Moves you would make (if still in contention at the ASB)

by venturafearsnolan on Jun 14, 2008 4:53 PM CDT Comment 39 comments

Let's play hypothetical.

It's July 15th, and the Rangers are 2 games back.

Who do you kick the wheels of?

I think this team's biggest gap right now is someone right handed who can bat 5th or 6th, breaking up a series of lefties and Milton, whose a switch.

After looking around and thinking, perhaps the most viable option, in terms of what he would cost, is Xavier Nady.

Other options would be Jason Bay, or Magglio, although considering his contract I can't see us making that move.

Nady could play right field regularly, allowing Hamilton in center and Murphy in left to be your general everyday lineup, but also rotate in on days off for Blalock or Davis, whoever is manning first(I assume it would be Blalock unless he is on the DL or decides to move back to third).

Pitching wise, I could see us making a splash for one of the free agents to be, more likely Ben Sheets, if we felt we could resign him and he is healthy. Those of course are monster sized question marks, but this is a hypothetical.

In the bullpen, we could use a steady guy, doesn't have to be a blow-away guy, with good control. Quite frankly, I would have no idea who to target there, but I'm sure there would have to be someone on the market who would fit this.

I have no idea what Pittsburgh would want, but I figure Milwaukee would be interested in either Teagarden or Ramirez and a pitcher, especially if they are out of it and don't expect to resign him.

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Too many holes to fill...

We need another starter and another bullpen guy. I don’t want to dip into the farm to get a guy because we think we can compete.

"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos

by miles on Jun 14, 2008 5:00 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

+1 MM

Miles with the slam dunk here.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Jun 14, 2008 5:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly...

I’d rather hold steady. Maybe trade away the Cat for a bullpen arm or something like that.

Longer term:

On the Bradley situation, I’d be happy if the Rangers could sign him to a deal similar to the one the Nationals gave Dimitri Young, say 3 years, $30 million. Such a deal could turn out to be a steal, and if it didn’t work out due to injuries, it wouldn’t cripple the organization. More than that, I’d be leery.

As for pitching, I’m at a loss. Maybe turn CJ into a starter next season?

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

by trza on Jun 14, 2008 5:07 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

It would cost more than $10/yr, don't you think?

Provided Bradley stays healthy, otherwise you wouldn’t resign him anyway, I think he could command 3 for $45, easy. As a matter of fact, I think another team would throw 4 or 5 years at him, at the same rate.

"Typical woman. 'Give me' 'Give me' 'Give me'

I’ll give ya something.

1. A backhand
2. A stuffing
3. $500 if you promise never to post here again"

~ The Immortal, BG

by Chase Irwin on Jun 14, 2008 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way a team throws a 5yr/75mil deal at MOB

I mean, no freaking way.

Even if he keeps OPS’ing over 1.100 (which, I mean, he’s good…. but that number is gonna come down, right? A 1.100 ops is incredible) he’d be hard pressed to get that. He’s just too much of a loose cannon for a team to risk that much money for that sort of length of time.

I said mid-May that we should approach him for a 2yr/22mil extension with a vesting option for a third year at 13-15mil and see if he’d bite, and some people said hells to the no.

I think it’ll take something like 15mm at this point. But I don’t think anyone is crazy enough to offer Crazy Uncle Milt 5 years. Crazy scares people. Crazy + injury history especially scares people.

A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab?

by thedirkatron on Jun 14, 2008 10:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he stays healthy

I would be shocked if someone didn’t offer 4 years. 5 years is a stretch, but may be necessary to win the bid, perhaps at a lower rate.

He’s got to get back in the field and play well defensively, though. At that point, a stud COF, who is in the prime of his career, who just played a full season, would have more than twice his current value $5M/yr, imo.

So I’m thinking 3/45 if you want him short-term and maybe 5/65 if you are desperate.

Purely hypothetical speculation.

"Typical woman. 'Give me' 'Give me' 'Give me'

I’ll give ya something.

1. A backhand
2. A stuffing
3. $500 if you promise never to post here again"

~ The Immortal, BG

by Chase Irwin on Jun 14, 2008 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Moves

Depends on what I am giving up. If I am not giving up any of our top prospects then a veteran who may be a rent a player most likely a pitcher. Only problem is the guys you would taregt would cost you those top prospects. Now with the addition os Smoak we could afford to part with one of Davis/Ramirez and be fine long term I think. Also one of our young catchers could be dealt and we would be ok still.

Now if I am going to part with one of the guys I am hoping to build around for the future then I want a young player in return. One that is under team control for 3+ years and is established. One of the young pitchers for SF is an example of that kind.

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 Jun 14, 2008 5:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Trade our top 10 prospects (except Andrus) for Scott Kazmir and Dan Wheeler.

by rooster on Jun 14, 2008 5:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL

"No bear or disco for Juan" - Mr. Santos

by miles on Jun 14, 2008 5:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If the Rangers are only

2 GB at the ASB, that means either the Angels have collapsed our the SP has become solid. I wouldn’t do anything.

Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on Jun 14, 2008 5:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

2 games back

Thats not in contention to me. If we were leading the division by 5 games I would not consider that in contention either. This teams pitching staff is the worst in all of baseball.

Biggest gap a hitter? Are you serious? Do we not have the best offense is the AL? While still having the worst pitching staff in all of baseball??

You trade Bradley no matter what, his trade is the key to the entire season. Do not trade him and the season becomes a waste.

by SaltyGoesYard on Jun 14, 2008 5:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i dunno

2 possible high draft picks might be just as good as what we could get for him.

in recent years, it seems as though teams dont give up stud prospects for guys that are going to be free agents.

by kumizi on Jun 14, 2008 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1 MM

"Typical woman. 'Give me' 'Give me' 'Give me'

I’ll give ya something.

1. A backhand
2. A stuffing
3. $500 if you promise never to post here again"

~ The Immortal, BG

by Chase Irwin on Jun 14, 2008 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hold...

The move I make is to hold onto Board Game and Millwood/Padilla. I would keep those 3 guys as opposed to dealing them for prospects.

I still try and move Eddie G, Cat, Byrd, Shelton, and Laird (or Salty if he could get us a ace prospect). Whatever prospects those guys bring back are just gravy on top of what we already have. I don’t deal any prospects unless we are getting equal value in prospects back in a area we need more.

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

by slc ranger on Jun 14, 2008 7:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Millwood/Padilla

I really don’t think we are going to deal either of these guys unless we are absolutely blown away with a trade offer. Established veteran pitchers with reasonable contracts signed for a couple years are very valuable commodities. Add in the fact we aren’t exactly in a pitcher crunch for next year and I don’t think we give them away for a mid level guy. It would have to be a package somewhere between Gagne and Teixeira-esque IMO.

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 Jun 14, 2008 8:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree...

I would have to be blown away to move Millwood, Padilla, or Board Game. Especially with Milton, because I would be more than content to see him play here all year and just take the draft picks if he leaves.

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

by slc ranger on Jun 14, 2008 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

-1

He’s the best hitter in the league right now. Someone will bite.

There are no guarantees with Milton Obelle Bradley: now, or ever.

"Typical woman. 'Give me' 'Give me' 'Give me'

I’ll give ya something.

1. A backhand
2. A stuffing
3. $500 if you promise never to post here again"

~ The Immortal, BG

by Chase Irwin on Jun 14, 2008 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

even if someone bites

do you think we will get substantially better than 2 top draft picks for a guy that is going to be a free agent?

by kumizi on Jun 14, 2008 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would be shocked if we didn't

He is the ultimate sell-high. Somebody else is likely stupid if they don’t acquire his bat at the deadline. He is a difference maker.

“Stupid” in the sense that Detroit was stupid last year in not adding pitching for the big push.

"Typical woman. 'Give me' 'Give me' 'Give me'

I’ll give ya something.

1. A backhand
2. A stuffing
3. $500 if you promise never to post here again"

~ The Immortal, BG

by Chase Irwin on Jun 14, 2008 11:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think this team's biggest gap right now is someone right handed

No my friend, the biggest gap is from startiing pitchers 2-5. You can live with Milly and Pads, but after that its a crapshoot. You most definitely target a pitcher, one who can be controlled for many years, even if it means giving up a couple good prospects.

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jun 14, 2008 9:18 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There are

Reports saying that Bedard would be available, although i cant see them A) trading him this soon or B) trading him to a team from the west! but if they would sign me up, Salty/JMJ/Pitching prospect, lets do it!

by blueballlefty on Jun 14, 2008 9:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Hell no...

he will be a FA after next year and won’t sign a extension. You don’t give up those kind of prospects for a 11/2 year rental.

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

by slc ranger on Jun 14, 2008 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Theres also the fact that Bedard has been dissapointing this year…

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Jun 14, 2008 9:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

NO JOKE

if he was the cy young front runner he wouldnt be available, of course I wouldnt do this deal if there is no extension agreed upon prior.

by blueballlefty on Jun 16, 2008 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+2

"Typical woman. 'Give me' 'Give me' 'Give me'

I’ll give ya something.

1. A backhand
2. A stuffing
3. $500 if you promise never to post here again"

~ The Immortal, BG

by Chase Irwin on Jun 14, 2008 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would try and get...

Randy Wolf as cheaply as possible from the Padres. He’s having a good year and might come a little cheaper than most.

I'd love for part of the "new look" to be a return to the red uniforms of the 1990s. - Ian Kinsler

by ortonius on Jun 14, 2008 9:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ugggh

Randy Wolf’s good season is a complete creation of Petco Park.

Home: 44 ip’s, 2.46 ERA

Away: 40.2 ip’s, 5.31 ERA

Petco park could make our bullpen look good. That place is just nuts.

A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab?

by thedirkatron on Jun 14, 2008 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

what are

AGON’ s HR splits….

I saw hes got like 18 bombs…maybe mostly on the road?

Please forgive any and all typos, mispellings, etc.
Your kindess in this matter is appreciated.

by red shoe ranger on Jun 14, 2008 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

8 home/ 10 road

He’s actually been pretty darn good at home. Well, at least pretty darn good for Petco. An .824 ops at Petco is good.

But the .336/.373/.648/1.021 he’s putting up on the road is probably a lot closer to showing the monster he’s become. Good lord.

A fist bump? A pound? A terrorist fist jab?

by thedirkatron on Jun 14, 2008 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

jesus

imagine Volquez, Danks, and Young in the rotation with Agon replacing Josh’s production.

by kumizi on Jun 14, 2008 11:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, if you're gonna all up and excited

over AGon’s non-Petco numbers, you should at least take a gander at CY’s splits.

Home: 28 IP’s, 2.57 ERA
Away: 26 IP’s, 6.58 ERA

But that’s a pretty small sample size.

Last year in 173.0 innings he posted:

Home: 85.1 IP’s, 1.69 ERA
Away: 87.2 IP’s, 4.52 ERA

I know I’m going to get labeled an AJM-loving ditto-head for spouting such stats, but stats are stats. The truth of the matter is that Chris Young is a decent-to-average pitcher made to look far better than he is by the ridiculous home park he gets to pitch in.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 14, 2008 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some people will simply refuse to accept that

it’s not your fault for pointing it out.

"Typical woman. 'Give me' 'Give me' 'Give me'

I’ll give ya something.

1. A backhand
2. A stuffing
3. $500 if you promise never to post here again"

~ The Immortal, BG

by Chase Irwin on Jun 14, 2008 11:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it's time to realize

that Chris Young was the 3rd best player in that deal until Aki got hurt.

1. AGon
2. Aki
3. Young
4. Sledge
5. Killian
6. Adam Eaton

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 15, 2008 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Value

He might have been the 3rd best player, but at that time I would have put him at least 2nd in terms of value. He was much younger than Aki, and looked to be a solid mid-rotation guy for several years to come. Aki was nice, but at his age you couldn’t expect several years of continued high level production.

I chuckle at putting Killian ahead of Eaton, good one.

...and curse Sir Sidney Ponson, he was such a stupid git.

by t ball on Jun 15, 2008 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ehh

The way I like to look at the Young trade is we got Beavan and Borbon for Young and AGon. Why? Because without Otsuka we wouldn’t have been able to trade Coco for Lee midseason and thus not gotten the draft picks that turned into Beavan and Borbon.

So I will take Hammy, a healthy McCarthy, Beavan and Borbon especially in a couple years

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 Jun 15, 2008 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nice way of looking at it

It was still a horrible trade, but you should roll that arguement out more often when the posters like Clueless or Josey Whales are on their high horses.

A Lonestar in California

by lonestarJon on Jun 15, 2008 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But if we hadn't traded Agon

we wouldn’t have the need nor the the room on the roster to go out and sign Frankie the Cat, so we wouldn’t have lost our own pick in ‘07, so we could’ve picked Beavan at 16 if we wanted.

This sort of hypothetical alternate reality acquisition timeline theory stuff gives me a headache.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jun 15, 2008 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs