Series Thread: Rangers Host the Athletics For Four Games August 15-18

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Josh Jung collected two three-run homers Tuesday night for Triple A Round Rock, and left the Express’ 6-4 victory batting .400 with a 1.464 OPS. Jung has collected four home runs is six games and 25 at-bats since his rehab assignment was transferred from the Arizona Complex League.

It’s only Aug. 17 and it’s only 25 at-bat. A slump could take hold quickly, and maybe the Rangers want to see how he handles adjustments that might be made against him. Maybe the want to wait until rosters expand Sept. 1.

Then again, he has hit in his past 24 Triple A games, dating to last year’s season-ending 18-game hit streak. In 41 career games at Round Rock, Jung is batting .356 with a .706 slugging percentage and a 1.146 OPS. He has slugged 13 homers in 160 at-bats.

Jung is eligible for the Rule 5 draft after the season but will be added to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5. The Rangers can add him in the offseason, but adding him at some point over the final 46 games accomplishes the same thing.

 

[saddles]

Let's see what Cole Ragans can do against Oakland tonight. Hopefully, he can put together a really good game -- 6 innings, 5 hits, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts and 2 runs.

 

[Kelleyman]

This is how you learn and don’t continue to make mental mistakes
Need more of this. Manly challenges

 

[Kelleyman]

ICYMI

 

[Kelleyman]

Beas definitely conducts a post game in a more upfront fashion IMO

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Athletics Release Elvis Andrus

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Rangers Fire President Of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

HOLY SHIT JD IS OUT

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

 

[saddles]

Athletics Release Elvis Andrus

They didn't want his contract for next year to vest and this is how they will keep him from getting the necessary at bats to do so.

 

[saddles]

From Scott Lucas :

Josh Jung belted homers of 421 and 435 feet. The latter blast came off rehabbing Drew Pomeranz. Jung has an average exit velocity of 95 MPH and median of 99. Admittedly a sample of 20 balls in play, but that is elite. As the 2021 version of Willie Calhoun will tell you, hard contact doesn't guarantee results, but Jung is slugging an even 1.000, so he's not just hitting hard grounders.

I've been asked about his service time and whether Texas should avoid starting his clock "early." If Jung arrives no later than within a few days of Opening Day 2023 and is never optioned, he'll become a free agent after 2028. If he arrives roughly two weeks into 2023, Texas would retain his rights (albeit with an extra arbitration year) through 2029. And keeping him in AAA well into next May would eliminate that extra arbitration year.

As what should or will happen, I doubt the Rangers try to game his service time. First, they haven't operated this way historically. I can't recall any Texas equivalent to Kris Bryant. The closest analogue is Jurickson Profar, who was pointedly stationed in AAA during September 2017 instead of being recalled, leaving him days shy of a full year of service. But Profar previously burned through two years of service time on the 60-day IL, so his situation isn't the same. Typically, Texas has called up players they've deemed ready and have preferred having them in the lineup from the get-go. Elvis Andrus, for example, and Nomar Mazara, called up from Round Rock soon enough after Opening Day 2016 to receive a complete year of service.

Second, we could argue on the margins about whether Jung needs a few more days or weeks in AAA because of his lengthy injury, but in essence he's ready for MLB now. I thought so toward the end of 2021, and certainly nothing about his recent play has dissuaded me. The Rangers have an imperative to put their best players on the field, maybe not in the dwindling days of 2022, but certainly from the jump next year.

Third, Jung is already 24. Texas already has the the rights to what will likely be his best seasons. He's not going to become a free agent at 28.

Fourth, the latest CBA has a new feature wherein the Rangers would receive an extra draft pick at the end of the first round if Jung is on the Opening Day roster (or up within a few days), still rookie-eligible, appears on two preseason top-100 prospect lists, and is named Rookie of the Year. MLB is going to make me care about an award, which I deeply resent. I also resent MLB delegating partial responsibility over draft picks and service time to baseball writers, but I digress.

 

[Duane1952]

Wow, JD is out. I guess Chris Young is in charge now.

 

[saddles]

I wonder if Chris will bring Nolan back into a leadership role?

Just kidding!

I wouldn't mind Chuck Greenberg being invited back though.

 

[saddles]

I guess we know who the frontman will be from now on. lol

 

[saddles]

Thanks for the World Series years JD, and thanks for doing a good job with the rebuild!!!

 

[saddles]

I have had my doubts at times about JD, but I respect him for what he has accomplished. I have mixed feelings about his departure.

I sure hope Chris Young knows what he is doing.

 

[saddles]

Will we see a handful of prospects-for-guys-who-can-help-now trades this offseason? Is that what this is all about? Have the owners become impatient? This news presents a whole lot of questions.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

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