OFFICIAL OFF SEASON THREAD ( 2017 )

[Duane1952]

Rangers to make 17.2 million QO to Desmond.

 

[scotsman1948]

I would rather see Profar at 2B and Odor in the OF. If they have to go cheap at 1B I would go with Rua.

Beltre isn't going anywhere other than 3B in 2017 I don't think.

cheap don't cut it these days when it comes to being competitive

 

[DT LUNA]

cheap don't cut it these days when it comes to being competitive

Not even beer and hot dogs. You're correct. No more cheap.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

There's always Encarnacion.

 

[scotsman1948]

Rangers Prefer To Have Joey Gallo Start 2017 In Minors

 

[jta4437]

cheap don't cut it these days when it comes to being competitive

Edwin Encarnacion (34)
Ryan Howard (37)
Chris Johnson (32)
Dae-ho Lee (35)
Adam Lind (33)
James Loney (33)
Mitch Moreland (31)
Logan Morrison (29)
Brandon Moss (33)
Mike Napoli (35)
Steve Pearce (34)
Sean Rodriguez (32)
Jerry Sands (29)
Eric Thames (30)

Other than Encarnacion, who's worth spending money on? I don't think we'll be in on EE, and Lind or Morrison aren't an improvement over Moreland IMO, and Napoli is getting up there

 

[romeo212000]

Rangers to make 17.2 million QO to Desmond.

No problem with this. Damn that QO is getting big though.

 

[romeo212000]

Edwin Encarnacion (34)
Ryan Howard (37)
Chris Johnson (32)
Dae-ho Lee (35)
Adam Lind (33)
James Loney (33)
Mitch Moreland (31)
Logan Morrison (29)
Brandon Moss (33)
Mike Napoli (35)
Steve Pearce (34)
Sean Rodriguez (32)
Jerry Sands (29)
Eric Thames (30)

Other than Encarnacion, who's worth spending money on? I don't think we'll be in on EE, and Lind or Morrison aren't an improvement over Moreland IMO, and Napoli is getting up there

Encarnacion and Napoli are the only two on the list that even start to move the needle.

 

[donaldson79]

Jonathan Lucroy
Status: Rangers picked up $5.25 million club option for 2017

Stats: .292 avg., 24 HR, 81 RBI, 24 doubles (142 games)
Grant: Had a power surge after joining the AL. Averaged a homer every 13.8 at-bats for his two months with the Rangers; 33.2 at-bats per homer for his career. But poor blocking skills showed up in AL Division Series and led to tying run in Game 3.

Grade: B

Fraley: Had immediate impact after being obtained from Milwaukee on Aug. 1. Club had a .634 winning percentage (26-15) in his starts. Produced more power than expected, with 11 homers and .539 slugging percentage in 152 at-bats. Lack of familiarity may have caused some receiving problems. Staff had 15 wild pitches in 367 innings with Lucroy catching and 30 wild pitches in 1,076 innings with all other catchers.

Grade: B-

 

[donaldson79]

This from SI re: Desmond.

7. Ian Desmond | OF | Age: 31 | 2015 Stats: .285 BA, .782 OPS, 22 HR, 86 RBI, 21 SB
Desmond, famously, "lost" about $80 million by turning down the Nationals' long term contract offer a few years ago, only to have to settle for an $8 million pact with the Rangers last winter after a poor contract year. To his immense credit, though, the former shortstop returned to his previous 20-20 standard while learning an entirely new position on the fly, and playing it decently at worst. The Orioles won't be turned off by a second half decline in which he hit .237, as they badly need an outfielder with not just power, but speed. Check, check and check.

 

[jta4437]

This from SI re: Desmond.

7. Ian Desmond | OF | Age: 31 | 2015 Stats: .285 BA, .782 OPS, 22 HR, 86 RBI, 21 SB
Desmond, famously, "lost" about $80 million by turning down the Nationals' long term contract offer a few years ago, only to have to settle for an $8 million pact with the Rangers last winter after a poor contract year. To his immense credit, though, the former shortstop returned to his previous 20-20 standard while learning an entirely new position on the fly, and playing it decently at worst. The Orioles won't be turned off by a second half decline in which he hit .237, as they badly need an outfielder with not just power, but speed. Check, check and check.

Doubt we keep him on the QO, as he'll be looking to bank more long term and he's not getting any younger

someone will give him 4 years (or more) and around 48 million (or more), but buyer beware, he's been 2nd half (and 1st month) Desmond far more than he's 1st half Desmond in his career

 

[jta4437]

Encarnacion and Napoli are the only two on the list that even start to move the needle.

And if you don't get EE, then you can consider Napoli on a 1-2 year deal while you wait on (perhaps) Guzman (or Gallo)

If not it looks more and more like people like Rua and Gallo manning the spot come 2016

 

[romeo212000]

And if you don't get EE, then you can consider Napoli on a 1-2 year deal while you wait on (perhaps) Guzman (or Gallo)

If not it looks more and more like people like Rua and Gallo manning the spot come 2016

Gallo isn't even on my radar at this point.

 

[donaldson79]

The Rangers have said they want Gallo to at least start the 2017 season at AAA. See post # 625. So I'm surprised at all this positive chatter re: him platooning at 1st to start the season.

 

[saddles]

The Rangers have said they want Gallo to at least start the 2017 season at AAA. See post # 625. So I'm surprised at all this positive chatter re: him platooning at 1st to start the season.

I don't get the local media sometimes. For one thing he isn't ready and for another when he is ready he doesn't need to platoon with anyone.

 

[saddles]

I wonder what this is all about?

Texas Rangers said to plan $1 billion in bonds backed by TV deal

The Texas Rangers are looking to sell at least $1 billion in bonds backed by their television contract with Fox Sports Southwest, according to people familiar with the matter.

The regional network agreed to pay the team about $1.6 billion over 20 years under terms of a broadcast deal that began last year. The club, which is principally owned by Avatar Investments Chairman Ray Davis, is working with Citigroup and Morgan Stanley to raise money against that contract, said the people, who asked for anonymity because the matter is private.

The Rangers, Major League Baseball and Fox Sports Southwest declined to comment. The network is aware of the team’s attempt to raise money but isn’t involved in the financing, one of the people said.

A prospectus reviewed by the people said the proceeds would be used for risk mitigation and diversification — anything that would keep the network, a unit of 21st Century Fox, from honoring the contract that extends through 2034.

The money raised will be held in escrow and paid out to the team over time, a revenue stream designed to mimic payouts from the television deal, the people said. The team won’t be able to access the money outside of those payments or ahead of the schedule, which has been approved by Major League Baseball.

The TV contract will be used as collateral. That’s not common, said television consultant Lee Berke, but other teams have used their long-term TV deals as collateral against loans, lines of credit and other kinds of financing.

Teams have other ways to raise money, including selling equity, borrowing from a bank or issuing unsecured debt. Selling bonds backed by a guaranteed income stream like the TV deal gives them a higher credit rating, which makes the debt cheaper for the team.

 

[Kelleyman]

I don't get the local media sometimes. For one thing he isn't ready and for another when he is ready he doesn't need to platoon with anyone.

Yeah. He needs all the ABs he can handle. IMO he may come up even when he is not quite ready and likely after that he is here to stay. Really don't think he comes up to platoon.

Not sure all the fuss over a AAA player at this point. He will get here soon enough and then he can be put under the microscope

 

[Duane1952]

Yeah. He needs all the ABs he can handle. IMO he may come up even when he is not quite ready and likely after that he is here to stay. Really don't think he comes up to platoon.

Not sure all the fuss over a AAA player at this point. He will get here soon enough and then he can be put under the microscope

He better learn how to hit first. .240 will not cut it. If Guzman is hitting better, call him up.

 

[donaldson79]

Not sure all the fuss over a AAA player at this point. He will get here soon enough and then he can be put under the microscope

I half laughed at your reference re: a AAA player. Ain't that the truth?

I can't honestly think the organization is prepared to just put him at 1st for now and suffer the consequences, either short or long term. But if we do, that tell ya all you need to know about how far we're going in 2017.

 

[Bmurph]

Gallo isn't even on my radar at this point.

People like to complain a lot about Mitch, but I would much rather have him at 1B for the near future than have Gallo at that spot, with what he's shown so far. Joey's time may come, but it shouldn't be 2017