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Jason Botts DFA'd per Evan Grant

Dransfeldt3_tiny by Beverly23 on

WTF?!?!?  Another example of how stupid the Rangers are I guess...

here is the link:  http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/04/jason-botts-has-been-dfad.html

Here is what he said:

The Rangers this afternoon, perhaps momentarily, will announce that Jason Botts has been designated for assignment and that Chris Shelton's contract will be purchased. The club is desperate for another productive right-handed bat in the lineup and Botts simply hasn't taken advantage of whatever limited opportunities he's been given. He is hitting .158 in 38 at-bats. The move will give the Rangers 10 days to trade, release or outright Botts to Triple-A. If he clears waivers, the Rangers absolutely want to keep him in the system, but with the season hanging on the edge of a cliff, the Rangers need somebody with a little bit of a track record of big league success against left-handers. Shelton will see time in the first-base rotation, certainly against left-handers, but it won't surprise me if he gets some time against right-handers, too.

Brandon Boggs is expected to be called up to replace Hank Blalock, but to get Shelton on the roster, the Rangers had to take somebody off the 40-man roster. It appears, Botts is the guy. His career with the Rangers, which began in 2000 as a 46th round draft choice, is now more in limbo than ever before.

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DFA Bossard Instead

Good Grief.

Danks, Volquez, Galarraga and Young are GONE! GET OVER IT! Endless whining will not bring them back!

by LBBRangerFan on Apr 29, 2008 3:11 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

in 2008

Botts: in 15 games and only 38 at bats, Botts is hitting .158/.304/.395 with 2 HR and 5 RBIs
Ben the Shithead: in 25 games 75 at bats, BtS is hitting .173/.244/.293 with 3 HR and 8 RBIs

I really am starting to hate much of the decision makers on this team. I’m not sure who’s call this was, but listening to Ron Washington to sign Broussard was a colossal mistake. Keeping Ben the Shithead and designating Botts makes no sense now, either.

by FuturePants on Apr 29, 2008 3:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

it's a matter of philosophy

Remember how Daniels made much ado last winter about how the organization wasn’t going to block their own players with marginal, over-the-hill free agent and trade acquisitions?

Since then: Ben Broussard over Botts; Jason Jennings over Galarraga; Sidney Ponson over Doug Mathis.

Same old shit. It never ends.

by bronco28 on Apr 30, 2008 8:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I actually never did expect Botts to stick this year.

I think that too many people project Hafner when they see Botts. I don’t think that he will every be an elite DH. However, I thought that this was supposed to be a year in which we find out who is going to help us in 2010. I am pretty sure that no one expects Broussard to be that guy.

I mainly wanted to give him a fair chance so that by the end of the year, there would not be any doubt about his place on or off the team.

Danks, Volquez, Galarraga and Young are GONE! GET OVER IT! Endless whining will not bring them back!

by LBBRangerFan on Apr 29, 2008 3:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Even if they both suck

...or you didn’t expect him to stick, what happened to the rebuilding plan? Honestly, 38 at-bats? That is not a genuine look at the MLB level; that’s a joke.

by FuturePants on Apr 29, 2008 3:44 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bummer.

Interesting Boggs and Shelton get the call rather than Cruz and Shelton.

Shouldn’t Broussard be the one DFA’d?

by rooster on Apr 29, 2008 3:11 PM CDT   0 recs

Replacing One With Another

My guess is the reason it’s Boggs and Shelton instead of Cruz and Shelton is that management has no intentions of replacing one “Botts Problem” with another in the form of Cruz. Like Botts, he rakes in AAA, but like Botts, he can’t hit MLB pitching. I think management isn’t going to give him another shot unless its an emergency situation.

Boggs intrigues me, but I wonder what value is to be had by calling up a young player who is hitting only to park him on the bench? If anything, I think Boggs needs to stay in OKC and get a full year of AAA under his belt to see if the power comes along.

Oh yeah, and because this 40 man roster was put together by someone on a bender.

by Mister Naxal on Apr 29, 2008 3:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

40 man roster

Isn’t Boggs already on the 40 man roster? Cruz and Shelton are not, so you would have to create to roster spots as opposed to one.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Apr 29, 2008 3:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not sure about Shelton

but if you DFA someone and they clear (Cruz), they don’t have to be on the 40 man, but if you bring him up, it’s my understanding he then takes a spot on the 40 man.

by FuturePants on Apr 29, 2008 3:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Exactly

Adding Cruz would mean more of a roster shuffle. If Daniels wants to keep his job he is going to have to learn how to manage/build rosters.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Apr 29, 2008 3:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Correct

You have to be on the 40-man roster before you can be on the 25-man roster. A player is DFA’ed in order to get them off the 40-man roster. If Botts clears waivers, he can be assigned to AAA and will not be on the 40, just like what happened to Cruz. If either is to be brought back to the majors, they will have to be put back on the 40. In order to do that, we would have to remove someone from the 40 (like we did Botts today) or put someone on the 60-day DL (where they wouldn’t take up a spot on the 40).

by uthornfan on Apr 29, 2008 3:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

WTF?

I hope Botts rakes and shows the Rangers how stupid they were for not giving him a decent look.
What has BB spare ass done to warrant a spot over Botts?
This is beyond ridiculous.

Addicted to Sports

by sprite on Apr 29, 2008 3:13 PM CDT   0 recs

I hope I win the lottery

and have lovely nymphs feeding me grapes on the beach.

About as likely to happen.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 29, 2008 3:45 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

don't get it

Broussard’s contract is a sunk cost. I don’t see why you DFA Botts over him. Utterly confounding.

But that river of tears has dried for all of us.

by trza on Apr 29, 2008 3:13 PM CDT   0 recs

Agreed that it should have been broussard

But i dont think its that big of a deal.

Sorry botts, I know 50-100 at bats at a time is tough.. but i mean really.. could just one of those 4 appearences have a ops that doesnt start with a 6? The fact is that hes a DH only without that high of a ceiling, hes got to force his way on and hes never done it.

But yeah… id still much rather have given broussard the boot and let shelton/botts fight over the at bats while shelton acts as an emergency catcher.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 29, 2008 3:14 PM CDT   0 recs

also

i really doubt anyone picks up botts. hopefully botts will get one more chance later in the season assuming broussard continues what hes doing.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 29, 2008 3:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

maybe
while shelton acts as an emergency catcher.

Maybe this means Saltalamachia can get some ABs as a DH.

Max Ramirez 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on Apr 29, 2008 3:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

WTF Indeed

What a massive abortion of a trainwreck of a nuclear incedent this fucking franchise is.

Fuck it, clean house and start all over. Fuck JD for this pathetic 40 man managing, and fuck him also for hiring the worst manager in MLB.

Fuck it, can them both today.

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on Apr 29, 2008 3:17 PM CDT   0 recs

Rodney

It is Jason Botts! The Rangers are probably the only team he could have made out of ST.

Max Ramirez 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on Apr 29, 2008 3:19 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's not just about

Botts.

This 40-man is fucked, and JD put it togetther…as well as assembling the “talent” on this team.

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on Apr 29, 2008 3:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

true

It just seems like an odd decision. At this point I just feel like nobody is steering this thing. It’s a little out of control.

But that river of tears has dried for all of us.

by trza on Apr 29, 2008 3:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Zactly!

...it's the weekend, so why the hell not?

by Rodney on Apr 29, 2008 3:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008

by Jayslick on Apr 29, 2008 3:20 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Broussard vs Botts

Botts has shown very little at the ML level. Broussard, however, has had some success in the big leagues. Botts will end up in OKC and get playing time at 1B.

Max Ramirez 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on Apr 29, 2008 3:17 PM CDT   0 recs

The 40

I don’t understand why, when we need a spot on the 40, we don’t DFA Kam Loe. What are the odds that someone picks him up? And if they do, God bless them.

by badradiorules on Apr 29, 2008 3:20 PM CDT   0 recs

The odds

are probably about the same as someone picking up Botts. Now that I said that; he’ll be claimed for sure.

by BHill on Apr 29, 2008 3:23 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Isn't it possible

that the reason they DFA Botts instead of Broussard, is that they’re fairly certain nobody will claim Botts on waivers, and they’d lose Wash’s boy Broussard to waivers?

by Dirk Diggler on Apr 29, 2008 3:26 PM CDT   0 recs

Couldn't Broussard refuse designation as well?

and become a FA?

While Botts, seing as how it is the first time he’s been DFA’d, wouldn’t have the right.

by venturafearsnolan on Apr 29, 2008 3:40 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Yes

And God help us, that happens this year.

by FuturePants on Apr 29, 2008 3:46 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It's not the action that is the big deal

But the reasons and circumstances.

The Botts question has been bugging us for years now, and by putting him on the 25 at the end of the spring training, you have to figure that it is the goal of the organization to find out once and for all if he is going to cut it or not (he is certainly not here to play defense). However, to do that, you give him 50 at bat, you put a Ben Broussard to take ABs away from him. Then after 50 AB, you somehow determine that it’s enough to make a decision? I just wish that when the organization wants to do something, they make an actual commitment to it regardless of the situation, rather than responding to whatever seems urgent at the present time.

If they are not going to give him 250 ABs (in a consistent fashion), it’s probably best that we just forget about him and let him go his way. It doesn’t matter if we lose him to waivers or not, he will no longer be of any value to the organization that refuse to give the time to find out if he really does have any values or not.

by Telegraph on Apr 29, 2008 3:28 PM CDT   0 recs

well said

I’m really just tired of the whole Botts saga. I hope someone claims him at this point, for his sake and in the interest of moving on (although Mendoza-line production from 1B this season isn’t a very exciting proposition).

But that river of tears has dried for all of us.

by trza on Apr 29, 2008 3:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Brilliant analysis

Bad teams don’t just play badly, but they do things no one understands for reasons that no one understands. Botts is the perfect example. Either give him a chance or get rid of him. So what did the Rangers do? Neither and both. Which is typical of how badly the organization makes decisions. This is another example of why Hicks needs to go.

Where is Mick Kelleher when we need him?

by 3744nsheffield on Apr 29, 2008 4:47 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I

sincerely hope he gets claimed by someone and mashes for whatever team claims him.

by coolaid on Apr 29, 2008 3:29 PM CDT   0 recs

+1

Just give the man a chance.

by Dirk Diggler on Apr 29, 2008 3:32 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If another team claimed him

and gave him 400 at bats, what do you really, honestly think he would do?

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 29, 2008 3:41 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

x

Shows you that Jon Daniels doesn’t know what direction this team is going once again…

I love Miley Cyrus.

by miles on Apr 29, 2008 3:42 PM CDT   0 recs

This organization blows

WTF is Chris Shelton going to do? Good grief, like we are a Chris Shelton away from contending. Maybe we’ll finish 12 under instead of 16 under now.

by RA Dickey on Apr 29, 2008 3:44 PM CDT   0 recs

No one

is gonna claim Botts.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 29, 2008 3:45 PM CDT   0 recs

I think you are correct.

I also think that he will rake in AAA again, and then will be thrown in as trade filler at the deadline.

Danks, Volquez, Galarraga and Young are GONE! GET OVER IT! Endless whining will not bring them back!

by LBBRangerFan on Apr 29, 2008 3:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I think

you are right there, DJ. It’s just another kick in the nuts by this organization. Botts has been jerked around by this organization almost as much as Mike Lamb was. Almost. At least they didn’t make Botts catch a game like they did Lamb. Botts hasn’t capitalized on his opportunities and he’s not a young prospect, but he’s, by damn, one of ours that we’ve grown from the start. That’s why it sucks donkey, ‘cause you want those guys to succeed.

Thanks for letting me vent all of this freakin’ frustration.

"Sex is not a crime. It's a loving act between two or more consenting adults." - Hank Kingsley

by EssBee on Apr 29, 2008 3:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Letting Lamb go was a worse decision than Botts

Jason Botts numbers in Texas were .230/.325/.344
Mike Lamb’s were (estimated) around .290/.345/.390

Mike Lamb actually played defense. Not great, but he wasn’t a DH-first, everything else second.

by JBImaknee on Apr 29, 2008 5:42 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Why does this mean Botts is necessarily gone?

What team is going to claim him and put him on their 25-man roster? He’s hitting a pathetic .158 so what team is going think hey, he can contribute something this season, at least moreso than the current 25th-man on our roster?

by Rangerchick on Apr 29, 2008 3:46 PM CDT   0 recs

Other teams will surely claim him

Despite any inkling that he is a MLB level player, because people on a Rangers message board have undying boners for him.

by venturafearsnolan on Apr 29, 2008 3:50 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Gone?

I would think that he is gone whether or not another team picks him.

If they are only going to give Botts 38 ABs in a rebuilding what other chance is he going to get when the team is actually trying to contend.

Do you really seeing him get another look later this season and get more than 38 ABs that time around?

by baylor on Apr 29, 2008 4:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Evan's comments

indicated that this move was made in order to try and “save the season”. WTF! The f’in season’s already gone.

Just once I would love to see this organization give a young guy a legitimate shot. I could name dozens of players that this organization has given up on because they never would give them a legitimate shot because it didn’t help them in the short term. The only reason I have continued to support Daniels is because I thought he was committed to changing this cycle. I agree that Jason Botts might never turn into Travis Hafner (btw, have you see Hafner lately. I don’t know that I would want a part of him right now. He hasn’t hit a home run in like 66 or 67 games) but how do you know without giving the guy at least 300-400 at bats consistently. This is stupid.

"We live, we die, and the wheels on the bus go round and round." - Tony Romo

by kentbenfer on Apr 29, 2008 3:47 PM CDT   0 recs

Yep

This season is over already. The only goal for the rest of the season is to see who can help us in 2009-2011. DFA’ing Botts is not the way to see if he can contribute in the future. (I don’t think he has any future with us, but I am, 100 percent positive that Shelton and Broussard don’t. I would rather see Botts get 300-400 at bats this year so that we can find out for sure if he can hack it in the majors.) I have always supported Daniels and his last couple of trades have been great, but he appears to have absolutely no idea how to manage a 40-man roster.

by uthornfan on Apr 29, 2008 3:53 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No point

There is absolutely no point in having Shelton up here. This team needs to stop with these little quick fixes and accept that we are trying to develop talent and rebuild. Shelton is such a spare.

by RA Dickey on Apr 29, 2008 3:47 PM CDT   0 recs

Shhh!

You’re letting facts interfere with people’s mancrushes!

by venturafearsnolan on Apr 29, 2008 3:51 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How

is Shelton any more of a spare than Botts?

by badradiorules on Apr 29, 2008 3:54 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No more than botts is

Id rather look at both botts and shelton and get rid of broussard, but i think shelton deserves as much attention as botts does.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on Apr 29, 2008 3:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree with you 100%,

but its tough to blame anyone for not wanting to clog a 40 spot with a guy like Botts. If the only thing you can do is hit, you damn well better hit.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 29, 2008 3:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

agree 100%

.500 or bust!

Bad Vibes Kill Rallies!

"Well, we are one of the cheapest teams in Major League Baseball"
-Tom Hicks 4/8/2008

by Jayslick on Apr 29, 2008 4:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

how is

a career OPS of .665 in 244 at bats more valuable than an .825 OPS is 807 at bats?

by BHill on Apr 29, 2008 3:57 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Stop letting facts get in the way.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 29, 2008 3:58 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Look out Angels

Here we come! Shelton/Broussard platoon at first solves everything!! Could you imagine the fear that is ruminating through the AL West right now? The Angels and A’s are probably going to hurry up and make a trade so they can compete with us.

by RA Dickey on Apr 29, 2008 3:55 PM CDT   0 recs

oh well

i agree broussard should have been the guy. but it’s no big deal.

he had 167 ab’s last year and hit .240/.326/.335 with an OPS+ of 76

in 282 mlb ab’s he hit .230/.325/.344 and ops+ of 77

if you are to be a DH you simply gotta do better than that.

he has had chances in the majors and simply didn’t take advantage of it. he is not the future either.

send me nominations for the Hall of the Very Good
http://www.buchanan4pres2008.org/
NIXON: NOW MORE THAN EVER

by gossamer on Apr 29, 2008 3:57 PM CDT   0 recs

To the Botts haters

What makes you believe that the Rangers have any idea what they are doing? They rarely give anyone a legitimate shot before deciding if they will be good or not. Oh, he’s only hit .158 this year. Botts has a history of starting slow then once he gets accustomed to the league, he starts destroying it. How is he supposed to be judged in 38 AB? That is a very small sample size. He has never gotten a good look here and if they weren’t planning on giving him a long good look, why have him make the team to begin the year? You’ve acquired Broussard and Shelton, play them. Don’t tell me that Botts didn’t take advantage of the opportunity, when you never gave him an opportunity. Maybe this is a moot point and Botts doesn’t get claimed and all is good. But more than anything, this management looks more and more like they have no earthly idea how to manage a ball club.

by AirJordan on Apr 29, 2008 4:07 PM CDT   0 recs

Botts had 2 months last year, and ABs in previous years.

Granted, I’d rather have seen Broussard gone, but to say Botts hasn’t had opportunities is just dead wrong.

Also granted, I haven’t been a fan of Botts since I watched his swing. Much like Pete Incaviglia, there are holes all over that thing.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 29, 2008 4:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Botts '07 Sept

.372 OBP / .745 OPS

Then right back to the bench. We’ll never know if he could have built on that month or not.

"I hope it's a special dumb person hell so that I don’t have to meet up with you after I die."

- The D-tron

by Chase Irwin on Apr 29, 2008 4:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+1

yep

"Juan Pierre hit zero home runs last year. Mythical fairy creature David Eckstein hit three, for Chrissakes, and he swings a three-inch bat carved out of a candy cane." ~junior, FJM

by ivysafety39 on Apr 29, 2008 4:15 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

+38

or the number ABs botts has thus far, in a season we all said he should get at least 100 consistent ABs to decide his fate once and for all… ...i mean, what exactly is the plan this year if it isn’t to let someone like botss get at least, say, 150 consistent at-bats?... do we really thing bringing up shelton, or ben b getting hot and hitting .280 and us winning 68 games instead of 65 is all that Effin’ important?... i don’t get it… honestly i’m all for giving botts 100-150 CONSISTENT a.b.’s this year and living with the consequences if he hits .230… but DFA’ing him after a sparse 150 last year, and 38 this year is just kinda silly…

the crutch of this move is that it is in an attempt to make us more competitive? which is the part i really don’t get… WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE THIS YEAR!... what matters this year, what everyone said was important in the offseason, what we were all looking for this season was clarification on where we stand on a couple different players (botts, laird/salty, gabbard/young rotation pitchers) and how many of OUR minor leaguers were going to be close to ready to prove something at the big league level…

can we have a season that doesn’t have us making some kind of major management move that forces us to dramatically shift what we are trying to do… the more i see this, the more it feels like nolan isn’t happy with the losing and doesn’t care what the plan was, just that we aren’t winning and he can’t take it…

"Juan Pierre hit zero home runs last year. Mythical fairy creature David Eckstein hit three, for Chrissakes, and he swings a three-inch bat carved out of a candy cane." ~junior, FJM

by ivysafety39 on Apr 29, 2008 4:14 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Bah

I always thought Botts had potential. We never saw him really perform and I think he wasn’t given the proper chance, but whatever. No one will claim, he’ll rake at AAA again and do this crap all over again next season.

What happened to my old signature?

by WyoRanger on Apr 29, 2008 4:14 PM CDT   0 recs

Same thing as Cruz

You tend to see that from AAAA players. Much like Cruz, he will probably end up back in our minors.

"Before I leave, I once again condemn the despicable buffoonery of D.J. Cahill." - Huck

by DJCahill on Apr 29, 2008 4:18 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

OT: Jayson Nix

Similar situation with the Rockies. Not that young (25). Limited to only one position (2B). Just got DFA’d. Any chance we claim him off waivers. Not with our 40-man roster situation.

by chrisR on Apr 29, 2008 4:24 PM CDT   0 recs

Jayson Nix is Laynce Nix's brother

I guess being a complete failure at the ML level runs in the family.

A Lonestar in California - 2.0

by lonestarJon on Apr 29, 2008 11:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

-1

"If an Irish woman’s vagina morphed into a baseball player, it’d be Chris Shelton."--theDirkatron

by jparks77 on Apr 30, 2008 12:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Shelton

I agree with many and would have preferred Broussard to be gone. Putting all that aside, I’m excited about Shelton being called up – he has potential, but also he gives the Rangers the flexibility (he will be the emergency catcher) to DH Salty 2 or 3 times a week.

by Randy Richardson on Apr 29, 2008 4:25 PM CDT   0 recs