Texas Rangers 2024-2025 Offseason Thread

[scotsman#1948]

I would say the main difference is one has proven to be a good everyday player. The other is a fine, versatile bench player. Both of those kinds of players are needed aren't they?

possibly, but i would have to see what the fine, versatile bench player might bring us in a trade if we went that direction. we could get a good reliever and then sign Hays

 

[saddles]

possibly, but i would have to see what the fine, versatile bench player might bring us in a trade if we went that direction. we could get a good reliever and then sign Hays

Are you ready for Ornelas to take Duran's spot as a bench player? I'm not.

 

[Duane1952]

hate to say this but keeping both Smith and Duran is a bit redundant. i would keep Smith

I would keep both. Duran can play 1B and be the fourth outfielder. Smith should backup 3B, SS, 2B and DH.

 

[scotsman#1948]

Are you ready for Ornelas to take Duran's spot as a bench player? I'm not.

no but i could see Foscue or Acosta or Vargas

 

[scotsman#1948]

I would keep both. Duran can play 1B and be the fourth outfielder. Smith should backup 3B, SS, 2B and DH.

or we could use Crim as the backup 1B and Harris as the backup/4th of'er

 

[saddles]

It is a lot of fun to offer up ideas about roster construction, but ideally, this roster is going to look a lot different within the next two weeks or so, and some of the guys we ate plugging in will either have new roles or will be gone.

For example, what if the Rangers trade Lowe and decide to save money by allowing Foscue, Huff and if he is still here, Blaine Crim to compete for 1B. Of course, Huff and Crim and maybe even Foscue could be gone instead.

We could also have a newly signed free agent to fill in to a lineup spot or utility spot, as well.

It is still fun to speculate for now, though.

 

[saddles]

or we could use Crim as the backup 1B and Harris as the backup/4th of'er

I think, if he isn't taken in Rule 5, that Crim would have to win the 1B job to remain on the 26 man roster. I am not sure they want a 1B only position player on the bench. I can't remember the last time we had a backup player who only played 1B.

 

[saddles]

no but i could see Foscue or Acosta or Vargas

Vargas is still 2 years away. Foscue can't play SS and they didn't appear to want him at 3B last season while he was up here.

Acosta did fine in AA and in the AFL, but Duran was better at those levels than Acosta has been. Duran had an OPS in AA 162 points higher than Acosta just had.

Max hasn't even been to AAA yet. Acosta and Vargas just aren't ready for the big leagues yet, and the jury is still out on both of them.

 

[saddles]

From. Bob Nightengale:

Five Scott Boras starting pitchers have now signed:
Blake Snell, Dodgers: 5 years, $182 million.
Yusei Kikuchi, Angels: 3 years, $63 million.
Frankie Montas, Mets: 2 years, $34 million.
Matthew Boyd, Cubs: 2 years, $29 million.
Nick Martinez, Reds: 1 year, $21.05 million.

 

[saddles]

If the Rangers do sign a starting pitcher you would think Jon Gray would be on the trading block. Or, they could throw us a curveball and trade Mahle instead.

 

[Duane1952]

or we could use Crim as the backup 1B and Harris as the backup/4th of'er

Crim is like Huff. For some reason the Rangers don’t like either one. Rather have Duran’s arm over Harris in the outfield.

 

[saddles]

From Texas Rangers PR:

The Texas Rangers tonight announced that the club has signed free agent catcher Kyle Higashioka (pronounced 'he-GAH-she-OH-kah’) to a two-year contract for the 2025-26 seasons with a mutual option for 2027.

 

[saddles]

So long Sam Huff. I hope you go somewhere and succeed. I have a good feeling you will and then all of the apologists will start in with the change of scenery nonsense.

 

[saddles]

From Texas Rangers PR:

The Texas Rangers tonight announced that the club has signed free agent catcher Kyle Higashioka (pronounced 'he-GAH-she-OH-kah’) to a two-year contract for the 2025-26 seasons with a mutual option for 2027.

Maybe he will be Sasaki's personal catcher.

 

[Duane1952]

From Texas Rangers PR:

The Texas Rangers tonight announced that the club has signed free agent catcher Kyle Higashioka (pronounced 'he-GAH-she-OH-kah’) to a two-year contract for the 2025-26 seasons with a mutual option for 2027.

Great. He he is 34 and a Career 212 hitter. Another Kninzer. Moves like this will make another under 500 season.

 

[Kelleyman]

From Texas Rangers PR:

The Texas Rangers tonight announced that the club has signed free agent catcher Kyle Higashioka (pronounced 'he-GAH-she-OH-kah’) to a two-year contract for the 2025-26 seasons with a mutual option for 2027.

Might be the nail in the coffin for Sam Huff as a Ranger

 

[Kelleyman]

Maybe he will be Sasaki's personal catcher.

Wonder if he speaks Japanese

 

[saddles]

From Texas Rangers PR:

Higashioka, 34, batted .220 (54-246), and set career highs in home runs (17) and RBI (45) over 84 games for San Diego in 2024. He threw out 13 of 65 attempted base stealers for a 20.0% caught stealing pct., the 4th-best figure in the NL among catchers with 75+ starts.

 

[saddles]

Wonder if he speaks Japanese

Yes, he does.

 

[saddles]

Great. He he is 34 and a Career 212 hitter. Another Kninzer. Moves like this will make another under 500 season.

This is a case of anybody but Huff.