2014 Offseason Plans Thread Pt2

[Justinkm83]

But who is hanging around out there for a possible realistic upgrade?

Morales or you could trade for Butler. Those are the 2 still near the the top of my list

 

[Windingmywatch]

You are right Romeo. It's far from a problem. Alex Rios is a more than capable 5-hole hitter. Some people don't give him enough credit as a hitter. Is having a 20-HR/20-SB .280 guy in the 5-hole really that awful? He might not quite have the power of other 5-hole hitters, but he's a doubles machine. You don't have to have a .300-hitting All Star at every spot 1-9. Look at the 5-hole hitters from every contender from last year and tell me Alex Rios isn't every bit as good or in some cases better.

Interesting ... for TEX last season Rios had all of 21 of 186ABs batting 5th. In fact his output was higher batting third or sixth. If he was a suitable #5 to start 2014 why wasn't he batting #5 during Aug-Sep 2013 instead of AJ? Maybe because he had a better output batting #6.

I remain of the opinion that Rios is not a #5 ... and the numbers back that up.

Alex Rios 2013 Batting Splits with the Texas Rangers - Baseball-Reference.com

 

[Justinkm83]

I don't see it as nearly the issue Justin does, nor do a few other posters in here.

There are some that want an upgrade in the 5 spot as well. Now that we seem to have moved on from Cruz a lot seem to have settled on the idea of Rios in the 5 spot. I'm not one of them.

 

[WilltheThrill]

Interesting ... for TEX last season Rios had all of 21 of 186ABs batting 5th. In fact his output was higher batting third or sixth. If he was a suitable #5 to start 2014 why wasn't he batting #5 during Aug-Sep 2013 instead of AJ? Maybe because he had a better output batting #6.

I remain of the opinion that Rios is not a #5 ... and the numbers back that up.

Alex Rios 2013 Batting Splits with the Texas Rangers - Baseball-Reference.com

186 at-bats is a very small sample size on which to judge a hitter's capabilities. Also, that sample doesn't take into account the lineup turnover. He will be hitting behind Choo, Beltre, and Fielder this year, which can only help his numbers.

Now if Rios had an entire career of poor numbers in the 5 spot, I'd say that is more of a trend. There isn't a whole heck of a lot of difference in hitting 5th and 6th though.

The bottom line is that his career averages play very well as a 5-hole hitter.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Rangers in talks with potential free agent replacements for Holland | Dallas Morning News

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Between Chen and Maholm I might take Chen but then you have to hope you get the good Chen. He is like Jekyl and Hyde from year to year. Plus he has pitched in the AL since 2003 and actually pitcher pretty well last year. But cannot say I am too excited about either one. But if they want a left hander we do not have too many available as possible starters on the Rangers other than Ross and Kirkman.

 

[WilltheThrill]

Between Chen and Maholm I might take Chen but then you have to hope you get the good Chen. He is like Jekyl and Hyde from year to year. Plus he has pitched in the AL since 2003 and actually pitcher pretty well last year. But cannot say I am too excited about either one. But if they want a left hander we do not have too many available as possible starters on the Rangers other than Ross and Kirkman.

I'd much rather have Maholm. He has better stuff and better upside than Chen. He ranked in just about every site's top 50 Free Agents heading into the offseason. He's no ace, but he'd be a very legit #4 or 5.

 

[DT LUNA]

Between Chen and Maholm I might take Chen but then you have to hope you get the good Chen. He is like Jekyl and Hyde from year to year. Plus he has pitched in the AL since 2003 and actually pitcher pretty well last year. But cannot say I am too excited about either one. But if they want a left hander we do not have too many available as possible starters on the Rangers other than Ross and Kirkman.

I don't feel any better toward Kirkman now than last year. Hope we never see him in the rotation. If he proves me wrong well I'm willing to eat crow.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I don't feel any better toward Kirkman now than last year. Hope we never see him in the rotation. If he proves me wrong well I'm willing to eat crow.

I am with you on that.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I'd much rather have Maholm. He has better stuff and better upside than Chen. He ranked in just about every site's top 50 Free Agents heading into the offseason. He's no ace, but he'd be a very legit #4 or 5.

Concerned about him being in the NL his entire career. I know his career ERA is around 4.40 but with a DH I wonder if it would be higher.

 

[Justinkm83]

I'd much rather have Maholm. He has better stuff and better upside than Chen. He ranked in just about every site's top 50 Free Agents heading into the offseason. He's no ace, but he'd be a very legit #4 or 5.

I agree. He would certainly make me feel better heading into the year. I know Colby said yesterday that he's feeling really good, and expects to be in the rotation, but I just don't believe him.

 

[Justinkm83]

Concerned about him being in the NL his entire career. I know his career ERA is around 4.40 but with a DH I wonder if it would be higher.

Last 3 years it's been 3.66, 3.67, and 4.41. He's nothing to get very excited about, but he will provide depth, and could give us 150+ innings.

 

[Duane1952]

I don't feel any better toward Kirkman now than last year. Hope we never see him in the rotation. If he proves me wrong well I'm willing to eat crow.

agree, don't want to see him in a ranger uniform.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Rios line 2011 - 2013 was .271 .309 .435 .745 ... which includes his best year ... 2012 when he predominantly batted fifth for CHW. I add this as further lukewarm testimony that he should bat #5.

Alex Rios Statistics and History - Baseball-Reference.com

HOWEVER ... posting here in opposition to my own perspective above plus my previous post ... his 2012 numbers over 460ABs in the #5 position are exceptional. .320 .343 .561 .904

Alex Rios 2012 Batting Splits - Baseball-Reference.com

I think 2012 is an outlier but he's shown in the preceding three seasons and specifically in 2012 that he deserves the chance to show he can perform in the #5 spot in front of the DH.

 

[Justinkm83]

As I've said before, it's not necessarily Rios in the 5 spot that worries me. It's the fact that if he's in the 5 spot I see us having a lot of problems 6-9. Mitch, Soto, Profar, and Martin leaves me very worried about our ability to score from the bottom of the line-up. Of course that could all change if the youngsters continue to progress and Mitch hits like he's capable of, while staying healthy.

 

[DT LUNA]

As I've said before, it's not necessarily Rios in the 5 spot that worries me. It's the fact that if he's in the 5 spot I see us having a lot of problems 6-9. Mitch, Soto, Profar, and Martin leaves me very worried about our ability to score from the bottom of the line-up. Of course that could all change if the youngsters continue to progress and Mitch hits like he's capable of, while staying healthy.

How does Rios help 6-9 if he doesn't hit in #5 spot. If he hits #6 you still have Soto Profar and Martin.

 

[Justinkm83]

How does Rios help 6-9 if he doesn't hit in #5 spot. If he hits #6 you still have Soto Profar and Martin.

Because he moves down a spot and hits in the 6 spot. Basically I want an upgrade at the DH/5th spot in the line-up. Soto, Profar, and Martin is not Mitch, Soto, Profar and Martin. That's 4 spots in a row with below average hitters (until proven otherwise).

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Last 3 years it's been 3.66, 3.67, and 4.41. He's nothing to get very excited about, but he will provide depth, and could give us 150+ innings.

I knew that but with those stats are in the NL. He is still just 30 or 31 and if he could keep his era in the low to mid 4's he would keep us in games.

 

[Justinkm83]

I knew that but with those stats are in the NL. He is still just 30 or 31 and if he could keep his era in the low to mid 4's he would keep us in games.

I figured you knew, but wanted to throw them out there. I also worry about him only pitching in the NL. He might do ok because most hitters haven't faced him very much, or he could be a train wreck like some of the NL pitchers we've gotten in the last 2 years. I think he would help either way. I wonder what kind of contract he's looking for? I hadn't seen his name pop up at all until I read we were interested.

 

[DT LUNA]

Because he moves down a spot and hits in the 6 spot. Basically I want an upgrade at the DH/5th spot in the line-up. Soto, Profar, and Martin is not Mitch, Soto, Profar and Martin. That's 4 spots in a row with below average hitters (until proven otherwise).

How does an upgrade at#5 help 6-9? ( Rios Soto Profar Martin)