A lefty bat who should be on the Ranger radar

by Adam J. Morris on May 6, 2006 12:41 PM CDT in News

Okay, the Rangers need a lefthanded bat off the bench, a guy who could DH against righthanders and play an outfield corner in a pinch.

I've found the perfect guy...Matt Stairs.

He's hanging around with Kansas City, who doesn't need him, and taking at bats away from guys like Justin Huber.

He still can get on base and hit for power, and would be a great compliment for Phil Nevin at DH. And he's making $1.35 million this year, a reasonable amount.

I can't think the price would be terribly high for Stairs. Maybe a Nick Masset or a Travis Metcalf, someone like that.

Something to think about, particularly with Royals owner David Glass making noise about changes being imminent. A new g.m. is probably going to want to jettison some of the old guys who aren't going to be part of the next get Royals club, and Stairs is probably going to be near the top of that list.

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lefty masher

Erubiel Durazo would work too.

by hperl345 on May 6, 2006 1:03 PM CDT reply actions

Durazo

He's hurt right now, and he's not really capable of playing the field.

But he is another viable option.

by Adam J. Morris on May 6, 2006 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

Stairs

is 38, try again

Get Loe!

by RangerMack on May 6, 2006 1:08 PM CDT reply actions

Why?

Why, "try again"?

If a guy is 38 and can hit, then why not get him to be a bench bat?

by Adam J. Morris on May 6, 2006 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Stairs

Would be an excellent addition, on a cost-benefit basis.

Given the Royals current state and his salary, Masset or Metcalf might even be more than it would take.

by BurntOrange on May 6, 2006 1:31 PM CDT reply actions

Good catch

Now, just tell Jon Daniels!

"don't dude me, chief."

by trza on May 6, 2006 1:55 PM CDT reply actions

Dellucci

The way he is hitting right now, he may be on the market again soon, as well.

by BurntOrange on May 6, 2006 2:02 PM CDT reply actions

how about...

Fernando Segigniguol!!!

by Longhorn on May 6, 2006 2:04 PM CDT reply actions

Adam

send out an e-mail to Jon Daniels.

by Agreen07 on May 6, 2006 3:09 PM CDT reply actions

Old, But...

Stairs may be 38, but the guy can still hit for power and average. Just because he's 38 doesn't mean he's worthless. Roger Clemens is 41. Randy Johnson is 42. Ruben Sierra is 87.

by ghtd36 on May 6, 2006 3:17 PM CDT reply actions

Julio Franco

played baseball with Honus Wagner.

by benmor78 on May 6, 2006 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

and

Chief Sockalexis, and Alexander Cartwright.

"It gets late early out there." - Yogi Berra

by JakeStrait on May 6, 2006 11:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Masset or Metcalf

for Stairs??? You must be on acid...We could get him for cash...

by Longhorn on May 6, 2006 4:28 PM CDT reply actions

I doubt it

Some other team would be willing to give up a prospect.

by Adam J. Morris on May 6, 2006 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I like that

Or we call up Jason Botts and use him as a backup DH/OF/PH. He's certainly a better option than, say, Adrian Brown.

by carterman on May 6, 2006 6:56 PM CDT reply actions

I disagree

First, unlike Brown, he's got no defensive value, and can't be used as a pinch runner.

Secondly, if you bring up Botts, you are going to want him to play pretty regularly, rather than once or twice a week.

Also, although Botts is a switch-hitter, he hits better from the right side than the left side, which means that he isn't a good match for spelling Nevin and Mench.

by Adam J. Morris on May 6, 2006 6:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Then Stairs it is!

by carterman on May 6, 2006 7:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm fine with a guy like Stairs

but not if it costs a B prospect like Masset or Metcalf. He'd be a bat off the bench at most(I'm not sure if he can really play the outfield anymore, even in "a pinch"), and the Rangers aren't exactly a bat off the bench from being a World Series contender.

Besides, with Mike Sweeney on the DL, the Royals need him more than the Rangers do.

by Alan Smithee on May 6, 2006 9:51 PM CDT reply actions

The Royals

They could (and should) have Huber DH, instead of Stairs. They don't need Stairs.

As it is, they've called Huber up, but given him only 1 AB in 4 days.

The Royals are a mess.

by Adam J. Morris on May 6, 2006 9:53 PM CDT up reply actions

re:

The Royals are a mess, and it's pretty crazy what they've done with Huber, but having him split DH duties with Stairs(at least until he proves himself) like KC said they were going to do doesn't sound like a bad move. KC just isn't doing what they said; they're giving all the at bats to Stairs.

In any event, I think you can find other guys capable of providing the same production Stairs could(just not with the same kind of track record), for less.

by Alan Smithee on May 6, 2006 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions