Texas Rangers 2018-2019 Offseason Thread

[saddles]

Point of article was JD asked questions re improvement and answer was advance analytics. Surely the improvement was not just a transfer to the weaker hitting league

Thus the hires to improve in this area

It might not have been just that, but that was a big enough factor that anyone paying attention to his numbers when he was traded here knew he wasn"t going to be nearly as good in the AL. Conversely, it was easy to see that they should improve again once he left here.

They can improve on analytics as much as they want to, but the next time they trade for a pitcher who has proven he doesn't pitch very well against AL hitters the same thing is going to happen. If that pitcher then goes back to the NL then that same thing will probably happen again as well.

 

[Kelleyman]

Team taking their time filling out coaching staff. As most in this board know Don W, Tony B and Tingler are only sure ones to stay. Betting the rest are gone or relocated within org.

 

[Kelleyman]

As you wish

 

[saddles]

12 players who could impact Rangers

 

[scotsman1948]

Mark Lowe attempting comeback. Should be cheap and fits the Rangers like of reclaim projects

 

[DT LUNA]

12 players who could impact Rangers

Not interested in big money for middle of the road FA pitchers or pitchers on the TJ mend.

 

[saddles]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.lo...9/texas-rangers-name-luis-ortiz-hitting-coach

The Texas Rangers announced today that Luis Ortiz has been hired from the Los Angeles Dodgers to be the team’s new hitting coach. The team also announced that Hector Ortiz is moving from bullpen coach to first base coach, while Don Wakamatsu will remain as bench coach. Jayce Tingler has been named the major league player development field coordinator, and Tony Beasley will remain as third base coach. Steve Buechele is now special assistant for baseball operations, while Doug Brocail and Dan Warthen will not return for 2019.

 

[saddles]

Ortiz is a former major leaguer who was acquired by the Rangers from the Boston Red Sox in the deal that sent Jose Canseco to Boston and brought Otis Nixon to Texas. Ortiz was a minor league hitting coordinator with the Rangers from 2009-12, then was with the Indians from 2013-14. Ortiz joined the Padres after 2014 and was with them until after the 2017 season, when he shared assistant hitting coach and minor league hitting coordinator duties with Brant Brown.

New manager Chris Woodward is obviously familiar with Ortiz from their time together last year with the Dodgers. Los Angeles has done a grest job finding position players off the scrap heap and turning them into productive major league hitters — see JustinTurner, ChrisTaylor and Max Muncy. I have no idea how involved Ortiz was with any of them, or how his philosophy dovetails with what the Dodgers are doing, but Texas has hired a hitting coach from a team that has had success re-vamping hitters, particularly in getting them to put the ball in the air while hitting it hard. One hopes this will translate to Texas, and in particular, to Nomar Mazara.

 

[Kelleyman]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.lo...9/texas-rangers-name-luis-ortiz-hitting-coach

Thought they might keep Steve B but use for MILB work. Was about to post a jeff Wilson version but yours is better

 

[Kelleyman]

Less then a week until Rangers declare who they will protect for rule 5

 

[Kelleyman]

Here is the Scott Lucas list for rule 5 eligible guys

 

[saddles]

The Rangers and veteran catcher Jeff Mathis have agreed on a two-year deal, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.

Mathis, 35, is an excellent defensive catcher, and a favorite of pitchers around the Majors who he has caught for. He is a light hitter, with a .198/.258/.306 slash line over his 14-year career. But his defensive value has made him attractive to big league clubs even as he reaches his late-30s.

Mathis made his Major League debut back in 2005 with the Angels, and played for Los Angeles until '11, when he was traded to the Blue Jays. After one season with Toronto, he was traded to the Marlins in the deal that brought Mark Buehrle and Jose Reyes to the Blue Jays.

Mathis spent four seasons with Miami before signing with the D-backs prior to the 2017 season.

The Rangers, who have not confirmed the deal, are very thin at the catcher position, with Robinson Chirinos a free agent this offseason after getting the bulk of the time behind the plate for Texas in 2018.

 

[DT LUNA]

Hate to see Robbie go.

 

[Kelleyman]

The Rangers and veteran catcher Jeff Mathis have agreed on a two-year deal, according to MLB Network insider Ken Rosenthal.

Mathis, 35, is an excellent defensive catcher, and a favorite of pitchers around the Majors who he has caught for. He is a light hitter, with a .198/.258/.306 slash line over his 14-year career. But his defensive value has made him attractive to big league clubs even as he reaches his late-30s.

Mathis made his Major League debut back in 2005 with the Angels, and played for Los Angeles until '11, when he was traded to the Blue Jays. After one season with Toronto, he was traded to the Marlins in the deal that brought Mark Buehrle and Jose Reyes to the Blue Jays.

Mathis spent four seasons with Miami before signing with the D-backs prior to the 2017 season.

The Rangers, who have not confirmed the deal, are very thin at the catcher position, with Robinson Chirinos a free agent this offseason after getting the bulk of the time behind the plate for Texas in 2018.

Perhaps a mentor for IKF, Trevino and young pitching. We might get another catcher if IKF is playing multiple positions.

 

[saddles]

Perhaps a mentor for IKF, Trevino and young pitching. We might get another catcher if IKF is playing multiple positions.

That .198 BA will really help our offense.

 

[scotsman1948]

That .198 BA will really help our offense.

but he fits JD's plan for 2019

 

[Kelleyman]

That .198 BA will really help our offense.

 

[saddles]

Jamey will never see anything as being wrong that the front office does so I am not surprised that he is grasping at straws. I love his insight regarding our prospects, but he is very biased when it comes to organizational decisions.

Guys that hit .230 to .240 and have some pop in their bat and who are tremendous catchers can get away with that. He has less pop than DeShields. It doesn't matter what a guy who hits .198 brings with him, and especially on a team that needs more offense to begin with.

If any of our young pitchers or catchers need help then hire a coach to do that.

Of course, if the idea is to tank then Jeff Mathis fits right in.

 

[saddles]

but he fits JD's plan for 2019

If the plan is to tank then yes, he does.

 

[scotsman1948]

If the plan is to tank then yes, he does.

well until I see different I will assume that that appears to be the plan