Texas Rangers 2021 - 2022 Offseason Thread

[saddles]

It seems that no one is even giving Arihara a chance at winning a job in spring training. I never expected much of him, but I never expected him to fall this far.

 

[saddles]

This is from Levi Weaver's article today.

It was June 7, 2016, and I had a realization while watching the Texas Rangers play the Houston Astros: Man, there sure are a lot of former shortstops out there right now.

Of the starting nine, no fewer than five — Profar, Desmond, Odor, Rua and Andrus — had played shortstop at some point in the major or minor leagues. In addition, the Rangers had Robinson Chirinos and Hanser Alberto on the bench, bringing the total to seven current or former shortstops on the roster.

So it’s not like they don’t have a blueprint for what might come next.

When the Rangers signed Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to long-term deals in November, it was an announcement that the worst of the rebuild years were over. The Texas Rangers were on the rise again. But the move also sent another unspoken message. To Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Nick Solak, Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran, Justin Foscue, Luisangel Acuña, Maximo Acosta, Trevor Hauver, Cameron Cauley, Chris Seise, Thomas Saggese and others: You might want to start thinking about your defensive versatility.

(Of note: For the sake of this exercise, I’m not including names like Yonny Hernández, Andy Ibáñez, Davis Wendzel or Keyber Rodriguez, all of whom probably already profile to be utility guys.)

“My immediate reaction was, ‘I probably should get an outfielder’s glove (and) try to find a new position,'” Smith said at the Rangers’ leadership mini-camp last week. “But like I told (the front office), for the Rangers to get both of those guys is extremely big for this organization. Those are two of the better players in the major leagues, in my opinion, at premier positions. I think it’s pretty cool that hopefully one day I’ll have the chance to play with those guys, whether it’s backing them up or playing a different position.”

 

[saddles]

More on Josh Smith from the Levi Weaver article.

Wherever he ends up, it does appear the Rangers would prefer to keep him around, rather than turn around and use him as trade bait.

“We’ve expressed to Josh in particular, that he’s in our plans,” president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said last week, before clarifying. “We believe he has the opportunity to earn that, I think is a better way to put it.”

 

[Kelleyman]

Who is that new leftfielder?

I am guessing that is an open spot set at replacement player level. Like a wild card

I think the details are set to come out today on the players so far

 

[Kelleyman]

More on Josh Smith from the Levi Weaver article.

Wherever he ends up, it does appear the Rangers would prefer to keep him around, rather than turn around and use him as trade bait.

“We’ve expressed to Josh in particular, that he’s in our plans,” president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said last week, before clarifying. “We believe he has the opportunity to earn that, I think is a better way to put it.”

Looks like he has good bat to ball skills but he is not that big

 

[Kelleyman]

Lol

 

[saddles]

Looks like he has good bat to ball skills but he is not that big

No, he isn't that big. He is about the same height as Mickey Rivers and he is taller than Cesar Tovar and Kirby Puckett.

 

[Kelleyman]

No, he isn't that big. He is about the same height as Mickey Rivers and he is taller than Cesar Tovar and Kirby Puckett.

Well OFs that can climb the wall are preferred and the big arms are bigger for RF and CF

But I am very open to be surprised. It is good to have the eye test check things out

 

[saddles]

Well OFs that can climb the wall are preferred and the big arms are bigger for RF and CF

But I am very open to be surprised. It is good to have the eye test check things out

Those wall climbers do make the highlight reels 4 or 5 times a year. Maybe Smith can make the highlight reels in other ways. Maybe with a rotation of Leiter, Winn, Vanasco, White and Roby those shots just over the CF wall will come a lot less often. Lol

 

[saddles]

 

[DT LUNA]

Those wall climbers do make the highlight reels 4 or 5 times a year. Maybe Smith can make the highlight reels in other ways. Maybe with a rotation of Leiter, Winn, Vanasco, White and Roby those shots just over the CF wall will come a lot less often. Lol

Smiling with glee.

 

[saddles]

Baseball America needs to hide and watch what Ricky Vanasco does this year.

 

[Kelleyman]

Glad at least some Rangers are on the radar

 

[saddles]

BP has their list out.

20--Leiter
31--Jung
50--Foscue
91--Winn
99--Duran

 

[saddles]

Sam Huff didn't make the top 100 with BA or BP. That doesn't surprise me in the least.

 

[saddles]

2022 ZiPS Projections: Texas Rangers

Seager and Semien can hasten the rebuild, but they’re not an instant fix.

blogs.fangraphs.com

 

[Kelleyman]

2022 ZiPS Projections: Texas Rangers

Seager and Semien can hasten the rebuild, but they’re not an instant fix.

blogs.fangraphs.com

The comps are interesting. No upside given for any players especially Garcia. Although Jung gets some positive projection. Even worse projections pitching wise.

I know we have a second year of rebuild ahead but I am even more optimistic thanks this

 

[Kelleyman]

Sam Huff didn't make the top 100 with BA or BP. That doesn't surprise me in the least.

Keep him under the radar. Last I heard catchers develop slower too

 

[Kelleyman]

Lol

 

[saddles]

Keep him under the radar. Last I heard catchers develop slower too

Slow development is one thing. Regressing is another thing.