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2017 Texas Rangers offseason thread

saddles

Be Patient and Finish Right #TakeBackTX
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according to bleacher report they are saying that the Rangers should trade Taveras, Guzman and Mendez to the Rays for Archer, don't care much for that although i would love to have Archer but that is too steep
I think they would want a better pitching prospect than Mendez. The Rays would probably want Ragans instead of Mendez
 

Kelleyman

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I think they would want a better pitching prospect than Mendez. The Rays would probably want Ragans instead of Mendez

Of course what they want and what is appropriate for the current window are two different things, Ragans and Tavares are our future that will not be sacrificed for the now. Mendez may turn it around this year too.

On a side note, Rays sure seem to know how to evaluate and develop pitching. They are pretty shrewd in their trading of young pitchers prior to free agency. Tough market trying to keep up with moneybags Yankees
 

saddles

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Trying to make sense of Rangers’ interest in Lorenzo Cain

Here’s how it doesn’t make sense:


▪ Cain is a nice player who would make the Rangers better. He would come at a price, and not just financial.


The Rangers need to be realistic, and maybe they have been all off-season when passing on the chance to land a big free-agent fish. One off-season isn’t going to allow them to catch the Houston Astros, and Cain isn’t so much of a difference-maker that he’s worth signing, paying and holding until the Rangers feel like they are ready to overtake the Astros.


He would block DeShields, who has a chance to continue to develop in center field if he’s allowed to play center field.

If the Rangers are finding that prices on the free-agent market are declining, why not try to get a quality starter at below market value? If you’re Yu Darvish and your price is coming down to the point where the difference between the best offer and an offer from the Rangers to stay home is marginal, staying home start to make a lot of sense.

Or maybe the Rangers should start work on a new deal for shortstop Elvis Andrus to keep him from opting out of his current contract after each of the next two seasons.


▪ Don’t lose track of next off-season, when some of the game’s absolute best players could hit free agency. For instance, the Rangers could need a shortstop and/or a third baseman, and Manny Machado could fill in at either spot. He’d look pretty shiny in that shiny new stadium set to open in 2020. So would Darvish. Signing Cain would put a dent the Rangers’ ability to take a big dive into free agency this off-season or next.


The Rangers’ interest in Cain makes sense in some ways, but doesn’t in others.
 

saddles

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Rangers' lineup to be balanced, athletic

LINEUP IF SEASON STARTED TODAY

Delino DeShields, CF
Elvis Andrus, SS
Shin-Soo Choo, DH
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Nomar Mazara, RF
Joey Gallo, 1B
Robinson Chirinos, C
Rougned Odor, 2B
Willie Calhoun, LF

STRENGTH

On the surface, this should be a balanced, athletic lineup. There is speed and power, plus a mix of youth and experience. The Rangers were third in the American League in home runs last season and second in stolen bases. Mazara and Gallo could be on the brink of something big in the middle of the lineup, and DeShields showed last season he has the ability to be a dynamic leadoff hitter. Andrus, Beltre and Choo are all professional hitters, Chirinos continues to show improvement and Calhoun had a big season in Triple-A last year.

QUESTION MARK

There is imbalance in the lineup because the Rangers were second in the American League in strikeouts last season and seventh in walks. They need to close the gap on that. This is also not going to be the best defensive team in the American League, especially in the outfield. DeShields still needs to get better in center and Calhoun is better with the bat than the glove. Keeping Choo and Beltre healthy will remain a challenge.

WHAT MIGHT CHANGE

The lineup changes drastically if the Rangers sign center fielder Lorenzo Cain. He would move into center, leaving DeShields and Calhoun to battle it out in left along with Drew Robinson, Ryan Rua and Carlos Tocci. If DeShields is not in the lineup, it delivers a big hit to the Rangers' ability to manufacture runs. Odor is set at second base but could be pushed by either Robinson or Jurickson Profar. Gallo's ability to play the outfield gives rookie first baseman Ronald Guzman a chance to crack the lineup. Left-handed-hitting Brett Nicholas could push Chirinos behind the plate.
 

Kelleyman

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quite a snoozefest of an offseason so far.
 

saddles

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Fucking Roogie is afraid to take walks.

I’m really down on the guy. I wish we would’ve invested in profar or a different minor leaguer.
Or maybe not invested in a multiyear deal on any of them so quickly.
 
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