World Series Champions, Texas Rangers 2023-2024 Offseason Thread

[Kelleyman]

Kelly and Corniell have the stuff to be in the 26 man at some point next season
JC could be on the fast track.
Why risk it?

 

[Kelleyman]

Well Jung did not get robbed as some may think but:

1 Jung defense has been underrated
2 The big lights were not too bright
3 He came back from injury
4 He comes across as a hard worker
5 He has great mentors
6 He had Brooks Robinson vote of approval

I think he saw himself in Jung vs Gunner

 

[Nightcrawler]

Well Jung did not get robbed as some may think but:

1 Jung defense has been underrated
2 The big lights were not too bright
3 He came back from injury
4 He comes across as a hard worker
5 He has great mentors
6 He had Brooks Robinson vote of approval

I think he saw himself in Jung vs Gunner

We couldn’t have won the whole thing without Jung playing excellent defense at 3rd. Hugely underrated part of our season / success.

 

[saddles]

Kelly and Corniell have the stuff to be in the 26 man at some point next season
JC could be on the fast track.
Why risk it?

Corniell only started 11 games at Hickory last year. He probably starts there and then moves up to Frisco at some point. You think he could move up three levels and possibly start up here at some point? That is also passing Bratt, Stephan, Acker, White, Kent and Leiter, who are all ahead of him currently as far as development. Well, either passing them or joining them up here.

I am in favor of protecting him though.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

 

[Kelleyman]

Corniell only started 11 games at Hickory last year. He probably starts there and then moves up to Frisco at some point. You think he could move up three levels and possibly start up here at some point? That is also passing Bratt, Stephan, Acker, White, Kent and Leiter, who are all ahead of him currently as far as development. Well, either passing them or joining them up here.

I am in favor of protecting him though.

The best writer Mark Parker thinks he is heading to Frisco. He was the pitcher of the year and velo is increasing. They will need to add him and if they do then maybe he gets a shot late season
Maybe only a cup of coffee to see if it plays af the MLB level.

 

[saddles]

 

[DT LUNA]

We couldn’t have won the whole thing without Jung playing excellent defense at 3rd. Hugely underrated part of our season / success.

Tyler ,you are right on.

 

[saddles]

From MLBTR:

Without many clear rebuilders, it’s possible we see more swaps of big leaguers at positions of need between teams that expect to compete.

 

[Nightcrawler]

From MLBTR:

Without many clear rebuilders, it’s possible we see more swaps of big leaguers at positions of need between teams that expect to compete.

It doesn’t really matter anymore because we won the championship, but damn it seems like we always have the worst timing with stuff like this.

A few years ago while we were rebuilding, NOBODY was trading prospects. It’s like overnight prospects became liquid gold and all the teams in the league suddenly started hording Them. You can’t make this stuff up.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Padres Exploring Scott Barlow Trades

The Padres are "actively trying to move" right-hander Scott Barlow in trade talks with other teams, ESPN's Jeff Passan reports. …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[scotsman1948]

Jeff Wilson's Thoughts on Rule 5 Protection:

Best bets​

Justin Foscue, IF/DH: This is one of the no-brainers. One of the Rangers’ top-10 prospects, Foscue was the club’s first-round pick in 2020 (14th overall) and has been a steady bat in the minor leagues. He doesn’t necessarily have a position in the majors with Marcus Semien at second and Josh Jung at third. Foscue played some first base this year at Triple A Round Rock and could fill a need at designated hitter.

Antoine Kelly, LHP: What season for the left-hander, who was selected by the Rangers as their top minor-league reliever. A former starter, Kelly found his command and dominated with upper-90s velocity with deception and an effective slider. The Rangers need relief help, and Kelly will get the chance to make the roster out of spring training.

Marc Church, RHP: The right-hander made the most of his first appearance in big-league spring training (Kelly was there, too), and stuck around for a couple weeks after the first wave of minor-leaguers were sent to minor-league camp. Church spent the entire season at Round Rock, where he finished with a 3.63 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He can work multiple innings with an impressive fastball-slider combination.

Dane Acker, RHP: Injuries have kept Acker from pitching a full minor-league season, but his stuff has big-league starter written all over it. Acquired in the February 2021 trade with the A’s, which also produced Jonah Heim, Acker was treated with kiddie gloves after a spring shoulder injury but was the best starter at Double A Frisco. He posted a 2.54 ERA in 18 starts but only 67 1/3 innings. He struck out 76 and held opponents to a .182 average.

Strong cases​

Blaine Crim, 1B: This isn’t Crim’s first go-round with the Rule 5 draft. He made it through last year and then continued to hit. The career .300 hitter in the minors posted a .289/.385/.506 slash line at Round Rock with 22 home runs and 31 doubles. The first baseman played some third base, but his bat is what will get him to the majors. Crim could be a DH candidate if the Rangers don’t sign a big bat. Crim is playing this winter in the Dominican Republic.

Davis Wendzel, INF: The power Wendzel had been trying to create showed up in 2023 with 30 home runs at Round Rock, but, more importantly, so did the health he hadn’t had since being drafted in 2019. The Rangers believe that Wendzel is a big-league player thanks in part to his defensive versatility and skill at several positions. Like Foscue, Wendzel is blocked at his primary positions.

Justin Slaten, RHP: The native Texan was part of the 2019 draft along with Jung and Wendzel. He was a starter his first few seasons in the minors but emerged this year as a solid reliever. Slaten spent most of the season at Frisco before finishing at Round Rock. He posted a 2.87 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 59 1/3 innings. The Rangers sent him to the Arizona Fall League, perhaps to gin up some trade interest.

Not yet​

Jose Corniell, RHP: The Rangers selected Corniell as their Minor League Pitcher of the Year after he went 8-3 with a 2.92 ERA across 101 2/3 innings. Those innings, though, were all collected at Low A Down East and High A Hickory, and while teams are sure to like the arm and the stuff, they might not be too pumped about carrying a 20-year-old who hasn’t even reached Double A.

Wonder if we should also consider protecting Anthony Hoopii-Tuiouitoa

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

There is absolutely no reason the Rangers should have to lose anyone in the Rule 5 draft this year, unless a team makes a foolish reach for one of our guys. Any of our prospects that could be tempting to another team can easily be protected.

 

[Duane1952]

Austin Hedges still on the 40 man is unbelievable.

 

[scotsman1948]

Austin Hedges still on the 40 man is unbelievable.

Got to a glitch in the system every mlb site shows the Rangers with 33 on the team’s 40-man only the Rangers site shows 34 on the roster of names and even it says 33 everywhere else

 

[saddles]

Austin Hedges still on the 40 man is unbelievable.

I have asked several media members why he is still listed, and I can not get anyone to even acknowledge my question.