2014 Offseason

[saddles]

This is from a Kevin Sherrington question and answer session at the DMN.

Question: Rangers in playoffs next year?
Sherrington: Certainly think that's a possibility. Oakland may be going through makeover. Angels still have pitching problems. Seattle remains iffy. All depends on how Fielder and Choo come back; whether Daniels adds a couple of starting pitchers and a bat; and how the team takes to Banister. Lots of unknowns at this point. Don't think I'd bet on it, though.


Question: What free agent do the Rangers make a run at?
Sherrington: I think they're going to go more lower tier. None of the big FA pitchers. I think they may make a run at Russell Martin, the Pirates' catcher. Great OBP this year (.402), very athletic for a 31-year-old, and great leader. I know Alfaro is on the way, but Martin could catch a couple years and then maybe even move to another position. Maybe 3B after Beltre moves to DH?


Question: Chances Cruz is back with the Rangers?
Sherrington: I wouldn't say they're good. He loved it here, but he's loved it in Baltimore, too. And as I've noted previously, there's no baggage in Baltimore. No Game 6 mishap in right. No PED suspension. And the Orioles want him back.

 

[donaldson79]

This is from a Kevin Sherrington question and answer session at the DMN.

Question: Rangers in playoffs next year?
Sherrington: Certainly think that's a possibility. Oakland may be going through makeover. Angels still have pitching problems. Seattle remains iffy. All depends on how Fielder and Choo come back; whether Daniels adds a couple of starting pitchers and a bat; and how the team takes to Banister. Lots of unknowns at this point. Don't think I'd bet on it, though.


Question: What free agent do the Rangers make a run at?
Sherrington: I think they're going to go more lower tier. None of the big FA pitchers. I think they may make a run at Russell Martin, the Pirates' catcher. Great OBP this year (.402), very athletic for a 31-year-old, and great leader. I know Alfaro is on the way, but Martin could catch a couple years and then maybe even move to another position. Maybe 3B after Beltre moves to DH?


Question: Chances Cruz is back with the Rangers?[/B]
Sherrington: I wouldn't say they're good. He loved it here, but he's loved it in Baltimore, too. And as I've noted previously, there's no baggage in Baltimore. No Game 6 mishap in right. No PED suspension. And the Orioles want him back.

Regarding Russell Martin moving to 3rd base in a few years; what? He'll be 33 and moving him to 3rd after all these years of catching, just doesn't make sense to me.

But I do agree whole-heartedly with his take on Cruz.

 

[donaldson79]

I absolutely agree Romeo. We sit and picked Wash to death on making crazy moves day in and day out. If we see all the mistakes, the players who are professionals do too. Why would they not have blown him off? They had to wonder what was going on.

Both of ya have good points.

What's concerning about this to me is the amount of faith JD had shown in him. RW wasn't going anywhere for 2015 at the very least.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Both of ya have good points.

What's concerning about this to me is the amount of faith JD had shown in him. RW wasn't going anywhere for 2015 at the very least.

Given the amount of injuries I'm really not sure how you could fire him based on the type of season they had. Of course we know Wash's weaknesses but all that aside you really couldn't fire Wash based on what happened this season starting with Holland's injury. I think when the manager has the backing of the GM and ownership it's only a good thing. That's not to say they wouldn't make a move if they had to in giving him the boot but based on 2014 alone I think everyone realized it was a lost season due to health.

 

[saddles]

Regarding Russell Martin moving to 3rd base in a few years; what? He'll be 33 and moving him to 3rd after all these years of catching, just doesn't make sense to me.

But I do agree whole-heartedly with his take on Cruz.

Johnny Bench played 3B at the end of his career. In 1982 he played 107 games at 3B when he was 34. He played some there and some at 1B the next year as well.

 

[saddles]

Both of ya have good points.

What's concerning about this to me is the amount of faith JD had shown in him. RW wasn't going anywhere for 2015 at the very least.

I had been concerned with the faith JD had in Wash for several years.

 

[ESPN Refugee]

 

[saddles]

This from T. R. Sullivan:

"Before the Rangers start making player decisions, they'll have to come up with an operating payroll budget. The Rangers spent approximately $133 million in 2014, and it's not likely to go up.

Although a new television deal begins in '15, the Rangers have already committed some of that money to players on long-term deals, and the significant decrease in attendance also means less revenue.

In order to create some financial flexibility, the Rangers are not expected to pick up the $14-million option on Alex Rios and instead will let him become a free agent.

The Rangers also will have to make tough decisions on their arbitration-eligible players. First baseman Mitch Moreland and pitcher Alexi Ogando are foremost. Both played big roles in the club's past success, but their constant injury issues will make it difficult for the club to go into arbitration with them. Both made approximately $2.6 million this season.

The Rangers have six players eligible for arbitration, including reliever Neftali Feliz who figures to be back as closer. Catcher/first baseman J.P. Arencibia won't be back, and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff's future is unclear after undergoing two back operations this season. Adam Rosales has increased his value as a utility infielder.


Arbitration-eligible: RHP Feliz; 1B Moreland; RHP Ogando, 3B Kouzmanoff; C Arencibia; IF Rosales.


Free agents: RHP Colby Lewis; OF Rios [Club has $14 million option with $1 million buyout], RHP Scott Baker; LHP Neal Cotts."

 

[ESPN Refugee]

Wonder what JD and clan will want to do with Mitch and Alexi.

 

[donaldson79]

Johnny Bench played 3B at the end of his career. In 1982 he played 107 games at 3B when he was 34. He played some there and some at 1B the next year as well.

Yeah, it's not like it's impossible. However, I never think of Russell Martin and Johnny Bench in the same sentence. Besides, didn't the Reds finish like 50 games under .500 for that season.

And frankly, Johnny wasn't much of a 3rd baseman, that's way he didn't play there long, or successfully.

 

[donaldson79]

Wonder what JD and clan will want to do with Mitch and Alexi.

I supported MM for years when few did. But I've had my fill of him.

He's constantly hurt, and once he returns he seems to have a real rough time of getting going again.

Ogando and his delivery look like a DL stint just in waiting, even when he's pitching well. Totally undependable over the long haul IMO.

Maybe I'm being too rough on both of these guys. But for now, I've had it with guys who are hurt every year, and sometimes more than once per season.

 

[saddles]

Yeah, it's not like it's impossible. However, I never think of Russell Martin and Johnny Bench in the same sentence. Besides, didn't the Reds finish like 50 games under .500 for that season.

And frankly, Johnny wasn't much of a 3rd baseman, that's way he didn't play there long, or successfully.

I would much rather have Gallo or Rua at 3B in 3 years myself.

I don't think there is any possibility of us getting Martin anyway. If we did 1B or DH might be the way to go with Martin once Alfaro is entrenched at catcher. Russell has played a handful of games at 3B in his career so maybe that is why Kevin suggested 3B.

 

[saddles]

Wonder what JD and clan will want to do with Mitch and Alexi.

I like Mitch for the bench myself. Just as long as he isn't being counted on to start. I also would like to have Ogando back if he ever gets healthy again.

 

[DT LUNA]

I supported MM for years when few did. But I've had my fill of him.

He's constantly hurt, and once he returns he seems to have a real rough time of getting going again.

Ogando and his delivery look like a DL stint just in waiting, even when he's pitching well. Totally undependable over the long haul IMO.

Maybe I'm being too rough on both of these guys. But for now, I've had it with guys who are hurt every year, and sometimes more than once per season.

Agree with you and see these two as an on going situation. Time to make some changes and quit thinking " if this and if that".

 

[Nightcrawler]

Kouzmanoff carried the team for two weeks prior to injury. I wonder if he has anything left. At least give him a non-roster invite to spring training to figure it out He punished teams for pitching around Beltre, and the only other person who has ever been able to do that is Nelson Cruz.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I like Mitch for the bench myself. Just as long as he isn't being counted on to start. I also would like to have Ogando back if he ever gets healthy again.

Moreland has made it hard on JD to make a decision, and up to this point JD hasn't made the right call. Moreland is the " spring training World Series champion". The problem for us and the team is that World Series titles are not won in the spring. He was one of the best hitters in spring the last few years, but it never carries over into the regular season. This tells me that Moreland can hit bad pitchers, but struggles against high end or decent pitchers. I'm fine with the team keeping him, but I think the guy has no business playing 140+ games a year like Wash was going to let him do. Wash was a big fan of " his guys" and we saw wash stick with them while they stunk it up the whole year. Let's hope we have a better manager who won't run out guys like Murphy and Moreland the entire season when it is painfully obvious that they can't get the job done. I won't talk about Moreland anymore just throwing in my .02 while he's the topic of conversation.

 

[saddles]

Moreland has made it hard on JD to make a decision, and up to this point JD hasn't made the right call. Moreland is the " spring training World Series champion". The problem for us and the team is that World Series titles are not won in the spring. He was one of the best hitters in spring the last few years, but it never carries over into the regular season. This tells me that Moreland can hit bad pitchers, but struggles against high end or decent pitchers. I'm fine with the team keeping him, but I think the guy has no business playing 140+ games a year like Wash was going to let him do. Wash was a big fan of " his guys" and we saw wash stick with them while they stunk it up the whole year. Let's hope we have a better manager who won't run out guys like Murphy and Moreland the entire season when it is painfully obvious that they can't get the job done. I won't talk about Moreland anymore just throwing in my .02 while he's the topic of conversation.

I understand that sentiment completely.

I do remember though that in the 2010 WS Moreland was one of the only hitters we had to not let the big stage get the best of him. The rest of the hitters made very good pitchers look like Cy Youngs. I know that that is ancient history now though. I just see his bat and his glove as being very good on the bench. Not having Wash around any longer will change the way we view a lot of players I think.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I understand that sentiment completely.

I do remember though that in the 2010 WS Moreland was one of the only hitters we had to not let the big stage get the best of him. The rest of the hitters made very good pitchers look like Cy Youngs. I know that that is ancient history now though. I just see his bat and his glove as being very good on the bench. Not having Wash around any longer will change the way we view a lot of players I think.

If what you say is true than Moreland has been living off of the Johnathan Sanchez 3 run homer in game 3 World Series of 2010. Keep in mind most Rangers played well in that game ( the only win for the Rangers). I don't recall Moreland doing anything against Tim Linceum in his prime ( 2 games), Matt Cain in his prime (1 game), and an up and coming Madison Bumgarner ( that game was his coming out party). Notice that Sanchez is no longer with the team and was not better than the aforementioned 3 pitchers. In fairness, none of the Rangers did anything against those guys, but we are talking about Moreland right now.

 

[darrylgann]

@aandro: Rangers GM Jon Daniels said MRI on Jurickson Profar was 95 percent clean, which is as good as can be expected. Another around Thanksgiving.

 

[RevSader]

Rangers reportedly offered a FA deal to Colby, but no news on the terms. I hope the come to an agreement. Would be nice to know you have him lined up for the back of the rotation.