Rangers welcome the Pale Hose from the South Side for a weekend set: 9/17-19

[saddles]

One impprtant thing about which prospects stay and which are traded is signability. I have heard both Josh Smith and his wife discuss their desire to live in Texas longterm and raise their kids here.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I expect to pay an AAV of between $30-35 million for top hitters. When I gave a breakdown, once before, about how our budget coukd play out, I mentioned having two hitters in the $30 million AAV range.

What about length? I think Correa will demand 10, and I wonder if the Rangers will draw the line at 8.

 

[Duane1952]

Another question for Jamey.

Predict one trade this winter where the Rangers send at least two well-regarded prospects off in exchange for a young, controllable vet. Something similar to the (Nathaniel) Lowe trade. — Mike C.

I dig this question because it’s one you can absolutely imagine being chewed on upstairs at 734 Stadium Drive while we’re left to blindly speculate. OK … the factors for the target, as I work through this: (1) A player with at least three years of club control (2) who has offensive upside but (3) is either having a down year or doesn’t fit his team’s window and (4) may also be expendable because of younger players knocking on the door.

Diamondbacks outfielder-second baseman Ketel Marte and Yankees middle infielder Gleyber Torres come to mind but both are controllable only through 2024, and I’m greedier than that. What could be more similar to the Lowe trade with the Rays than a Lowe trade with the Rays, only this time for Brandon, rather than Nathaniel? The second baseman-outfielder is controllable through 2026 and Vidal Bruján is coming fast … but Texas has a lot of second base candidates on the way and B. Lowe isn’t great in the outfield.

So, I re-read those four factors and added another: (5) Seattle GM Jerry Dipoto never sits out on trades. Outfielders Jarred Kelenic and Taylor Trammell have debuted and fellow high-end prospect Julio Rodriguez is close. Mitch Haniger is around for another year and Jake Fraley and Dylan Moore for longer than that. If I’m Texas, I’m checking in on 2020 Rookie of the Year Kyle Lewis, whose knee injury has limited him to 36 league-average games this year.

The deal: Sam Huff, Sherten Apostel and Marc Church to the M’s for Lewis.

I say no if Huff is included.

 

[saddles]

What about length? I think Correa will demand 10, and I wonder if the Rangers will draw the line at 8.

I will wait to see what him and Story are asking for first, but if the market is a certain number of years then so be it. You either have to pay market value and length or get left holding the bag.

It may be a little early to speculate accurately about how much and how long.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I will wait to see what him and Story are asking for first, but if the market is a certain number of years then so be it. You either have to pay market value and length or get left holding the bag.

It may be a little early to speculate accurately about how much and how long.

Might be on the Rangers to set the market.

 

[saddles]

I say no if Huff is included.

I would be out on the trade too. Guys like Jamey are overly enamored with guys like this who play CF with hardly any power.

 

[saddles]

Might be on the Rangers to set the market.

The last time we did that we signed ARod.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

The last time we did that we signed ARod.

In hindsight, that wasn't a terrible deal, although roids helped him perform.

 

[saddles]

What my ideal contract-size roster would be in 2023.

19 or 20 guys making close to the league minimum (matured prospects)----$20 million total
2 guys making in the $30-35 million AAV area code ----$65 million
2 guys making 15-20 million AAV range--------------$35 million
2 more guys making $5-10 million AAV---------------$15 million

Total payroll--------------------------------------------$135 million

That gives you plenty of room to grow when guys go to arbitration. You could even sign another fairly big contract if you are sure that some of your arbitration guys can eventually be traded and replaced from a farm system that continues to develop.

That gives you six free agents or guys to trade for. I still think the best option for an ace is via trade in about 1 to 2 years.

When I consider what I think we should go after in free agency it is with this type of scenario in mind.

 

[saddles]

In hindsight, that wasn't a terrible deal, although roids helped him perform.

Besides Beltre, he is probably the one hitter that we got the most bang for the buck in our history of signing free agent hitters.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Besides Beltre, he is probably the one hitter that we got the most bang for the buck in our history of signing free agent hitters.

A-Rod couldn't have done much more to earn his contract.

I think someone calculated it once, and Beltre provided the highest value per dollar of any FA signing ever, and by a far margin.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

I think a rotation headed up by Leiter and Winn could be better than our rotation we had in 2011, even without going out and signing, or trading for, an ace.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I think a rotation headed up by Leiter and Winn could be better than our rotation we had in 2011, even without going out and signing, or trading for, an ace.

It's amazing how much of a 180 our perception of the franchise/direction has made in the last 12 months.

 

[saddles]

It's amazing how much of a 180 our perception of the franchise/direction has made in the last 12 months.

Yep, committing to a rebuilding plan a couple of years ago was the hinge that opened the door to a much brighter future.

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

i am glad Hernandez gets 3B. He should play more SS too. Wonder if he is able to stick as UIF

 

[Kelleyman]

Maybe I have a bias but despite obvious talent and stats, the Houston taint wants me to back off Corea. His stats might be inflated. Th only Houston player I really wanted from a like ability and talent standpoint was Springer. The Jays have certainly transformed their image and team. Watch then make some noise

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[saddles]