Reminder -- BTF discussion panel today

[Comment From bbb]
Since the halladay deal is dead, who are the rangers going after to help their starting rotation?
12:10
Dan Szymborski: My guess about the Rangers is absolutely nothing.
12:11
John Sickels: I agree, Rangers stand pat
12:11
Dan Szymborski: Too poor to add payroll, to good to dump.

[Comment From DerekSTheRed]
Why is JP asking for MLB level talent for Roy? Isn’t a contending team going to be looking to add to their MLB roster instead of subtracting from it?
…
Craig Calcaterra: Derek: I think there’s a big Kabuki dance going on in Tornoto. JP wants to look like he’s doing something, but ultimately stacking the deck to keep anything from happening.

 rookie left-hander Luke French and pitching prospect Mauricio Robles.

what about centering a package around kinsler/hamilton? And leaving the big 4 prospects out of it? They are franchise players but have had down years, it wouldn’t be hard to fill their production this year, and yes we’d miss them in the future, but I think less so than 2 of the big 4. So maybe a kinsler/kiker type deal is that even close? I am against dealing for halladay, I just think it’s interesting we haven’t thought about putting in either of these guys.

I can’t see a significant move. Lee was the obvious move given the price, but maybe Cleveland didn’t want to trade him in league given TRs report that Texas was told by Cleveland he wasn’t being traded.

The only major offensive upgrade I can see is VMart, since it closes an obvious hole, but I doubt I’d want to pay the price their either.

Tough for me to see an obvious trade, other than maybe for a cheap fringy starter like Doug Davis.

Jonah Keri: Joe, teams can ASK for whatever they want. Names are thrown around all the time. I was in Texas last week interviewing Nolan Ryan. Wanted to pop in on Daniels for literally 5 seconds. He was glued to his desk, discussing 17 trades at once. Lots of space between the asking and the doing.

Some commenter said Martin Perez was rumored to be a part of a future Zach Duke deal. Don’t really know what to think about that.

[Comment From Art Vandelay]
Just how good can Derek Holland be?

John Sickels: Holland was badly rushed

Dave Cameron: Holland can be very good. Probably not a #1, but a really good mid-rotation starter.

John Sickels: He could be a number 2-3starter I think, if he stays healthy and confident
John Sickels: Which are big ifs in TExas

Jonah Keri: John, you didn’t like the Earl Weaver/Roy Oswalt bullpen path for Holland? Not to keep name-dropping, but Ryan talked extensively about that tack.

John Sickels: Jonah: No, I like the Weaver approach but I thikn he needed more minor league time before being pushed into even that role.

I agree with Sickels, he was rushed. Not sure why he thinks he won’t be able to stay “healthy and confident” here in Texas though. Seems like a cliche coput.

Dave Cameron: WAR is easy, John. Wins Above Replacement scale. 0 is Triple-A guy, 1 is a bench guy, +2 is a league average player, +3 is a minor star, +4 is an all-star, +5 is a borderline MVP, +6 is a franchise player, +7 is a Hall of Famer, 8 is Pujols

[Comment From bbb]
If the rangers make the playoffs, can you see them making a run to the WS as they have handled all but the detroit and new york in the AL this season?

Jeff Sullivan: bbb – Sure, I could see that. I could also not. The Rangers aren’t very good but the playoffs are the playoffs.

Dan Szymborski: OPS stands for Offensive Performance Stuffs. When you have 1 or more Offensive Performance Stuffs, you’re good to go.

[Comment From red hook]
The Rangers recently said that money isn’t an issue for adding the right player. Do you not believe them?

Dan Szymborski: I do not believe them. We’ll ask Adam Morris when he arrives later.

Craig Calcaterra: Red Hook: Don’t believe them for a second. Hicks is strapped on two continents and across two sports.

chrisneedham: heyman says the marlins are pretty close to getting nick johnson. package built around ryan tucker. i suspect they’re haggling over cash.