The Officially Official Off Season Thread (2016)

[True Rangers Fan]

This guy worries me. His next team will be his 5th stop in the same number of years in the ML.

His talent level is unquestionable. But the last I saw of his asking price it was phenomenal, in years and dollars.

FWIW, he would fix the RH-bat need in the lineup, and a Cespedes/DDJ/Choo OF would look mighty, mighty fine to me.

 

[donaldson79]

MLB Trade Ideas Based on Offseason Week 8 News

San Diego Gets: IF/OF Ryan Cordell, RHP Luke Jackson and SS Yeyson Yrizarri

Texas Gets: RHP James Shields

After reading this article, I can't imagine JD is biting on this one.

 

[donaldson79]

FWIW, he would fix the RH-bat need in the lineup, and a Cespedes/DDJ/Choo OF would look mighty, mighty fine to me.

This part is true.

But how do you feel about paying $160 mil to him for 7 years? I'm working with a bad memory bank, but it seems like it was something like this. That would blow-the-doors off any previous budgetary numbers previously discussed by JD & Co.

And what about all the teams he's already played for, and obviously they aren't anxious to have him back?

 

[True Rangers Fan]

This part is true.

But how do you feel about paying $160 mil to him for 7 years? I'm working with a bad memory bank, but it seems like it was something like this. That would blow-the-doors off any previous budgetary numbers previously discussed by JD & Co.

And what about all the teams he's already played for, and obviously they aren't anxious to have him back?

Well, I did read that Detroit was/is interested in a reunion. The Mets are hamstrung by their owners involvement in a Ponzi scheme, Oakland traded him away because they obviously don't pay anyone, and the Red Sox blew their cash on Price. So in other words, that aspect of Yoenis doesn't concern me. Especially with a team led by the BannyRooster and Beltre.

Now, as for those numbers? No, I absolutely don't want the Rangers spending anywhere near 7/160. But in a 5/100 range? I'm interested.

 

[saddles]

max years would be 3 years and not above 13M a year

I think he gets more years than that and a lot more money per year than that.

 

[saddles]

This part is true.

But how do you feel about paying $160 mil to him for 7 years? I'm working with a bad memory bank, but it seems like it was something like this. That would blow-the-doors off any previous budgetary numbers previously discussed by JD & Co.

And what about all the teams he's already played for, and obviously they aren't anxious to have him back?

One place he left was Oakland and they are always trading away quality guys to feed their constant rebuilding plan. The last place he left was because he became a free agent. He left Detroit when they decided they needed to rebuild what they had. I think sometimes guys just get moved around more often than others due to circumstances beyond their control. When Cliff Lee left us for Philly he was moving for the 4th time as well. I am not sure of the circumstances surrounding Boston trading Cespedes, but all of the rest of the moves are ones that I don't blame him for.

 

[donaldson79]

Now, as for those numbers? No, I absolutely don't want the Rangers spending anywhere near 7/160. But in a 5/100 range? I'm interested.

Are you remembering what I am as far as "his asking price?" Which may not have squat to do with what he gets of course.

Let's assume we make this deal. Now our budget is outta the park, so-to-speak, so do move on in looking at another starter, or do we settle on the reality that Chi-Chi is our #5 to start the season, b/c our money is gone?

 

[saddles]

FWIW, he would fix the RH-bat need in the lineup, and a Cespedes/DDJ/Choo OF would look mighty, mighty fine to me.

I think a Cespedes acquisition would have to be accompanied by a trade of Choo. I don't believe they can pay both of them. It would require us to pay a portion of Choo's salary, but saving the majority of what we owe Choo would probably be the only way we could afford Cespedes. That scenario could be what Levine was referring to when he talked about getting creative when he was asked about adding a RH bat to the outfield.

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Are you remembering what I am as far as "his asking price?" Which may not have squat to do with what he gets of course.

Let's assume we make this deal. Now our budget is outta the park, so-to-speak, so do move on in looking at another starter, or do we settle on the reality that Chi-Chi is our #5 to start the season, b/c our money is gone?

I don't think I've heard what his price was... I went back and found that article about Detroit and all it said was they're interested, but waiting for his price to come down.

My assumption here is that regardless of what happens on the offensive side, the Rangers go into 2016 with the 5th slot up in the air. The expected return of Darvish pretty much assures that. Once he returns, you're looking at Hamels/Darvish/Holland/Lewis/Perez (slotting them that way just for alternate arm purposes). Until Darvish gets back, that slot will be the #5, and they'll give a few guys a shot at it in ST.

You ask me, it's put up or shut up time for Nick Martinez as a starter. If he's going to make it as a starter in MLB, then there's no reason he shouldn't handily earn the spot. If he doesn't, might be time to move on from him as an option.

 

[donaldson79]

When Cliff Lee left us for Philly he was moving for the 4th time as well.

Lee spent his first 8 years with Cleveland. He's also spent the last 4 years with Philly.

I'm sorry, but I don't see much of a similarity of situations between a young beginner, and a seasoned veteran in how they moved in short periods of time.

Eph made some good points on the teams Cesp has been with, and why he may be on the move, yet again.

The guy just concerns me. And to be totally PC, incorrectly, many of the Cuban players do.

 

[donaldson79]

You ask me, it's put up or shut up time for Nick Martinez as a starter. If he's going to make it as a starter in MLB, then there's no reason he shouldn't handily earn the spot. If he doesn't, might be time to move on from him as an option.

Nick will only be 26 in Aug. Why the, "this season or else?" He's thrown well over 200 innings in the ML, and let's not forget, how well he started last season; please.

I really don't like giving up on starting pitchers until they totally spit-the-bit, gonna cost of too much money, or get too old to roll with it anymore.

Granted, his upside is a # 3 starter. And that may be "optimistic."

 

[True Rangers Fan]

Nick will only be 26 in Aug. Why the, "this season or else?" He's thrown well over 200 innings in the ML, and let's not forget, how well he started last season; please.

I really don't like giving up on starting pitchers until they totally spit-the-bit, gonna cost of too much money, or get too old to roll with it anymore.

Granted, his upside is a # 3 starter. And that may be "optimistic."

Well, first of all... I mistakenly thought he came up for the first time in 2013. I thought he'd been around longer than he actually has. So that's my bad. But still, I do think that going into his 3rd season, he should be ready to take the next step. And just to reiterate - I'm saying it might be time to reconsider him as a starter, if he's not able to claim a spot in the rotation by anything other than default.

When the lineup gets around to their third time with him, that's when they start pounding him. I read an article the other day that discussed this concept. A lot of teams are starting to see that their 4 and 5 slots in the rotation start getting hit hard the third time through, and this may lead to more teams bringing on a bullpen piece specifically designed to bridge the game from a 4IP starter to the 8th inning guy or the closer. That may be the kind of guy Nick Martinez is. Either a guy you take out early for long relief or a long relief guy himself.

 

[scotsman1948]

I think he gets more years than that and a lot more money per year than that.

maybe he will but i wouldn't give it to him

 

[scotsman1948]

I think a Cespedes acquisition would have to be accompanied by a trade of Choo. I don't believe they can pay both of them. It would require us to pay a portion of Choo's salary, but saving the majority of what we owe Choo would probably be the only way we could afford Cespedes. That scenario could be what Levine was referring to when he talked about getting creative when he was asked about adding a RH bat to the outfield.

don't see the benefit in signing Cespedes and then trading Choo. we get better and then create another hole in the offense

 

[saddles]

Nick will only be 26 in Aug. Why the, "this season or else?" He's thrown well over 200 innings in the ML, and let's not forget, how well he started last season; please.

I really don't like giving up on starting pitchers until they totally spit-the-bit, gonna cost of too much money, or get too old to roll with it anymore.

Granted, his upside is a # 3 starter. And that may be "optimistic."

I agree. He is still young enough that he could be expected to improve given more innings. I will use the same guy I used earlier as an example. Cliff Lee didn't really come into his own until he was 29. He had a decent season at 26, but didn't consistently perform well until he was 29. Of course, that by no means should be taken as my thinking Nick will have anywhere near the success as Cliff.

 

[saddles]

Lee spent his first 8 years with Cleveland. He's also spent the last 4 years with Philly.

I'm sorry, but I don't see much of a similarity of situations between a young beginner, and a seasoned veteran in how they moved in short periods of time.

Eph made some good points on the teams Cesp has been with, and why he may be on the move, yet again.

The guy just concerns me. And to be totally PC, incorrectly, many of the Cuban players do.

I almost added the information that Cliff didn't start moving around for a few years and I guess I should have. One thing to consider is that had Cespedes come up in a team's minor league system it might have taken him longer to be moved for the first time as well. That and the fact that it was Oakland he started out with I think contributed to him getting moved so early in his MLB career. It definitely isn't a perfect analogy by any means.

 

[saddles]

don't see the benefit in signing Cespedes and then trading Choo. we get better and then create another hole in the offense

The main benefit is that Cespedes is an upgrade over Choo both offensively and defensively. You get less left handed also. It would be a way to improve somewhat without busting the budget completely all the while making your lineup more balanced.

 

[saddles]

 

[DT LUNA]

The main benefit is that Cespedes is an upgrade over Choo both offensively and defensively. You get less left handed also. It would be a way to improve somewhat without busting the budget completely all the while making your lineup more balanced.

Heard he was a little testy in the locker room at times.

 

[jta4437]

Heard he was a little testy in the locker room at times.

Heard the same, I wouldn't go as far as cancer but he's been difficult at times from what I remember hearing

Though his RH bat would look nice in the lineup