2017 Texas Rangers offseason thread

[DT LUNA]

Gallo and Mazara are going to have to mature and they should. Odor needs to be replaced by Profar, but that is not going to happen. We are going to have to wait until another middle infielder is ready before we jettison Odor and that might be 3 years down the road. Calhoun's bat should help when he has had some experience and the same might be said of Guzman. In other words the hitting is more than a one offseason correction. In fact, is might be a problem that takes 2-3 years to make marked improvements. That is especially true considering that Beltre will probably play less and hit less as time goes by.

So which came first, chicken or the egg? Spend a fortune on pitchers and wait 2-3 yrs for offense to mature or tap the brake a little on spending and be patient? Hard to ever know imo.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

So, what is the story about seeing Otani's name spelled two different ways?

From what I have read, it's about the Japanese characters his name uses. Apparently, when converted to English, it can be either "Otani" or "Ohtani"... both are technically correct.

 

[donaldson79]

JD is going to be on Hitzges this morning. Not sure which segment though.

 

[donaldson79]

11:10 for JD

 

[True Rangers Fan]

11:10 for JD

I expect an official recap.

 

[donaldson79]

JD's takes: Beltre wants to stay if it's not a rebuild, and they've had a discussion, so it seems we're on the same page..........Budget for next season is YTBD, but it will be in the top 10...........He has great confidence that Odor will get better, and he used EA as an example of "what did everyone think of him 3 years ago as compared to now?" And JD feels Odor is going to do the same...........Othani he passed on making a comment.

 

[saddles]

JD's takes: Beltre wants to stay if it's not a rebuild, and they've had a discussion, so it seems we're on the same page..........Budget for next season is YTBD, but it will be in the top 10...........He has great confidence that Odor will get better, and he used EA as an example of "what did everyone think of him 3 years ago as compared to now?" And JD feels Odor is going to do the same...........Othani he passed on making a comment.

I didn't see the same extent of bottoming out with Elvis the way we have with Odor. Odor could rebound like Elvis did, but he could end up more like Hank Blalock.

 

[saddles]

So which came first, chicken or the egg? Spend a fortune on pitchers and wait 2-3 yrs for offense to mature or tap the brake a little on spending and be patient? Hard to ever know imo.

I don't mind adding pitching that is still going to be helping us a couple of years from now. That is why I don't mind trading Cole Hamels. I don't think he is going to be as effective later on down the line. If he falls off in the next 2 years as much as he has in the last 2 years then he won't be much help at all. His trade value is going down every year as well.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I don't mind adding pitching that is still going to be helping us a couple of years from now. That is why I don't mind trading Cole Hamels. I don't think he is going to be as effective later on down the line. If he falls off in the next 2 years as much as he has in the last 2 years then he won't be much help at all. His trade value is going down every year as well.

We only have one more season of Cole Hamels.

 

[donaldson79]

I didn't see the same extent of bottoming out with Elvis the way we have with Odor. Odor could rebound like Elvis did, but he could end up more like Hank Blalock.

I agree. EA had some bad times, but nothing even close to the extent of what Odor showed.

 

[donaldson79]

I don't mind adding pitching that is still going to be helping us a couple of years from now. That is why I don't mind trading Cole Hamels. I don't think he is going to be as effective later on down the line. If he falls off in the next 2 years as much as he has in the last 2 years then he won't be much help at all. His trade value is going down every year as well.

I agree with ya on this one too. But keep in mind, if you trade Hamels that may be the end of our relationship with Mr Beltre.

But again, I agree with ya, and I think moving Adrian might be the best thing for all parties at this point anyway.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

We only have one more season of Cole Hamels.

I believe we have an option for 2019 as well.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I believe we have an option for 2019 as well.

Yeah, we have a team option, but it's for $20m, with a buyout of $6m. I'm guessing the Rangers do the buyout.

 

[saddles]

I agree with ya on this one too. But keep in mind, if you trade Hamels that may be the end of our relationship with Mr Beltre.

But again, I agree with ya, and I think moving Adrian might be the best thing for all parties at this point anyway.

I think trading Hamels would only occur after his replacement has been acquired though.

 

[saddles]

Yeah, we have a team option, but it's for $20m, with a buyout of $6m. I'm guessing the Rangers do the buyout.

That seems like the way to go, but we will be in the same boat not wanting to appear to be rebuilding again so I wouldn't be surprised to see us pick up that option. It wouldn't even surprise me to see them announce that in ST 2018 along with announcing an extension of Beltre.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

That seems like the way to go, but we will be in the same boat not wanting to appear to be rebuilding again so I wouldn't be surprised to see us pick up that option. It wouldn't even surprise me to see them announce that in ST 2018 along with announcing an extension of Beltre.

next year's FA class is supposed to be pretty strong and will be a factor.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

MLB's 2018 free agent class: Stars hit some bumps on road to riches

 

[saddles]

next year's FA class is supposed to be pretty strong and will be a factor.

I am pretty sure we would have to make a decision on the option before free agency hits next year.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I am pretty sure we would have to make a decision on the option before free agency hits next year.

What I was getting at was that given the class of '18, the decision has most likely already been made. They'll need to free up as much money as possible, and Cole coming off the books would do that.

Obviously things can change, but my hunch is that '18 is the last year of Hamels in a Rangers jersey.