Third base options

by pblack on Nov 8, 2008 7:36 AM CST Comment 28 comments

I am bored this morning so I thought I would an open a thread to discuss third base options next year. The Rangers have apparently eliminated signing Crede or Blake. Blalock will DH and Chris Davis will play 1B. Internally the only candidate is Travis Metcalf. They could resign Ramon Vazquez and platoon him with Metcalf or look externally.

The availalbe free agents outside of Crede and Blake are basically nonexistant unless you wanted to take a shot at a guy like Greg Norton, but I am not sure of his defensive abilities.

So that leaves trade options. One option might be Adrian Beltre if the new Mariners GM decides to rebuild. The interim GM was asking for the moon at the deadline but the new guy might be more reasonable. Salary would be prohibitive but he would be a productive player. Another guy could be Kuzmanoff at San Diego if they go into full fire sale mode. Anyway, those are a couple of guys that leapt out at me. I am not advocating either, just offering thoughts.

I am interested to see who the rest of the community would like to bring in or what your solutions would be.

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Realistically

We’re talking about a guy for one season since Young will most likely be moving to 3b next season, right?

Rangeressary

"the poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." - G.K. Chesterton

by rangeressary on Nov 8, 2008 8:30 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

If Young is moving to 3rd in '10

let Metcalf man for ’09. Use those funds/chips on some bullpen help!!

by Ryin A on Nov 8, 2008 8:37 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Third

I’d just assume they throw metcalf out there for a full season and see what happens, but whatever they do the rangers need to stay far away from vazquez at third, he was a butcher.

If you want a platoon for metcalf i’d say duran and he can spell people at other positions.

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Nov 8, 2008 8:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

God you're right

Vazquez was beyond a butcher, dude has a skillet……not to mention he CAREERED at the plate last year, will never repeat.

We better not resign him.

by Ryin A on Nov 8, 2008 8:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Daddy taught me

I should never say never…..but I just highly doubt he’d repeat.

by Ryin A on Nov 8, 2008 8:45 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The thing is,

I think that Vazquez has much more value to us than any other team because of Jaramillo. I was hoping that the Rangers traded him mid-season last year.

by Michael Cave on Nov 8, 2008 9:01 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

always have to take in the Rudy-factor….

I wonder if other teams take that into consideration (on top of the obvious effects of tbia) when deciding what FA’s to go after?
….like, if it was a fluke thing or not…..guess there’s DeRosa who is still shining post-Rudy….

by Ryin A on Nov 8, 2008 9:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Id have to

think they would. I mean im sure they have of sabermatricians (sp?) calculating park factors while their scouts actually have seen the guy. To me, that is a good question though. I mean in trading for a guy like Peavy we would have to consider that he pitches in Petco.

by Michael Cave on Nov 8, 2008 9:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think there was much of a market for him

The Rangers choices were probably take on some team’s Nate Gold or some 23/24 year old relief pitcher in A ball. I think keeping him and having him around helped the Rangers more last year than trading him for some minor league filler that would never help the team out.

I doubt we bring him back. Duran is ready to step in as the utility player, Vazquez wasn’t too happy about not playing towards the end of the season, and Vallejo is also on the rise as a great utility player candidate.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 8, 2008 2:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Vallejo as ML utility guy

I think he is going to be a real asset.

I don't hate everything. In fact, I think LSB is just groovy.

by tricer on Nov 8, 2008 3:16 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

also anxious to see how he fares at SS

If he excels defensively there, as his skills suggest that he might, then his value really takes an uptick.

I don't hate everything. In fact, I think LSB is just groovy.

by tricer on Nov 8, 2008 3:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Vallejo

Im excited about him as well. However what I hope doesn’t happen is he starts in OKC and is playing SS quite a bit but gets called up to Arlington ala Duran last year and mostly sits on the bench. I think that would really hurt his development like I think Durans was hurt.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 8, 2008 3:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I imagine that Vallejo will be in Frisco playing SS

Since I assume that Elvis will be at AAA.

I don't hate everything. In fact, I think LSB is just groovy.

by tricer on Nov 8, 2008 6:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Duh

brainfart on my part.

Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.

by bigsteve on Nov 8, 2008 6:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

another name to consider

what about Wilson Betemit? He is coming off an abysmal season with the Yankees where two of his stronger suits, his patience at the place and his defense, seemed to let him down.

historically, however, he is known for having solid range and a great arm, as he came up as a SS. The Yankees have used him all over the diamond, and that may contribute to his lackluster defensive campaign last year. I would not mind bringing him in and letting him have a good ol’ fashioned position battle with Travis Metcalf this spring. Perhaps he will flop, but perhaps he will go Carlos Pena all over our asses after Rudy gets a little work with him. He is the sort of toolsy former uber prospect that we have had success with in the past (Byrd, GMJ).

Here is a little literature on the man.

He seems very expendable right now, having worn out his welcome in pinstripes. The Yankees are known to at least have passing interest in Laird, pending Posada’s recovery. If that falls the Rangers way, we could offer Laird for a bullpen arm (of which they have many high potential options, I personally love David Robertson) and Betemit and see what happens.

by clark on Nov 8, 2008 9:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

patience at the plate

by clark on Nov 8, 2008 9:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

this is a really, really good idea

Dude has a lot of potential that could still be unlocked. Seems like he is the perfect fit for what we need there in 2008, inexpensive to obtain, switch hitter with good on-base skills, functional and versatile defensively.

Love this idea.

I don't hate everything. In fact, I think LSB is just groovy.

by tricer on Nov 8, 2008 10:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not bad

and remember we have Jaramillo and our park.

by Michael Cave on Nov 8, 2008 10:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

what about....

Joaquin Arias at 3B? Or Arias at SS and move Young to 3B now.

by 12pounders on Nov 8, 2008 9:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

If Arias arm returns

I would strongly advocate the latter of those two suggestions.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 8, 2008 9:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

arias

i dont know that his arm is strong enough yet to make throws from 3rd

"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." - Mitch Hedberg

by rentz on Nov 8, 2008 9:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldnt

think that Arias would have the arm to play 3B with the way it looked at the end of last year. Your question does hinge on the unknown answer of the health of Arias’ arm.

by Michael Cave on Nov 8, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Mark Teahen

I think he could be a guy to fill in a hole for a few seasons till MY is ready to get moved over. He was an OK 3B for KC before moving out to RF. I think he could be had fairly cheaply as he is a player without a position. Maybe a straight Nelson Cruz for Teahen swap?

by Rob ONeal on Nov 8, 2008 9:44 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

no

don’t trade Cruz!

Bobby Jindal '12

by dstar442005 on Nov 8, 2008 12:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not for Mark Teahen at least

Mark Teahen is terrible.

He had one good year back in in ‘06 when he posted a 122 OPS+, but since then he’s posted OPS+’s of 98 and 91 – with SLG% of .410 and .402. For a guy who strikes out a ton and doesn’t walk that much, that is terrible. He’s on my list of guys I would never, ever want to get as part of a trade.

A Lonestar in California

Just say no to Scott Olsen.

by lonestarJon on Nov 8, 2008 8:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

"He’s basically told himself unconsciously that he can’t be any good unless he catches 130 games a year. If he played with the baseball smarts of a guy like a David Eckstein, he’d maximize his talent and be an incredible player." - Andy Seiler, Texas Rangers Analyst

by Chase Irwin on Nov 9, 2008 4:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There is only one solution

Gerald Laird

by 1man5tools on Nov 8, 2008 10:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The best solution if we don't resign Bradley

is Metcalf/Duran at third base. Metcalf at least helps defensively and you get to see what he can do with the bat though I already have a strong suspicion on what he can(‘t) do with the bat. Duran wasn’t too good defensively at third last year, but really hasn’t played the position before so having him work on his 3B defense this winter and ST would help out a lot. I like his potential with a bat too and think if he gets more consistent playing time, he can be valuable to the Rangers.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg on Nov 8, 2008 2:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs