Series Thread: Rangers vs Yanks 7/21-7/24

[RevSader]

Go on.....

He's the kind of guy that comes to Texas and then forgets how to pitch when he dons the Ranger Red/Blue.

 

[Justinkm83]

I said it last offseason and I'll say it again... I think Gallardo is better than his stats indicate

I think we were 2 of the only ones that wanted him. I wanted us to trade for him in the off-season or last trade deadline. I can't remember which. He's a solid pitcher. He's another local kid.

 

[Justinkm83]

I would focus on Lester, Shields, and Gallardo.

 

[darrylgann]

@RangerBlake: Rangers have acquired RHPS Corey Knebel and Jake Thompson from Detroit for RHP Joakim Soria. Knebel goes to Round Rock and Thompson Frisco.

 

[Justinkm83]

Chi Chi and Thompson can follow eachother through the ranks.

 

[Justinkm83]

In that article I posted it said that the Tigers contemplated making Knebel into a starter. I wonder if JD will be able to restrain himself.

 

[RevSader]

I would focus on Lester, Shields, and Gallardo.

Boston won't let him leave. They would be dumb to allow that.

Gallardo has declined each year the last four seasons. I don't know how well that would play in the AL.

And the Royals would be pretty screwed if they let Shields go, because they gave up Wil Myers for him.

 

[jta4437]

Boston won't let him leave. They would be dumb to allow that.

Gallardo has declined each year the last four seasons. I don't know how well that would play in the AL.

And the Royals would be pretty screwed if they let Shields go, because they gave up Wil Myers for him.

Agreed about gallardo, although he had rebounded this year, his velocity has ticked back up though his k rate has declined, but his ground ball rate is above 50% this year, he's not the same pitcher he once was but that's not necessarily a terrible thing

 

[RevSader]

Agreed about gallardo, although he had rebounded this year, his velocity has ticked back up though his k rate has declined, but his ground ball rate is above 50% this year, he's not the same pitcher he once was but that's not necessarily a terrible thing

For the money he would get you would expect a good MoRP. Like you said his velocity is consistent enough for that not to be a worry. Still have no clue how he pulled off that .58 HR/9 in 2010 with as high as his babip was season.

 

[terpsfball09]

Really, really hope we keep knebel in the pen. Don't even think about starting him

 

[terpsfball09]

haha i havent texted his dad in so long that apparently the number i texted earlier isnt even in use anymore. that's embarrassing

 

[darrylgann]

haha i havent texted his dad in so long that apparently the number i texted earlier isnt even in use anymore. that's embarrassing

@jthomp15: I'm coming home!

His tweet.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Anybody an insider?

@keithlaw: New post for Insiders - thoughts on the Rangers/Tigers deal for Joakim Soria: Rangers, Tigers both benefit from Joakim Soria deal - MLB - ESPN

Joakim Soria fills a need for the Tigers, but they paid a steep price to get him.

The price*for*Joakim Soria*is steep, as you'd expect for a pitcher of his pedigree and present performance, but he fills theDetroit Tigers' most critical need and is likely to help them in the postseason as well.*

The Tigers needed late-game relief help, and they have always placed a high value (higher than I would) on experience in the closer role. Soria was the best Proven Closer™ available in trade this year -- perhaps a little underrated because he's toiled for non-contenders his whole career -- and he pitches like a starter, with a full assortment of pitches, rather than like a traditional reliever who throws hard and then harder.*He's having a superb year, almost comically so, surrendering no homers in 33 innings despite pitching in Texas, with the best walk rate and second-best strikeout rate of his career (small sample size warnings apply). He'll probably only throw 20 to 25 innings for the Tigers, and might be worth a win above replacement, but the Tigers are likely to reach the playoffs again, and acquiring Soria is as much about October as about getting there; in other words, he'll tack on a few more innings of extremely high-leverage work.*

The*Texas Rangers*fare pretty well here, acquiring two arms, one a pure reliever, the other with a chance to start. Right-hander Jake Thompson has the size to start and the out pitch in a low- to mid-80s slider that missed a ton of bats in the Midwest League last year and nearly as many this year in the Florida State League. His fastball is average to slightly above average and doesn't have great life. That makes him a flyball pitcher, and he doesn't have a viable third pitch yet, so left-handed hitters have fared well against him, with 110 more points of on-base percentage than right-handed hitters have posted this year. He's just 20, however, so he's young enough to develop a changeup, and has the height to get some more downhill plane on his fastball. He'd slot into the Rangers' pitching depth chart behind Chi-Chi Gonzalez and Luke Jackson at this point.*

Corey Knebel*is a reliever, a tough competitor with a mid-90s fastball, a grade-55 curveball that misses some bats, below-average command, and a high-effort arm swing that's hard for him to repeat. He doesn't have the pure stuff to be a closer (he can be an elite reliever, top 25 or so in the game) but if he can finish the curveball consistently enough he'll have a solid career working in the seventh or eighth inning.*

The Tigers have limited their options to acquire anything else in trade, however, dealing one of their top two pitching prospects in Thompson, with no significant bats in the system to use in another deal. The Rangers are the right team for Thompson, as they value tools and physicality very highly, and are willing to take on a player who needs development work. In the long run, the Rangers probably come out ahead in this deal, but I can also understand Detroit's sense of urgency and willingness to trade lots of future value to patch a hole in the present.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I hope Soria is on the mound when the Tigers eliminate the A's from the postseason this year and in a few years, Thompson is a strong starter for us. I haven't given up on the Fielder trade, I just want the guy to come back and hit like we thought he would when we acquired him. Fielder has until next April to get well, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[BLeslie59Rangers]

Soria has only one mission. Beat Oakland in the playoffs!

...and/or the Angels!

Sorry to see Soria go, but it was the right thing to do. Now let's get some more prospects...Rios the most likely candidate to go, but I'm in favor of moving Elvis...can get some good prospects for him but we would have to eat some contract....do it anyway....

 

[romeo212000]

I would focus on Lester, Shields, and Gallardo.

No thanks on that last one.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I will have to trust the talking heads that say these are legit prospects. Easier to know when it is major league talent, but if at least one of them is solid it will end up being a good deal in the long run. Not exactly a blockbuster, but those trades can sometimes pay dividends later. Trading Gagne to Boston didn't seem like much at the time but David Murphy did have some special moments in his Texas career. Hopefully one of these guys can do more than Murphy and find a home here.

I am glad that we at least did receive pitching prospects in trading Soria with the possibility of them helping the Rangers at the MLB level in the future. It all sounds like a good trade but I am with you Rev in that time will tell. But isn't that the way it always is.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

...and/or the Angels!

Sorry to see Soria go, but it was the right thing to do. Now let's get some more prospects...Rios the most likely candidate to go, but I'm in favor of moving Elvis...can get some good prospects for him but we would have to eat some contract....do it anyway....

I never really get on EA as far as trading him but losing that contract would not be a bad thing.

 

[jta4437]

I am glad that we at least did receive pitching prospects

 

[donaldson79]

And Mr Feliz is back to closing.

Oh well, 2014 is a season we're going to look back on with amazement, one way or the other I think.