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Jason Botts clears waivers

Per the DMN, Jason Botts has cleared waivers.

I expected that would happen, and I'm sure Jason is disappointed.  I imagine he'll split time at DH and 1B for the Redhawks now.

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Comments

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I love it

Now have to go back and list all the people that said he would be claimed, and dominate.

by SaltyGoesYard on May 7, 2008 2:01 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Question

If the team DFA’s a guy and he clears waivers then why does he have to go back to that organization? I mean, I know that’s the rule but it doesn’t seem real fair to the player. Is there a logistical reason I am missing here?

brettgardner's mom is a stupid bitch.

by DaheelzCM on May 7, 2008 2:02 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Contract?

I would imagine.

by cmkelly29 on May 7, 2008 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The rule

When a player is removed from the 40 man roster, he has to clear waivers. If he clears waivers, he can be outrighted to the minor league club.

However, if a player has been outrighted once before, he can opt to become a free agent rather than accept the outright assignment from that point forward. This is the first time Botts has ever been removed from the 40 man roster, so he has not choice but to accept the outright assignment.

by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2008 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right

I understand the rule itself. I just don’t understand the reasoning behind why there is a rule to begin with. If you don’t want the guy then just cut him loose and let him sign with someone else.

brettgardner's mom is a stupid bitch.

by DaheelzCM on May 7, 2008 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A lot of roster rules don't make any sense.

That’s just one of the quirks of baseball I guess.

by Athos on May 7, 2008 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Generally...

If a team doesn’t want a player, they’ll release him.

You will sometimes have guys who lose their roster spots because of 40 man or performance issues, but the team still wants to keep. Nick Masset, for example, was outrighted by the Rangers a few years ago.

by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2008 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Can you

add a player to your 40 at the end of the year, DFA him during the season, and rinse repeat to keep him from being a 6 year minor league free agent indefinitely?

I assume the only reason he isn’t a 6 year minor league free agent was he was on the 40 last September.

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

by DJCahill on May 7, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If you DFA him a 2nd time...

....and he clears waivers, he can elect for free agency.

by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The rationale

As I understand it is the same as the Rule 5 draft. It was designed to prevent teams from just stockpiling talent in their minors without playing them in the majors (which is unfair to the players both from a playing standpoint and salary). This way, if someone else thinks that guy is good enough to play in the majors, they can claim/draft him

What happened to my old signature?

by WyoRanger on May 7, 2008 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm Shocked! Shocked!

that he cleared.

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

by DJCahill on May 7, 2008 2:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Apparently the demand

for hitters with a career .669 OPS was a little low this last week. Maybe he’ll have better luck next time.

by JBImaknee on May 7, 2008 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

At this point, I don't know what good it does to keep him.

Realistically, he has little to no hope of making it back to the majors as a Ranger. Now that he doesn’t have to be on a ML roster, he might be a decent throw-in for a bigger trade, but that’s probably the limit of his value at present. I really hate that because I’d like to see Botts do well, but we’re getting far enough along in the season that I expect Chris Davis’ arrival is going to be imminent, which means Botts has nowhere to play even part time. It’s too bad, but now he’s in the position of having little to no value to the big club and he’ll potentially be taking minor league ABs away from kids that still have a chance to help the big club down the road.

by Athos on May 7, 2008 2:11 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Botts never had any place to play in the field.

He pretty much had to start raking to lock up the DH spot.

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

by DJCahill on May 7, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What good to keep him?

Well, if the Rangers have yet another rash of injuries he might be needed short term. Or, like Cruz, he might go down there and hit .500/.600/.800 and some other team might decide he’s worth a risk now that he’s cleared waivers and doesn’t need a spot on the 40.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 7, 2008 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Damn

Only Topgun22 said that he would be claimed.

At the time it seemed like alot more.

by SaltyGoesYard on May 7, 2008 2:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Beginning of the season

At the beginning of the season there was a lot more of us (myself included) that figured he would be claimed.

However, after seeing Cruz and Tejeda pass through waivers I wasn’t really concerned about it this go-round.

Picking a random blog comment and wielding it as a club to bash "blogs" is like picking a random romance novel off an airport bookstore shelf and saying, "This book sucks. Fuck you, Tolstoy -- your medium is worthless!" - Ken Tremendous

by TheBZA on May 7, 2008 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry

your I told you so party didn’t go so well.

...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on May 7, 2008 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Claiming Botts..

Yeah, I guess I was a little off base huh? I figured someone would take a chance on him at least as a switch hitting bench bat that in a pinch could play COF and 1B. I claim temporary insanity due to having just learned that JD had DFA’d him while leaving BB on the roster. That, and overreaction.

by Topgun22 on May 7, 2008 2:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

6-year FA?

Is he a Minor League free agent after this year?

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on May 7, 2008 2:19 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yes

Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. -- Ben Stein

by Lucas on May 7, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not if they add him back to the 40

later in the year, right?

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

by DJCahill on May 7, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yes again

Love of God and compassion and empathy leads you to a very glorious place, and science leads you to killing people. -- Ben Stein

by Lucas on May 7, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Botts

I say good riddance. The only reason to hang on to him is to make Oklahoma more competitive. As soon as we need his spot we can let him go.

Fire Ron Washington

by pblack on May 7, 2008 2:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Depth chart ramifications

If Gold is entrenched at 1B for OKC, and Davis could use a promo (especially if Gac moves up a level or two this year), Botts’ ABs are lessened.

I wish this guy would’ve gotten claimed.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on May 7, 2008 2:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I can't imagine

anyone having so much space on their roster that they would have a spot for him.

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

by DJCahill on May 7, 2008 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree

Sucks for Botts. I was almost hoping the Rangers botched this one. But it looks like 29 other teams are in basic agreement (for various reasons, obviously).

What happened to my old signature?

by WyoRanger on May 7, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Obviously, not in the case of Botts...

but I wouldn’t put it past Bud Selig to organize the owners and make that demand. It happened in 1987, right?

They’re phasing out the steroid era, and I’m not so sure they’d lose their case if they admitted it.

by cmkelly29 on May 7, 2008 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think some of the issue

...with claiming anyone is that like the Rangers, most teams see somewhat of a pinch in their 40 man rosters and maybe simply do not want to make room to claim a Botts.

by FuturePants on May 7, 2008 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well,

Players who are unable to field and for some reason supposedly require regular playing time to hit the ball have trouble finding jobs at the big league level.

Its Botts’ fault there is no market for him. I don’t know why we are supposed to feel sorry for him. I would have felt more sorry if some poor sap on some other team who actually provides value to his organization got DFA’d for Botts.

by JBImaknee on May 7, 2008 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

less than shocking

expected.

and good. with the way 1b is going he probably ends up getting another shot at some point this year.

Gerald Laird is my hero.

by DSheppard on May 7, 2008 3:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Where He Stands

i like Botts and I like the idea of his turning into Travis Hafner. I think this is the way most feel about him if they could really admit it to themselves. However, there is nothing the least bit compelling in his major league performance to make him in demand by any team. I think many in baseball are now officially off the “hope” train for Botts performance to improve to ML standards. Could still happen though.

by mcgee48c on May 7, 2008 3:49 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Botts

If Botts was 6’ , 180 lbs, with the same numbers (minors and majors) and the same defensive limitations, I wonder how many of us would call for him to play and wonder if he’d eventually be a major power threat. It seems that people give him a ton of credit for just being a big dude.

by Jack Nicholson 1974 on May 7, 2008 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Looks like Tarzan hits like Jane :)

The "Electrician" was born 7/16/07 11:53 PM EDT

http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/7/16/213154/893

by LAMuscleFag on May 7, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Botts

What a waste of space? Botts is horrible and is nothing more than AAAA player. Should have brought back Sammy.

by BillyBobisdrunk on May 7, 2008 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Except Travis Hafner

by the time he had around 300 ABs had turned in a major league season with a 800 OPS. Much easier to carry a guy who actually can do at least some role on a team.

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

by DJCahill on May 7, 2008 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good

After the comments he made about the organization after his DFA a big part of me hopes he spends the rest of the year in the minors and then is forced into looking for a job as a 28, almost 29, year old DH with absolutely no major league track record.

by bigsteve on May 7, 2008 4:35 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

+ 1

I guess he thought he was going to get swooped right up and become the next Travis Hafner.
Reality check = noone cared. Now he’s screwed because of his mouth – he has zero chance in Texas.

The "Electrician" was born 7/16/07 11:53 PM EDT

http://www.lonestarball.com/2007/7/16/213154/893

by LAMuscleFag on May 7, 2008 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's nice...

Botts is a bigsteve fan, too.

"I know you're a bit dense but no, it doesn't. Obviously lying isn't a problem for me."

by benmor78 on May 7, 2008 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't care if hes a fan or not

As a professional he shouldn’t have said those things about the organization, however true they may or may not be.

Maybe not being claimed on waivers will be the piece of humble pie that gets him to focus and realize he is going to have to work his ass off to make it back. Whether thats with the Rangers or with another organization.

by bigsteve on May 7, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can just see Botts crying as he throws away his bigsteve jersey and tears down all his bigsteve posters.

by Jack Nicholson 1974 on May 7, 2008 5:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Botts

He’s a young guy and it’s a little harsh to use his words against him. Seems that many of us might vent frustration if we were interviewed by reporters immediately after being demoted at work. You’re making a big deal out of nothing.

by Randy Richardson on May 7, 2008 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

'cept the comments were warranted.

This organization has kicked me in the nuts too much, I’m fine with people within calling them out.

by philkid3 on May 7, 2008 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think they were

It would be one thing if Botts had done something to warrant staying around and we demoted him but to call out your club when you don’t have a leg to stand on is petty and unprofessional in my opinion.

Its like the guy on the basketball court who talks alot of smack but can’t make a layup. Its always been all talk about Botts and no production.

by bigsteve on May 7, 2008 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Jason

Has worked hard to ascend through the levels from (what was he?) a 46th round draft choice to make it or break it at the MLB level. He’s not Rick Ankiel, and he’s not Travis Hafner. He’s not even R. A. Dickey. And his opportunity to play his way back from OKC or even Frisco looks limited.

How about sending him to extended ST, to work on a slider and a knuckle ball? If he can pitch junk (since he doesn’t have what could be called a decent arm), and hit for power, maybe a NL team would try to grab him cheap. Also, now that he’s not been claimed, isn’t he a decent add-on piece if JD wants to deal during the year?

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

by Ed Coffin on May 7, 2008 5:23 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Ok...

So you’re telling me there’s a chance?

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on May 7, 2008 5:53 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

YEEEEEAAAA!!!

Haha. +1.

LSJ, in case you didn’t know, I’ll save some time and give you the obligatory comedy explanation. This is from “Dumb and Dumber” in 1994. Great line, great movie.

There is no such thing as global warming. David Murphy was cold, so he turned the sun up.

by SarasotaRanger on May 7, 2008 7:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Botts

I was actually hoping someone would claim him or he would be traded just for him to catch on somewhere. While it’s becoming more apparent that he may never be a productive major leaguer, i’ve always rooted for him and want him to succeed somewhere.

"When we're mad we'll use our words. Then the rest of the world will play nice with us. And the only boom-booms will be in our pants." - Ralph Wiggum

by rentz on May 7, 2008 6:10 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Botts

I feel sorry for Botts. He deserves a chance elsewhere, and now he has to sit in our minor league system for another season.

His career was mismanaged by the Rangers from the start, though – they never gave him a fair chance to prove himself in the past, and before long, his age and the roster situation caught up with him.

Botts should have been the DH last year, but instead we went and signed Sammy Sosa to put some butts in the seats, and give the Rangers marketing machine some ammo. When you go back and look at Jason’s career, and how the Rangers just let him ferment in the minors for so long, it really sickens me, the way they handled him. I hope JD learns from the Jason Botts failure, and never makes the same mistake with another prospect.

by lonestarJon on May 7, 2008 6:39 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

i still go to last year

and all the meaningless AB’s that went to Sosa until August. change the 2 month tryout to a 4 or 5 month tryout, and i’d feel better about his demotion.

by SteveP on May 7, 2008 6:46 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Sosa

The guy won the job in spring trainging fair and square. Whether he was signed as a mrketing tool or not the fact is he produced for us. If you remember at the beginning of last year we were not in rebuilding mode. We took the guy who won the job in spring training. It wasn’t even close either. I could see an argument that they chose Sosa over Botts because they were trying to sell seats if they had both had similar stats. But they weren’t even close. I actually applaud the Rangers for having the gaul to sit Sosa and give Botts at bats late last year. Not many teams will simply sit one of their most productive bats simply to give a minor league guy a chance. Once we went to rebuilding mode and couldn’t trade Sosa Botts was given his chance and he fumbled it. I have no sympathy for the guy getting demoted and less after hearing his comments he made upon his demotion.

by bigsteve on May 7, 2008 7:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

they were 13 games back

by memorial day, and sosa had a pretty mediocre year. In fact, if that’s what the Rangers were expecting from Sosa, then I’d really question JD’s judgement.

BTW Botts hit .351 in spring training that year, not that there was ever a chance he was going to make the club after Sosa was signed.

by SteveP on May 7, 2008 7:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Botts

Yeah but that was with no power. And I can’t find the stats but Sosa was something like .400/.500/.600 with 4 or 5 home runs. Who do you think should be the DH if you are actually trying to compete. Yeah we were out of it early but Sosa was 2 home runs away from 600 at that time so there was no way they were sitting him then.

by bigsteve on May 7, 2008 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If Botts was as Mediocre as Sammy

he’d probably still be a major leaguer.

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

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sosa didn't win the job in spring training

He was given the job in spring training. And it wasn’t like Botts sucked in spring training last year.

Sosa sucks.

by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2008 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Pull up the stats

Botts had a really good average but that was it. Last year he didn’t have 1B to fall back on and his outfield defense was atroscious. He was DH or nothing. He didn’t hit for power and Sosa did. I fully agree Sosa was signed as a publicity stunt and a marketing tool but I don’t believe he was handed the job. I don’t think anyone thought he would come in and do what he did after the last few years of his career. And again Botts didn’t take his chance and run with it.

by bigsteve on May 7, 2008 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't think he was signed as a marketing stunt

I think Sosa was signed because Rudy and Washington wanted him, and because Rudy, in particular, didn’t think Botts could hit.

As it turned out, Sosa sucked. And if the Rangers didn’t think he’d hit as well as he did last year when they signed him, they never should have brought him here, because he wasn’t good.

by Adam J. Morris on May 7, 2008 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If Botts only sucked as much as Sammy sucked

he might still be a major leaguer. Botts unfortunately didn’t hit much more than the pitcher he was replacing.

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

by DJCahill on May 8, 2008 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Concur

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates

by slc ranger on May 7, 2008 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sammy was awesome

Botts was the one that sucked!!

by BillyBobisdrunk on May 8, 2008 3:16 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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