Rangers 2012

[Slowhand]

Ah, I saw it before the edit. 13 LOB is bad, but 25 is...well, impossible in an 8 1/2 inning game!

That was according the MLB At-Bat. I realized that total sounded absurd given that they only batted in 8 half innings. Their total must be a weird metric of how many runners were loft on base after each time a player made an out, not just at the end of an inning.

[Slowhand]

Rangers apparently looking into Jonathon Broxton to add to the bullpen.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jon-heyman/19683750/rangers-looking-at-jonathan-broxton-to-bolster-pen

[mstng86]

Rangers apparently looking into Jonathon Broxton to add to the bullpen.

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/jo...to-bolster-pen

That is all fine and dandy but I haven't really seen a performance by ogando to make me feel comfortable with him starting. I have missed a lot of games here lately though.

[Slowhand]

That is all fine and dandy but I haven't really seen a performance by ogando to make me feel comfortable with him starting. I have missed a lot of games here lately though.

He hasn't pitched much at all, period.

Feliz scratched from his rehab start yesterday with a recurrence of elbow pain. Not looking good.

[mstng86]

He hasn't pitched much at all, period.

Feliz scratched from his rehab start yesterday with a recurrence of elbow pain. Not looking good.

The little I have seen, he has gotten hammered.

[Geor!]

The little I have seen, he has gotten hammered.

Like your anus.

[bucky]

Just saw on ESPN that the Rangers are in advanced talks with the Phillies on getting Cliff Lee. Reports are the Phillies want Olt and Perez but the Rangers want some of his contract paid for....

[Geor!]

Just saw on ESPN that the Rangers are in advanced talks with the Phillies on getting Cliff Lee. Reports are the Phillies want Olt and Perez but the Rangers want some of his contract paid for....

Nobody knows anything at this point. Some are saying it's all but a done deal, others are saying the talks have practically ended.

[Slowhand]

Sources, gentlemen? ESPN is too busy covering the bathroom break at Jets training camp to actually report on anything.

[Geor!]

Sources, gentlemen? ESPN is too busy covering the bathroom break at Jets training camp to actually report on anything.

From a Newberg e-mail I just got.


· Ready?

· Jon Paul Morosi (Fox Sports) tweeted yesterday: “Rangers have [a] vexing dilemma. Feliz’s elbow tightness gives JD 48 hours to find a starter. But is there a true difference-maker available?”

Enter Clifton Phifer Lee.

Well, “enter” probably isn’t the right word.

For now.

· After days of reports coming out of Philadelphia that the Phililes were not looking to trade the lefthander, even in the wake of the Cole Hamels signing, late this morning Buster Olney (ESPN) tweeted: “Source: Cliff Lee is in play in trade talks today. Rangers obviously the most logical landing spot, with 3B Mike Olt as possible centerpiece.” Olney added that the Phillies “want a significant package of prospects.”

· According to Jim Salisbury (CSN Philly), Texas and Philadelphia have in fact “stepped up trade discussions.”

· That led to a Twitter frenzy, with speculation all over the place on Lee’s real availability, the package it would take to get him, and – maybe most central to the discussion – how much money Philadelphia would be willing to convey to Texas to underwrite the remainder of Lee’s contract (a little over $7 million remaining this year, $25 million in 2013, $25 million in 2014, $25 million in 2015, and a $27.5 million club option in 2016 that [if not vested based on 2014-15 workloads] would cost $12.5 million to buy out).

· According to Jim Bowden (ESPN/XM), while Texas refused to include Jurickson Profar or Olt in the Zack Greinke trade talks, Olt would need to be involved in the Lee discussions. Bowden views the Dodgers and Nationals as “possible matches” for Lee as well – I’m not sure whether it’s been reported if those two clubs are among the 21 that Lee can block trades to. Texas is not on that list.

· Heyman and Ken Rosenthal (Fox Sports) report, however, that the Dodgers are not in on Lee. Olney and Rosenthal rule the Yankees out for budgetary reasons.

· Salisbury suggests that “[a]ny package [for Lee] would start with” Olt and that Alexi Ogando could also be a target.

· An “industry source” tells T.R. Sullivan (MLB.com) that the chances that Lee returns to Texas are “less than one percent.” In fact, Stark now hears that the Texas-Philadelphia talks may “have all but ended” and that the “[c]omplicated, multi-layered” situation would be more likely to be revisited in the winter.

· Jon Heyman (CBS Sports) agrees that it’s a longshot but said on MLB Network that the Rangers “seem to be the only team involved on Lee right now.” According to Bob Nightengale (USA Today), “MLB executives believe that Cliff Lee will either be traded to the Rangers, or stay put with [the] Phillies, because of his exorbitant salary.” Heyman says that the Phillies have told Lee at some point that he would not be traded, but sometimes plans change.

· As Salisbury notes: “Four days ago, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said he planned to keep his pitching rotation together, but he acknowledged that plans can change. For competitive reasons, Amaro is not afraid to say one thing and do another. Witness two winters ago when he denied interest in Lee almost until the time he signed him.”

· And as the former GM Bowden points out: The “[b]est part of the trade deadline is that plans can completely change with a single phone call.”

· Rosenthal suggests that while Amaro “has pulled off some stunners, [p]urging Lee’s contract AND getting [a] quality return in trade would be [the] biggest one yet.” (Bigger than trading for Roy Halladay? Might just beg to differ.)

· According to Jayson Stark (ESPN), one club executive doubts Philadelphia would subsidize any Lee trade with cash, since the only motivation to move him would be to free money up to spend elsewhere on the roster. (Flawed logic, but OK.)

· A fairly obvious but important point, made by Olney: “Keep in mind: The Phillies and Rangers probably have created some groundwork for a big pitcher deal in their preliminary Hamels discussions.” (Think back to last July’s Heath Bell discussions that led to the Mike Adams trade, reportedly. Texas should have a good idea of which players interest Philadelphia. The main talking point is going to be about money.)

· One club executive told Joel Sherman (New York Post) he expects Lee to be traded by tomorrow or in the off-season because Philadelphia needs an infusion of youth as well as salary relief to spend elsewhere on the roster.

· Passan says it’s “extremely doubtful” that St. Louis gets involved on Lee, even if the Phillies were to kick some money in.

· Sherman doesn’t see Philadelphia moving Lee for prospects that aren’t ready to contribute (which makes sense given that their window is still centered largely around players on the wrong side of 30). He suggests Olt would fit because he’d be ready by 2013, and Leonys Martin could be a player of interest as well.

· Stark suggests it would take a “gigantic return” to get Lee and pinpoints Olt and Martin as well, plus “a couple of Texas’s young power arms.”

· Heyman keeps saying that Lee is a candidate to be traded in August because nobody would claim his contract off waivers. Fair enough.

But what he’s missing is that the players Philadelphia want, if on the Rangers’ 40-man roster, would have to clear waivers as well – and they can only be players to be named later if not in the big leagues between the time of the trade and the time it’s ultimately finalized.

So Martin Perez and Justin Grimm wouldn’t be able to rejoin the club this year and end up in the trade, Tanner Scheppers would be ineligible unless optioned before the trade was made, and so on. That doesn’t make Olt ineligible since he’s not on the roster, but it would mean Martin would have to be a player to be named later and, more importantly, wouldn’t be available to Texas when rosters expand in September. Same with Perez and Grimm.

· Point being: There’s going to be motivation on both sides to get a Lee deal done today or tomorrow, if at all, and if not then probably not until the off-season.

· Bowden proposes Olt, Perez, and Leury Garcia for Lee. Probably not an unreasonable ask, but it ignores the size of the cash subsidy. Huge factor, obviously.

· Probably just spitballing, but Rosenthal suggests Lee “likely would be [a] $15 million to $18 million pitcher for [the] Rangers even if [the] Phillies included big money.” Jeff Passan (Yahoo! Sports) is in the same ballpark, with a club executive suggesting Philadelphia “would have to [kick in] $7-8 million per year to get prospects back.” Passan adds: “At [three years/$54 million or four years/$81 million], Cliff Lee is someone a whole lot of clubs would trade for. . . . More suitors = better return.”

· I am very, very, very interested in this development.

· Very interested.

· There’s also been a busy thread today involving Texas and Josh Beckett, starting with reports this morning from Heyman and Passan that Boston was motivated to listen on the veteran righthander, who is owed more than $5 million the rest of this year and $15.75 each of the next two seasons. Beckett has 10/5 veto rights but has apparently made it known that he’d sign off on deals to the Rangers or Braves, the two clubs that Passan reports the Red Sox approached in the last 60 hours to gauge interest in the 32-year-old.

[Geor!]

(...continued)


· Sean McAdam (Comcast Sports Net) hears that the Dodgers have checked in on Beckett as well.

· Rosenthal and Olney think it’s “unlikely” that Boston moves Beckett. According to Passan, “Much of the Beckett market depends on how much money [the] Red Sox are willing to eat.” He adds that any Beckett trade would likely be a “[p]ure dump” and not a deal involving one bad contract for another. Passan’s comp: A.J. Burnett to the Pirates in February for two prospects you could not name right now.

· An executive “from [a] team linked to interest in Beckett said, ‘He’s unlikely to move. Nobody wants him and he makes a ton of money.”

· Peter Gammons (MLB.com) said on MLB Network that Boston would need a number three or number four starter if it traded Beckett, making the whole idea likely moot unless a third team were involved.

· Nick Cafardo (Boston Globe) tweeted that the “Rangers people I’ve talked to aren’t too excited about the Beckett speculation.” Cafardo adds that “[s]ome of [the Rangers’] scouts don’t want Beckett but it’s up to Jon Daniels/Nolan Ryan.”

· According to Rob Bradford (WEEI), there’s “[n]o new momentum in either direction [in] Rangers/Sox talks regarding Beckett.” In fact, in the last few minutes Bradford tweets that “Beckett to [the] Rangers [is] not happening. Deal is currently dead.”

· A source tells Bradford that the “Braves [are] not a viable landing spot for Beckett right now” either.

· Gammons says Texas is “very interested” in Royals reliever Jonathan Broxton, and could probably get him for Grimm. Bob Dutton (Kansas City Star) shares the same idea. Grimm had an excellent start for Round Rock last night. Rob Neyer (ESPN) tweets that “[i]f [the] Royals can get Justin Grimm for Broxton, I will take back everything I ever said about Dayton Moore.”

· According to Danny Knobler (CBS Sports), the Royals aren’t “encourag[ed]” by the offers for Broxton so far.

· Olney reports that Texas “backed off” of Josh Johnson after his erratic start yesterday, before which the club had apparently been willing to discuss Martin as part of a package for the righthander. Stark had reported that the Marlins insisted that any proposal be fronted by Olt.

· Miami had reportedly been seeking a “Teixeira-like package” or “[Bartolo] Colon deal” from clubs interested in the righthander. One club executive told Stark: “The only club with the pieces to get Johnson is Texas.”

· Even before Sunday’s start, Knobler says that the Rangers and Angels had concerns about Johnson’s health history and contract.

· According to Gammons, “With the Rangers not interested and the Red Sox ‘not engaged,’ the Josh Johnson market isn’t likely to bring a big package to pry him away.”

· Lots of fallout from the Greinke trade talks, including Daniels saying yesterday that he has yet to see a published report that accurately nailed the final package that Texas offered Milwaukee for the righthander.

· Brewers GM Doug Melvin told Bowden that Profar and Olt were off the table, but that the “rest were available.” However, Sullivan reports that when Milwaukee proposed deals that included Perez, the Rangers balked, as they did when the Brewers asked for Grimm, Chad Bell, Garcia, and Jorge Alfaro – Texas was apparently willing to offer that package without the catcher Alfaro included, according to both Sullivan and Tom Haudricourt (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel). Once the Angels agreed to part with shortstop Jean Segura, “the only way the Rangers could have gotten [Greinke] is if they overpaid with young pitchers.”

· Rosenthal hears that Texas fronted an offer with Grimm and Cody Buckel, but the Brewers insisted on Perez. A source also suggested to Rosenthal that when Los Angeles agreed to put Ariel Pena in with Segura and Johnny Hellweg, it “swung the balance toward [the Angels] and away from [the] Rangers.”

· Dave Cameron (FanGraphs) says of the Angels’ acquisition of Greinke: “Marginal wins worth a lot for [the] Angels. But still, this is a ton for a rental.” Los Angeles, of course, is expected to make a hard push to keep Greinke around long-term.

· Sam Miller (Baseball Prospectus) shares this thought: “My guess is [Texas] will still win [the] AL West and be thrilled [the Angels] depleted [their] system for a Wild Card push. LAA will be thrilled, too, to play in [October].”

· Tampa Bay probably won’t trade James Shields, according to Knobler, are the club is “asking for more than [the] Brewers got for Greinke.”

· Cafardo tweets that “Texas has been the most aggressive team in trying to acquire pieces from [the] Red Sox,” discussing Cody Ross, Aaron Cook, and Kelly Shoppach with Boston, and that Shoppach talks remain alive. Olney says Boston won’t discuss Jon Lester.

· Olney also says Cleveland probably won’t trade Shin-Soo Choo unless they get “the perfect offer.” Rosenthal thinks that means a “good” Major League player with fewer than three years of service. Rosenthal and Heyman report that Texas has been in on the Indians outfielder.

· According to Knobler, Texas and Boston have scouted Indians righthander Justin Masterson.

· Passan and Sullivan suggest Texas has shown interest in Colorado reliever Rafael Betancourt. Jerry Crasnick (ESPN) believes the Rangers are not interested in Seattle reliever Brandon League.

· Olney reports that Texas talked to the Mets about outfielder Scott Hairston.

· Twenty-three hours.

[Slowhand]

Saw Beckett early today. Please don't fucking touch that with a 10-foot pole, Daniels.

[Vertnut]

Just saw on ESPN that the Rangers are in advanced talks with the Phillies on getting Cliff Lee. Reports are the Phillies want Olt and Perez but the Rangers want some of his contract paid for....

But...but...but...I thought he had to stay in Phiwwy so his son could be close to his hospital for his cancer treatments!

Anyone else remember that sad excuse some people made, and didn't he sort of bash Texas and the metroplex area? Not sure, just thought some of that went on. If he can help the Rangers, I'm fine with it.

[Slowhand]

But...but...but...I thought he had to stay in Phiwwy so his son could be close to his hospital for his cancer treatments!

Anyone else remember that sad excuse some people made, and didn't he sort of bash Texas and the metroplex area? Not sure, just thought some of that went on. If he can help the Rangers, I'm fine with it.

Doesn't sound like you're fine with it.

[Vertnut]

Doesn't sound like you're fine with it.

I'm good. It does stick in my craw just a little. It's funny how forgiving fans can be.