Texas Rangers 2020-2021 Offseason Thread

[saddles]

Jamey Newberg released his latest installment of his top 72 prospects today. This group included 13-32. The biggest surprise to me is that he had Hans Crouse at 13. He said he thinks Crouse can rocket back up towards the top if he can stay healthy this year.

Other names that he had very good things to say about, that stood out to me, was IF Davis Wendzel at 14, RHP A. J. Alexy at 17, RHP Tekoah Roby at 18, 1B Curtis Terry at 19, RHP Owen White at 21, RHP Justin Slaten at 22, and SS Thomas Saggese at 29.

I think having this many intriguing guys in this 13-32 range proves how deep our system is. I didn't even include a couple of relievers who could make their way up to the big league club as early as this year. The lack of elite propsects keeps us from having a high ranking system overall, but we are deep in that next rung of players. If somehow we can get that group to move closer to elite and maybe even one or two of them become elite, then our system will look a lot better.

There is talk that Wendzel could become a super utility player and play all over the infield. Some even think he could play SS on a regular basis in the big leagues. At Fall Instructs Thomas Saggese impressed so much that he drew some Ian Kinsler comps.

One thing is for sure, the future for several of our young pitching prospects looks very bright. We may or may not get an ace out of this class, but we surely should be able to fill out most of the rest of a staff with these guys. Maybe in 2 or 3 years, a couple of them could be packaged along with a couple of position players, in a trade for an ace.

 

[Duane1952]

On MLB Network radio. Young said that he projects Solak as the starting 2B.

 

[saddles]

On MLB Network radio. Young said that he projects Solak as the starting 2B.

Glad to hear it. We need to find out what he can do.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Here is a more detailed quote from Jamey's report that I mentioned previously, about SS Thomas Saggese.

"The analytics crew point to one of the team’s highest line-drive percentages in fall instructional league games. Coaches call him a “throwback, old-school ballplayer” with a natural feel for the barrel and a killer instinct. One of the scouts directly involved with the pre-draft evaluation calls Saggese “by far the best human being I’ve ever signed.” By the time camp ended, a smattering of Ian Kinsler comps started to surface."

 

[scotsman1948]

Some baseball analysts have linked us to Trevor Bauerbut we apparently can relax: he and the Mets have supposedly reach an agreement

 

[saddles]

The road to Surprise begins!

 

[Kelleyman]

On MLB Network radio. Young said that he projects Solak as the starting 2B.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[saddles]

I don't get moving Elvis unless he was moved to the bench. Why switch him and IKF?

 

[Kelleyman]

I don't get moving Elvis unless he was moved to the bench. Why switch him and IKF?

Perhaps a prelude to Jung taking spot mid season

 

[saddles]

Perhaps a prelude to Jung taking spot mid season

That is what I am expecting to happen either way. I think Jung comes up to stay by late July.

I wonder if Elvis playing 3B instead of going to the bench is actually Plan B, and Plan A, whatever that was, failed to work out.

Or, it could just be more wishy-washiness on the part of JD. Maybe the plan was for Elvis to go to the bench and then JD changed his mind. If this had been the plan all along, then they would have most likely said so back when they said IKF would start at SS in 2021.

 

[Kelleyman]

That is what I am expecting to happen either way. I think Jung comes up to stay by late July.

I wonder if Elvis playing 3B instead of going to the bench is actually Plan B, and Plan A, whatever that was, failed to work out.

Or, it could just be more wishy-washiness on the part of JD. Maybe the plan was for Elvis to go to the bench and then JD changed his mind. If this had been the plan all along, then they would have most likely said so back when they said IKF would start at SS in 2021.

Well I hate to give up a roster spot on a vet.
Maybe they did not get their guy so this is the dance at this point. I really doubt JD and CY got all sentimental over Elvis. Age and injuries have taken a toll IMO

And a guy like Odor may be let go.
Still I think t even if Elvis starts the first part of the year he loses ABs overall and does not vest. This is the main plan

 

[saddles]

Well I hate to give up a roster spot on a vet.
Maybe they did not get their guy so this is the dance at this point. I really doubt JD and CY got all sentimental over Elvis. Age and injuries have taken a toll IMO

And a guy like Odor may be let go.
Still I think t even if Elvis starts the first part of the year he loses ABs overall and does not vest. This is the main plan

Yeah, I didn't even think about the vesting part. He definitely needs to go to the bench.

 

[jta4437]

I don't get moving Elvis unless he was moved to the bench. Why switch him and IKF?

Andrus hasn't been a very good SS for a while now, or ever really... Lack of range at this point defensively makes him a better fit at 3B? IKF defensively is wasted over there for the simple reason of keeping Andrus at his old position

 

[saddles]

Andrus hasn't been a very good SS for a while now, or ever really... Lack of range at this point defensively makes him a better fit at 3B? IKF defensively is wasted over there for the simple reason of keeping Andrus at his old position

Yeah, I can understand that being a reason. I just don't understand why it wasn't put that way to begin with if that had been the plan all along. Elvis certainly doesn't need to play enough to vest that option year.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

This is the cost of an ace this year. I wonder what will be the cost in 2 years when we will be looking for one.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

This is the cost of an ace this year. I wonder what will be the cost in 2 years when we will be looking for one.

Higher AAV than Mike Trout, based on a single good season. Unreal.