Texas Rangers 2025 Spring Training Thread

[saddles]

To get rid of him now and not eat any of his salary you're going to have to find somebody really desperate for a body the way he's been playing...

The guys at MLBtraderumors have mentioned him as a possibility to be traded by the start of the season, a couple of times, fairly recently. I am not saying he will definitely be traded. I just think we lose most of the incentive to trade him if two thirds of his 2025 salary counts against us. The primary reason for the Rangers to trade him would be for budget reasons. It wouldn't necessarily be for any kind of great return. However, the MLBTR guys seem to think we could get a solid pitcher back for him.

 

[saddles]

To get rid of him now and not eat any of his salary you're going to have to find somebody really desperate for a body the way he's been playing...

Here is the excerpt from the MLBTR article fron five weeks ago.

"Beyond Robert, the Guardians would need to a find a team that feels it has a center field surplus. The Rangers seem like the best fit. Leody Taveras is ticketed for a fourth outfield role behind Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Adolis García. Texas is at roughly $235MM in luxury tax commitments and doesn’t want to go beyond the $241MM CBT marker. Taveras is making $4.75MM for his second of four arbitration seasons. Their biggest concern is bullpen depth, an area of strength for Cleveland. Speculatively speaking, the Guards could offer a pre-arbitration reliever like Erik Sabrowski or Andrew Walters. Taveras is coming off a down season, but he was an average hitter who played strong center field defense between 2022-23."

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Luke Jackson with a great outing today. He may get a chance to close some games early on this year.

He has pitched well. I guess your thoughts on how he finished the season well and it carrying over to this season may be right.

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

Tyler Mahle pitched four innings of one-run ball in his third spring start vs. the Reds. He struck out three, walked two and gave up two hits.

His fastball ran slow in the early innings but got up to 92-93 in his final two.

 

[saddles]

He has pitched well. I guess your thoughts on how he finished the season well and it carrying over to this season may be right.

Hopefully. We could use a couple of guys rebounding.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Teodo is looking great. Struck out the side. Hitting 99.

 

[Kelleyman]

Teodo is looking great. Struck out the side. Hitting 99.

Like to see him pitch against MLB hitters in ST

 

[saddles]

Like to see him pitch against MLB hitters in ST

Yeah, I would too.

Then at some point he needs to start being stretched out.

 

[armadillooutlaw]

Yeah, I would too.

Then at some point he needs to start being stretched out.

His stuff seems absolutely filthy.

 

[Kelleyman]

Yeah, I would too.

Then at some point he needs to start being stretched out.

Maybe but I bet he is going to close this season
He can be a starter next season if he develops a change

Rangers don’t pay for closers since Nathan

 

[Duane1952]

Teodo is looking great. Struck out the side. Hitting 99.

Like to see him and Church at the major league level at some point this season.

 

[saddles]

Maybe but I bet he is going to close this season
He can be a starter next season if he develops a change

Rangers don’t pay for closers since Nathan

If he closes this season, he will never start again for the Rangers, unless he has a Game 6 experience. Even then, he would get hurt the next year because of the transition.

If a guy becomes a successful closer his team keeps him there, and he most likely loses the feel for his other pitches.

 

[Kelleyman]

If he closes this season, he will never start again for the Rangers, unless he has a Game 6 experience. Even then, he would get hurt the next year because of the transition.

If a guy becomes a successful closer his team keeps him there, and he most likely loses the feel for his other pitches.

CJ Wilson enters the chat. It’s going to happen whether we like it or not.
And with the wealth of MILB pitching talent.- some will need to be relievers

But points have been made.

Also that MLB money is enticing. Teodo would be thrilled to join the squad early

 

[Duane1952]

I’m surprised that Robertson is still unsigned.

 

[saddles]

CJ Wilson enters the chat.

Frankie Francisco was the closer the year before CJ became a starting pitcher again.

Also, in CJ's case the Rangers allowed him to fail as a starting pitcher in the big leagues before converting him to a relief pitcher. That is the way it is supposed to work most of the time. That is when Luke Jackson became a reliever, after he failed as a starter. Some fail as early as AA or AAA, and some fail in the bigs.

 

[saddles]

And with the wealth of MILB pitching talent.- some will need to be relievers

Yes, but right now only a handful of that wealth would be ready to start if called upon this year. Rosario is out. That leaves Rocker, Leiter and then Teodo.

Converting Teodo now is short-sighted and is risking not being prepared with a starter that might be needed.

They made their closer decision in the offseason. I think they will stick with their decision. It would be the wise thing to do.

At some point they are going to have to be patient with a starting pitcher who isn't a first round draft pick. They gave up one potential ace two years ago. Hopefully, they learned their lesson.

 

[saddles]

I’m surprised that Robertson is still unsigned.

I wonder if CY has told him he won't be able to sign him until CY trades away a contract toward the end of Spring Training.

 

[saddles]

Rangers don’t pay for closers since Nathan

I see you have identified the front office's biggest weakness, by far.