Texas Rangers 2018-2019 Offseason Thread

[saddles]

Trade him for half his salary if possible for pitching prospects and whatever. Sounds easy doesn't it?

Not easy, but doable.

 

[saddles]

Nick Martinez Re-Signs With Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

Indeed, Martinez racked up an abundance of quality innings in 2018. He tallied 161 2/3 frames over 25 starts, an average of nearly 6.5 innings per outing, while working to a 3.51 ERA with 5.2 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9. Those K/BB figures aren’t terribly exciting, but whiffs have never been a feature of Martinez’s game. In his 415 1/3 total MLB innings, he owns a 4.77 ERA with 5.1 K/9 against 3.2 BB/9.

 

[saddles]

It is getting to the point that Nick Martinez's career MLB ERA would fit right in with our rotation.

 

[BULLPEN FAILURE]

Nick's a nice guy, but he's not a MLB starter.

 

[jta4437]

Nick's a nice guy, but he's not a MLB starter.

Well he is/was, just a very good one, definitely a #5 type on a mediocre to bad rotation

 

[saddles]

The concept of the Opener seems designed for guys like Nick Martinez to come in after the Opener. I hope within three more years we don't have any of those types in our rotation.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[saddles]

It would make a lot of sense for both Derek and the Rangers.

 

[Duane1952]

It would make a lot of sense for both Derek and the Rangers.

A lot better than Matt Moore.

 

[DT LUNA]

A lot better than Matt Moore.

Duane, you coo - coo I'm better than Matt Moore. LOL and Merry Christmas.

 

[saddles]

2019 Prospect Preview: Hans Crouse

Crouse stands at 6’4” and is listed at 180 pounds but I don’t think he’s that lanky anymore. His fastball sits at 94-97 mph and he can touch 100 when he gets dialed up. His changeup was heavily emphasized in 2018 and he’s started to use it more and more often with his coaching staff’s encouragement. He also brings a biting, wipeout slider as a projectable out pitch. He can be a very, very entertaining pitcher to watch, just with his stuff alone. That’s before you take the antics into account. And you need to take the antics into account.

Crouse will walk off the mound fist-pumping so hard you think he might dislocate his elbow. He talks into his glove and will tend to the mound dirt with his hands. He’s big on stirrups, which is like MLB’s left-handed quarterbacks in that it’s rare and the guy’s probably kinda weird. And then Hans will go and mix in one of these on you:

 

[saddles]

More from the above article about my favorite prospect, Hans Crouse.

Crouse only pitched 16 innings in A-Ball and he turned 20 a couple weeks after the season ended. With the Rangers seeming to continue their stretch of pitching prospect conservativeness I’d expect Crouse to return to Hickory at the start of 2019 and make his full-season debut. I think the increased workload is enough of a challenge for a young pitcher to start a season, and if/when he pitches well at Hickory again I think we’ll see a promotion to Kinston, probably sometime around the Minor League All-Star break again.

And really, there’s no need for the Rangers to have their young arms skipping levels and rushing to the Majors right now. They can take their time.

Crouse has the highest upside of any pitcher in the Rangers’ system, a possible frontline starter, but with an ETA of three or four years from now.

He sure is fun, though. He's an LSB darling and recently claimed the #1 spot on the Community Prospect Rankings, along with claiming the #2 spot on BA's Northwest League Top 20 in October. Assuming he opens the season with Hickory we’ll be seeing him on the mound much more in 2019.

 

[saddles]

The Rangers and Derek Holland are considering a reunion

Holland on Thursday confirmed conversations with the Rangers about a return after he spent the last two years with the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants. Holland, 32, had a big bounce back with the Giants in 2018, posting a 3.57 ERA in 171.1 innings.

 

[DT LUNA]

Besides Minor, Derek will most likely be better than what we had pitching last year.

 

[saddles]

Profar traded to Oakland.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]