2017 Texas Rangers offseason thread

[darrylgann]

Someone please tell me something exciting. Like a TORP signing.

NEWS FLASH: Due to lack of interest in the states, Yu Darvish flies back to Japan to play baseball.

 

[Kelleyman]

Good Ranger info

 

[Duane1952]

10 overlooked Rangers players ahead of spring

1. Ryan Rua -- This guy belongs in the Cactus League Hall of Fame. Over the past three years, he has hit .344 with seven home runs, 34 RBIs and .578 slugging percentage in 180 spring at-bats. He may be the quietest player on the team, but he can still hit and play multiple positions.

2. Kevin Jepsen -- The veteran right-handed reliever had 15 saves with the Rays and Twins in 2015. Outside of Shawn Tolleson (who is recovering from Tommy John surgery), that is the most in a single season by any pitcher in camp. He used to bring it at 95-plus mph and was an excellent setup reliever for a couple of division championships with the Angels.

3. Hanser Alberto -- Jurickson Profar will get a lot of attention this spring, but Alberto is a utility infielder who missed all of last season because of right shoulder surgery. The guy can field the baseball.

4. Connor Sadzeck -- The Rangers have plenty of young right-handed heat to compete in the bullpen, including Jose Leclerc, Nick Gardewine and Ricardo Rodriguez. But Sadzeck is the one who can hit 100 mph and is now a full-time reliever.

5. Steve Delabar -- What do Matt Moore, Hamels and Delabar have in common? They have all pitched in an All-Star Game. Delabar did so as a setup reliever for the Blue Jays in 2013.

6. Jeffrey Springs -- This left-hander struck out 11.7 batters and walked 3.0 per nine innings at Class A Advanced Down East last season. He has a cross-body delivery with a 90-92 mph fastball, plus changeup and solid mound demeanor. If his curve picks up, the Rangers might have another left-handed relief option.

7. Destin Hood -- A right-handed-hitting outfielder, Hood was the 55th overall pick by the Nationals in 2008 and, as a wide receiver, turned down a football scholarship to the University of Alabama. If Nick Saban wants you as a football player, there is no doubting the athleticism. Hood has some speed and power, but the walk-to-strikeout ratio is holding him back.

8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa -- He is the latest example of the Rangers' emphasis on versatility in the farm system. The Rangers' fourth-round pick in 2013 can catch, play the infield and make an appearance in the outfield. Kiner-Falefa, 22, was drafted out of high school and the bat is starting to catch up, hitting .288/.350/.390 at Double-A Frisco last year.

9. Scott Heineman -- The right-handed-hitting outfielder was taken in the 11th round out of the University of Oregon in 2015 and has yet to appear on anybody's top prospects list. He is ranked No. 24 in the Rangers' system by MLB Pipeline. But he can swing the bat with speed and power, play all three outfield spots and gets after it with intensity.

10. Jose Trevino -- The Rangers' backup catching job is open behind Robinson Chirinos with Major League veterans Brett Nicholas, Juan Centeno, Curt Casali and Mike Ohlman all in the running. But the Rangers will take a hard look at their top catching prospect to see how far he has progressed.

Rua has been a disappointment, and at 27 don't see him getting any much better. Alberto absolutely can't hit major league pitching.

 

[darrylgann]

Rua has been a disappointment, and at 27 don't see him getting any much better. Alberto absolutely can't hit major league pitching.

None of this fills you with a whole lotta hope, Duane. Might as well be spending more time on the Frisco and Round Rock teams than our pro team.

 

[Kelleyman]

Willie Rakes has hope

 

[Nightcrawler]

10 overlooked Rangers players ahead of spring

1. Ryan Rua -- This guy belongs in the Cactus League Hall of Fame. Over the past three years, he has hit .344 with seven home runs, 34 RBIs and .578 slugging percentage in 180 spring at-bats. He may be the quietest player on the team, but he can still hit and play multiple positions.

2. Kevin Jepsen -- The veteran right-handed reliever had 15 saves with the Rays and Twins in 2015. Outside of Shawn Tolleson (who is recovering from Tommy John surgery), that is the most in a single season by any pitcher in camp. He used to bring it at 95-plus mph and was an excellent setup reliever for a couple of division championships with the Angels.

3. Hanser Alberto -- Jurickson Profar will get a lot of attention this spring, but Alberto is a utility infielder who missed all of last season because of right shoulder surgery. The guy can field the baseball.

4. Connor Sadzeck -- The Rangers have plenty of young right-handed heat to compete in the bullpen, including Jose Leclerc, Nick Gardewine and Ricardo Rodriguez. But Sadzeck is the one who can hit 100 mph and is now a full-time reliever.

5. Steve Delabar -- What do Matt Moore, Hamels and Delabar have in common? They have all pitched in an All-Star Game. Delabar did so as a setup reliever for the Blue Jays in 2013.

6. Jeffrey Springs -- This left-hander struck out 11.7 batters and walked 3.0 per nine innings at Class A Advanced Down East last season. He has a cross-body delivery with a 90-92 mph fastball, plus changeup and solid mound demeanor. If his curve picks up, the Rangers might have another left-handed relief option.

7. Destin Hood -- A right-handed-hitting outfielder, Hood was the 55th overall pick by the Nationals in 2008 and, as a wide receiver, turned down a football scholarship to the University of Alabama. If Nick Saban wants you as a football player, there is no doubting the athleticism. Hood has some speed and power, but the walk-to-strikeout ratio is holding him back.

8. Isiah Kiner-Falefa -- He is the latest example of the Rangers' emphasis on versatility in the farm system. The Rangers' fourth-round pick in 2013 can catch, play the infield and make an appearance in the outfield. Kiner-Falefa, 22, was drafted out of high school and the bat is starting to catch up, hitting .288/.350/.390 at Double-A Frisco last year.

9. Scott Heineman -- The right-handed-hitting outfielder was taken in the 11th round out of the University of Oregon in 2015 and has yet to appear on anybody's top prospects list. He is ranked No. 24 in the Rangers' system by MLB Pipeline. But he can swing the bat with speed and power, play all three outfield spots and gets after it with intensity.

10. Jose Trevino -- The Rangers' backup catching job is open behind Robinson Chirinos with Major League veterans Brett Nicholas, Juan Centeno, Curt Casali and Mike Ohlman all in the running. But the Rangers will take a hard look at their top catching prospect to see how far he has progressed.

I hate to be an asshole, but it seems like we’ve seen 10 guys exactly like Rua over the last 15 years who “ murder” triple A pitching and can’t even make contact or get on base at the major league level.

 

[saddles]

I would have liked to have seen what Rua could have done last year if he had been put in the lineup on an everyday basis instead of being part of that 3-headed monster rotation.

 

[saddles]

I hate to be an asshole, but it seems like we’ve seen 10 guys exactly like Rua over the last 15 years who “ murder” triple A pitching and can’t even make contact or get on base at the major league level.

The article says he has murdeed ST pitching. That is what usually wins guys a chance to start every day.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I would have liked to have seen what Rua could have done last year if he had been put in the lineup on an everyday basis instead of being part of that 3-headed monster rotation.

That platoon was a joke and everyone on here hated it.

I’d be in favor of giving Rua 1 month straight of playing time to prove himself if he has another good spring training, but if he shits the bed again, they need to be ready to pull the plug and get someone in there.

 

[DT LUNA]

That platoon was a joke and everyone on here hated it.

I’d be in favor of giving Rua 1 month straight of playing time to prove himself if he has another good spring training, but if he shits the bed again, they need to be ready to pull the plug and get someone in there.

It won't be Rua. Almost sure it will be DeShields or Calhoun

 

[Nightcrawler]

Deshields

Mazara

Choo

??

 

[DT LUNA]

Deshields

Mazara

Choo

??

Calhoun left Deshields center Maz right

 

[Kelleyman]

Calhoun left Deshields center Maz right

I think they start Calhoun in AAA to extend player control and to help him polish up his fielding skills. Saves Rsngers money. Like Cubs did with Bryant

 

[donaldson79]

That platoon was a joke and everyone on here hated it.

I’d be in favor of giving Rua 1 month straight of playing time to prove himself if he has another good spring training, but if he shits the bed again, they need to be ready to pull the plug and get someone in there.

He's got nowhere to play now......It's that simple.

Mazara will be given every opportunity to be the full time RF, as will DDJ in CF. And I'm assuming that Calhoun will start in LF.

So Rua is destined to be a utility OF/DH, etc. if he's here at all.

 

[donaldson79]

I think they start Calhoun in AAA to extend player control and to help him polish up his fielding skills. Saves Rsngers money. Like Cubs did with Bryant

Sorry. But that's one of the biggest stretches in the history of stretches to use Bryant and Calhoun in the same sentence.

 

[saddles]

Sorry. But that's one of the biggest stretches in the history of stretches to use Bryant and Calhoun in the same sentence.

I took what he wrote as him comparing how the two players being sent to the minors to extend a year of control. I don't think he was trying to compare the skills or abilities of Calhoun and Bryant.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Whenever I hear people say "if only he would have been given a chance to play every day," I picture this guy:

 

[saddles]

There is one Rangers prospect on this list and two ex-Rangers prospects on the list.

12 prospects who will make an impact in '18

 

[saddles]

That platoon was a joke and everyone on here hated it.

I’d be in favor of giving Rua 1 month straight of playing time to prove himself if he has another good spring training, but if he shits the bed again, they need to be ready to pull the plug and get someone in there.

Looking back, Rua has had two opportunities to play close to an everyday basis in at least a 30 game stretch since he has been here. In the first stretch he hit .295 and in the second one he hit .286. The first one when he did a little better he was coming off playing everyday in the minors and in the second stint in 2016 he started playing almost everyday after starting in only 12 of the team's first 32 games. His OPS was a little over .740 both times.

 

[saddles]