Kenny Rogers, Texas Ranger (again)?

by Adam J. Morris on Nov 13, 2007 9:35 PM CST in News

Is the fourth time the charm?

T.R. Sullivan is reporting that the Rangers are preparing offers for a handful of free agent targets, with two of the top guys on the list being Torii Hunter and...Kenny Rogers?

After the nastiness the accompanied the split between Rogers and the Rangers after the 2005, I'd have thought there was zero chance of him ever coming back, at least so long as Tom Hicks owned the team (since, reportedly, part of the reason for the split was Hicks' anger with Rogers after the photographer incident).

But Sullivan suggests it is still a possibility:

Apparently, the split may not be irreparable. Rogers still lives in the North Texas area and has pitched more games for the Rangers than anybody in club history. He is second in club history with 133 wins and 2,308 innings pitched.

"We'd be open to it under the right circumstances," Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. "Obviously, finances would be a part of it. But I'd only want it to be a positive homecoming."

I'm guessing that bringing Rogers in would be a prelude to making a deal to get Padilla out of town...

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Rogers:Rangers

Billy Martin:Yankees

by Brett Perryman on Nov 13, 2007 9:27 PM CST reply actions

Heh

So true.

by hightowersmith on Nov 13, 2007 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

Kenny

I like it. Bring Big Kenny back and get Padilla out of here.

by the other dierk in dallas on Nov 13, 2007 9:34 PM CST reply actions

I'm for it...

A little guidance for the young guys from a pitcher who knows how to pitch in Arlington.

by cmkelly29 on Nov 13, 2007 9:36 PM CST reply actions

kenny

Yeah, I bet you he could teach Kason a thing or two.

by the other dierk in dallas on Nov 13, 2007 9:39 PM CST up reply actions

I'm on board

Git yer guns up...and blow yer head off. Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Nov 13, 2007 9:41 PM CST up reply actions

T.R.

[rant]Really? "Apparently, the split may not be irreparable. Rogers still lives in the North Texas area and has pitched more games for the Rangers than anybody in club history. He is second in club history with 133 wins and 2,308 innings pitched." What T.R. failed to say is that Rogers is having trouble getting the financial offer he wants (or maybe any offer) elsewhere and Kenny is tired of pitching for a team in contention and is ready to go back to pitching for a team in rebuilding mode so there will be less pressure. Uh, no, I don't like Kenny Rogers and not because he pushed a cameraman.[/rant]

I love the Daniels quote, "We'd be open to it under the right circumstances," yeah, under the right FINANCIAL circumstances Atilla the Hun could pitch for me (assuming he could induce the groundball double play and eat innings).

by Brandon Wilson on Nov 13, 2007 9:41 PM CST reply actions

I would be glad to get him back

at the right price. but even if its a semi high price, its obviously more than likely going to be 1 year.

by DShep on Nov 13, 2007 9:44 PM CST reply actions

I'd vote for that

He's good and it would make for interesting fodder.

by hubcityraider on Nov 13, 2007 9:47 PM CST reply actions

Yes

Git r done!

sportsdeals.blogspot.com

by BudLight on Nov 13, 2007 9:55 PM CST reply actions

Well

I don't feel ready to give up on Padilla.

But if the team internally knows something's amiss, use him to get a stopgap til Chris Davis is ready.

I probably wouldn't wring my hands over a net trade of Padilla for Sexson and Rogers.

It would be interesting hearing what Rogers' camp expects offer-wise. They can't be seeking more than two years...

by hightowersmith on Nov 13, 2007 10:00 PM CST reply actions

Don't forget

his agent is Boras he can ask for what ever he wants! :)

Git yer guns up...and blow yer head off. Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Nov 13, 2007 10:03 PM CST up reply actions

I'm for it!

Like others have said... he knows how to pitch in the ballpark, and he ha some knowledge to offer the young guys. Maybe help C.J. too.

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Nov 13, 2007 10:03 PM CST reply actions

I think Gabbard

would benefit most if Rogers came back.

Git yer guns up...and blow yer head off. Boomer Sooner!

by boomer1 on Nov 13, 2007 10:05 PM CST up reply actions

And since no one else mentioned...

Apparently the desire is there to get Gagne (and, ahem, the Electrician) back. If Law is right, Gagne may just require another 1-year deal.

As Stringer Bell would say, do it.

by hightowersmith on Nov 13, 2007 10:10 PM CST reply actions

The kenny rogers that left

is not the same one that would be coming back. He's had a severe injury since then and he's even slower with a flatter curve.

I guess its not that big of a deal. Not like the Rangers are going to contend. What I don't get is, why would Rogers make Padilla expendable? If padilla is expendable, then it would be by his own doing. Funny how at the beginning of the year, our rotation was set for the next three years. Back to trying to woo the John Thompsons to come pitch for us.

by ab03 on Nov 13, 2007 10:17 PM CST reply actions

I can't believe this

For a team that's going nowhere next year, we're going to give a 40+ year old pitcher millions of dollars for a multi-year deal most likely when we've already come to a general consensus that next year is a rebuilding season again. I really don't like this.

The #1 Passive Texas Rangers Fan

by aggierangerfan00 on Nov 13, 2007 10:50 PM CST reply actions

Doubtful

I could see him coming back for a one-year deal with or without a vesting year.

He was hurt in 2007.

by hightowersmith on Nov 13, 2007 11:01 PM CST up reply actions

Tigers

He's asking the Tigers for a one year 10 million dollar deal, so I think that would mean he's open to a one year deal.

by rangeressary on Nov 14, 2007 3:20 AM CST up reply actions

I like Kenny

my one souvenir baseball as a kid was thrown to me by Rogers a long, long time ago.

It depends entirely on how effective he is as a mentor to younger pitchers. I'm sure the baseball folks know whether he was a positive influence on the kids in Detroit. If so, then why not go for it if you are planning on dumping Padilla anyway. Just don't let him dictate the terms of the contract like he did last time (that "can't offer arbitration" clause is one of the dumbest I've ever heard of)

by JBImaknee on Nov 13, 2007 11:08 PM CST reply actions

unbiased?

"my one souvenir baseball as a kid was thrown to me by Rogers"

Good reason for the Rangers to sign him.

Sideshow ... onto 800. You can do it!

by inactive lsb user on Nov 14, 2007 2:18 AM CST up reply actions

we are all biased

every ranger fan should have SOME feeling toward rogers.

and its not like he didnt immediately follow that with some logical though.

by DShep on Nov 14, 2007 2:21 AM CST up reply actions

Oh, I'm completely biased with Kenny

Ha.

I just threw in that anecdote about why I liked him, because it is at least a perfectly legitimate reason to like a player who other people often don't like.

Yes, I know that is a completely unreasonable basis for me to want him back. In reality, I don't see any reason to get him back, other than as a mentor to some of these guys. And there had better be some really good evidence that that is the case. I thought I made that clear...

by JBImaknee on Nov 14, 2007 10:24 AM CST up reply actions

Rogers

Count me out. He's 43yo and only pitched 63 innings last year.

by Randy Richardson on Nov 13, 2007 11:12 PM CST reply actions

Kenny

is a D-Bag.

He can teach the young pitchers a crash course in bringing bad coverage to themselves...

"Lebron James drags down the Cavs roster"- Skip Bayless

by miles on Nov 13, 2007 11:51 PM CST reply actions

I'm not sure about Rogers...

he keeps having solid years despite his age but eventually that bubble is going to burst. He keeps coming back to the Rangers and I get the feeling he will continue to do so until he crashes and burns.

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on Nov 13, 2007 11:56 PM CST reply actions

kenny is mr ranger

along with jeff russel, bobby witt, nolan ryan, darren oliver and charlie hough.

only more so than everybody listed but hough.

Al Gore 2008 http://www.myspace.com/igotsculture

by gossamer on Nov 14, 2007 1:48 AM CST reply actions

Bring Kenny in

Then ship him to a contender just before the deadline.

by Agreen07 on Nov 14, 2007 4:49 AM CST reply actions

As long as he doesn't

get a no trade, I say bring him in.

"I promise, if elected, I will crush the state of Georgia" - Stephen Colbert www.colbert08.org

by DJCahill on Nov 14, 2007 6:13 AM CST reply actions

I'd do it

I think Darren Oliver and Rick Helling are also available. Maybe Rusty is finally healed up and wants to make another run at it. All that leaves is trading for Pudge and pulling JuanGone away from his eighth wife and we've got ourselves a reunion.

Seriously, though, if I were JD, I'd be very apprehensive about making this deal. Not that I wouldn't do it, but I'd have very long conversations with Rogers to make sure that it will be a "positive homecoming"

by badradiorules on Nov 14, 2007 10:31 AM CST reply actions