Millwood traded for Chris Ray

by Sherman McCoy on Dec 9, 2009 1:49 PM CST

per Baltimore Sun.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-kevin-millwood-trade-1209,0,4877522.story

Best case scenario: This paves the way for a bigger deal. MLB feels the sale is close enough that if we can make the payroll at least pretty close to last year, they won't stop a deal.

Worst case scenario: straight salary dump. Forget contending next year.

I wonder what FOTF thinks about this. Probably not real happy unless we could up with a Sheets/Harden and a Vlad.

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Anyone else loving the Ticket White Elephant?

"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball

by rangerdanger on Dec 9, 2009 1:52 PM CST reply actions

Past years have been better.

Donavan’s tickers are making me uncomfortable. Dan was in penalty kill mode during his entire 2-hour shift. Bob and Corby were ok…

by ncrangerfan on Dec 9, 2009 1:58 PM CST up reply actions

Wasn't up early enough for Bob and Corby,

Donovan is terrible, always has been, always will be. He butchers everything. That being said, some of his “Blickers” have been amusing.

"...like some Russian priest fresh off a bottle of potato vodka and a box of cigars." -t ball

by rangerdanger on Dec 9, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions

Donovan's tickers are great

I’d love it if the ticker guys could do more shtick.

My podcast. I'd be very appreciative of any listeners-for enjoyment, criticism, or otherwise.

by Conjunction on Dec 9, 2009 2:27 PM CST up reply actions

I dont find him to be very funny.

by octoberty on Dec 9, 2009 2:31 PM CST up reply actions

Because we don't get enough of that on-air

by oc on Dec 9, 2009 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

The only thing I look forward to on white elephant day is Gordo

and even then, he mails it in sometimes. The Bob Knight e-brake was funny a few years back but white elephant day is overrated.

I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar

by sprite on Dec 9, 2009 2:37 PM CST up reply actions

I also found Rhynes doing two hours of nothing but calls rather amusing

Baseball Time in Arlington

by Joey Matschulat on Dec 9, 2009 9:54 PM CST up reply actions

This seems like a

salary dump, in that case I don’t really mind but would have liked to get a better player than Ray.

I really hope we use that money to get Harden or Sheets but most importantly a middle of the order bat.

"Stats are like a woman in a fine little bikini. You can see a lot, but you can't see everything." -Dirk A. Tron

by coolaid on Dec 9, 2009 1:52 PM CST reply actions

Thoughts

This signals that the FO believes it can sign a free agent SP.

There’s got to be a minor leaguer coming along with Ray (this is JD, plus the earlier rumors were such).

Ray’s control was great in the minors, here’s hoping he resumes…he hasn’t been that pitcher in the ML. JD must be real confident he’s recovered from TJ.

I am underwhelmed. There must not have been the market for Millwood that earlier rumors suggested. At the very least, I can’t see the Rangers paying more than $1m or so. Whatever the savings, they’re going to have to do something with it to justify this.

"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks

by hightowersmith on Dec 9, 2009 1:52 PM CST reply actions

If this leads to a Sheets/Harden signing, I'm all for it.

Although he was pretty decent last year, he still wasn’t worth 12m a year. I am concerned however with the health of Sheets and Harden.

by TheCrow471 on Dec 9, 2009 1:53 PM CST reply actions

Hmmm

The deal will also need to be approved by Major League Baseball because it’s expected that more than $1 million is changing hands.

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"When you have a weapon on your shoulder like he has, you can be cool." RW on Perez
And the little bastard threw it for a swinging strike three in a 3-2 count. He’s blessed. And ballsy.

by Rodney on Dec 9, 2009 1:53 PM CST reply actions

If this is indeed "it", why do want Ray?

Ephesians 3:20-21...and I can only imagine

by TedFord on Dec 9, 2009 1:53 PM CST reply actions

why do "we" want, I mean

Ephesians 3:20-21...and I can only imagine

by TedFord on Dec 9, 2009 1:54 PM CST reply actions

This is awesome!! Go Rangers!!

CBS Sports says
Ray’s awful season getting worse: From The Sports Xchange notes: RHP Chris Ray didn’t record an out against the three batters he faced in the seventh. Ray walked one and allowed two singles before Sean Henn came on to save the day. The former closer has allowed seven earned runs in his last four innings.
(Updated 09/22/2009).

Fantasy Analysis
Ray once looked like a closer of the future, but now he looks like a worthless middle reliever even in the deepest of AL-only leagues.
(Updated 09/22/2009).

I BELIEVE!

by Texasportsfan on Dec 9, 2009 1:54 PM CST reply actions

ouch.

by SteveP on Dec 9, 2009 2:11 PM CST up reply actions

Chris Ray stats here.

Only slightly related but Randy Wolf just signed a 3 year, $30 million deal (link), so maybe getting Millwood for one year at less than $12 million for a RP with health questions is not such a bad deal?

by alon91 on Dec 9, 2009 1:55 PM CST reply actions

Apples to Coconuts

Wolf is two years younger and significantly better than Millwood. He’s also a lefty.

by Heebs on Dec 9, 2009 2:01 PM CST up reply actions

I hate that we couldn't get a better player..

by Mike E on Dec 9, 2009 2:01 PM CST reply actions

x

I’ve just got a really bad feeling this is solely a salary dump and that there is no corresponding move coming. It also seems like there should be another player coming our way that has yet to be named. Millwood may not have had a ton of value at his salary, but this still seems pretty light of a return.

I really hope there’s more news to follow.

by Bandire on Dec 9, 2009 2:01 PM CST reply actions

Call me naive

But I think this is a reallocation of funds that didn’t correspond well to the value provided. With new ownership coming in, I’m more confident that they’d commit to adding a legitimate FA rather than another Kris Benson. Chris Ray isn’t great; even if he’s great, he’s probably a setup man at best. But the difference between Milwood at 12 million and Harrison/Bmac/Nippert at… I’m not sure, but substantially less—— is worthwhile.

My podcast. I'd be very appreciative of any listeners-for enjoyment, criticism, or otherwise.

by Conjunction on Dec 9, 2009 2:05 PM CST reply actions

Meant to say

Even if he’s healthy, he’s probably a setup man.

My podcast. I'd be very appreciative of any listeners-for enjoyment, criticism, or otherwise.

by Conjunction on Dec 9, 2009 2:12 PM CST up reply actions

I like this move

it opens the door for additional salary to be added in the offseason (provided an ownership change) or during the season should the team start off strong.

Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball

by willamos2 on Dec 9, 2009 2:07 PM CST reply actions

WOW well Milly I'm not going to miss you too much...

AS LONG AS the young ens hold the fort down pretty well or they sign Sheets or somesuch.

So who's todays mistress? They're coming out of the Woodswork!

by BigGuns on Dec 9, 2009 2:16 PM CST reply actions

This better be

A move to clear some salary so we can have more room to make some more signings and not a pure salary dump, because that looks like a pretty weak return to me. That $12 million could get us one of Sheets/Harden, Rod Barajas, and probably still have enough left over to put a little toward a DH/middle of the order bat of some sort.

Jimmy Johnson for GM.

by TXHC on Dec 9, 2009 2:23 PM CST reply actions