Getting FA's to sign here

by corbsclinton on Dec 12, 2007 5:43 PM CST

Remember when the Mav's were the laughing stock of the NBA? When free agents spurned them and the only use in them negotiating with the Mav's was to up the deal somewhere else? The ranger's franchise has always had a hard time getting good starting pitchers to come because of the heat and the park. Milwood was an exception.

But now hitters????

With the evolution of the $10M+/yr contract,
multi-year deals, and more teams willing to give these type contracts, we can only assume its going to get worse. The value of prospects have risen to the point where if you want to go out and grab an impact bat via trade you are going to give up 3-5 of them. The off season is not over but we are no closer to being competitive in 2009 then we were when we started, so in my mind, we took a step back.

Unfortunately, I joined many of you in thinking 2010 at the earliest. That realization sucked. I'd really like to hear an interview with JD that revisits managements "its looking more like 2009" take on current situation and explain to us how we are going to pull that off. I didn't expect much, just a glimpse that we are headed in the right direction.

Not signing someone to a bad contract was not what I was looking for.

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FWIW

Here's what our division rivals have done this off-season:

Angels: traded Orlando Cabrera for Jon Garland; signed Torii Hunter

Mariners: lost Jose Guillen to the Royals; added R.A. Dickey in the Rule 5 draft

A's: claimed Wes Bankston off waivers; lost Chris Snelling on waivers

I do think the Angels are a little better- Garland is a slightly above-average pitcher, and Hunter is a pretty good outfielder. But they've also all but admitted that signing Matthews was an expensive mistake, and I don't think Aybar will replace Cabrera's bat at SS.

Seattle seriously overachieved last year, and the A's are contemplating whether or not to trade their best pitcher. Neither of them has a farm system anywhere near the caliber of the Rangers'.

The Angels will be a tough opponent to overcome, but I don't think it's a hopeless endeavor, either, especially with our two other division rivals in equally bad shape at the major-league level, and far worse on the farm.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on Dec 12, 2007 5:45 PM CST reply actions

We have the most diaries about free agents

maybe that will encourage them.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 12, 2007 5:55 PM CST reply actions

Good player's want to play for......

GOOD TEAMS! With a chance at the playoffs & World Series...Most of these FA's are getting so much $$$ another $2-$3M doesn't matter.

In the early 2000's, we had no problem signing FA's (most didn't pan out & most of these won't either...see Zito, etc.) but we had won the division in '96, '98 & '99....this really ain't rocket surgery!

Most teams get better by figuring out which "prospects" are player's....packaging 2-3 prospects for proven ML talent (preferably young) and making a shrewd FA signing now & then. The idea of hoarding prospects forever is a loser....most (2/3 or more) will never make it.

by tklawless on Dec 12, 2007 6:15 PM CST reply actions

Agree

totally

by badradiorules on Dec 13, 2007 11:15 AM CST up reply actions

I think

The only solution to attract FA's is to re-open The Chicken Ranch, not in LaGrange, but maybe at Pantego, or Kennedale. Pregame visits for umpires only, postgame everyone else.

'At Georgia Southern, we don't cheat. That costs money and we don't have any.' Erk Russell / Georgia Southern

by Ed Coffin on Dec 12, 2007 7:58 PM CST reply actions