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Rangers fill the last spot on the 40 man roster...with a hitter

The Rangers, who had 39 players on the 40 man roster, are now back up to 40, having claimed Colorado first baseman Joe Koshansky on waivers.

He turns 27 in May, went from being a C+ on Sickels' list before 2008 to not making his top 20 list this year, and, I suspect, will be put back on waivers by the Rangers at some point in the next week or so.

So why make the claim?  Because if the Rangers waive him, and he clears, they can outright him and keep him in the organization.  That's my guess, anyway.

That's all I've got.  Maybe z knows something about him and can give us a scouting report.

0 recs  |  Comment 65 comments |

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Well.

We’ve been talking all off-season about how we could really use some more hitting.

by RachelB on Mar 29, 2009 2:09 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

Now we can trade both davis AND smoak!

the preceding post was a great success.

by DSheppard on Mar 29, 2009 2:15 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

exactly

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Mar 29, 2009 2:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

First off, if anyone is curious, no he can’t play in the OF.

At first glance this just looks like a player that they have good enough reports on to go get him. He has a long swing, so I don’t know if they view this as a swing reclamation project, or if they just think that he can hit for a lot of power in Arlington and be valuable enough even with the holes. He’s been bad in his cameos, but he’s gotten very small chances.

The Rockies are probably getting tired of Texas grabbing guys they drop off their 40 but still like.

Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam

by Brett Perryman on Mar 29, 2009 2:17 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I blame Thad

"My mother always taught me that if the only thing you have to say is,
‘(Expletive) Dave Samson,’ then don’t say anything at all.
So I’m not going to say anything at all.
Is my mother the greatest or what?"
- Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, after signing Ichiro to a $90 million contract

by tyd3311 on Mar 29, 2009 2:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It has to be...

What AJM predicted….

We will try to sneak this guy through waviers again in about a week to get him to AAA….If he dosen’t work no harm no foul.

OT-I can’t even watch the Mavericks right now…either be an old team in the hunt for a championship, or a young team improving…but don’t be an old team on the decline.
Rip this team apart Cuban, and trade or release everyone including Dirk.

by death of the cool on Mar 29, 2009 2:18 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

But what if they can’t win 46 games next year and keep their sellout streak going?

Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam

by Brett Perryman on Mar 29, 2009 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

dammit

i had this game on DVR and stumbled upon your post just when the the first half was ending and we still had a lead. i knew it wasnt going to end well but damn….what a pathetic performance in the second half.

by Smoakin in the Boys Room on Mar 29, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

According to EG

over at Inside Corner, he has already been optioned to OKC. That means he had options left when JD claimed him.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 29, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right

But he’d be put on waivers again in a week to get him off the 40 man roster, not because he’s out of options.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 29, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why didn't the

Rockies wait until closer to the season to waive him?

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 29, 2009 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Beats me

Maybe they had someone they had to add by earlier this week or allow them to be a free agent.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 29, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe they just figured

he was worthless?

"The idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy." - Adam J. Morris

by DJCahill on Mar 29, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

maybe they figured he would slip through this close to the season?

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 Mar 29, 2009 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If Im' not mistaken

For a Rockies player to make it to Texas, that meant that every NL team + half the AL teams had to have passed on him. So it means he may well slide through, assuming that none of the top AL clubs who didn’t have a chance to get him bite.

The other possibility may be that this is a precursor to a Cat deal. If Cat is traded, he’s a near MLB 1b backup option for Davis.

by JBImaknee on Mar 29, 2009 2:20 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No

That was the old rules. Under the new rules, it is just like the draft…straight win percentage ranking, without regarding to league.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 29, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

okay

I wasn’t sure if that was changed. I know they’ve removed most of the league-specific rules over the past few years, but wasn’t sure if that was one of them.

by JBImaknee on Mar 29, 2009 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The fact that

as things sit, a LHB who can only play 1B or DH is pretty much the last thing the major league team needs is pretty much what makes me think that this is a scouting move, rather than a strategic one (strategic in the sense that it figures to impact the way they appraoch their 25 man roster decisions). I think that Adam is likely right about the the outrighting too.

Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam

by Brett Perryman on Mar 29, 2009 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He's definitely got some pop in his bat.

It would be interesting to see what he could do at the BPiA. Any chance this is a precursor to a Blalock trade until Smoak is ready?

"I saw your act, just didn't make it for me. Just a lot of fluff."

by scoop16 on Mar 29, 2009 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i dont see it as a bad idea

if they trade blalock or catt, they need someone like that and presuming they dont want to bring up maxram…

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 Mar 29, 2009 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That's what I think

Sure 1b/DH guys are a dime a dozen. But if Cat or Blalock is traded, do we really want the Rangers to be backed in a corner and have to bring MaxRam up for that spot? The Rangers really only have 3 1b on the 40 man – Davis, Cat, and Blalock. If there is a trade of one of the latter two, who would be an emergency guy?

I think its possible this is a prelude to a trade and Koshansky stays on the 40man in AAA.

by JBImaknee on Mar 29, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

and im ok with that

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 Mar 29, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

me too

Adam’s theory is nice as well, and any guy off the 40 is better than a guy on the 40. But I can’t help but think there is something somewhat sneaky about that plan

by JBImaknee on Mar 29, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it is pretty unlikely...

…that they made this deal because they wanted to have someone available to play first base, on the off-chance that 1) Davis was injured, and 2) Cat and Blalock were both gone.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 29, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well

If they are planning on trading one of Cat/Blalock this week, then maybe they want a 3rd 1b on the 40 man. Who knows – if there is a 40 man roster crunch, I’m sure he’ll be dumped before other people.

Don’t you think that there is some sort of unwritten code being violated if they are just claiming people only to drop them a few days later? Something about that seems odd – like its blatantly taking advantage of the process and could potentially breed bad relations with the Rockies.

by JBImaknee on Mar 29, 2009 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

lol

i bet the rockies are already unhappy w/ us for strop

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 Mar 29, 2009 6:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You better believe it

I was not happy about the Rox giving up on Strop. How has he looked for you guys so far?

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.

by smokinRox on Mar 30, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

lol

Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam

by Brett Perryman on Mar 29, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hurry, write a book!

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Mar 29, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ellipse . . .

Stars in a Texas Night Sky, a Dallas Stars blog from a fan's perspective.

by rangers85 on Mar 29, 2009 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

...wufdog...!

I win.

"...my balls are really like a veiny flesh color" blueballlefty on Jun 4, 2008 7:44 PM EDT
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Mar 29, 2009 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes! We're finally going to start grabbing some bullpen arms on the waiver wire....

err, scratch that…I mean yea!, more hitting, and more puzzling end of ST roster highjinks…

by Goyogringo on Mar 29, 2009 2:27 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

This might make sense...

I think this may say something about Smoak. Does the org see a hole coming at 1B at AA or AAA sooner than later?

by Sherman McCoy on Mar 29, 2009 3:09 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

BA had him 17th

in 2008 and 29th this yr; the COR system was ranked 7th in 2008, and 20th this year.

No explanation whatsoever in their profile for him this year about the large increase in SO rate in 2008 after repeating AAA. Long sweeping swing and failure to make adjustments are his biggest obstacles to sticking in the majors (in addition to being blocked by Helton/atkins). Only became a FT hitter his JR yr.

by Goyogringo on Mar 29, 2009 3:25 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

A short clip of Joe:

link

"It doesn't look like he's trying. It kinda pisses me off," "He could throw 110 if he tried. The way it explodes out of his hand is really something special." ~ B-Mac on Feliz.

by Kinslerhomer on Mar 29, 2009 3:32 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

He only hit a HR against Eyre last Saturday

You should give this kid a chance. He has done everything Colorado has asked and they thought the risk to reward on strikeouts was worth it. He just needs consistent playing time to do well for any team!!!

by Donephew on Mar 29, 2009 3:39 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Minor League Adjustments

How does one extrapolate minor league numbers (AAA) into major league equivalents? Is there some sort of multiplier? In his first AAA season Koshansky had an OPS of .870. In his second AAA season (age 26), Koshansky had an OPS of .970. Assuming that some sort of multiplier exists, does it decrease given his second tour of AAA and his relatively advanced age? Should our enthusiasm of what to expect by this move be tempered in any way?

by Excel Hearts Choi on Mar 29, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He usually hits full center or opposite field HR'S

Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | MLB.com/ Multimedia

by Donephew on Mar 29, 2009 3:48 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Yes !!! A great work ethic

I hope what ever happens works for everyone!!!

by Donephew on Mar 29, 2009 4:09 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

spurdynasty

any chance at doing a MLE on him?

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 Mar 29, 2009 4:11 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Koshansky's AAA numbers translated to ML stats

2007 season
295/380/490/870 at Colorado Springs (AAA) translates to 242/310/384/694 in Arlington w/16 HR amd 138 K.

2008 season
300/380/600/980 at Colorado Springs translates to 246/312/464/776 in Arlington w/23 HR and 171 K.

Due to the fact that Ksohansky was repeating AAA as a 26 yo, the translated stats for 2008 are probably overly optimistic. It is more likely that he would put up an OPS in the low 700’s if he were asked to play full-time in the major leagues. To me, this looks like the Rangers finding a replacement for Nate Gold in Oklahoma.

by spurdynasty on Mar 29, 2009 8:32 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

40-man roster

I finally gave it more than five seconds of thought, and here’s what I think we are looking at:

At this point, I see six non-roster invites making the opening day roster. One of those could get replaced by a pitcher acquired in a trade, but unless you trade someone off the current 40-man roster, you would still need a spot for him.

Jones is one of my six. However, he only makes it if Catalanotto is gone, so you don’t need to carve out a spot for him.

The other five are Andrus, Vizquel, Guardado, Benson and Turnbow. I don’t want either Benson or Turnbow on the opening day roster, but I think they both are due to the complete failure of other candidates for the bullpen.

So if you need five spots, where do they come from? Two come from putting Benoit and Hurley on the 60-day DL, and I think they try to pass Koshansky through waivers. I presume they could put Nippert on the 60-day DL as well, which would hide him for a couple months, the second of which would probably be spent on a 30-day rehab assignment in the AAA starting rotation.

That leaves you needing one more spot, which would almost certainly be a pitcher. The five candidates to get dropped, as I see it, are Bannister, Eyre, Gabbard, Mendoza, and Poveda. I think Eyre is out of options, so he’s probably the one to go. I don’t think you want to waive Poveda or Bannister, who I think would get claimed, but waiving Mendoza or Gabbard frankly wouldn’t bother me too much either. Maybe one of them could be pawned off on a team for one of the out-of-options pitchers we discussed yesterday.

by Darrell McKown on Mar 29, 2009 4:12 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I think either Benson or Turnbow makes it

Not both.

If both do, then Rupe doesn’t make the team, and he’s the one to lose a roster spot.

Eyre has two options left, and probably makes the Opening Day roster, I think.

by Adam J. Morris on Mar 29, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Pitching staff

Right now, I’m think they go with Benson as the 5th starter and Francisco, Wilson, Feldman, Guardado, Madrigal, Turnbow, and Rupe in the bullpen. I had Eyre on the roster ahead of Turnbow until today, but I’ve got a feeling they are going to keep Turnbow now.

I still believe the right thing to do is go with a 4-man rotation and an 8-man bullpen until April 25, start Benson off in AAA, use Feldman in the bullpen, and piece together the one game you need a 5th starter before April 25, but they aren’t going to do that.

by Darrell McKown on Mar 29, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Metcalf could be waived.

That would please Adam.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Mar 29, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Some Joe K. Info

Career Minor League Stats: .286/.369/.541 (133 HR’s)

K’s a lot, no speed at all, also pitched in college at Univ. of Virginia, Drafted 6th Round in 2004. L-L, 6-4, 225

Blocked by Helton and Atkins in the Rockies organization. Was looking at 3rd year at AAA.

by 3Bagger on Mar 29, 2009 4:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Botts came back?

"Yeah, like I had a chance there" - Lancaster batter, after striking out against Derek Holland

by chrisR on Mar 29, 2009 8:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Maybe they are gonna turn him into a pitcher???

Nobody punished like Earl and No one was nastier than Ryan

by Garcia34 on Mar 30, 2009 12:22 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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