The OFFICIAL Texas Rangers thread

[BP]

I can't believe Hamilton is only asking for $12 million after that Prince Fielder contract.

Also the Yankees signed Soriano as a setup man for Riviera. It must be nice to be able to pay $35 million dollars for a freakin setup man.

[Lone Sailor]

I can't believe Hamilton is only asking for $12 million after that Prince Fielder contract.

Also the Yankees signed Soriano as a setup man for Riviera. It must be nice to be able to pay $35 million dollars for a freakin setup man.

Hell the Rangers are only offering him like $8mil. I think they want to make sure he can continue to be productive before giving him the long high end contract, which should be why they only want to do 1 year.

[mustang_marc]

Warsh got Manager of the Year

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110120&content_id=16474192&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex&partnerId=rss_tex

BOSTON -- The Rangers may not have won it all last year, but for manager Ron Washington, helping deliver the franchise its first American League pennant was a feat that didn't go unnoticed by the Boston Baseball Writers' Association of America, which recognized the Texas skipper as the 2010 Manager of the Year.

Washington was presented the award at the Boston BBWAA's 72nd annual dinner Thursday night at the Westin Copley Place.

"[The award] means everything," Washington said. "They could have chosen many guys and they chose Ron Washington, and that just says the Texas Rangers are on the map."

The '10 campaign didn't begin as hoped in Texas. After an April in which Texas went just 11-12, Washington's talented but young club seemed to be underachieving. But that also meant it was flying under the radar.

It wasn't until the Rangers ripped off an 11-game winning streak in mid-June that people started to take notice. That run spurred Texas on to the AL West title and its first postseason berth since 1999.

That was just the beginning, as the Rangers proceeded to knock off the powerhouse Rays and defending champion Yankees in the AL Championship Series before falling to the Giants in five games in the World Series.

Add it all up and Arlington has been indelibly stamped on the baseball map, as the Manager of the Year so acutely pointed out.

Success, however, breeds expectation, which is something Washington and his club are ready to meet head on in 2011.

"I think you want to be in that position, you want to be the team hunted," Washington said. "Expectations have risen in Texas, and they've risen in Texas under my watch for the last four years.

"We finally accomplished something and we're looking forward to the challenge, and we're certainly looking forward to defending the American League championship."

[mustang_marc]

Rangers going after Manny...

http://trsullivan.mlblogs.com/archives/2011/01/rangers_going_after_ramirez.html

The Rangers are pursuing free agent outfielder/designated hitter Manny Ramirez. He would be the big right-handed bat at DH and off the bench. It would likely mean far more playing time for Michael Young at first base and would cut into Mitch Moreland's playing time. But the Rangers are definitely interested in Ramirez

The Angels and Rays are also considering Ramirez, and there are reports that the Angels are going to sign him. However, Ramirez has expressed an interest in playing for the Rangers and that interest appears to be mutual.

[Slowhand]

http://trsullivan.mlblogs.com/archiv...r_ramirez.html

The Rangers are pursuing free agent outfielder/designated hitter Manny Ramirez. He would be the big right-handed bat at DH and off the bench. It would likely mean far more playing time for Michael Young at first base and would cut into Mitch Moreland's playing time. But the Rangers are definitely interested in Ramirez

The Angels and Rays are also considering Ramirez, and there are reports that the Angels are going to sign him. However, Ramirez has expressed an interest in playing for the Rangers and that interest appears to be mutual.

Are they really that deseperate? Jesus.

[Kenny_Stang]

Napoli traded to the Rangers for Frankie Francisco

The Blue Jays will reportedly send Mike Napoli to the Rangers for Frankie Francisco, according to a tweet just posted by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

[mstng86]

Fairly ok numbers from him last year. .238 26hr 68 rbi, yikes 137k's. They must be looking to shore up a solid backup at catcher and first.


Adios Franky, we hardly knew you last year.

[BP]

I like the Napoli pickup. Watch all the film you want but there is nothing as good as having a catcher from your #1 rival to give you an edge over them. He knows all of their pitchers inside and out as well as what kind of scouting reports they have on your players.

[mstng86]

I like the Napoli pickup. Watch all the film you want but there is nothing as good as having a catcher from your #1 rival to give you an edge over them. He knows all of their pitchers inside and out as well as what kind of scouting reports they have on your players.

That is what I thought when we went into the world series. But I guess Benji forgot to give the others pointers.

[BP]

That is what I thought when we went into the world series. But I guess Benji forgot to give the others pointers.

The Freak show is that good though, he could tell you what pitch he's throwing and where and you'd still strike out.

[GTBrian23]

I really like this pickup as well..I think we are much stronger in the backups department this year. Should be able to give lots of guys plenty of rest without having to worry about losing too much production!

[PandaBear]

LoL Umad?

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=6068830

"I think Chuck is delusional," Levine told ESPNewYork.com. "He has been running the Rangers for a few minutes and seems to believe he's mastered what everyone else is thinking. I think he should let Cliff Lee speak for himself. I'll be impressed when he demonstrates he can keep the Rangers off welfare. What I mean is make them not be a revenue-sharing recipient for three years in a row, without taking financing from baseball or advance money from television networks. Then I'll be impressed."

[mustang_marc]

Kinda knew already that Vlad wouldn't be coming back. It's official now...he's signed a 1 yr deal with the O's.

BALTIMORE — Free-agent slugger Vladimir Guerrero has agreed to a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal will not be completed until Guerrero passes a physical.

A second person with knowledge of the deal, also speaking on condition of anonymity because it wasn’t final, said the agreement was worth $8 million.

Guerrero has 436 homers and 1,433 RBIs in 15 major league seasons.

The 36-year-old hit .300 with 29 homers and 115 RBIs with the AL champion Texas Rangers last season and almost certainly will become Baltimore’s designated hitter.

If he passes the physical, he would be the marquee offseason acquisition by the Orioles, who have added several newcomers in their bid to end a run of 13 consecutive losing seasons.

President of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has added through trade or free agency third baseman Mark Reynolds, shortstop J.J. Hardy, first baseman Derrek Lee , closer Kevin Gregg and starter Justin Duchscherer.

Guerrero provides Baltimore with a bonafide cleanup hitter.

Guerrero has a .320 career batting average and has scored 1,268 runs in 2,002 games. He broke into the major leagues with the Montreal Expos and played six seasons with the Angels before joining the Rangers in 2010.

Luke Scott, who led the Orioles with 27 homers last season, most likely will be moved from designated hitter to left field.

[BP]

Hambone agrees to 2 year, $24 million deal

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-rangers/headlines/20110210-josh-hamilton-rangers-agree-to-new-two-year-deal.ece

[bcoop]

Hambone agrees to 2 year, $24 million deal

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/tex...-year-deal.ece

Was just about to post the same.


See, Hambone is worth what he got. MY is NOT worth $16 million/yr.