Rangers 2012

[idrivea4banger]

So the latest news is the Rangers made a trade for a catcher??

[71chevellejohn]

So the latest news is the Rangers made a trade for a catcher??

The post game show said G. Soto from the Cubs.

[Geor!]

They'll probably need one next year, but it isn't a necessity right meow.

[Slowhand]

They'll probably need one next year, but it isn't a necessity right meow.

I think you're right, but he was available now. Good acquisition, if not a little forward thinking and out of left field. I think it's a sign that contract negotiations with Nap may not be going particularly well, because it looks like a hedge to me. That or he's going to replace Torrealba, who is a free agent after this season.

[redfiveohconv]

So the latest news is the Rangers made a trade for a catcher??

Rangers Acquire Geovany Soto
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 30 at 9:48pm CST]

The Cubs have traded Geovany Soto to the Rangers, Yahoo's Tim Brown reports (on Twitter). The Cubs will obtain Jacob Brigham in the trade, Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). This trade isn't related to the Reed Johnson deal, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter).

Soto, 29, has a .195/.278/.345 batting line in 194 plate appearances this year. The 2008 NL Rookie of the Year earns $4.3MM in 2012 and is on track to go to arbitration for the third time this offseason. However, he could be non-tendered given his salary. The Mets also had interest in trading for Soto.

The move could make Yorvit Torrealba expendable for the Rangers. If Soto's production improves, Texas will have an in-house alternative to Mike Napoli when he hits free agency this offseason. Otherwise, the Rangers could non-tender Soto and let him test the free agent market a year early.

Brigham, a 24-year-old right-hander, had been pitching at Double-A Frisco. He has a 4.28 ERA with 8.4 K/9 and 3.3 BB/9 in 124 innings over the course of 21 starts this year. Brigham is a fringe arm, Ben Badler of Baseball America writes (on Twitter).

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports first reported that a trade would take place and Brown first reported that the Rangers acquired Soto.

From http://www.mlbtraderumors.com

They go on to add...

Rangers Designate Yorvit Torrealba For Assignment
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [July 30 at 10:25pm CST]

The Rangers have designated catcher Yorvit Torrealba for assignment, Troy Renck of the Denver Post reports (on Twitter). Torrealba became expendable with the acquisition of Geovany Soto.

The Rangers are likely to trade Torrealba, MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports. The 34-year-old has a .236/.302/.342 batting line in 182 plate appearances this year.

They also state that The Rangers are eyeing Matt Garza and Josh Beckett. Maybe a Josh Hamilton for Josh Beckett straight up? I like that idea, especially with the emergence of Craig Gentry. Here are some other big name outfielders hitting free agency. Delmon Young, Melky Cabrera, Curtis Granderson ($13MM club option with a $2MM buyout), B.J. Upton, Shane Victorino, and Nick Swisher to name a few. I especially like Upton and the switch hitting Victorino.

[Slowhand]

Are you talking about that last list for trading? Literally none of those names outside of Victorino or Upton is even close to moving.

Hamilton for Beckett would be a move that would actually manage to be dumber than idrivea4banger's suggestion of Andrus and Olt for Greinke. Not even Jon Hart would make that move.

[idrivea4banger]

Are you talking about that last list for trading? Literally none of those names outside of Victorino or Upton is even close to moving.

Hamilton for Beckett would be a move that would actually manage to be dumber than idrivea4banger's suggestion of Andrus and Olt for Greinke. Not even Jon Hart would make that move.

For the record, my post wasn't a suggestion. More of a rumor I heard on the sports radio show. This trade with the Cubs makes sense....somewhat.

[Slowhand]

For the record, my post wasn't a suggestion. More of a rumor I heard on the sports radio show. This trade with the Cubs makes sense....somewhat.

My bad. Trade with the Cubs makes complete sense, but it's a little weird because the desired benefit is really for next season. He just happened to be available now at a price the management decided was fair. Huge defensive upgrade, hopefully his bat can turn around in a little more competitive offensive environment.

Mariners just traded Brandon League to the Dodgers, btw.

[redfiveohconv]

Are you talking about that last list for trading? Literally none of those names outside of Victorino or Upton is even close to moving.

Every one of those names is a free agent in 2013, not a trade candidate. I was talking about how much easier it would be to trade off Hamilton this year with names like that hitting free agency and the emergence of Gentry. I also feel that because of those names, and others, he will not be getting quite the contract offers the 32 year old deserves at his potential level of play. You have to wonder, will JHam give us the hometown discount? Will he chase the almighty dollar? Victorino and Upton might come at a really decent price compared to what Katie and Josh demand. Its my belief that Hammy will be wearing pinstripes next year, but for Epstein via free agency.

[Vertnut]

Every one of those names is a free agent in 2013, not a trade candidate. I was talking about how much easier it would be to trade off Hamilton this year with names like that hitting free agency and the emergence of Gentry. I also feel that because of those names, and others, he will not be getting quite the contract offers the 32 year old deserves at his potential level of play. You have to wonder, will JHam give us the hometown discount? Will he chase the almighty dollar? Victorino and Upton might come at a really decent price compared to what Katie and Josh demand. Its my belief that Hammy will be wearing pinstripes next year, but for Epstein via free agency.

Interesting post. Hamilton is a mystery. Unless the Rangers low-ball him (which they could), I feel like he'd stay. With his history, he wouldn't last 2 hours in New York. Some forget that he's got 2 strike's against him in the league's substance abuse policy, and one more incident could (I said "could") result in a vacation from the league. He may be 32 in calender years, but his body is closer to 42, and I think his psyche is even more fragile than his body. I think he's in his comfort zone here.

[Slowhand]

Every one of those names is a free agent in 2013, not a trade candidate. I was talking about how much easier it would be to trade off Hamilton this year with names like that hitting free agency and the emergence of Gentry. I also feel that because of those names, and others, he will not be getting quite the contract offers the 32 year old deserves at his potential level of play. You have to wonder, will JHam give us the hometown discount? Will he chase the almighty dollar? Victorino and Upton might come at a really decent price compared to what Katie and Josh demand. Its my belief that Hammy will be wearing pinstripes next year, but for Epstein via free agency.

Never going to be traded this season. There's just no way that Daniels trades Josh Hamilton in the middle of a pennant race. Period. I don't even know what to do with the suggestion that it could be a possibility. Let him go in free agency if he's going to go.

[Vertnut]

Never going to be traded this season. There's just no way that Daniels trades Josh Hamilton in the middle of a pennant race. Period. I don't even know what to do with the suggestion that it could be a possibility. Let him go in free agency if he's going to go.

I agree with this. Hamilton might be lost to free agency, but he's not going anywhere until after the season is done. These folks around here would never forgive the Ranger's for that move, even IF it was the right one.

[Slowhand]

I agree with this. Hamilton might be lost to free agency, but he's not going anywhere until after the season is done. These folks around here would never forgive the Ranger's for that move, even IF it was the right one.

Furthermore, I don't see how it is the right move. It would shatter the clubhouse.

[mstng86]

i am getting the sinking feeling an ace is not in our future today.

[Slowhand]

i am getting the sinking feeling an ace is not in our future today.

I don't think it is, but I don't think that's the end of the world. Norm mentioned on the Ticket this morning that other teams may sense the Rangers' sense of urgency and smell a little blood and are going to make the Rangers overpay for whatever they get, and I think it's a pretty good analysis. Overpaying right now would be a far more egregious error than not grabbing a starter.

The reality is that the Rangers need 3 real starters for the playoffs, with a 4th in reserve. Harrison is one, Darvish is two, and its up to Holland/Feldman/Oswalt/Ogando to work out who is going to be number 3 and who will be the backup. I don't like the idea of trying to stretch Ogando out at this point in the season, but it seems to be the going idea right now.

They'll definitely pick up a bullpen guy if there's no ace, though. And they need to if they're going to start playing musical chairs with the potential playoff rotation, and probably need to even if they leave things as is.