2017 Texas Rangers offseason thread

[saddles]

It wouldn't surprise me to see us try to resign Barnette.

That is what I was thinking. They probably think they can get him a little cheaper after an off year for him.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

question is: do we want Barnette back?

 

[donaldson79]

question is: do we want Barnette back?

Well, I've got myself covered on this one. ha ha ha

 

[donaldson79]

That is what I was thinking. They probably think they can get him a little cheaper after an off year for him.

Exactly what I was initially thinking. IMO, this guy has value in the open market. But it's not at $4 mil per.

And our favorite team needs arms as bad as anyone. I rule no one out as a "potential candidate" for our pitching staff. And I mean no one.

 

[Nightcrawler]

question is: do we want Barnette back?

I don’t

I’ve always thought the guy was over rated

 

[saddles]

I would take Barnette back on a cheaper salary than the option was to be for. Relievers are up and down so maybe he gets back to his 2016 level which was good.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[Kelleyman]

And the Rangers may be one of the teams to offer him that 2/3 years. Don't rule this out.

For the right price definitely not rule out. We need pitching and innings eaters. At least we are not having to bid a gain strength a QO

 

[Nightcrawler]

A problem they addressed last offseason?

How so?

 

[donaldson79]

I’ve always thought the guy was over rated

He did fine in 2016, and had a pretty decent middle-of-the-year time in 2017. He's not a world beater, nor someone we've got to have. But at the same time, we need numerous arms, and Christmas is a long ways away. ha ha

 

[Kelleyman]

A problem they addressed last offseason?

How so?

They said they are slowing the development of pitchers having them perfect one pitch at a time. So a bit more development vs gsmemenship on the early side.

A lot of raw talent ia all MLB systems but some systems are known for successful player development. I.e. Tampa for pitchers This has not been a strength for Rangers. We lost some solid MIF development when we lost Wash. Bet he could help Odor.

 

[Kelleyman]

They said they are slowing the development of pitchers having them perfect one pitch at a time. So a bit more development vs gsmemenship on the early side.

A lot of raw talent ia all MLB systems but some systems are known for successful player development. I.e. Tampa for pitchers This has not been a strength for Rangers. We lost some solid MIF development when we lost Wash. Bet he could help Odor.

Also Wash was a mentor to Pettis who was lauded in WS for his coaching at 3rd base. Pettis was a premier CF defensively, something we are currently missing. Last really good Defensive CF were Martin and Gentry. Hoying was good and Gomez in his day. Now arm not elite.

Now Banny was a catcher and Chirinos had a pretty good year behind the plate. Thus we get guys like Pudge, MY and Colby to mentor.

 

[Kelleyman]

Lastly, we have guys who cant get a strikeout. One of the worst in the league. Yu was good but you hear media preaching pitch to contact, but problem is our pen is worse than SP minus Bush who has a straight FB and LeClerc who is wild.

I am no expert but development and coaching at MLB level has to be a factor. Article out there praising the analytics of Houston pitching coach giving specific examples of tweaking MLB pitchers buying into his approach.

I just think a mgr and staff should do more than just provide good clubhouse culture. Being tough is not enough. JD in the hire said there would be more connection with FO and Mgrs to my mind metrics could be utilized. Teaching and players buying into your expertise is huge. Guess former players are in play now enter Colby.

Not even mentioning the reverse record number of our players striking out.

 

[donaldson79]

1. Yu Darvish, RHP
Age: 31 | B-T: R/R
HT: 6-5 | WT: 216
Career WAR: 19.3

Darvish has averaged 4.5 WAR per 31 starts over his career, which was interrupted by Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2015 and much of 2016, but he has altered his pitching style since his return and, until his trade to the Dodgers, had settled at a lower level of performance than his previous ace-like self.

He amped up the use of his cutter and trimmed the use of his slider, giving him a better weapon to get left-handed batters out, and while I'd still like to see the return of his changeup (or even his splitter), he's at least approaching a pitch mix that should limit his platoon splits and keep hitters from squaring up his four-seamer.

Darvish's awful showing in two World Series games -- possibly the result of tipping his pitches -- won't help his free-agent case any, but I'd be surprised if it did more than shave a tiny bit off the top. When you sign a free agent, you're signing him for his projected regular-season output, with the hope that your team first reaches the postseason and then he can contribute there too. You sign Darvish because you're hoping for 30-32 starts of above-average pitching from April to September. Teams that back off because of two bad (OK, atrocious) outings in the World Series are letting recency bias overrule their rational judgment.

 

[donaldson79]

4. Jake Arrieta, RHP
Age: 31 | B-T: R/R
HT: 6-4 | WT: 225
Career WAR: 20.3

Arrieta finally reaches free agency this year entering his age-32 season, late for a starter and especially so for one drafted out of college, but years of mishandling in the Baltimore system set him back to the point where he never developed as a starter until he went to the Cubs in a mid-2013 trade.

He peaked in his Cy Young-winning 2015 season, both in performance and workload, but has seen his velocity slip since and then missed a few starts this year with a hamstring injury. He could return to his peak form, but I wouldn't bet on it, not given his age, loss of velocity and diminishing control. You sign Arrieta hoping for a mid-rotation starter who can take the ball 31 times, which itself is worth $20 million a year, but if anyone pays him as if he's still an ace, they're taking on an unacceptable risk.

 

[saddles]

As the politicans would say, I approve of this message.

It's Time. The Rangers need to re-build.

It’s time for the Rangers to rebuild. They had a phenomenal 9-year run, and GM Jon Daniels should be commended for orchestrating it. The Rangers have been a model organization and brought the state of Texas its greatest extended stretch of baseball. But if the franchise wants to re-enter the national conversation as a World Series contender, it needs to rebuild. Texas doesn’t need to tank; it needs to stop focusing on outside acquisitions in their 30s to save a situation that may be beyond repair. Find the next wave of Rangers instead. Cole Hamels will not be on the next great Rangers team. Neither will Andrew Cashner or Carlos Gomez. Adrian Beltre will be posing for his Hall of Fame bust, which should include a hat with a big ‘T’ on it. Elvis Andrus may be here, but he won’t be the Elvis he was in 2009.

What Elvis could be is the next generation’s Michael Young. The leader, the mentor, the guy who’s seen and done it all. Joey Gallo will be here. If the Rangers have the Astros’ good fortune, Hans Crouse, Cole Ragans and Leody Taveras will be here. But it’s not enough. This team has sold parts of its future for nearly a decade now, all in devotion to propping open a World Series window. They had a spectacular run, created memories and funded a new stadium.

But the window is closed. Don’t mourn what it wasn’t; rejoice over what it was. Remember the playoff wins. The champagne showers. The MVP season. Remember Adrian Beltre, and Josh Hamilton, and Yu Darvish, and every other player who gave 100% for this organization.

But remember that it’s over, and that if you want to see the Rangers riding in their own parade, the status quo isn’t going to cut it. It’s time to rebuild.

 

[Godstree]

Well, I've got myself covered on this one. ha ha ha

You got a good chuckle outta me this AM

 

[Kelleyman]

As the politicans would say, I approve of this message.

It's Time. The Rangers need to re-build.

It’s time for the Rangers to rebuild. They had a phenomenal 9-year run, and GM Jon Daniels should be commended for orchestrating it. The Rangers have been a model organization and brought the state of Texas its greatest extended stretch of baseball. But if the franchise wants to re-enter the national conversation as a World Series contender, it needs to rebuild. Texas doesn’t need to tank; it needs to stop focusing on outside acquisitions in their 30s to save a situation that may be beyond repair. Find the next wave of Rangers instead. Cole Hamels will not be on the next great Rangers team. Neither will Andrew Cashner or Carlos Gomez. Adrian Beltre will be posing for his Hall of Fame bust, which should include a hat with a big ‘T’ on it. Elvis Andrus may be here, but he won’t be the Elvis he was in 2009.

What Elvis could be is the next generation’s Michael Young. The leader, the mentor, the guy who’s seen and done it all. Joey Gallo will be here. If the Rangers have the Astros’ good fortune, Hans Crouse, Cole Ragans and Leody Taveras will be here. But it’s not enough. This team has sold parts of its future for nearly a decade now, all in devotion to propping open a World Series window. They had a spectacular run, created memories and funded a new stadium.

But the window is closed. Don’t mourn what it wasn’t; rejoice over what it was. Remember the playoff wins. The champagne showers. The MVP season. Remember Adrian Beltre, and Josh Hamilton, and Yu Darvish, and every other player who gave 100% for this organization.

But remember that it’s over, and that if you want to see the Rangers riding in their own parade, the status quo isn’t going to cut it. It’s time to rebuild.

FYI. What I heard that a complete fold the tents tank like the Astros did and to a lesser extent the Cubbies does not reap the same amount of draft talent award that it did in the past. Also TV revenues are a factor in totally tanking

Anybody else heard anymore?

 

[Kelleyman]

Guess any beef one might have is why didn't we move Cashner when we had the chance and to a much lesser extent Beltre. I was not advocating that. I do think a winning structure makes a difference and our talent level definitely dipped. So perhaps we overachieved or conversely the pitchers esp pen underachieved

 

[saddles]

Guess any beef one might have is why didn't we move Cashner when we had the chance and to a much lesser extent Beltre. I was not advocating that. I do think a winning structure makes a difference and our talent level definitely dipped. So perhaps we overachieved or conversely the pitchers esp pen underachieved

I think we should have moved more pieces at the deadline.