Texas Rangers 2022 - 2023 Offseason Thread

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From Jamey Newberg:

Find common ground on a three-year deal with Martin Perez, and money-whip Carlos Rodon or Jacob deGrom into a long-term commitment. Keep Clayton Kershaw on speed dial. (Does the Leiter-Rocker-White generation even know what that means?) Hang around for Chris Bassitt, Jameson Taillon, and Zach Eflin, not to mention Kodai Senga, who will join the list of MLB free agents as he seeks to move on from his decorated 11-year career in Japan. The Rangers have proven capable over the last few years of helping good veteran pitchers find a new gear; it worked with Lance Lynn, Mike Minor, Kyle Gibson, and, on his return to Arlington after three fairly pedestrian years away, Perez. It worked with Gray in his healthy months, too. There’s plenty of good reason to look for another arm in that mold.

 

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Here is more from Jamey, including some nonsense:

Would it be OK to trade a young pitcher? Of course. Volquez-for-Josh Hamilton would be a good one to replicate. Hans Crouse and more for Spencer Howard and more hasn’t worked (for either team), but using some of the Rangers’ prospect depth to target more immediate help isn’t a bad idea, if handled judiciously. How would we feel about Englert, Bradford, and infielder Davis Wendzel for one year of (and maybe an early extension with) Padres southpaw Blake Snell (which I spitballed in August), particularly before Nov. 18, at which time any of the three prospects not added to the 40-man roster would be exposed to the Rule 5 Draft? Or Kent (also draft-eligible) along with Nathaniel Lowe, second baseman Justin Foscue, and reliever Marc Church to the Marlins for righty Pablo Lopez (not a free agent until after 2024) and stopgap first baseman Garrett Cooper (which I also floated in August, before Lowe went off over the season’s final month)? Judicious? Debatable.

 

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Why the love from so many for Pablo Lopez? He is free in 2 years. He is not even a good #3.

 

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I really get tired of the lack of respect around the nation for Martin Perez. If he had had this year for the Dodgers or Yankees he would be considered one of the top 5 or 6 pitchers in free agency. I just saw an article on The Athletic that had him at 14th. That is a bunch of garbage.

You even see it from guys like Newberg to a certain degree. I think he just wants the Rangers to acquire pitching via trades so badly that he feels he has to create a greater need for it by downgrading Perez.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[True Rangers Fan]

I really get tired of the lack of respect around the nation for Martin Perez. If he had had this year for the Dodgers or Yankees he would be considered one of the top 5 or 6 pitchers in free agency. I just saw an article on The Athletic that had him at 14th. That is a bunch of garbage.

You even see it from guys like Newberg to a certain degree. I think he just wants the Rangers to acquire pitching via trades so badly that he feels he has to create a greater need for it by downgrading Perez.

MLB had him as the 7th best

 

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Let the party begin.

 

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[Duane1952]

Perez can talk all he wants about wanting to be here. But in the end it’s always about the money. I’m not emptying the bank on a guy that has had one good year.

 

[Kelleyman]

Wonder who is in this pool

 

[Kelleyman]

I really get tired of the lack of respect around the nation for Martin Perez. If he had had this year for the Dodgers or Yankees he would be considered one of the top 5 or 6 pitchers in free agency. I just saw an article on The Athletic that had him at 14th. That is a bunch of garbage.

You even see it from guys like Newberg to a certain degree. I think he just wants the Rangers to acquire pitching via trades so badly that he feels he has to create a greater need for it by downgrading Perez.

Well historically from a statistics standpoint the article is not way off but yeah no way Heany is more desirable than Perez. We have the history of seeing the old Perez with the more mature version so yes I am sold that he has changed
But this is a guy that made his living in the edges and relies on the called strike. His FB is subpar
Sonia this season an outlier. Maybe but I do think he has tureen the corner although it would be hard to expect 3 more seasons like last year

So maybe he takes the QO and either signs later with us or just stay on the QO. We definitely need inning eaters and he is one.
A lot of risky pitchers wanting the big money to pick up. Signing even the best has its risks

 

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Wonder who is in this pool

The first two i can think of is Huff and Foscue. I wonder if Taveras and Bubba are too.

 

[Kelleyman]

 

[Kelleyman]

 

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From Jeff Wilson:

The Rangers are expected to look for an outfield bat that could upgrade the lineup. Even though Thompson and Leody Taveras are very good defensively and have game-altering speed, they need to show they can get on base consistently.

The contend-in-2023 Rangers might not wait around on either of them. The thinking here is Taveras is the Opening Day center fielder and Thompson makes the team as an extra outfielder.

Josh Smith and Ezequiel Duran are working on transitioning to the outifeld. Duran will report to Aguilas of the Dominican Winter League on Friday to play center field. Don’t count out Aaron Zavala from contributing in 2023 even though he underwent elbow surgery last month and won’t be able to play until May.

Could the Rangers try a one-year deal for an outfielder, like Joey Gallo, while the young outfielders get more time to develop? A multi-year contract for an outfielder could lead to the Rangers deal from that group of young outfielders.