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Free Agent Relievers

I don't know if a free agent or two is the answer to the bullpen's woes, but looking out there, there are some intriguing arms that it might be worth kicking the tires of.  People that might be willing to take a minor league contract, let them pitch their way back into shape in Extended Spring Training or some of the lower levels, and see if they're worth anything.

AL REYES - 2 seasons off from a 26 save season with Tampa Bay, he wasn't bad as far as I can tell last year, but was hurt.  He's no spring chicken, and missing significant time with injuries (to the extent the Mets signed him and cut him after 5 AA appearances).

RUDY SAENZ - had a decent season last year, and would probably be an interesting addition, even though he has control issues.  Of course, according to a report last month, he doesn't seem very interested in playing, so this might be for naught.

KEITH FOULKE - Is there anything left?

AQUILINO LOPEZ - There had to be some reason why Detroit hasn't made a play for him to come back, after 80 decent innings last year, when he was one of their better pitchers.  Is there more to the story here that I haven't seen?

Are there any other FAs that are worth a look?

0 recs  |  Comment 62 comments

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Rudy Seanez?

Ugh. Brings back bad memories of 2002.

by Adam J. Morris on Apr 15, 2009 12:36 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

this makes me want to cry.

"Was this really necsarry?" - cowpoke/hurler hurley

by trza on Apr 15, 2009 12:36 PM CDT reply actions   1 recs

No

Pretending to solve the problem by doing something that doesn’t solve the problem won’t make the problem go away

by Telegraph on Apr 15, 2009 12:42 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

So hiding the beer in the crisper drawer doesn't work?

Dammit.

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Apr 15, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You do that to? lol

Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
http://tinyurl.com/ranger-rage

by boomer1 on Apr 15, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This

If they are going to lose this year just bring up the kids and be done with it. I can take losing to a certain degree if there is a learning curve involved.

Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
http://tinyurl.com/ranger-rage

by boomer1 on Apr 15, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I don't see that happening

At least, not with the current people in charge.

I don’t think we’ll fully commit to youth, in situations where we should (see: Guardado).

Hence, if we’re going to sign grandfathers to pitch in the bullpen, we might see if there are better options than the vets we currently have.

LOL Sorry the Sooners will score more that 14. - boomer1

by venturafearsnolan on Apr 15, 2009 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think JD wants to just not..

Wash, Nolan or Hicks. JMO

Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
http://tinyurl.com/ranger-rage

by boomer1 on Apr 15, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Question

Is there a lefty that should be in the bullpen instead of Guardado right now?

by Adam J. Morris on Apr 15, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I would have kept Gobble...

over Eddie. Of corse now that he’s gone I say the Rangers just use BGL as their loogy and get the best relievers possible in the ’pen regardless of RH/LH.

That said there really aren’t many options now besides Nippert, Eyre, et al. Your boy Mendoza looked good yesterday. Another outing like that and he could be an option fo rthe ’pen I would think.

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

by slc ranger on Apr 15, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

if he has any more outings like last night

i might go with Ballard. Evan Grant seemed to think the team thinks pretty highly of him as a potential loogy down the road.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 1:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

At this point, I'd rather see Gabbard.

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Apr 15, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

he'll have to show

he can throw strikes before this org gives him another chance. his first OKC outing this year didn’t help.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Umm... you say that now

but you won’t once you’ve seen him nibble, walk 2 guys and then give up a bomb.

by Oddibee on Apr 15, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

lol.

i seem to remember Guardado giving up 4 runs.

in your scenario, Gabbard’s only given up 3.

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Apr 15, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you have a point there...

but Guardado did get two outs in the process… Gabbard hasn’t yet ;-)

by Oddibee on Apr 15, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

heck no to that.

I had a paper route when I was a kid. I was supposed to go to 2,000 houses. Or two dumpsters.

by TheBZA on Apr 15, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Where is AJ

Murray? He looked good in spring training… is he in extended? Any chance of bringing him in?

by Oddibee on Apr 15, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah

he is still in extended. i am curious to know why he isn’t available as well.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Worried about his health?

Maybe they are taking it easy on him after surgery last year… but Adam, my answer is “AJ Murray”.

by Oddibee on Apr 15, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not really

just grasping at straws and crossing fingers. That’s the crux of the thing… things aren’t right but there’s no easy fix. They’re in a good jam right now

by bhudson on Apr 15, 2009 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll say it and get ripped

but I see no problem with Holland in the bullpen to start May, if he is decent the rest of the month.

by blueballlefty on Apr 15, 2009 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

he would have to be

pretty damn decent the rest of the month. like ’08 numbers decent.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

If he is in the bullpen

for a couple of weeks to get acclimated to the MLs then fine. But no longer than that.

Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year

by RangerMad on Apr 15, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I've been preaching that Rick Bauer is the answer

all woes will cease.

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Apr 15, 2009 1:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

If he can get his brother

Jack Bauer to come with him then I would be on board with this move!

Keith Law on Greg Golson, "He's similiar to Cameron and Hunter in that all three are black."
http://tinyurl.com/ranger-rage

by boomer1 on Apr 15, 2009 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i still think

aaron fultz would make a nice arm to stash in AAA, and i am intrigued by what El Duque might have left as well.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 1:13 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Ok, we've officially crossed the line

from knee-jerking to panic.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Apr 15, 2009 1:21 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Too true.

OMG, what if we were Red Sox fans!!!

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Apr 15, 2009 1:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Then we would have good bullpen.

Coach Washington inspires me to be an hero.

Hello Win Column

by lonestarJon on Apr 15, 2009 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i don't think

there is any harm in stashing a couple of guys like this in AAA to see what they have left. I don’t think anyone is suggesting we sign one of these guys and insert them directly in the big league bullpen.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, you've already suggested firing JD & Wash

500 times thus far today.

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Apr 15, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

what does that

have to do with this? and i really only suggested it twice. the other posts were defending my stance.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

None of the guys...

listed in this fanpost are worth stashing anywhere.

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

by slc ranger on Apr 15, 2009 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Seriously?

The Rangers already have plenty of guys at least as promising as these. Bullpens are so damn unpredictable, and signing any of these retreads is not an answer.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Apr 15, 2009 1:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i don't see these guys as saviors

but i would rather see us give a guy like Al Reyes a shot in AAA and, if he shows anything, run with him than see us bring up a guy like Strop before he is really ready (like we did last year with Madrigal) and then have to stick with him on the 40 for the rest of the year.

And obviously none of these guys should be signed unless they look good and healthy in a try out. It’s not like I’m asking for Oil Can Boyd here. The Astros got a lot of good innings last year out of guys like Brocail and Hawkins, who they picked up off the trash heap.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think, though

they already have enough of this type of player and won’t have to stick Strop on the 40 before they want. They’ll try Eyre, Nippert, Diamond, Moscoso, and even Holland and Feliz in the bullpen before resorting to Strop. Bannister, Mendoza…they have a long list of guys that have something to prove, no need to sign more.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Apr 15, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

agree

I would like to roll with a bullpen right now of Frankie, Jennings, Wilson, Diamond, Moscoso, Eyre and Feldman. With Jennings and Wilson taking the 8th depending on the hitters coming up.

by trgordon723 on Apr 15, 2009 1:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you would rather them rush

a guy like Moscoso or even Diamond, just because they are on the 40? I would be fine with them swapping out Eyre for Madrigal now, and then seeing how Eddie and Rupe do before they decide which one to release to make room for Nippert. But that doesn’t mean they can’t sign a guy like Al Reyes, who isn’t exactly a spare, just like they did last year with Kiko Calero. I am all for letting the kids play this year (just like last year) but I don’t want to see us in a hurry to bring up a bunch of guys who simply aren’t ready to contribute (just like last year). That does more harm than good, both to their development, and to our enjoyment as fans.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Guys like Moscoso and Diamond

are the 2009 design.

How much more time in the minors are those guys going to need?

And the marginal wins provided when Fultz and Brocail shuttles up in front of them for a few innings…is that worth holding Diamond up?

"[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 Apr 15, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i think we are saying the same thing

when Diamond is ready, and I mean genuinely ready, then yes, he should be up, and the sooner the better. Moscoso is a young pitcher, despite his age, so i would be more cautious with him (the same with Strop). They certainly have the stuff, but I’m not sure they know how to pitch yet, and so the mistakes they can make in the minors look much worse in the majors, as we saw last year with Moscoso. But yeah, if he looks good in AA and then gets moved up to AAA and looks just as good, then bring him up as well. I would view a guy like Reyes purely as a stop gap so we don’t screw up guys who aren’t ready.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

so the mistakes they can make in the minors look much worse in the majors, as we saw last year with Moscoso.

?

"[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 Apr 15, 2009 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Madrigal?

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Apr 15, 2009 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah, that's who I meant.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And he is bound for AAA today.

Eyre recalled early

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Apr 15, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

well, there's your answer.

(Wife) "So what do you want to watch on the T.V.? UFC or porn?"
(Husband) "Hmm... well, porn, I guess."

by mtex on Apr 15, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Look, you're being much too pedantic about this.

If they sign Reyes I’m not going to throw a fit, but they shouldn’t go out of there way to do so. And I am not worried about rushing guys, they have Eyre, Nippert, Diamond won’t be rushed, Madrigal can come back up in a while, they’ve got Gabbard, Mendoza, Gordon…in other words, they don’t have to rush up Moscoso, Strop, Holland, Feliz, etc.

But Moscoso has been around long enough that I don’t think he’ll be rushed if he’s up by June anyway. He’s not 20 anymore. They have depth and I’m not too worried about them rushing guys.

G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....

by t ball on Apr 15, 2009 8:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Didn't they give up something

for Hawkins? I’m not sure he’s a scrap-heaper

by Keynes on Apr 15, 2009 5:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thank you

2009 is 2009: the bullpen reinforcements are coming. Their names are Feliz and Holland. It’s not about this year, folks.

Now whether JD has seen enough of Vicente, that’s a little more intriguing…

"[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 Apr 15, 2009 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I love the mantra of the Rangers fan

“It’s not about this year.” If there is one thing that I can certainly admire about this front office, it was their ability to condition their fanbase to have the most base expectations and yet maintain limitless optimism for the future.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Somebody get this man a

refill on his kookaid. Quick.

by bhudson on Apr 15, 2009 2:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

don't worry

Benson will probably pitch a complete game tonight and I’ll be sunshine and lollipops tomorrow.

What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.

by clark on Apr 15, 2009 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

if benson pitches a complete game

i’ll wet my pants and then some.

The "Fire Wash Watch" is on. I say he's gone by April 26th.

by NothinG on Apr 15, 2009 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe we can get

Nick Swisher. He looks better than a lot of our guys.

"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 Apr 15, 2009 2:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

So you like guys who accessorize

with purses?

"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008

by Rodney on Apr 15, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

rec

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 Apr 15, 2009 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Would we be wigging out this much if the Rangers hadn't started so bad the last two years?

Panic makes for bad decisions.

Also see: Water is wet, and sky is blue.

When I see a solar eclipse I think "oh no, is the moon eating the sun?"

by Section 339 on Apr 15, 2009 2:30 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

yeah

this i a good point. we have two bad losses but the other ones were 2 runs or less and could have gone better with a couple of key hits/plays in the 9th inning.

rationally, making any sort of move tomorrow would be rash.

Ceterum censeo Cat esse delendam - Cahill the Elder

by ab03 on Apr 15, 2009 2:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think the wigging out

is because of the bad starts the last 2 years as well as that a lot of folks expected the bullpen to be a trainwreck, and it is living up to their expectations.

"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 Apr 16, 2009 6:59 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

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