Texas Rangers 2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[Kelleyman]

Would not be surprised if IKF is a stopgap as well but we all have underestimated him in the past

 

[saddles]

Would not be surprised if IKF is a stopgap as well but we all have underestimated him in the past

Yeah, maybe he becomes a better fielding Frank Catalanotto.

 

[Kelleyman]

The biggest criticism of Daniels regarding Lynn came just after the 2020 trade deadline, when he did not trade him despite plenty of reported interest. Now we know why. As Ken Rosenthal wrote Tuesday morning for The Athletic, Lynn and his agent told the Rangers that if they traded him to a team he did not want to play for, he would’ve opted out for the remainder of the season. Lynn does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, but players were allowed to opt out of the 2020 season at any time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From SI

 

[True Rangers Fan]

The biggest criticism of Daniels regarding Lynn came just after the 2020 trade deadline, when he did not trade him despite plenty of reported interest. Now we know why. As Ken Rosenthal wrote Tuesday morning for The Athletic, Lynn and his agent told the Rangers that if they traded him to a team he did not want to play for, he would’ve opted out for the remainder of the season. Lynn does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, but players were allowed to opt out of the 2020 season at any time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From SI

This is exactly why a fair amount of the criticism levied at front offices by the fans is ridiculous. There are so many things going on behind the scenes that we aren't aware of.

 

[Kelleyman]

yes @Ephland the criticism of this non move was unwarranted

 

[Kelleyman]

Also JD has never been a talker but very discreet. Some consider this a virtue

Hard to know why Minor was not traded earlier. He never tells

 

[True Rangers Fan]

yes @Ephland the criticism of this non move was unwarranted

As fans we will always criticize the moves we don't agree with. But it's incredibly easy to do from behind a keyboard with virtually no knowledge of the situation.

 

[saddles]

The biggest criticism of Daniels regarding Lynn came just after the 2020 trade deadline, when he did not trade him despite plenty of reported interest. Now we know why. As Ken Rosenthal wrote Tuesday morning for The Athletic, Lynn and his agent told the Rangers that if they traded him to a team he did not want to play for, he would’ve opted out for the remainder of the season. Lynn does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, but players were allowed to opt out of the 2020 season at any time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From SI

I gotta hand it to him. He is quite the poker player. What a bluff.

 

[Kelleyman]

As fans we will always criticize the moves we don't agree with. But it's incredibly easy to do from behind a keyboard with virtually no knowledge of the situation.

Some have criticized JD and even now because of some allegiance to Nolan. Really think both can be compatible. So easy to prejudge. Sure that goes both directions in thinking everything done was golden.
I know the pony trade will be mentioned but even Theo traded away Gleybor

Regardless I am looking forward to seeing the young guys play. If we sign someone to a short contract then as mentioned perhaps we can flip at the deadline

 

[saddles]

The Lynn trade was a very good one. I am saying that without knowing what went on behind the scenes. Who knows JD might have been able to make an even better trade and just didn"t know how to make it work. This could have been the fourth or fifth best trade he could have made, if we only knew what was going on behind the scenes.

Of course, if I didn't believe I could criticize other moves or non-moves I would really have no right to give JD any credit for this move unless I wanted to appear to be a hypocrite. That knife cuts both ways. Lol

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Some have criticized JD and even now because of some allegiance to Nolan. Really think both can be compatible. So easy to prejudge. Sure that goes both directions in thinking everything done was golden.
I know the pony trade will be mentioned but even Theo traded away Gleybor

Regardless I am looking forward to seeing the young guys play. If we sign someone to a short contract then as mentioned perhaps we can flip at the deadline

That's where some fans lose me. "We'd be winning if Nolan were here!"

JD doesn't always make the right moves. No GM does. I think the 2015/16 seasons saw a lot of moves being made to go for it all in those seasons that put us where we are now, and the rebuild started 1-2 years later than it should have. The majority of our draft picks haven't been anything to brag about. The Odor contract was a mistake. There's quite a bit to complain about when it comes to the Rangers. But that "Nolan is what we did" mindset (or others like it) really gets on my nerves.

 

[saddles]

The next few posts will be quoting from Scott Lucas' report today.

Texas has acquired RHP Dane Dunning and LHP Avery Weems from the White Sox for RHP Lance Lynn. Neither team has confirmed the trade (pending medicals, I assume), but all the national and local media are on it.

Dane Dunning (6’4” 225, 26 years old later this month):
#4 prospect on Sox, #95 overall by Baseball America
#5 on Sox, #98 overall by MLB.com
#5 on Sox, “somewhere just outside the top 50” overall by Baseball Prospectus
#6 on Sox by FanGraphs.com

 

[saddles]

Dunning and Kyle Cody were drafted out of SEC schools in 2016. Both were placed in low-A to begin 2017, and they faced each other in their second starts in full-season ball. Both lost over a year to injured elbows that eventually required surgery. They were added to their respective 40-man rosters despite missing the entire 2019 season. In 2020, they made their MLB debuts two days apart. Now they’re teammates.

Picked 29th overall by Washington in 2016, immediately before Cole Ragans, Dunning lasted only a few months in the Nationals system before being traded with Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez for Adam Eaton (who returned to the Sox as a free agent a few minutes ago). In 2017, the White Sox bumped him to high-A after only four starts for low-A Kannapolis. Four appearances into 2018, he moved up to AA Birmingham. In mid-June he fanned ten and walked none over eight scoreless innings. Three innings into his next start…

 

[saddles]

He didn’t pitch in a real game until two years later, four months ago, against the Detroit Tigers. In 34 MLB innings, Dunning posted a 3.97 ERA and held opponents to a .197/.282/.315 line with a 25% strikeout rate.

Dunning’s most common pitch is a low-90s two-seamer. Known more for a curve, Dunning actually used a slider much more often as his money pitch in the Majors. Opponents drew air 44% of the time they swung against it. He also throws a four-seamer that he tries to place atop the zone and a changeup that lags behind his other offerings. Dunning profiles as a steady #4 starter and obviously needs little if any seasoning.

The Sox prospects in front of Dunning on the just-published Baseball America list are Andrew Vaughn, Michael Kopech and Nick Madrigal.

 

[saddles]

Avery Weems (6’2”, 205, 23 years old):
#10 prospect on Sox by Baseball Prospectus
Somewhere in 11-30 range by Baseball America

Weems’ stock rose during fall instructs. In 2019, he signed for a paltry $10,000 despite being selected in the sixth round. Such is life for college seniors. He was a busy rookie, tossing 60.1 innings between rookie ball and the Pioneer League (about a half-step below Spokane). Weems struck out 74 against just ten walks. Admittedly, he was old for both levels, and everyone sees him as a reliever despite his exclusivity at starter in 2019. His fastball ranges from the low to mid 90s, augmented with a curve and slider. He doesn’t require a 40-man slot until the end of 2022 but could force the issue before then if used in relief.

 

[saddles]

I wonder where Dunning will rank amongst our pitching prospects? I would put him behind Crouse and Winn. Maybe behind Vanasco if Vanasco wasn't hurt.

 

[Kelleyman]

Drafted right next to Cole. And both had surgery

 

[saddles]

Drafted right next to Cole. And both had surgery

And both he and Cody made their debuts just two days apart.

 

[saddles]

Dunning goes to the top of our pitching prospects list. Number 3 overall per MLB Pipeline.

Below is the order and the year they are expected to arrive.

Josh Jung
3B2021

Sam Huff
C2020

Dane Dunning
RHP2020

Leody Taveras
OF2020

Cole Winn
RHP2022

Maximo Acosta
SS2024

Hans Crouse
RHP2021

Anderson Tejeda
SS2021

Justin Foscue
2B2023

Joe Palumbo
LHP2020

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Dunning goes to the top of our pitching prospects list. Number 3 overall per MLB Pipeline.

Below is the order and the year they are expected to arrive.

Josh Jung
3B2021

Sam Huff
C2020

Dane Dunning
RHP2020

Leody Taveras
OF2020

Cole Winn
RHP2022

Maximo Acosta
SS2024

Hans Crouse
RHP2021

Anderson Tejeda
SS2021

Justin Foscue
2B2023

Joe Palumbo
LHP2020

2022 is looking pretty damn good