The Key to the Rangers future

by Bigfan16 on May 22, 2007 11:24 AM CDT Comment 37 comments

I am not satisfied this subject has been beaten to death. My apologies if this upsets anyone but I really want to know what this board thinks we should do with our favorite 1B. There are plenty of options and I do not see the best way through this situation clearly just yet.

Heck if I missed an option let me know in your comments.

Poll

What should be done with Tex?

Let him play out the contract and then let him walk for draft picks.

0 votes

Trade him ASAP

20 votes

Trade him at the trade deadline next year.

6 votes

Extend him now by paying whatever Boras asks for for as long as he wants.

5 votes

Let him play until he is a FA and the pay whatever Boras' asks for for as long as he wants it.

2 votes

Let him play out the contract and then make a run at him.

1 votes

34 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 37 comments

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Comments

I think it's obvious

Teixeira will go into free agency, barring an offer significantly more ridiculous than Young's, so the only decision is how to maximise his value prior to then.

You have 4 options

Ride him out into free agency, and then bid to try to keep him.
Ride him into next year, and trade him at midseason next year.
Ride him throught the end of the year, and trade him in the offseason
Start shopping him when the trade season heats up, in a month or so.

I have little faith that this team can get itself into any kind of strong playoff contender status next offseason given the weakness of the FA market and the weakness of this team.

I'd just as soon they start shopping him now, and if they get a strong offer, move on it, if they just get Wilkersonesque offers, hold on to him and wait for the offseason.

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on May 22, 2007 11:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

by JBImaknee on May 22, 2007 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well....

All four are viable options, and I believe the Rangers would be remiss, and very irresponsible not to at least "kick the tires" of a possible trade before the deadline. You never know what a team will be willing to give up if they believe they have a legit shot at the Series this year.

by Topgun22 on May 22, 2007 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

just takes one team to grossly overpay, and if you aren't shopping folks, you won't be in the right place at the right time.

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on May 22, 2007 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't you think

he's worth more this year than next. I'd trade him in about a month, unless someone just wants him now.

by isaacbrock on May 22, 2007 11:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They won't know what he is worth

until they shop him around.

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on May 22, 2007 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Norm on the Ticket

discussing it now...

through out the possibility of getting Elbert and Billingsley plus a bullpen arm from the Dodgers

by Brandon Wilson on May 22, 2007 11:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"through" should be "threw"

by Brandon Wilson on May 22, 2007 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Botts

Norm seemd to dismiss Botts's ability to handle 1B

by Brandon Wilson on May 22, 2007 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Somehow

one caller derailed Norm into Zito overpay talk... c'mon Norm stay on task, talk Tex trade!

by Brandon Wilson on May 22, 2007 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

somehow

one caller derailed Norm into Zito overpay talk... c'mon Norm stay on task, time to talk Tex trade!

by Brandon Wilson on May 22, 2007 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That deal

I'd be thrilled w/ it. Not sure we could get that much, though, but the more I think about it, the Dodgers are our best bet to get a good return. They have 7 or 8 excellent prospects, which allows them to handle dealing a couple, and they should be in the thick of the race, looking for upgrades.

Still, Elbert and Billingsley? Doubtful Colletti goes for that...

Dreamcatchers work...if your dream is to be a douchebag...

by Brian Thomas on May 22, 2007 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Billingsley, but

I worry that he'll be one of those pitchers that takes 3-4 more years to really figure his control out. I'm pretty sure he's going to be a real good pitcher for someone someday, but he may not be dominant until after his last couple of arbitration years.

------------
:) - Obligatory smiley showing I don't mean whatever mean
spiritedness is likely contained in the preceding post

by jtts on May 22, 2007 12:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some issues with that suggestion

First of all, why would the Dodgers and Rangers do a deal involving Teixeira, when the Rangers don't have an heir apparent at 1B, that doesn't involve Loney? I think he'd have to be involved.

Second, Elbert is a very dicey health risk right now. I love Elbert, but I'm not sure that I'd want to make him my primary return for Teixeira with the potential that he's headed for serious arm surgery.

I also love Billingsley though. If Elbert's arm isn't about to fall off I'd love to have those two, but I don't get why you'd do three arms for Teixeira when the Dodgers have quality position players to offer as well, and the Rangers need them at least as bad as arms.

by Brett Perryman on May 22, 2007 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dont we have

that AGon kid?

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on May 22, 2007 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

ooops

by Brandon Wilson on May 22, 2007 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

We could play Wilk there

He's played some 1B. And then either sign a guy in FA, trade for some up and comer (steal some guy like AGonz was stolen), or hope Gold is the guy.

by isaacbrock on May 22, 2007 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gold

He isn't the guy.

Botts might be, though.

Dreamcatchers work...if your dream is to be a douchebag...

by Brian Thomas on May 22, 2007 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Word

Though I can't remember ever seeing Botts play 1b.

Can he be an average defender there?

"The Leader is good, the Leader is great! I surrender my will as of this date!"

by thedirkatron on May 22, 2007 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not the last time I saw him

by Brett Perryman on May 22, 2007 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can he catch a ball thrown

right at him?

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on May 22, 2007 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have never seen Botts play 1B

Are you saying he isn't even able to play mediocre defense at 1st?

Dreamcatchers work...if your dream is to be a douchebag...

by Brian Thomas on May 22, 2007 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would say no

He's supposedly improved some, but he was basically a butcher over there when I watched him in AA. Picture Jason Giambi with a little worse hands.

by Brett Perryman on May 22, 2007 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Seriously

no heir apparent at 1B isn't a huge issue. Cat could probably play there on his half of the platoon, where his lack of an arm isn't a problem. He's not going to be as good as Teixeira defensively, but weak defense at 1B doesn't cost you runs.

We have so many holes on this team, that insuring that you get a 1B back in trade isn't necessarily an issue.

I do agree with you though that position players in general are an issue as are front rotation pitchers. I dont think we really need arms if they are mid-back rotation though.

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on May 22, 2007 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

I agree, I certainly don't think that getting a 1B back for Teixeira needs to be a priority. I'm just saying that Loney seems pretty obvious, when they wouldn't give him a spot despite his 2006 and would have Teixeira for the next year-and-a-half, and we really don't have anyone for 1B. Having a good prospect make much more sense for the destination team than the current team would seem like the sort of thing that would help a deal happen. Now I'm not sure that I'd personally like Loney as much as Billingsley or a healthy Elbert, just saying that it seems obvious. Also, the Dodgers have Kemp, Ethier, LaRoche, several position players that I'd have interest in.

by Brett Perryman on May 22, 2007 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Loney

He's also a native Texan, FWIW.

"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 May 22, 2007 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

FWIW

from BA's prospect hot sheet:
Dodgers prospects Matt Kemp and Delwyn Young got in a shoving match during Triple-A Las Vegas' BP round at Portland

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/hotsheet/263949.html

...trouble seems to find this guy everywhere - how do you get in a fight BEFORE THE GAME with your OWN TEAMMATE?

by knockoutking24 on May 22, 2007 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Barajas and Drese

got in a fight during a game with each other, so this wouldn't be unheard of if they were Rangers.

Mitt Romney should "get out his small-varmint gun and drive those Guatemalans off his lawn" -- Sen John McCain

by DJCahill on May 22, 2007 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fighting

Check this one out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSHxsklbkhE&mode=related&search=

Lee Bowyer & Kieron Dyer (teammates at Newcastle at the time) got into it with each other during the game, on the field.

"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 May 22, 2007 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i said it before

if we got something like

teix/aki
for
loney/kershaw/broxton/??

id go through the roof

if we could get broxton for aki i would go through the roof - hell aki and littleton for broxton lol

kershaw>elbert imo

by knockoutking24 on May 22, 2007 3:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

kershaw>elbert

Maybe. But wouldn't you prefer the player, especially when it's a pitcher, that was farther along?

Dreamcatchers work...if your dream is to be a douchebag...

by Brian Thomas on May 22, 2007 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If all things are equal or close

But Elbert's health needs to be sorted out, and most observers, at least coming into this year, thought that Kershaw had more upside, for however much you care to factor that in.

by Brett Perryman on May 22, 2007 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Elbert's health

You mentioned that earlier. I hadn't heard anything. What's the deal there?

And wasn't it you that mentioned that BA, among others, tends to over value guys that are fresh into pro ball, when their stellar amateur stats seem more promising?

Dreamcatchers work...if your dream is to be a douchebag...

by Brian Thomas on May 22, 2007 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Elbert

He's been out since mid-April and while they have been crossing their fingers hoping that rest would fix him, you just very often see this sort of thing turn into at least semi-serious surgery and a lot of times the really bad stuff. I traded him from my sim team before the season and I'm feeling really lucky that I did.

As far as the other comment, I think that might have been Adam. But it's absolutely true. However you can be analytical and specific about it here, since the two are so similar. Kershaw has better raw stuff and some extra mph on his FB (not that Elbert doesn't have a good arm). Now, the thought coming into the year was that he also might project to better command than Elbert and at least at this point that's up in the air.

I would say that if I had to choose between the two, I'd tend to take Kershaw, slightly, even before Elbert's iffy status. With Kershaw's talent I think preferring the more advanced guy is more of an injury thing, and in this case, the more advanced guy has an injured arm, so that seems mitigated to me.

by Brett Perryman on May 22, 2007 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kershaw...

Is he even eligible to be traded? I thought that players could be traded one year after they were drafted, then I read where Jamey said Miller couldnt be traded until August 4th. So, is eligibility one year from signing?

by Topgun22 on May 22, 2007 4:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs