Rangers 2013 !!

[BERT]

At least let me heal up.

You saw it coming. Just lilke we all see what's ahead for the Longhorns this year

[Geor!]

You saw it coming. Just lilke we all see what's ahead for the Longhorns this year

Difference: It should have been a foregone conclusion that the Horns would be horrible. A last-month melt down was completely unexpected of the Rangers.

[BERT]

Difference: It should have been a foregone conclusion that the Horns would be horrible. A last-month melt down was completely unexpected of the Rangers.

Actually the defense was supposed to be the strength of the team this year. So no, it was not a foregone conclusion. But, we can argue this somewhere else

[Trip McNeely]

Hambone news

The Texas Rangers made a one-year qualifying offer for $13.3 million to free-agent slugger Josh Hamilton on Friday.

The Rangers did not make offers to any other free agents, including catcher Mike Napoli.

Szymborski: Let Hamilton Walk

The Rangers can fill other needs instead of paying a premium for Josh Hamilton, a player in decline, writes Dan Szymborski of Baseball Think Factory. Story Insider

Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP, can talk to teams about offers starting at midnight. The Rangers' qualifying offer is slightly below the $13.75 million that Hamilton received in 2012, and he is expected to decline it by Nov. 9.

The Rangers made the offer so that if Hamilton leaves, they would at least get a compensatory pick in next year's MLB draft. That selection would come after the first round and in the order of how clubs finished this past season.

It doesn't mean the club can't negotiate with Hamilton this offseason, but both sides agreed they'd see what the market bears for the slugger before talking in detail. Rangers GM Jon Daniels said his club is mapping out scenarios for life with and without Hamilton, in case he doesn't return.

"You can count them on one hand that the guys you can truly replace Josh's production with, and I don't expect any of them to be available," Daniels said. "It's going to have an impact if he's not back. If Josh is not back, we're not going to try to replace him. I don't think that's a productive way of going about it. We'll try to put the best team out there we can. I like our chances if Josh is back and we've got some work to do, but I like our chances if he's not."

Texas decided not to make a qualifying offer to Napoli, who made $9.4 million in 2012. The club determined that $13.3 million was too high to pay for Napoli at this point. He hit .227 this past season with 24 homers and 56 RBIs. He was not able to match his numbers from 2011, which included a huge second half. Napoli ended up hitting .320 with 30 homers and 75 RBIs and then wasn't able to reach agreement on a multiyear deal prior to 2012.

"He's been a big part of this club for a couple of years and we'd like to have him back," Daniels said. "But for the first move of the offseason to be effectively having him back at that number was not something we wanted to do right now. He may have declined (it). I would imagine they'll be a good deal of interest in him out there. You've got to be OK with it either way and we didn't want to start the offseason making that investment at that dollar number."

Daniels said he'll continue to talk to Napoli's agent about a deal. But both sides will see what his market looks like in the next weeks and months. It's the same situation with Hamilton.

Hamilton, 31, hit .285 with 43 homers and 128 RBIs in 148 games, his most since 2008.

Health is a big factor in determining what kind of guaranteed contract to give Hamilton. He's played in at least 148 games only twice in his 6½-year big-league career.

Hamilton has said the Rangers would get the first chance to sign him and that he wants to stay in Texas. But the free agent is open to other options as well.

"I always would love to stay here," Hamilton said moments after the club's 5-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in the AL wild-card game earlier this month. "They understand that. They know that. When we talked earlier in the year, we didn't get things worked out, so we said we'd wait until the year was over. They obviously get first shot. I told them they'd get first shot at the end of the year. We'll see what happens."

[71chevellejohn]

at least we get new uniforms! dick.

god bless.

[SC457A]

Liked the old hat Logo more.

[Mustangfreak]

If they don't sign Napoli I'm gonna be pissed. Napoli is fucking light years better than Soto. Every time I see Soto at bat I assume its another out for us.

[SC457A]

Soto handled the pitchers pretty well. Just no damn bat!

Napoli, I have a feeling wants 2011 money. The guy is a career .259 hitter ( a .320 year in '11 as all Ranger fans know), averaging mid-20 HR's. avg 63 Rbi's... Also has avg 112 SO a year. I just think he will be over payed if the Rangers sign him. That will hurt any chance to re-sign Hammy, Possibly Zach.

I lost faith in the Napoli early in the 2012 season. He got on a huge hot streak at mid '11 and into playoff. Did not see that hitter in '12.

[Mustangfreak]

He's still far better than Soto!

[pHILSANITY07]

Not suprised with the Hamilton offer. It covers their ass to say they at least made an attempt to sign Hamilton. I think thats as high as it gets though. I'm going to wonder what happens with Napoli and Adams. Also I've been hearing some BJ Upton rumors as well.

[Trip McNeely]

They don't want to resign Hamilton, that's why they low-balled him and let him go look around. He has no more drive to play for Texas anymore.

[pHILSANITY07]

They don't want to resign Hamilton, that's why they low-balled him and let him go look around. He has no more drive to play for Texas anymore.

yea I noticed that in the last month.

[mustang_marc]

They don't want to resign Hamilton, that's why they low-balled him and let him go look around. He has no more drive to play for Texas anymore.

They don't want him...and they had to make a qualifying offer so as to get compensated with picks when he does bolt.

[Slowhand]

They don't want to resign Hamilton, that's why they low-balled him and let him go look around. He has no more drive to play for Texas anymore.

That's quite a leap. They don't want him at that price; doesn't mean they don't want him.

[Nash B.]

That's quite a leap. They don't want him at that price; doesn't mean they don't want him.

Yeah, and I'm not sure they don't want Napoli, but $13.3 million is fucking nuts for him.