2017 Texas Rangers offseason thread

[Kelleyman]

again JD is not alone in developing and retaining SP. every pick is a crapshoot with one in 100 or higher panning out.

Again? Crapshoot? JD is accountable for his staff. I never said he was alone. I think he has legitimized Rangers. I am pointing out area of improvement that he has admitted to addressing

 

[saddles]

A few thought from Rangers minor leagues follower, Mr. Tepid.

As we enter what will be an utterly fascinating winter for the big league roster, my hope is we look back on 2017 as the summer when the club truly began to pack the powder back into the minors’ muskets for another round of pennant-chasing salvos. Don’t get me wrong, this ain’t weapons-gradeBraves/Padres-level uranium, but it’s a start. On my flight home from Spring Training I spent 2 hours looking at my notes and desperately squinting for stars. Not guys who can get there and help in some capacity (Texas has those)- stars. And I didn’t see them. Neither did the industry. On the position player side, scouts often told me they only had 1st division grades onLeody Taveras and Condor Guzman, and a few had that mark on Jose Trevino. This ain’t 2012. Then the draft happened. And short-season and rookie ball fired up. And my concern turned to intrigue. Now, as instructs are complete and I’m collecting the thoughts of industry eyes, I’m more excited about the entire farm than I have been at any point in the last couple of seasons. There is high-ceiling, low-floor talent at the farthest lower levels. Kids who, while several years away from The Show, look like they might be more than fringy big leaguers. There’s a few kids who, when viewed through an optimist’s eyeglass, might become legit hundred-milly making ballers. History tells us we’ll be lucky to have even one of these lower-level lovers turn out this way, but we’re unabashed about this whole prospect-following thing being based on hope. Now we have some.

 

[saddles]

More from Mr. Tepid.

Could someone like Yo Mendez light the room on fire in Surprise and win a backend spot? Sure. Did he look like that to me this season? No.Ariel Jurado had a rough one too, but he’s still my guy, so here we are, sinker in hand.Sadz is a reliever. Brett Martin will be 23 in April and has yet to eclipse 100ip in a season. I love them all, but I anticipate another year on the farm for my guys.

Two dudes who aced nearly every test in 2017 are Kyle Cody and Mike Matuella. Matuella’s season is deceiving because the numbers were (mostly) irrelevant. I had more than 1 Rangers employee told me, 2017 was all about keeping him healthy and teaching his body how to pitch again. And it worked. Sure, he’s gonna be 24 next June and we’ll always be dealing with a frame that can betray us (especially Mike himself), but it takes about 5 pitches for anyone watching him to realize there’s a dreamy amount of talent there. Stay with this youngin’. Cody is another 23 year old and man did this kid take to professional coaching. Here’s a full quote from a scout about Kyle: “Cody isn't a great athlete and he is older so the natural inclination is to say his upside is more limited...until you realize he hasn't had a ton of coaching and has shown improvement in a short period to the coaching he has been given. Yes the raw talent increasing is limited but what he can do with that is not. As long as he remains coachable and driven, he should improve.” So that’s cool.

 

[saddles]

Still more from Mr. Tepid.

I did see some potential MLB ‘pen arms that folks outside of us won’t be familiar with. Guys like Reed Garrett, who was running up lots of 97s and 98s as the season wound down for Frisco. And I thinkGardewine and Ricky Rodriguez will remain middle-relievers with MLB potential for some time. Brady Feigl and Joe FIlomenoboth gave up crooked numbers too often, but both are lefties capable of hummin’ mid-90s, so they’re always worth keeping an eye on. The 40-man decisions this winter are gonna be brutal and I can envision a scenario where as many as 6 or 7 guys are added, including Isiah Kiner-Falefa. I know at least 2 scouts who vocally prefer IKF’s MLB potential over Josh Morgan’s.

Make no bones about it, the juice was down low for the Rangers in 2017. Really low: rookie ball and short-season. Raganswent ‘nanas with the Ks. Basically, his wiggly 91-94 FB and potentially ++ CH were too much for the league. Hickory beckons and hopefully a healthy 110-ish inning season awaits him in 2018. Big Al Speaswas exactly what we knew he would be: a project. The results from the ‘pen move were fantastic and though he’s still gonna be developed as a starter, the relief experience could end up paying dividends his entire career. Speas might have the fastest arm I’ve ever seen, but Hans might meme-out “hold my beer” next Spring. Sweet Mary, this kid! Scouts were laughing at me when I asked what they thought after seeing him in AZL action. Not laughing because he was bad, but laughing because they knew I was gonna pee my pants with excitement. “You’re gonna write a lot about this kid for sure because you’re going to love him.” “He’s sitting 97 and his slider would miss big league bats today.” Trying to contain myself.

 

[saddles]

and i agree that in retrospect some of the moves can be questioned but at the time they were made they made sense to the team. at the time of the trade lucroy was one of the best catchers in baseball and jeffers was considered a top of the line reliever how was JD suppose to know what would happen? if by sticking your head in the sand you mean we shouldn't ever make a trade then you're wrong

I have always given the man credit when it is due, but I also blame him when it is due. I never thought we should have traded for Lucroy or Hamels and I still don't think we should have. On the other hand I thought the Cliff Lee trade was great when he made the deal. I don't grade his deals in retrospect or in hindsight as that would be very unfair. I am going by how I felt at the time the deal was made. Sometimes good deals with out bad and sometimes bad deals actually work out good, but most of the time the good ones work out and the bad ones don't. Again, I don't wait until afterwards to make up my mind unless I find out something afterwards that wasn't a secret to the Rangers earlier.

Of course, everything any of us say or think is just our opinions. My opinion is that JD has made some bad moves beginning at the early part of this decade and especially since the 2013 season that has hurt this team's chances at winning a WS.

He also hasn't done enough to correct the development of starting pitchers problem in the organization.

 

[saddles]

instead of Cashner being offered the qualifying offer of 17.4M how about Alex Cobb and Miles Mikolas for less than 60% of that on multi-year deals to fill the 4 and 5 spots in the rotation?

What kind of deals do you expect Cobb and Mikolas will get?

 

[saddles]

I also find a huge difference in excuses and reasons.

I do too. 2014 was full of reasons.

 

[saddles]

Again? Crapshoot? JD is accountable for his staff. I never said he was alone. I think he has legitimized Rangers. I am pointing out area of improvement that he has admitted to addressing

I agree. It isn't a "crapshoot" at all. Knowing who to draft and developing them is a multi-million dollar industry within the organization. That being said, some guys are drafted and signed to fill out rosters, but many are drafted with a legitimate hope of developing them into big league players. If you just look at guys who are considered legitimate prospects it should be a lot closer to a science than a crapshoot.

 

[Kelleyman]

Wonder if all that junk that went down with Yu last night helps our chances of resigning him. What a class guy tasking the high road. Upward calling for us all. Very appropriate words made by Yu

 

[donaldson79]

Anyone notice that our former pitching coach is now with the F---ing Cardinals?

 

[scotsman1948]

What kind of deals do you expect Cobb and Mikolas will get?

i would offer Mikolas 3 years $15M starting at 4M in 2018. Cobb 3 years $28.5M starting at 7.5M in 2018. add Shosei Otani on a rookie contract and we are set with our rotation with Hamels, Otani, Cobb, Perez & Mikolas

 

[DT LUNA]

i would offer Mikolas 3 years $15M starting at 4M in 2018. Cobb 3 years $28.5M starting at 7.5M in 2018. add Shosei Otani on a rookie contract and we are set with our rotation with Hamels, Otani, Cobb, Perez & Mikolas

So you're not counting on getting Yu back.

 

[scotsman1948]

So you're not counting on getting Yu back.

no someone will pay bigger bucks than the Rangers will be willing to pay

 

[saddles]

i would offer Mikolas 3 years $15M starting at 4M in 2018. Cobb 3 years $28.5M starting at 7.5M in 2018. add Shosei Otani on a rookie contract and we are set with our rotation with Hamels, Otani, Cobb, Perez & Mikolas

I think Cobb gets substantially more than that. Mikolas probably gets more than what you suggested as well I would think.

 

[saddles]

So you're not counting on getting Yu back.

I think Yu will sign with us.

 

[saddles]

2018 MLB Free Agents Tracker

This site says Cobb will get a contract with an AAV of $18.3 million.

 

[Kelleyman]

I think Yu will sign with us.

I sure hope he does. If we can offer just something fair, he might do it even over a higher offer. The way he conducts himself, money is not his top priority. Would make for interesting 2018 against Astros

 

[scotsman1948]

I think Cobb gets substantially more than that. Mikolas probably gets more than what you suggested as well I would think.

both are no more than a #3 or lower. are you going to pay them 10+M a season for that?

 

[saddles]

both are no more than a #3 or lower. are you going to pay them 10+M a season for that?

Cobb would only be #3 if you had a great rotation. He would be a #2 on a lot of teams. He will more than likely put up better numbers than Hamels next year.

Mikolas is an unknown and it would all depend on who wants him, but he will probably get more than you suggested.

 

[Kelleyman]

Cobb would only be #3 if you had a great rotation. He would be a #2 on a lot of teams. He will more than likely put up better numbers than Hamels next year.

Mikolas is an unknown and it would all depend on who wants him, but he will probably get more than you suggested.

Well Cobb did come back well. Forgot about his good second half they will indeed drive his price up. Just wonder if one guy we get will be a guy coming off injury they is high projectible. Cobb would be a solid addition but getting him means no Yu.

I keep thinking of pitchers that do well in the post season. We need those type of pitchers. Hamels was that type but he is indeed wearing down or needs something to be better. Probably may be a good time to trade if we think he may regress further with option ahead.

Evaluating pitchers is pretty complicated