Official 2014 Texas Rangers Spring Training Thread

[Nightcrawler]

At least three teams -- the Orioles, Rangers and an NL West club -- have strong interest in Ervin Santana, ESPN Deportes' Enrique Rojas tweets. Rojas also notes that the Blue Jays could still be a possibility (although a recent report indicated the Blue Jays would not sign a free-agent starting pitcher). The identity of the NL West team is unclear, although the Rockies have been connected to Santana.

The Orioles have interest despite their recent signing of Ubaldo Jimenez. Santana would still upgrade their rotation, and with their first-round draft pick no longer a factor, there is less disincentive for them to sign a free agent like Santana who has a qualifying offer attached. The Orioles would only have to give up the No. 90 overall pick -- their third-rounder -- to sign Santana. The Rangers would have to sacrifice the No. 30 overall pick they are about to receive as compensation for Nelson Cruz signing with Baltimore.

Surprised the O's are after Santana after already getting Jimenez and now Cruz.

 

[DT LUNA]

At least three teams -- the Orioles, Rangers and an NL West club -- have strong interest in Ervin Santana, ESPN Deportes' Enrique Rojas tweets. Rojas also notes that the Blue Jays could still be a possibility (although a recent report indicated the Blue Jays would not sign a free-agent starting pitcher). The identity of the NL West team is unclear, although the Rockies have been connected to Santana.

The Orioles have interest despite their recent signing of Ubaldo Jimenez. Santana would still upgrade their rotation, and with their first-round draft pick no longer a factor, there is less disincentive for them to sign a free agent like Santana who has a qualifying offer attached. The Orioles would only have to give up the No. 90 overall pick -- their third-rounder -- to sign Santana. The Rangers would have to sacrifice the No. 30 overall pick they are about to receive as compensation for Nelson Cruz signing with Baltimore.

Thanks Scotty. Just got in and have not seen this.

 

[DT LUNA]

Actually, that's what I thought too initially but some of the articles I have read have stated that the Os signed him to DH.

If the O's got him that cheap to DH only, then he didn't want to play for Texas IMO. Anyway that's that and i'm glad so we can all move on.

 

[BLeslie59Rangers]

Trying real hard to keep a positive frame of mind about all this...first Holland, then Harrison, now Soto. Then Cruz signs dirt cheap with the Orioles.

Not really that disturbed about Cruz leaving, but this tells me we never had any real intention of bringing him back at all, because we surely would have done better than 1 year at $8 million. Maybe he's willing to take a lower pay day in order not to DH full-time ?

Harrison says he's feeling better - god, let's hope so, what a disaster otherwise...Hopefully Soto's surgery is as minor as they're making it sound and he'll essentially be ready opening day, at least to back-up Arencibia for the first week...positive vibes, positive vibes.....

I want nothing to do with E. Santana - IMO the guy will be a disaster at Globe Park (or whatever the hell they're calling it). Let's save our money here and not panic....I was never in favor of keeping Garza, but in hindsight I sure wish we would have kept him...oh well, can't worry about what ifs...

Let's hope for more positive news going forward...

 

[romeo212000]

They already offered him one year at 14 mil.

 

[TheRangerDude]

If the O's got him that cheap to DH only, then he didn't want to play for Texas IMO. Anyway that's that and i'm glad so we can all move on.

I think if we had it to give him we probably would have signed him. I dont think we ever even made him an offer beyond the QO he got directly out of the season. He made it pretty clear he did want to play here. Os got a great deal.

 

[BLeslie59Rangers]

I think if we had it to give him we probably would have signed him. I dont think we ever even made him an offer beyond the QO he got directly out of the season. He made it pretty clear he did want to play here. Os got a great deal.

Agree, we were committed to Mitch as primary DH. I'm Ok with that...

The O's have done well with two signings, Cruz and Yun, and IMO, one horrible deal signing Jimenez - 4 years, $50 mill...no way...

 

[DT LUNA]

I think if we had it to give him we probably would have signed him. I dont think we ever even made him an offer beyond the QO he got directly out of the season. He made it pretty clear he did want to play here. Os got a great deal.

Well he left 6MM on the table so I don't know and if he had come back and made a commitment to DH for 8mm/1yr who knows. 8MM won't blow the budget if they wanted him. Who did not want who?

 

[TheRangerDude]

Well he left 6MM on the table so I don't know and if he had come back and made a commitment to DH for 8mm/1yr who knows. 8MM won't blow the budget if they wanted him. Who did not want who?

Yeah but you have to consider that offer was on the table before Choo and I think even before Fielder. Either way though, who really knows at this point... no sense in pointing fingers one way or the other. Os did get a great deal no matter how you look at it though.

 

[donaldson79]

Well he left 6MM on the table so I don't know and if he had come back and made a commitment to DH for 8mm/1yr who knows. 8MM won't blow the budget if they wanted him. Who did not want who?

It looks to me the O's have guaranteed LF to him. I don't know this but looking at the O's OF and the $8 mil commitment, that's my best guess.

Cruz is rolling the dice some in hopes he plays well enough defensively to get a 2/3 year deal at seasons end. But at the same time, if he sucks in left, but hits well, he'll still get a 2/3 deal to just DH. So maybe he's not taking such a huge risk really.

 

[DT LUNA]

It looks to me the O's have guaranteed LF to him. I don't know this but looking at the O's OF and the $8 mil commitment, that's my best guess.

Cruz is rolling the dice some in hopes he plays well enough defensively to get a 2/3 year deal at seasons end. But at the same time, if he sucks in left, but hits well, he'll still get a 2/3 deal to just DH. So maybe he's not taking such a huge risk really.

If he wanted to play the field so much as to leave 6MM on the table, I wish him well. And yes the O's got a deal.

 

[jta4437]

Wow, thats sad, we should have signed him for that but I realize that we really don't even have that to spare in our current payroll. I'll miss Nelly and wish him luck with the O's. Seems lik ethe right place for him to go anyway-if he is not going to be a Ranger.

We had it to spare, we offered him 14 million with the QO, he took 6 million less to go elsewhere, he's an idiot, good riddance

 

[donaldson79]

We had it to spare, we offered him 14 million with the QO, he took 6 million less to go elsewhere, he's an idiot, good riddance

I don't think he's an idiot just because he took less money. If he plays the field semi well, hits his usual then he'll get an opportunity to sign a longer term contract and probably make up for the lost $6 mil. If not, he'll still get a decent DH contract and never make up the lost money.

As far as good riddance, we'll miss his RBIs IMO. 80+ RBI guys are hard to come by.

 

[romeo212000]

I don't think he's an idiot just because he took less money. If he plays the field semi well, hits his usual then he'll get an opportunity to sign a longer term contract and probably make up for the lost $6 mil. If not, he'll still get a decent DH contract and never make up the lost money.

As far as good riddance, we'll miss his RBIs IMO. 80+ RBI guys are hard to come by.

Rbi are a stat of opportunity.

 

[DT LUNA]

I don't think he's an idiot just because he took less money. If he plays the field semi well, hits his usual then he'll get an opportunity to sign a longer term contract and probably make up for the lost $6 mil. If not, he'll still get a decent DH contract and never make up the lost money.

As far as good riddance, we'll miss his RBIs IMO. 80+ RBI guys are hard to come by.

One last comment. He needs a new agent.

 

[darrylgann]

One last comment. He needs a new agent.

I tend to agree

 

[jta4437]

One last comment. He needs a new agent.

Perhaps thats what I meant...

 

[jta4437]

I don't think he's an idiot just because he took less money. If he plays the field semi well, hits his usual then he'll get an opportunity to sign a longer term contract and probably make up for the lost $6 mil. If not, he'll still get a decent DH contract and never make up the lost money.

As far as good riddance, we'll miss his RBIs IMO. 80+ RBI guys are hard to come by.

He'll be 34 next year, he's never getting another contract longer than 2 years, if that

 

[Broseidon]

Rbi are a stat of opportunity.

Still need to make the most of those opportunities

 

[Hambombs]

So... We are after Ervin now?