Joe Sheehan chat

Josh (Ft Worth): How likely do you think it is that Texas gets seriously involved with Sheets, and how bad will a 3 year commitment to Sheets end up flaming out?
Joe Sheehan: I think the Rangers would be better served to sit this offseason out and gun for a starting pitcher next year. That could be an FA, or that could be a trade, but they could win, and win big, in 2010, so use this season to decide which prospects--and they have many--are your guys and which are trade bait. Don't force 2009.

Joe Sheehan chat session today

over 3 years ago Adam J. Morris 32 comments 0 recs |

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But

do the Rangers have the discipline to actually do that? Will the average fan be okay with the Rangers not doing much this off-season?

"Sooner or later, prospects kill you, because you hang onto them." - Greggo, 11/22/2005

by Agreen07 on Dec 10, 2008 2:53 PM CST reply actions

if acquiring sheets comes with trading one of millwood/padilla as speculated

I dont see how its forcing anything. theres still enough rotation spots for young guys. sheets would be here in 2010.. and I imagine it would take a 3rd year to get him here.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Dec 10, 2008 2:54 PM CST reply actions

Are Millwood or Padilla

really tradeable, without eating a big chunk of their contract?

Nolan Ryan is the Greatest Pitcher ever, because Google says so.

"BTW I’m officially welching ab03. Yeah I planned too all along, but I figured I’d try to get off the hook with double or nothing first."- Sharky

by DJCahill on Dec 10, 2008 4:23 PM CST up reply actions

sure

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 Dec 10, 2008 5:08 PM CST up reply actions

Well that settles it

"Colt mccoy sucks, mack brown needs to be fired." - Longhorn

by LSBUser on Dec 10, 2008 5:58 PM CST up reply actions

not for any real value in prospects

but as a 1 year salary dump trade? i think so.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Dec 10, 2008 6:02 PM CST up reply actions

You da man Joe

Nothing pithy here. Please move long.

by WyoRanger on Dec 10, 2008 2:54 PM CST reply actions

Joe Sheehan is far from my favorite writer.

But today, I agree with him.

And That Happened: Sports with a Hint of Sarcasm

by philkid3 on Dec 10, 2008 2:55 PM CST reply actions

Ditto

Yep

"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912)

by Ed Coffin on Dec 10, 2008 3:02 PM CST up reply actions

Signing Sheets and|or R. Johnson

Shouldn’t be a huge impact if they can move one of Padilla or Millwood. If younger guys start coming along, they can always trade the older guys. I can’t imagine R. Johnson getting more than a year-to-year deal.

by mattrpav on Dec 10, 2008 2:58 PM CST reply actions

Also..

.. who would you rather have over Sheets? Lackey (most likely re-signs w/ LAaAAAaA)? Next year’s SP free agent class is light.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2008/09/2010-mlb-free-a.html

by mattrpav on Dec 10, 2008 3:01 PM CST up reply actions

ugggggg...

I hate to admit it but he may be right. Then again how bad could it be to have a healthy Ben Sheets pitching every 5th day?

"The Gerald Laird trade is a GREAT SUCCESS! Who'd we get for him again?"

Tom Hicks

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 10, 2008 2:58 PM CST reply actions

wrong

the opportunity for the Rangers to potentially land a top FA pitcher, a player who, when on, is a true ace, is here today, and there is no guarantee that the opportunity will present itself again next year. Sheets, with his Dallas ties, Maddux ties, and injury discount, is a very special instance.

Names like Bedard, Harden, Lackey and Myers are all tempting, but the chance that they actually make it to market and have any interest in the Rangers is slim.

by clark on Dec 10, 2008 3:00 PM CST reply actions

yup

perfectly put as to why the “wait till 2010” is just bad reasoning

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Dec 10, 2008 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

great point

especially at the price point. this isnt some 100 something million dollar deal it would take to have a CHANCE at one of those ace guys in future years. with FA seemingly down a little, sheets injury history, the many available SP in general, his cost is relatively low.. and he also just happens to have ties to both the organization and texas. Perfect chance to actually get a good pitcher.

the preceding post was a great success.

by DShep on Dec 10, 2008 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

The market

is the one reason I’d like to see them go after Sheets. Seems to be a bargain year, compared to other years. And he’d still be around in 2010.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 10, 2008 3:07 PM CST up reply actions

said this in the other thread (which is pissing me off)

how could popping sheets one year early be a bad thing?

if we are so guaranteed to be competing next year and if we have a rotation spot for sheets that doesn’t really stunt development of other younger guys (it won’t, we have 2 veterans penciled in and one can be traded), then what is the big deal? Supposedly, we would have landed sheets if he was a FA next year, right? So then, is the cost just the extra year of sheets? That’s what should dissuade us from signing him?

Dumb. Especially since I don’t like the FA class next year.

We’re not out there with open wallets trying to trade our prospects away. We have set goals and set FA targets and if we don’t get them, we are passing. Completely sound logic.

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Dec 10, 2008 3:02 PM CST reply actions

Totally agree with you

If he’s willing to come here — then sign him.

I'm undefeated in fights. Have I been in any? No. Thats because people know my f'ing status. Don't mess with the elite. - Miles

by Dirk Diggler on Dec 10, 2008 3:03 PM CST up reply actions

*clarify

Supposedly, Sheehan would have wanted us to land Sheets next year if he was a FA….

Mandatory reading before suggesting a trade

by ab03 on Dec 10, 2008 3:04 PM CST up reply actions

Agree completely

We aren’t Boston, Chicago, or New York. People simply don’t want to pitch here, so if you find one of the rare ones that is open to the notion… bring ‘em in. Especially if it’s a guy with as much talent as Sheets.

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 10, 2008 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

Maybe, but

Sheets would make the Rangers better in 2010. I doubt that the Rangers will have 5 pitchers in 2010 better than Sheets. They will be lucky to have one who is better.

"You’re the only here who contributes schtick only." - brettgardner

by trza on Dec 10, 2008 3:13 PM CST reply actions

I doubt

the AL West will have 5 pitchers better than Sheets in 2010, health assumed.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Dec 10, 2008 3:21 PM CST up reply actions

AL West pitching is set to be be pretty damn competitive the next couple of years.

meet me at the mawwl... it's goin dowwn...

by oc on Dec 10, 2008 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

I'm with you

The AL West had one pitcher, Ervin Santana, that was better than Sheets this year.

Felix and Lackey were close… Harden was good in his stint.

Sheets is top of the food chain

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 10, 2008 3:39 PM CST up reply actions

What I don't get about that

is that he says its about 2010. He says the Rangers could gun for a FA next year or go for a trade next year. What SP are going to be available and be as much of a bargain as Sheets could be this year? Really, its just assuming that the Rangers can get a deal done for a pitcher they like next offseason.

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

by Gdawg on Dec 10, 2008 3:40 PM CST reply actions

i'm 'okay' with 3 years

it’s the 4 and 5+ year pitcher contracts that kill you.

by SteveP on Dec 10, 2008 3:47 PM CST reply actions

+1

theres not many pitchers id give 4+ yr contracts

Scout: He was a first-round pick right? Got a huge bonus?
KG: Oh yeah.
Scout: Well, he spent a lot of it on milkshakes.

by knockoutking on Dec 10, 2008 3:48 PM CST up reply actions

Oliver Perez

wants 5 for 70. That’s really not too bad.

I guess you heard Fat Joe left Atlantic.

by Haeger Champ on Dec 10, 2008 3:53 PM CST reply actions

That's obscene

The guy walks 5 guys / 9 innings.and has pitched for parts of 7 seasons in the bigs without ever throwing 200 innings. The dude is too frustrating to even keep around all year on a fantasy team with a $100 entry, can you really imagine guaranteeing him 70 million dollars??

"Holland didn’t make that kid question his swing, he made him question his career path"

by trident on Dec 10, 2008 4:01 PM CST up reply actions