Series Thread: Rangers Travel to Houston For Three Games July 12-14

[saddles]

Latest Baseball of America mock draft has Janek sliding to the Rangers. It also has Sloan and Whote going after that, so we would have all three as options.

30. Rangers — Walker Janek, C, Sam Houston State​

There’s some thought that Janek could be sliding a bit. I think that would be a mistake considering just how impressive he is as a defender and thrower behind the plate. He’s the best defensive catcher in the class, with solid bat speed and offensive tools to go with it and is likely to be a more high-probability big leaguer than many of the players in front of him on this mock draft.

I have the Rangers benefiting from the slide here in this mock. The Rangers are also linked to the other two college catchers (Caleb Lomavita and Malcolm Moore). Those two could be in play if they’re here, as could Theo Gillen and Jurrangelo Cijntje. Texas is also linked to prep pitchers Kash Mayfield and William Schmidt.

 

[saddles]

Not a good time to play the Astros. 16-4 in last 20. 9 straight wins at home.

And the Rangers, at minimum, need 2 out of 3. But honestly need a sweep to stay in this thing.

And then we get 3 games with the Orioles right after the break.

I'll just say this: by next Sunday, July 21, we will know if we are sellers or not.

How far out of each race do you feel we would have to be to be considered still in it by the front office?

 

[scotsman#1948]

Not a good time to play the Astros. 16-4 in last 20. 9 straight wins at home.

And the Rangers, at minimum, need 2 out of 3. But honestly need a sweep to stay in this thing.

And then we get 3 games with the Orioles right after the break.

I'll just say this: by next Sunday, July 21, we will know if we are sellers or not.

i hope that no matter what that we are a bit of sellers and of buyers looking to move on competitively the rest of this season and 2025 and beyond. MLBTR is listing 8 of our 13 active roster pitchers as possible trade items. even half of that would reduce the team to a totally non-competitive team the rest of this season and probably inro the next couple of years

 

[jaar01]

How far out of each race do you feel we would have to be to be considered still in it by the front office?

That's hard to say especially if they are expecting Jung, Carter, Bradford, Mahle, and of course deGrom back soon.

But it's more a financial issue than a "games back" issue. They are projected 13m into luxury tax and owners have said no exceptions they are getting under that by 2025. With no TV deal in place that gets very dicey.

Eovaldi and Yates/Robertson would bring back a lot of farm capital and we do need that. Many others could be moved but those guys would bring the best return from a contender. I'd rather move Heaney, Lorenzen, and Urena but the return will be less.

GB? In my opinion it's more about how the team is playing but being within 5 games of a playoff spot would likely do the trick.

I expect to be sellers. But I hope they can get something worked out with Eovaldi to pair him with deGrom next few seasons.

 

[saddles]

Here is a list of players we have under contract for next year. This doesn't include the players who don't have enough service time for free agency. There will be a lot of empty spots to fill this coming offseason. This list does include Eovaldi, but I expect him to opt to go to free agency and get a longterm deal.

 

[saddles]

I expect to be sellers. But I hope they can get something worked out with Eovaldi to pair him with deGrom next few seasons.

I just don't remember the last time they worked out a deal in the middle of the season. Eovaldi could bring back a huge return, if we are sellers. If we are sellers, I would not have a problem trading Eovaldi for the right return.

If they are going to stay under the threshold next season, I think I would rather spend money on the bullpen than on another high priced starting pitcher. Every dollar spent one place means you cannot spend it somewhere else.

 

[jaar01]

I just don't remember the last time they worked out a deal in the middle of the season. Eovaldi could bring back a huge return, if we are sellers. If we are sellers, I would not have a problem trading Eovaldi for the right return.

If they are going to stay under the threshold next season, I think I would rather spend money on the bullpen than on another high priced starting pitcher. Every dollar spent one place means you cannot spend it somewhere else.

No more high priced veteran starting pitchers. 100% agree. I'd spend on bullpen, a RH DH who can also play 1st, and a corner OF. (Maybe a back up C as well).

I think Garcia will be traded this off-season. He is not in Ranger future outfield plan.

 

[Duane1952]

The way Foscue is hitting at AAA. They should call him up and send Ornelas down. Seen enough of Jankowski DHing.

 

[jaar01]

No more high priced veteran starting pitchers. 100% agree. I'd spend on bullpen, a RH DH who can also play 1st, and a corner OF. (Maybe a back up C as well).

I think Garcia will be traded this off-season. He is not in Ranger future outfield plan.

One caveat: I would re-sign Eovaldi for 20m/ year for 3 years. But he can probably get more somewhere else.

 

[saddles]

Leiter is pitching today. He has about 10 starts left this season. It would be great to see him dominate in at least 4 of those and look very good in 4 more. I can take 1 poor outing and 1 clunker, if the other 8 outings work out.

 

[saddles]

One caveat: I would re-sign Eovaldi for 20m/ year for 3 years. But he can probably get more somewhere else.

I think he would represent another high priced starting pitcher, meaning we would not be able to get much quality for the pen. Now, I fully expect CY to sign another high priced starting pitcher whether it is Eovaldi or someone else. I don't believe CY feels any differently about the pen that JD did. I think he will always open the season with a substandard pen. So, I understand my team building ideas will never come to pass.

 

[saddles]

Any ideas of team building without the budget in mind is an exercise in futility. It is a fantasy world that has no chance of happening.

 

[saddles]

Jon Heyman has an article giving the chances of different players getting traded. Eovaldi and Yates were only 16%, but only one player not on the White Sox had a higher percentage chance of being traded.

 

[scotsman#1948]

Here is a list of players we have under contract for next year. This doesn't include the players who don't have enough service time for free agency. There will be a lot of empty spots to fill this coming offseason. This list does include Eovaldi, but I expect him to opt to go to free agency and get a longterm deal.

View attachment 367119

and we have the following for 2025 in either Arbitration or Pre-Arbitration:

Lowe
Heim
Taveras
Knizner
Hernandez
Sborz
Smit
Latz
Langford
Dunning
Jung
Bradford
Carter
Coleman
Winn

so their projected salaries have to be consider also

 

[saddles]

and we have the following for 2025 in either Arbitration or Pre-Arbitration:

Lowe
Heim
Taveras
Knizner
Hernandez
Sborz
Smit
Latz
Langford
Dunning
Jung
Bradford
Carter
Coleman
Winn

so their projected salaries have to be consider also

That's right. That makes those who are arbitration eligible vulnerable to being traded if CY feels that money would be better spent elsewhere.

 

[scotsman#1948]

That's right. That makes those who are arbitration eligible vulnerable to being traded if CY feels that money would be better spent elsewhere.

agreed but in some cases you trade prospects for quality and some time you trade veterans for prospects. you keep it balanced

 

[scotsman#1948]

Any ideas of team building without the budget in mind is an exercise in futility. It is a fantasy world that has no chance of happening.

14 out of 30 teams have 2024 payrolls over $200M and there will probably be more next season so when you reference budget considerations how much below 200M do you want the Rangers to be next season?

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Not a good time to play the Astros. 16-4 in last 20. 9 straight wins at home.

And the Rangers, at minimum, need 2 out of 3. But honestly need a sweep to stay in this thing.

And then we get 3 games with the Orioles right after the break.

I'll just say this: by next Sunday, July 21, we will know if we are sellers or not.

If we win 2 out of 3 we are just 3 behind in the loss column.

 

[saddles]

This Eangers top prospect list is from Eric Longenhagen of FanGraphs.com. Fangraphs always sees things a good bit differently than others

Raners Top Prospects

Rk	Name	Age	Highest Level	Position	ETA	FV
1	Wyatt Langford	22.7	MLB	LF	2024	65
2	Evan Carter	21.9	MLB	LF	2024	55
3	Sebastian Walcott	18.3	A+	3B	2027	50
4	Alejandro Rosario	22.5	A+	SP	2026	50
5	Justin Foscue	25.4	MLB	2B	2024	45
6	Winston Santos	22.2	AA	SP	2025	45
7	Cameron Cauley	21.4	A+	SS	2026	45
8	Emiliano Teodo	23.4	AA	SIRP	2025	45
9	Kumar Rocker	24.6	A+	SIRP	2024	40+
10	Jack Leiter	24.2	MLB	SIRP	2024	40+
11	Yeremi Cabrera	19.0	R	CF	2029	40+
12	Aidan Curry	22.0	A+	SP	2026	40+
13	Kohl Drake	24.0	AA	SP	2025	40+
14	Izack Tiger	23.4	A	SIRP	2027	40+
15	Marc Church	23.3	AAA	SIRP	2025	40+
16	Paulino Santana	17.7	R	RF	2030	40
17	Owen White	24.9	MLB	SP	2024	40
18	Mitch Bratt	21.0	A+	SP	2026	40
19	Joseph Montalvo	22.2	A+	SP	2026	40
20	Caden Scarborough	19.3	R	SP	2028	40
21	Cody Freeman	23.5	AA	3B	2025	40
22	Jacob Latz	28.3	MLB	SIRP	2024	40
23	Cole Winn	24.6	MLB	SIRP	2024	40
24	Carson Coleman	26.3	AA	SIRP	2025	40
25	Brock Porter	21.1	A+	SP	2027	40
26	Gleider Figuereo	20.0	A+	3B	2027	40
27	Skylar Hales	22.7	AA	SIRP	2026	40
28	Dane Acker	25.3	AA	MIRP	2025	40
29	Braylin Morel	18.5	R	RF	2029	35+
30	Ryan Lobus	23.8	A+	MIRP	2026	35+
31	Daniel Robert	29.9	MLB	SIRP	2024	35+
32	Davis Wendzel	27.1	MLB	3B	2024	35+
33	Liam Hicks	25.1	AA	C	2025	35+
34	Abimelec Ortiz	22.4	AA	1B	2027	35+
35	Tyler Owens	23.5	AA	SIRP	2025	35+
36	Robby Ahlstrom	25.1	AA	SIRP	2025	35+
37	Reid Birlingmair	27.7	AAA	SIRP	2025	35+
38	Adrian Rodriguez	23.2	A+	SIRP	2026	35+
39	Victor Simeon	23.6	A	SIRP	2027	35+
40	Ismael Agreda	20.8	R	SIRP	2028	35+

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[saddles]

agreed but in some cases you trade prospects for quality and some time you trade veterans for prospects. you keep it balanced

Yeah, I get that, but I was more talking about how they would divy up tha available money to be spent. Take Lowe for example, they could decide to trade him and not pay his arbitration figure and then spend that money on bullpen depth. Or they could decide to take his money and other money saved and pay a free agent to play 1B.