Time To Cash In On Millwood?

They couldn’t do it now. The players would throw a collective fit and it would send the wrong message to a fanbase who is starting to get a bit excited.

…that other teams aren’t aware of those things.

But yeah, there’s no way he’s pitched as well as his ERA indicates this year and if there was ever a chance to sell high on him it would be now.

It’s kind of a moot point though, because there’s also no way he’s getting traded as long as we have a shot at the division – heck, Nolan didn’t want to trade anyone at last year’s deadline, and we where what, 8-9 games out of first? Unless we’re talking about spares like Blalock, there’s no way we’re anything but buyers at this trade deadline, I don’t think.

Now this winter is a different story. Depending on the owners situation I could see us selling Millwood off this winter to rid ourselves of his salary for next season. It’ll suck but I can see it happening

(always a very dicey proposition) and Hicks money problems are getting worse, I fear they would trade him and Padilla and anyone else making above the minimum just as a salary dump. If not, there is no way they trade him, IMO.

bad PR move, and that it won’t happen unless we totally tank before the deadline, but i think it would be a good idea to sell high. I bet we could get a good return for him.

Really??? This is what cracks me up about this board. “Well, you can’t do it because it would be bad PR.” How about it would be bad baseball? The team is .5 games out of first and there is every possibility they can stay in the race for the long haul. Millwood is their best, most consistent starter and he has really benefited from the improved defense. Why would they trade him for more prospects? I understand dealing him if keeping him will bankrupt the team, but really? Trade Millwood when you are .5 games out 2 weeks before the ASB? C’mon.

You know, if the Rangers were to trade Millwood, who would pitch all those innings? I don’t think you can expect Holland, Feliz, or any other young starter to fill that void. What would you get in return for Millwood? A young, MLB ready starter? Because that is what this team needs. In all likelihood, the Rangers should expect some guys in the low minors (I really don’t see the Rangers eating a lot of salary this season to procure a better prospect). Moreover, these young prospects would mostly likely slot behind any number of Rangers pitchers currently in the low minors. While it is prudent to stockpile quality pitching prospects, any of the potential pitching prospects in a Millwood trade could easily be replicated by the compensation draft picks for some of the departing free agents. Like PBlack said, this is just a bad baseball move; not only for this season, but for the next as well.

The defense isn’t going away, so it’s likely that his ERA will outperform his FIP as long as he’s here, even with some regression. Keep him, for that, and because trading him would be a clubhouse disaster, and you really don’t want to try to replace that many innings on a club that hopes to win this year and next.

So many good points that I really have no answer to.

I wasn’t necessarily advocating that they trade him (or in response to Adam’s valid point, that any team wouldn’t also realize why his ERA is so low), I was just curious to see what everyone thought.

I understand that they wouldn’t be able to get that much for him, but the club seems to be in a bit of a financial pickle and if he is only doing such a good job because of the defense, maybe its time to plug someone else in that spot and let the defense work for them while we get what we can and enjoy the payroll relief this off season.

I also understand that there might be some PR concerns in the present, but I believe that its about competing long term, not just hanging on this year. By moving him now while his value is highest (hypothetically), the team will have more flexibility to help long term in addition to whatever they can get for him now.

I’m not totally sold that Ben Sheets will be healthy long term, but if he is, that’s one option that is available next year (and beyond), is probably cheaper than Millwood, and is able to help the team more long term.

Like I said, I really don’t know the answer to the question and I’m not advocating any of these moves, but the thought is certainly intriguing.

to pull the trigger on a smart deal even if it means they take a “PR” hit. And it should be noted that the idea of fans getting riled up because the team got value for a guy who everyone hated until this year is comical. Millwood has a good year about once every presidential term. There is a complete dearth of pitching on the market, so if the team has a chance to cash in AND reroute some money to LA guys, Purke and Scheppers, he should do it in a heartbeat.

Besides, I would put the odds of Scott Feldman having a better second half than Millwood at 50:50. We have a much improved defense, which means our starting pitching is more easily interchangeable. It’s the Billy Beane methodology.

as he is about trying to save his finanial ass.

…he can regress and still be the best pitcher on this team for the year. Sure, it’s helpful to have as a warning that his current ERA is probably unsustainable…but he’s a Texas Ranger pitcher with a 2.80 ERA. If he were league average (which is what his number seem to suggest) for the second half of the year, it would still be one of the best Rangers pitching seasons in a while.

what if the Mets offered Jon Niese and Jefry Marte for Millwood? Knowing that the money saved would give the team a much better chance at signing their top draft picks and FA targets, could you really say no?

what makes any of you think the Rangers give a flying duck about what the fans think?? If they don’t trade Millwood I would have to believe that it has more to do with teams not wanting his salary than anybody giving a crap about the fans?

this is a fantasy baseball thread.