it for as long as it takes. What scares me is that the FA market might be swallowed up by the time Choo is signed and if it isn't with us, we are left high and dry. Also, I think by pursuing serious talks with Cruz, we put a little pressure on Choo as well.

Its cool if you disagree. But I am really not just simply saying I think we should go after Cruz over Choo because of I value Cruz more. I would not complain a bit if we got Choo and in fact, I agree he fills two major needs with one move. I am just thinking that the way the situation seems to be going from the outside looking in (limited info), that there are some serious advantages to taking this option.

 

[jta4437]

Actually the beginning of my original post said "I know this isn't going to be popular with most of you..." So I was really prepared for a lot of people to disagree with me. That is not really the point of what I said before. I can handle someone disagreeing with me. I am married. It's just you seem to disagree with just about everything I have ever posted on here and when I read responses that you offer others, it also seems like you just want to point out what is wrong with what they are saying. Forgive me if this is harsh or blunt but it really makes you come off as a know it all and pretty stubborn as well. I will even admit at times I can come off this way, so I get it. Thats really all I was saying at the end of my last post, I wasn't really referring to just this one instance but an overall experience. And listen, really I am not even telling you this in an effort to offend, I am just pointing it out because maybe you don't realize it. I am sure you are a nice respectable guy.

I do agree with you that signing Cruz does still leave a hole at leadoff and that leadoff is an important role to fill. I just know there is no guarantee we land him and I know we are not going to throw in the towel if we don't. Someone is still going to lead off and beyond Choo, are there and FA leadoff hitting OFs that excite you? I feel like signing Cruz is the next best option which will indeed leave a bit of a whole at lead off but there are people their that can fill the role, maybe not ideally, but fill them nonetheless. I think that is the next best lineup we can roll out there if they can't make a deal with Choo.

Cruz has made it pretty clear that he wants to be here and will do so on a short contract that will in turn save the Rangers some money, a draft pick, and allow them to still be players on trade and FA market. To me those advantages outweigh a stalemate with a great leadoff hitter that might lead no where. I think they are looking for too much and I think they are willing to hold out on it for as long as it takes. What scares me is that the FA market might be swallowed up by the time Choo is signed and if it isn't with us, we are left high and dry. Also, I think by pursuing serious talks with Cruz, we put a little pressure on Choo as well.

Its cool if you disagree. But I am really not just simply saying I think we should go after Cruz over Choo because of I value Cruz more. I would not complain a bit if we got Choo and in fact, I agree he fills two major needs with one move. I am just thinking that the way the situation seems to be going from the outside looking in (limited info), that there are some serious advantages to taking this option.

I've said repeatedly, I could care less what anyone thinks of me or my opinions, if that makes me a stubborn know it all, so be it, I'm well aware of this

You sign Choo and lose Cruz, the draft pick loss is moot, they both received a qualifying offer, so thats a non-issue

Boras is just stalling and hoping someone steps up, but there is really no one else that needs him and also willing to pay his price, I'm not worried

If Choo is locked up that leaves Rios and Soto as the only guys that will be FAs within the next several years, including SPs, (Darvish, Holland, Harrison & Perez are locked up to team friendly deals for the next several years already)

So Choo doesn't really hamstring anything going forward

 

[TheRangerDude]

I've said repeatedly, I could care less what anyone thinks of me or my opinions, if that makes me a stubborn know it all, so be it, I'm well aware of this

You sign Choo and lose Cruz, the draft pick loss is moot, they both received a qualifying offer, so thats a non-issue

Boras is just stalling and hoping someone steps up, but there is really no one else that needs him and also willing to pay his price, I'm not worried

If Choo is locked up that leaves Rios and Soto as the only guys that will be FAs within the next several years, including SPs, (Darvish, Holland, Harrison & Perez are locked up to team friendly deals for the next several years already)

So Choo doesn't really hamstring anything going forward

Thats great that you are not worried but your statement pretty much assumes Choo is locked up and doesn't address the situation I outlined. Overall I agree with your other points here but I think you might be missing the overall idea of what I am saying… which could be poor explanation on my part. To me, not worrying means you might be a little overconfident. Sort of like how overconfident we got last season and missed out on signing some good players and instead signed Berkman.

 

[TheRangerDude]

I've said repeatedly, I could care less what anyone thinks of me or my opinions, if that makes me a stubborn know it all, so be it, I'm well aware of this

You sign Choo and lose Cruz, the draft pick loss is moot, they both received a qualifying offer, so thats a non-issue

Boras is just stalling and hoping someone steps up, but there is really no one else that needs him and also willing to pay his price, I'm not worried

If Choo is locked up that leaves Rios and Soto as the only guys that will be FAs within the next several years, including SPs, (Darvish, Holland, Harrison & Perez are locked up to team friendly deals for the next several years already)

So Choo doesn't really hamstring anything going forward

Oh, and there is really nothing wrong with being a stubborn but sometimes I think we can all take it a little far and miss out on more meaningful conversations that can be had. Sometimes it makes us dismiss things that really do have validity. I can be as guilty of it as the next guy though but I try to work on it.

 

[jta4437]

Thats great that you are not worried but your statement pretty much assumes Choo is locked up and doesn't address the situation I outlined. Overall I agree with your other points here but I think you might be missing the overall idea of what I am saying… which could be poor explanation on my part. To me, not worrying means you might be a little overconfident. Sort of like how overconfident we got last season and missed out on signing some good players and instead signed Berkman.

Outside of Greinke, there weren't really any FAs last year, I feel we "missed out on"

Even then, I doubt we were ever topping the Dodgers offer

Its not overconfidence, I'm just not worried, b/c in all fairness, JD knows what he's doing, he's not going to grossly overpay but he's made one of the best offers with the best situation

If JD had succumbed to this same pressure about getting something done last offseason, we'd be stuck with Hamilton now

Might have cost us Napoli, but that was a calculated risk due to the injury issues, thats still not a 100% for BoSox

 

[TheRangerDude]

Its actually sort of shocking that statistically it might appear that they already traded away the next best person to hit lead off. I had no idea Gentry had a .373 OBP last season, granted it was sort of platoon though and he only played in 106 games. Still, even with that limited playing time he had the 4th highest OWAR on the team. I sure hope Choice is good.

 

[TheRangerDude]

Outside of Greinke, there weren't really any FAs last year, I feel we "missed out on"

Even then, I doubt we were ever topping the Dodgers offer

Its not overconfidence, I'm just not worried, b/c in all fairness, JD knows what he's doing, he's not going to grossly overpay but he's made one of the best offers with the best situation

If JD had succumbed to this same pressure about getting something done last offseason, we'd be stuck with Hamilton now

Might have cost us Napoli, but that was a calculated risk due to the injury issues, thats still not a 100% for BoSox

Napoli just went and won a ring and if we had him hitting in the middle of the lineup over Berkman who went flat about 1/3 of the way in, that might have been enough for us to squeeze out the division. After all it only came down to a one game playoff. In theory if Nap's WAR was one run higher than Berkmans (which I am sure it was), then the Rangers would have made the playoffs. So, waiting around on Grienke really could have cost them the playoffs. I understand it was a risk, but they made a mistake IMO and it happens, they are human. Berkman was a even bigger risk and I think he cost more than Nap and both ended up with a 1 year deal.

 

[jta4437]

Its actually sort of shocking that statistically it might appear that they already traded away the next best person to hit lead off. I had no idea Gentry had a .373 OBP last season, granted it was sort of platoon though and he only played in 106 games. Still, even with that limited playing time he had the 4th highest OWAR on the team. I sure hope Choice is good.

Not shocking to me, I've been pushing for more Gentry PT for a couple years now, very sad to see him go

 

[TheRangerDude]

Not shocking to me, I've been pushing for more Gentry PT for a couple years now, very sad to see him go

Indeed, I really meant more shocking that we traded him given those stats but perhaps that is what you are referencing you are not shocked by.

 

[terpsfball09]

I've been away lately because I am visiting family in maryland, but I am extremely concerned over Leonys winter stats. He's hitting .190 right now... I think we'll sign choo and all, but we're gonna have a lineup with soto, leonys, mitch, and profar in it. Not very much production down there at all whatsoever

 

[jta4437]

Napoli just went and won a ring and if we had him hitting in the middle of the lineup over Berkman who went flat about 1/3 of the way in, that might have been enough for us to squeeze out the division. After all it only came down to a one game playoff. In theory if Nap's WAR was one run higher than Berkmans (which I am sure it was), then the Rangers would have made the playoffs. So, waiting around on Grienke really could have cost them the playoffs. I understand it was a risk, but they made a mistake IMO and it happens, they are human. Berkman was a even bigger risk and I think he cost more than Nap and both ended up with a 1 year deal.

Originally the BoSox gave him a 3 year deal, but after they examined his hip it was changed to a 1 year deal, we were not getting that same deal, b/c we weren't going to offer him big money to begin with after his injury concerns and poor showing that season, not to mention he wanted to be paid like a catcher

there was no way to know that know he was going to rebound the way he did and play 1B like he did

Going after Berkman was just plain stupid and was an attempt to squeeze quality out of nothing when there was nothing left on the table

 

[jta4437]

I've been away lately because I am visiting family in maryland, but I am extremely concerned over Leonys winter stats. He's hitting .190 right now... I think we'll sign choo and all, but we're gonna have a lineup with soto, leonys, mitch, and profar in it. Not very much production down there at all whatsoever

I'm not worried about the 7-8-9 hitter, they'll hit like 7-8-9 hitters, and I actually expect Profar to hitter better than your typical 8 hitter

Soto will hit like a non-elite catcher, which is fine considering his defensive qualities

 

[TheRangerDude]

Originally the BoSox gave him a 3 year deal, but after they examined his hip it was changed to a 1 year deal, we were not getting that same deal, b/c we weren't going to offer him big money to begin with after his injury concerns and poor showing that season, not to mention he wanted to be paid like a catcher

there was no way to know that know he was going to rebound the way he did and play 1B like he did

Going after Berkman was just plain stupid and was an attempt to squeeze quality out of nothing when there was nothing left on the table

I recall hearing the Rangers were back in play after news broke that he didn't pass his physical and found out about everything that contract was off the table. He would have signed with us over the Sox had we made him a better or even equal offer and even at the point he was still less of a risk than Berkman, he at least finished the previous season. I am glad you at least agree that Berkman was a mistake though.

 

[jta4437]

I recall hearing the Rangers were back in play after news broke that he didn't pass his physical and found out about everything that contract was off the table. He would have signed with us over the Sox had we made him a better or even equal offer and even at the point he was still less of a risk than Berkman, he at least finished the previous season. I am glad you at least agree that Berkman was a mistake though.

I wanted Napoli back, but that hip condition is scary business as he can fall off the rails at any moment, ask Bo Jackson

 

[scotsman1948]

I'm not worried about the 7-8-9 hitter, they'll hit like 7-8-9 hitters, and I actually expect Profar to hitter better than your typical 8 hitter

Soto will hit like a non-elite catcher, which is fine considering his defensive qualities

Martin could be playing himself out of the lineup which could force the Rangers to go after both Choo and Cruz with Choo playing CF, Cruz in RF and Rios in LF