Friday a.m. stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 29, 2006 9:48 AM CST in News

Yawn.

For the next month, probably won't be much interesting in the morning news roundups.

Just waiting for pitchers and catchers to report.

Maybe I should change the countdown clock to that, rather than Opening Day...

Tim Cowlishaw says the Rangers are better off not matching the Giants' offer for Barry Zito, and has some praise for the Rangers' offseason.

Jan Hubbard talks to Tom Hicks, who says that the Rangers made a strong offer, and I can't disagree with him there.

Evan Grant details the Rangers offer:

The reported offer dwarfs the Rangers' final bid, which included $88 million in guaranteed money for six years. The offer was for six years at an average of $14 million per season. The offer also included a vesting option for a seventh season at $15 million. The option would have vested if Zito pitched 200 innings in the sixth year of the contract. If the option was not picked up, Zito would have received a $4 million buyout.

The Rangers tweaked their offer on Christmas to include the seventh season/buyout. The total worth, if he had pitched seven years, would have been $99 million.

Grant also mentions that the Rangers brought recently non-tendered pitcher Mike Wood back on a minor league deal, along with pitcher Willie Eyre, and signed catcher Guillermo Quiroz to a major league deal.

Quiroz is an interesting guy...former top prospect, a guy with a reputation as a very good defensive catcher who has some pop. Seems like he's being brought in to compete with Ojeda for the backup catcher job, with the thought being that he could be a Barajas-type as a backup catcher.

Grant says that the only free agent the Rangers are really in on right now is Mark Mulder. According to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the Indians, Rangers and Cards are the three finalists for Mulder.

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Comments

Ohka

Someone mentioned him in a diary recently but I haven't seen any good reports on the Rangers having any interest in him. I would be willing to bet that he would be more likely to be a quality pitcher than Eaton, Meche, or Marquis in the next few years and can apparently be had for a LOT less money.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

by LoneStarBallUser on Dec 29, 2006 9:52 AM CST reply actions

Ohka

I agree with you Chris. I think Ohka would be a strong #5. We have too many question marks right now. I would think he would possibily end up being our # 3 with injuries that always happen and with someone in the rotation not pitching up to par.

by sanangelofan on Dec 29, 2006 11:30 AM CST up reply actions

I submitted that,

along with an early report of the Giants serious interest. I don't think there was much to it, though, just random musings of Joel Sherman of the NY Post. I've looked but haven't found anyone else reporting that.

He wouldn't be a bad 4th or 5th starter, though part of me just wants to roll with Tejeda and Loe or Rupe on the back end and see what happens.

by t ball on Dec 29, 2006 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

Long winter nap

at least until pitchers/catchers report on Feb 15. Just some intermitent arbitration stuff.

Texas Rangers: baby step to 2007. Baby step to 2007.

by WyoRanger on Dec 29, 2006 10:02 AM CST reply actions

How many minutes will it take

For RangerMoto to comment on the blockquotes?

www.mavsmoneyball.com

by Wes Cox on Dec 29, 2006 10:02 AM CST reply actions

Hush yo mouf! (4 1/2 hours)

I'm on the Left Coast and was in meetings all morning...

Although, now that you mention it, those block quotes are making this site badass...

Your Texas Rangers...laying the foundation for 2007, in a winnable AL West. Never thought I'd say that!

by RangerMoto on Dec 29, 2006 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

ugh..

I need to go to sleep sooon...

"Twenty wins and a Cy Young, I guess. Less than 50 home runs allowed? Something like that. I'll stick with 20 wins -- that would be nice to get."-BMac

by miles on Dec 29, 2006 10:03 AM CST reply actions

Yep...

the countdown should be until pitchers and catchers report. Then it can be switched to countdown to opening day.

"Chip" first person on LSB to be berated by someone on the 25-man roster. - RangerMoto

by ortonius on Dec 29, 2006 10:22 AM CST reply actions

Mulder

I'm just not interested in him. I guess he could turn out like Carpenter, but I doubt it.

When's he supposed to be pitching in the Majors? I've heard the All Star break, but is that when he's anticipated to start pitching again from a mound, or what?

by debaser on Dec 29, 2006 11:43 AM CST reply actions

I'd be surprised

if he was a positive contributor anywhere in '07. If you sign him, you better get either one year with a team option or two with a third option year.

Because any money you give him this year is likely to be wasted.

"Strippers dude, I tell you, I really respect the cunts now. . . I'm not gonna lie to ya." - Voice of Her Generation, Lindsay Lohan.

by DJCahill on Dec 29, 2006 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

Yep

That's sort of where I was going with that. You can't expect him to start at the ASB and suddenly be the pitcher he once was. Even if the proceedure was successful, it'll take time for him to get all the way back.

by debaser on Dec 29, 2006 11:56 AM CST up reply actions

I just read on Jamey

He said the Rangers have a two year offer on the table for him. I know he probably would probably give the Rangers very little this year but you never know what he would do in 08.

by boomer1 on Dec 29, 2006 12:08 PM CST up reply actions

I don't see the payoff

in a two year deal unless the money is pretty darn low. Like Cahill said you're basically paying the entire contract for 2008. So, I mean, even if he'll sign for two years and 12 million, do you really want to gamble 12 million on Mulder a year from now, not even knowing if he'll ever been any good? And if he is good and you get that good year from him, it's not like he's going to re-sign.

Don't see the risk/reward.

by Brett Perryman on Dec 29, 2006 12:21 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

It's not like he's signing a Chris Carpenter deal here. It's going to cost a lot more than that.

And shoulder injuries are generally a real problem.

by BurntOrange on Dec 29, 2006 1:32 PM CST up reply actions

I would rather pass on Mulder

it's a risky deal and it's not like it's a cheap risk.

by shallrelicme on Dec 29, 2006 1:19 PM CST reply actions

Agree on passing on Mulder

I was kind of for it before the BMAC trade, but now that I've thought more about it, I'm very strongly against it.

Might be a bit of self-promotion, but I filled in on another blog last week and wrote my thoughts on Mulder here...
http://rangers.mostvaluablenetwork.com/off-season/cant-get-zito-dont-look-to-mulder/

by austintxhorn on Dec 29, 2006 3:47 PM CST reply actions

Saw that last week,

and I agree. Mulder is an expensive risk, and we might get the same production (assuming Mulder has trouble getting back to form quickly) from Rupe or someone else for a lot less money.

I thought your cohort on that blog was very misguided with his ranting on the deadline the Rangers gave Boras.

by t ball on Dec 29, 2006 4:10 PM CST up reply actions

Nice article

Today I was looking at Ohka and Mulder's stats, and didn't see anything in recent years that made me think that Mulder was significantly better than the Ohka. Players seem to hit the ball harder off of Ohka based on SLGA. But their WHIPS are basically the same. Averaged over the last 3 years, Ohka's ERA+ was 109.5, and Mulder's was 93. Granted, Mulder's includes an abysmal 2006, so let's take it out. Mulder's ERA+ for 2004 and 2005 was 108.5. I'll completely admit that Mulder, when healthy, is good for more innings. But whatever. Unless Mulder wants to come to Texas for a reasonable contract, I don't want him.

Texas Rangers: baby step to 2007. Baby step to 2007.

by WyoRanger on Dec 29, 2006 4:43 PM CST up reply actions

I was on

the Mulder wagon early on, but after getting McCarthy and having some nice young arms competing for the 5 hole, I hope we pass on MM and gear up for an impact hitter that may come available.

by ncrangerman on Dec 29, 2006 11:26 PM CST reply actions