latest offseason news

[Al Falfa]

Had a thought ... maybe TEX interest in Fielder is a play to help TEX in its negotiations with Hamilton ... and/or perhaps Napoli and/or Cruz? (maybe all three)

TEX has shown in its "negotiations" with CJ that it is prepared to part ways when it has an alternative (Darvish) it can turn to that is prepared to execute.

Maybe with Cruz and Napoli but Hamilton either gets his money here or some other place.

 

[scotsman1948]

Bailey would have been traded to Texas if the Red Sox hadn't included Reddick in the deal, Peter Gammons of MLB Network tweets.

 

[Windingmywatch]

Bailey would have been traded to Texas if the Red Sox hadn't included Reddick in the deal, Peter Gammons of MLB Network tweets.

I don't doubt that acquiring Bailey would have been great for TEX ... perhaps making Joe Nathan redundant ... but I don't see how TEX couldn't have found positional talent amongst its flock of young CFers that would have been acceptable to OAK if TEX really wanted that deal.

But it makes you wonder what the prime talent TEX was offering to OAK for Bailey. If it was Matt Harrison ... then that deal might be considered a little premature until TEX gets Darvish under contract.

As it is ... just moving Bailey out of the ALW to the ALE is good for TEX IMO.

 

[scotsman1948]

The Rangers' January 18 deadline for signing Yu Darvish is also the day the "logjam will break" for Prince Fielder, opines Thomas Boswell of the Washington Post. If the Rangers can't sign Darvish, they "will be all over Fielder" to counter the Angels' signing of Albert Pujols.

 

[scotsman1948]

The Rangers have re-signed Matt Kata to a minor league deal, reports Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The infielder spent last year with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, posting an .832 OPS in 447 plate appearances. Kata has a career line of .239/.290/.370 in parts of five Major League seasons and last appeared in the majors with the Astros in 2009.

this was reported several weeks ago but completed today. wonder if he would be the utility infielder replacing Blanco.

 

[romeo212000]

Reports indicate Oliver is in talks with toronto.

 

[dmc0015]

Reports indicate Oliver is in talks with toronto.

I sure would like the Rangers to find a lefty specialist who is good for more than just one batter. Oliver was good at getting the first guy out, but after that he just didn't get it done.

 

[romeo212000]

I sure would like the Rangers to find a lefty specialist who is good for more than just one batter. Oliver was good at getting the first guy out, but after that he just didn't get it done.

Especially with inherited runners. That's why his ERA looks better than you would think.

 

[jta4437]

I sure would like the Rangers to find a lefty specialist who is good for more than just one batter. Oliver was good at getting the first guy out, but after that he just didn't get it done.

He was bad with inherited runners, but over the last 3 years Oliver has been almost as effective against RHBs as he was LHBs

He's not quite the LH specialist everyone makes him out to be, he just isn't very good about putting out other people's fires

 

[jta4437]

The Rangers have re-signed Matt Kata to a minor league deal, reports Drew Davison of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The infielder spent last year with the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, posting an .832 OPS in 447 plate appearances. Kata has a career line of .239/.290/.370 in parts of five Major League seasons and last appeared in the majors with the Astros in 2009.

this was reported several weeks ago but completed today. wonder if he would be the utility infielder replacing Blanco.

Kata is a 2B/3B type, he's not much of a SS,

There's not a lot of options out there, might end up being filled internally

 

[romeo212000]

He was bad with inherited runners, but over the last 3 years Oliver has been almost as effective against RHBs as he was LHBs

He's not quite the LH specialist everyone makes him out to be, he just isn't very good about putting out other people's fires

This is hard for me to believe but he was actually better in 2011 than 2010 by the numbers aside from a slightly higher whip. I think he has his place. Washington just doesn't know how to use him. His in game managing really is a joke.

 

[romeo212000]

Kata is a 2B/3B type, he's not much of a SS,

There's not a lot of options out there, might end up being filled internally

Young can handle some 2b and 3b when needed as well. We really need a utility guy who can play ss.

 

[romeo212000]

Well.... Sources say Oliver just agreed to a 1 yr deal with Toronto. Texas will have to look elsewhere for their lefty.

 

[Al Falfa]

25M a year is more than pujois is getting

Saw this and remembered our conversation from last week.

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports that Albert Pujols' 10-year, $254 million deal is backloaded to the extent that he will make a base salary of just $12 million in 2012 and $16 million in 2013, after which his annual base salary will steadily escalate until it "surpasses $30 million annually near the end of the deal."

After 28 million in the first two years of his contract that leaves an average of 28.25 million per year on the remaining 8 years.

 

[romeo212000]

Saw this and remembered our conversation from last week.

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports that Albert Pujols' 10-year, $254 million deal is backloaded to the extent that he will make a base salary of just $12 million in 2012 and $16 million in 2013, after which his annual base salary will steadily escalate until it "surpasses $30 million annually near the end of the deal."

After 28 million in the first two years of his contract that leaves an average of 28.25 million per year on the remaining 8 years.

CJs contract is heavily backloaded as well. Like I said. They paid a big price to be competitive for a few years. They think they hate some of their bad contracts now? Wait till they're paying pujols over 30 mil when he's 42. The doctors actually think he's a couple years older than he says he is.

 

[kennyt12]

It's great that Oliver signed with another team. It gives us another top 50 draft pick and I'll take that over a 41 year old at the end of his career! Now we need to go out and sign Mike Gonzalez.

 

[bone3421]

off subject a little..but didnt we have somebody working on a new banner to get CJ off of it

 

[Windingmywatch]

off subject a little..but didnt we have somebody working on a new banner to get CJ off of it

Had the same thought earlier today ... but think we need to wait until after camp to figure out who ought to be on the banner that gets launched on opening day 2012.

 

[romeo212000]

Don't know about you guys but I'm kind of going through withdrawals right now. Especially with so little to talk about right now.

 

[Xx srs bsns xX]

Had the same thought earlier today ... but think we need to wait until after camp to figure out who ought to be on the banner that gets launched on opening day 2012.

This.

Wanted to add Darvish (if signed) and whoever else...so I just have held off.

That said, I can make a simple one with just the ballpark and a couple players.. . maybe even include back to back AL Champs or something.

IMO, the one we have now (that I made) is a little busy.