Rangers Offseason Thread

[GTBrian23]

You're assuming that they had a ton of cash to spend on him. I think they were somewhat relieved when Anaheim jumped out and flexed their wallet.

Yeah I think to get pujols they were looking for a pretty big "hometown" discount. I wonder if they were even close to the $200 mil mark.

[mustang_marc]

Rangers locked up Andrus for 3 more years.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/baseball/mlb/02/07/rangers.elvis.andrus.deal.ap/index.html?sct=hp_t2_a11&eref=sihp

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) --Shortstop Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers have agreed to a three-year contract and avoided salary arbitration.

A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Tuesday night that the contract runs through the 2014 season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was pending a physical and hadn't been finalized.

The agreement came two days before a scheduled arbitration hearing.

The 23-year-old Andrus is a .271 career hitter with 102 stolen bases and has played at least 145 games in each of his three seasons for the Rangers. The new deal will take Andrus through his final three arbitration-eligible seasons.

Andrus hit a career-best .279 with 37 stolen bases last year when the Rangers won their second consecutive American League pennant. He had asked for $3.6 million in arbitration and was offered $2.65 million for next season before agreeing to a multiyear deal with Texas.

The Rangers still are in talks with catcher Mike Napoli and outfielder Nelson Cruz, who have salary arbitration hearings scheduled next week.

Cruz, whose eight postseason homers last year included six in the AL championship series with a game-ending grand slam in Game 2, asked for $7.5 million while the Rangers offered $5.5 million. He made $3.65 million last year, when he hit .263 with 29 homers and 87 RBIs in 124 games.

Napoli set career highs by hitting .320 with 30 homers and 75 RBIs in 113 games in his first season with Texas, when he made $5.8 million after spending his first five seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. He asked for $11.5 million, and Texas offered $8.3 million.

Andrus was among several key players the Rangers got from Atlanta in a July 2007 trade for Mark Teixeira after the switch-hitting first baseman turned down a contract extension.

Hard-throwing closer Neftali Feliz, who is making the transition into the rotation this spring, and left-hander Matt Harrison (14-9, 3.39 ERA last season) were also part of that deal.

Andrus made his major league debut in the 2009 season opener after the Rangers moved five-time All-Star shortstop Michael Young to third base for the shortstop who was then only 20 years old and had never played above the Double-A level.

[Geor!]

Good news.

[Badass2000GT]

Since he is only 23 I wonder why they didn't give him a longer term contract.

[mustang_marc]

Since he is only 23 I wonder why they didn't give him a longer term contract.

I assume because he hasn't hit free agency yet and as an arbitration eligible player, it's probably cheaper right now than a regular contract. I don't think you're eligible for free agency until you've had 5 years in the league. Not sure on that...just an uneducated guess.

[GTBrian23]

Since he is only 23 I wonder why they didn't give him a longer term contract.

Im guessing it is because if Andrus doesnt improve at the plate this contract will be up right about the time Profar(sp) should be about ready to step up

[mstng86]

FYI, they signed Cruz to a 2 year deal for 16 mill I believe.

[GTBrian23]

FYI, they signed Cruz to a 2 year deal for 16 mill I believe.

I really want to see what kind of power number that guy can put up with a full season with no injuries!

[mstng86]

I really want to see what kind of power number that guy can put up with a full season with no injuries!

Its unpossible.

He will always have lower body injuries, it looks like.

[GTBrian23]

Its unpossible.

He will always have lower body injuries, it looks like.

I know, I am just dreaming haha. If he didnt have such a gigantic arm I would say stick him at DH and make Murphy the full-time RF.

[mustang_marc]

FYI, they signed Cruz to a 2 year deal for 16 mill I believe.

Done deal. Glad they locked him up for another couple years. With Hamilton's contract status on hold...I wonder if the Rangers lock Napoli up for a bit longer?

[Geor!]

Done deal. Glad they locked him up for another couple years. With Hamilton's contract status on hold...I wonder if the Rangers lock Napoli up for a bit longer?

Ask and you shall receive. He'll be around at least for another year, and be almost $10m richer.

[Osiris]

Yep. He'll be a free agent after the '12 season. He got 9.4mm this year, which makes him the 3rd highest paid catcher in MLB.

[GTBrian23]

I like the one year contract, makes him prove he can be consistent with what he did last year.

[mustang_marc]

I like the one year contract, makes him prove he can be consistent with what he did last year.

I like the 3 yr stuff. Because if he does really well this year, then he'll be gone next year because he needs another raise. If he's not gone already...
What worthy catchers do we have in the farm system again?