OFFICIAL OFF SEASON THREAD ( 2017 )

[saddles]

100% on board with ya. The surest way to insure long term mediocrity is attempting to be relevant without regrouping occasionally.

Yeah, and it is doesn't have to be a 4 or 5 year plan or anything like that either.

 

[DT LUNA]

100% on board with ya. The surest way to insure long term mediocrity is attempting to be relevant without regrouping occasionally.

With ya both. Lot of work to do and it can't be done in a day. Looking back over the years teams who have been consistent winners and especially WS contenders have strong pitching. We are not there yet and need to be in the next year or so. Position players are important as well but without pitching it will be impossible to reach the top. That is my take on it. Proof is in the pudding. Have been looking back at Dodgers Yankees Atlanta St Louis etc. and there it is. Winners with good pitching.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

It'd be nice to say that good Perez showed up today, but he's facing a scrub lineup.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

DDJ just bunted with a man on 1st and second. Both runs scored and he ended up on 3rd.

 

[DT LUNA]

DDJ just bunted with a man on 1st and second. Both runs scored and he ended up on 3rd.

Think you are right about a scrub team.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Think you are right about a scrub team.

Scrub team is right. I'm not sure, but I think the padres have been terrible ever since Tony Gwynn retired.

 

[saddles]

Scheppers with an undisclosed injury.

 

[saddles]

 

[Nightcrawler]

Scheppers with an undisclosed injury.

I'm not surprised. That guy is the pitchers version of shin so Choo, both of them are made out of glass and get hurt all the time.

 

[Bmurph]

Report: Rangers agree to six-year, $49.5 million extension with Rougned Odor
The deal buys out Odor's first two years of free agency

• by Matt Snyder
• @MattSnyderCBS
• 32s ago • 1 min read

Download the CBS Sports App today and get the latest scores, news and alerts from Major League Baseball, plus get daily MLB picks from SportsLine!

The Texas Rangers have bought themselves some cost certainty at second base, while Rougned Odor has himself a nice payday. The two sides have agreed to a six-year deal worth $49.5 million with an option for a seventh year, reports Jon Heyman of Fanrag Sports.

Odor, 23, hit .271/.296/.502 (105 OPS+) with 33 doubles, four triples, 33 homers, 88 RBI, 89 runs and 14 steals last season. The lefty-swinging second baseman definitely has plenty of power (just ask Jose Bautista), though his plate skills -- 135 strikeouts against only 19 walks last year -- could use some work.

As is the case with many long-term extensions for younger players, this deal isn’t exacly what it seems in terms of face value. Odor wasn’t set to hit free agency until after the 2020 season. So this deal buys out the 2017 season, which was pre-arbitration (and worth $563,180 to Odor), Odor’s three arbitration years and two years of free agency. If Odor is productive in his time the next six years, the Rangers could exercise their club option for 2023, meaning Odor can’t hit free agency until after that season.

Even through arbitration, it’s a good deal for the Rangers to know exactly what they’re going to have to pay Odor instead of going through the process each of the next three offseasons.

On the flip side, Odor is now due almost $50 million, regardless of what transpires these next six years.

These are the types of deals that begin mutually beneficially but sometimes, eventually, appear to tip toward one side or the other. As I’ve noted before, Anthony Rizzo’s seven-year, $42 million deal looks ridiculously club-friendly now for the Cubs, but Jon Singleton’s five-year, $10 million deal is a total waste for the Astros.

For now, the Rangers have nailed down their intentions at second base for the next six years while Odor has banked a hefty salary. That’s a win-win in the short term.

 

[Bmurph]

March 25, 2017 12:27 pm
Rangers' Yu Darvish: Named Opening Day starter
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Darvish has been named the Opening Day starter for April 3 against Cleveland.

It will be Darvish's first Opening Day start of his career and a well-deserved honor in his fifth season with the team. The 30-year-old righty returned from Tommy John surgery last season to compile a 3.41 ERA and a 132:31 K:BB ratio over 17 starts, and could be on track to return to his dominant pre-surgery form. Darvish will form a powerful rotation duo with teammate Cole Hamels, who will likely start the second game of the season.

 

[Bmurph]

March 25, 2017 11:59 am
Rangers' Tanner Scheppers: Diagnosed with abdominal strain
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Scheppers has been diagnosed with a left abdominal strain and sent for further evaluations, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

The team isn't ruling out a sports hernia, a condition which would set him back for at least a month. Regardless, Scheppers' status for Opening Day is certainly in jeopardy and could open up a larger bullpen role for Alex Claudio or Nick Martinez. Upcoming tests should provide a better estimate as to the extent of the injury.

 

[Bmurph]

March 25, 2017 11:40 am
Rangers' Carlos Gomez: Expects to begin swinging Sunday
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Gomez (shoulder) expects to begin swinging a bat Sunday and anticipates returning to game action early next week, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Gomez has been out of action since jamming his left shoulder while sliding into third base Tuesday, though it appears he's ready to get back on the field. The 31-year-old is expected to assume everyday duties in center field this coming season and is putting together a productive spring, with a .344 average and three home runs through 13 games.

 

[Bmurph]

March 25, 2017 11:17 am
Rangers' Rougned Odor: Agrees to six-year, $49.5 million extension
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Odor agreed to a six-year, $49.5 million extension with the Rangers on Saturday, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports. The deal includes an option for a seventh year.

Odor, who hit 33 home runs last year, was set to be arbitration eligible in 2018 and a free agent in 2021, but he will now be locked in until after the 2022 season. According to Heyman's report, Odor's camp had been focused on the six-year, $51 million deal Jason Kipnis agreed to with the Indians three years ago, and they came close to matching that number. Odor is one of the top fantasy second baseman, not only for single-season leagues, but for dynasty and keeper leagues as well.

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March 24, 2017 7:29 pm
Rangers' Tanner Scheppers: Forced to leave spring appearance early with injury
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Scheppers left Friday's spring appearance with an apparent lower half injury, The Dallas Morning News reports.

Scheppers was struggling to record outs before leaving with the injury as well. The right-hander dealt with microfracture surgery in his knee last season, and he hasn't looked like himself for much of spring training, with a 6:5 K:BB and a brutal 1.83 WHIP over his 7.2 innings of work. Scheppers shouldn't be considered a lock for Texas's Opening Day roster any more, particularly if this injury costs him a chance to show his old form is around before spring runs out.

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March 24, 2017 12:29 pm
Rangers' Doug Bernier: Sent to minors camp
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Bernier was reassigned to minor league camp Friday.

Bernier hasn't played in the majors since 2015, and he's appeared in just 46 total big league games throughout his career. The 36-year-old will head back to Triple-A Round Rock, where he spent last season, to serve as organizational depth.

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March 24, 2017 12:15 pm
Rangers' Brett Hayes: Sent to minors camp
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Hayes was reassigned to minor league camp Friday.

Hayes went 4-for-14 (.286) this spring, but he was never in a position to challenge for a roster spot. The Rangers have the catcher position on lock at the big league level, so Hayes will head to the minors where he'll serve as organizational depth.

 

[romeo212000]

Guess odor is our second baseman for now and the future. Gotta think Profar gets dealt at some point.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Makes me wonder. How does this deal affect the chances to resign Darvish? The Yankees and Red Sox could try to outbid us. I doubt the dodgers will go after him because they already have Keyshaw / a bloated payroll.

 

[jta4437]

Guess odor is our second baseman for now and the future. Gotta think Profar gets dealt at some point.

Unless he takes to LF or 3B once Beltre is done

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I'm on board with the Odor deal. Also looking forward to Darvish on Opening Day.

 

[romeo212000]

Unless he takes to LF or 3B once Beltre is done

Wouldn't imagine him hanging around that long. He's stated he wants to play MIF.

 

[saddles]

Guess odor is our second baseman for now and the future. Gotta think Profar gets dealt at some point.

How many years did Young have left on a deal when he was asked to change positions. I know it wasn't 6, but I think it was a few.

I wonder if Profar winds up as our CF eventually. More likely he gets dealt though.