Texas Rangers 2021 - 2022 Offseason Thread

[saddles]

Josh Smith

One of the four players added in the Joey Gallo trade, Smith finished 2021 with Foscue at Frisco and should open there next season at shortstop.

He doesn’t necessarily fit the profile of a third baseman, but neither does Kiner-Falefa. Smith has more power than Kiner-Falefa and shouldn’t have much trouble defensively at third or second.

Smith would be eligible for the Rule 5 draft after next season if not added to the 40-man roster either during the season or before the November deadline to set the reserve list. His ability at the plate, speed and forthcoming versatility could make him an attractive piece during the season.

 

[saddles]

Ezequiel Duran

Duran was also acquired in the Gallo deal (INF/OF Trevor Hauver and RHP Glenn Otto were the other two besides Duran and Smith) and was added to the 40-man roster last month to protect him from the pending Rule 5 draft.

His best position is second base, but he has played more at shortstop and third base than Foscue. Duran, in fact, played third base during the Arizona Fall League while his teammate Foscue manned second.

Duran has more power than Smith but not as much as Foscue. Duran has never played above High A. All three can hit.

 

[saddles]

Davis Wendzel

One advantage Wendzel has on the others, other than his beard game, is that he has played the outfield. Granted, it was while in college at Baylor, but the Rangers believe he could hop out there next season and be just fine.

He can also play shortstop, and every team carries an extra infielder who can play shortstop. But his two best positions are third base and second base.

Manager Chris Woodward was surprised in spring training by how athletic Wendzel is. He altered his swing to increase his launch angle, which brought on comparisons to the Dodgers’ Justin Turner. The beard helped.

 

[saddles]

How many Rangers minor leaguers have put up a slash line of better than .300 avg., better than .400 OPS, and better than .500 slugging over the past 20 years(2002-2021) like Josh Smith just did? Kinsler did it in 2004. Profar was close in 2011, but he just missed with all three stats. Anyone else? Blalock did it just prior to the last 20 years, in 2001.

 

[DTC]

How many Rangers minor leaguers have put up a slash line of better than .300 avg., better than .400 OPS, and better than .500 slugging over the past 20 years(2002-2021) like Josh Smith just did? Kinsler did it in 2004. Profar was close in 2011, but he just missed with all three stats. Anyone else? Blalock did it just prior to the last 20 years, in 2001.

Mark Teixeira 2002
Max Ramirez 2008
Mike Olt got real close in 2012
Joey Gallo 2015

I didn’t check A ball just AA
Lewis Brinson did it in A ball

 

[Kelleyman]

At this point I have a lot more hope for both Crimm and Harris as possible first basemen. Huff has to be able to catch again and hit a lot better for me to have anywhere close to the same hope that I used to have for him. Maybe, last year was just an aberration for him.

Which is why I said I had little hope in Huff playing 1B

 

[DTC]

How much better are the Rangers now than they were going into 2021?

 

[DT LUNA]

How much better are the Rangers now than they were going into 2021?

At least a SS and 2B better.

 

[DTC]

At least a SS and 2B better.

But are we a RF and CF short?
Joey Gallo (4.2 WAR .869 OPS and stellar defense) and Adolis if he declines?
Are we short Kyle Gibson and his 115 innings of 2.80 ERA? Or is Jon Gray going to replace him?
Is Dunning and Hearn going to regress or progress?
Nate Lowe?
I’m ready for the lockout to be over lol
I’m getting to negative

 

[saddles]

Mark Teixeira 2002
Max Ramirez 2008
Mike Olt got real close in 2012
Joey Gallo 2015

I didn’t check A ball just AA
Lewis Brinson did it in A ball

Good list. Joey never hit .300 for the year though.

 

[saddles]

But are we a RF and CF short?
Joey Gallo (4.2 WAR .869 OPS and stellar defense) and Adolis if he declines?
Are we short Kyle Gibson and his 115 innings of 2.80 ERA? Or is Jon Gray going to replace him?
Is Dunning and Hearn going to regress or progress?
Nate Lowe?
I’m ready for the lockout to be over lol
I’m getting to negative

We will definitely miss what we got from Joey. That much is a negative.

I think trading a half a year of so for a full year of Gibson is close to a wash, maybe a very slight negative.

Usually young pitchers get better so I would think we will get more from Dunning and Hearn. Those are positives.

I think we will get slightly more out of Adolis.

I think the bullpen, over the course of a year, will be better.

I think Jung at 3B will be a significant improvement.

I think W. Calhoun this year will be better than what we got from him last year.

I think when Cole Winn comes up we will get better from him that what we got out of most of our pitchers last year.

Then there is Semien and Seager.

Overall, I think we are a good bit better. Maybe significantly better.

 

[DTC]

We will definitely miss what we got from Joey. That much is a negative.

I think trading a half a year of so for a full year of Gibson is close to a wash, maybe a very slight negative.

Usually young pitchers get better so I would think we will get more from Dunning and Hearn. Those are positives.

I think we will get slightly more out of Adolis.

I think the bullpen, over the course of a year, will be better.

I think Jung at 3B will be a significant improvement.

I think W. Calhoun this year will be better than what we got from him last year.

I think when Cole Winn comes up we will get better from him that what we got out of most of our pitchers last year.

Then there is Semien and Seager.

Overall, I think we are a good bit better. Maybe significantly better.

That’s what I needed to hear lol

 

[Kelleyman]

That’s what I needed to hear lol

Our lineup is going to be better. And Jung is not talked about as much. Maybe not a star cut solid dependable middle of the order batter. Plus the off-season is not over. I hope we get Suzuki

 

[Duane1952]

Our lineup is going to be better. And Jung is not talked about as much. Maybe not a star cut solid dependable middle of the order batter. Plus the off-season is not over. I hope we get Suzuki

I want Suzuki too. Don't want Gallo back.

 

[scotsman1948]

Our lineup is going to be better. And Jung is not talked about as much. Maybe not a star cut solid dependable middle of the order batter. Plus the off-season is not over. I hope we get Suzuki

if we get Suzuki i don't envision Jung batting higher than 6 or 7in the order.

unless we trade for a CF'er i see the order as:

1. Taveras CF
2. Semien 2B
3. Seager SS
4. Garcia RF
5. Lowe 1B
6. Suzuki LF
7. Calhoun DH
8. Jung 3B
9. Trevino C

and the Calhoun is Kole not Willie

 

[Uncle Siggy]

if we get Suzuki i don't envision Jung batting higher than 6 or 7in the order.

unless we trade for a CF'er i see the order as:

1. Taveras CF
2. Semien 2B
3. Seager SS
4. Garcia RF
5. Lowe 1B
6. Suzuki LF
7. Calhoun DH
8. Jung 3B
9. Trevino C

and the Calhoun is Kole not Willie

Got to looking at your lineup and though Semien had batted a bit lower in the order but when I got to looking I found out he has predominately batted leadoff. Did more checking and found Seager usually bats 2nd. Garcia does best 4th & 5th, Lowe does best 4th & 5th, K. Calhoun has batted everywhere with leadoff, 2nd, and 4th being the best, from what I can tell Jung usually hit 3rd, Suzuki who knows, Trevino 5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th and Taveras leadoff and 9th...



So it looks like I was overlooking a couple of players who could and have hit leadoff when I was blathering about it a week or so ago...

 

[scotsman1948]

Got to looking at your lineup and though Semien had batted a bit lower in the order but when I got to looking I found out he has predominately batted leadoff. Did more checking and found Seager usually bats 2nd. Garcia does best 4th & 5th, Lowe does best 4th & 5th, K. Calhoun has batted everywhere with leadoff, 2nd, and 4th being the best, from what I can tell Jung usually hit 3rd, Suzuki who knows, Trevino 5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th and Taveras leadoff and 9th...



So it looks like I was overlooking a couple of players who could and have hit leadoff when I was blathering about it a week or so ago...

nothing else to do so i sat down and look at what i thought would be the best line up if we got Suzuki and this seemed to be the best path. of course things could change quickly with not knowing where to hit Suzuki and i thought there would be less pressure on Jung batting him low on the batting order

 

[Uncle Siggy]

nothing else to do so i sat down and look at what i thought would be the best line up if we got Suzuki and this seemed to be the best path. of course things could change quickly with not knowing where to hit Suzuki and i thought there would be less pressure on Jung batting him low on the batting order

Some guys thrive with pressure and some can't handle it, who knows what Jung can/can't handle time will tell...

If we don't get Suzuki I'd let Jung take his shot at it if he makes the team out of ST, with 2 dangerous guys behind him they'll have to give him something good to swing at...

 

[scotsman1948]

Some guys thrive with pressure and some can't handle it, who knows what Jung can/can't handle time will tell...

If we don't get Suzuki I'd let Jung take his shot at it if he makes the team out of ST, with 2 dangerous guys behind him they'll have to give him something good to swing at...

my BO hangs on getting Suzuki so if we don't then either one of the Calhoun's will have to play left which would be a mistake or the Rangers have to go back into the Free Agent pool to get a LF'er. so hopefully we get Suzuki or another LF'er because i don't want see either Calhoun spending too much time with a glove on out there

 

[Uncle Siggy]

my BO hangs on getting Suzuki so if we don't then either one of the Calhoun's will have to play left which would be a mistake or the Rangers have to go back into the Free Agent pool to get a LF'er. so hopefully we get Suzuki or another LF'er because i don't want see either Calhoun spending too much time with a glove on out there

If they don't get Suzuki about the only FA outfielder I think they would pursue is Rosario or then again maybe a trade but the more likely scenario is to fill it from within, give Solak or a prospect a chance. As far as Willie goes he needs a new zipcode in Japan or Korea as far as I'm concerned. I predicted when they got him he wouldn't be what they thought they were getting and that was him being an important/stable member of the team, he's too fragile/whiny...