Forecast the Rangers after the Winter Meeting

by rooster on Dec 4, 2011 11:30 AM CST

Since I'm in the business of forecasting, I find the what-if's of the winter meetings much more fun than the trades that actually happen. And so, what does everyone think the Rangers roster will look like by Friday?

I believe there is 0% chance the Rangers go into the season with their current rotation. It doesn't have enough at the top. I believe Olney's reports; they make too much sense in light of the payroll:

Olney speculates that an offer from another team of $75 million or more to Wilson "may take the Rangers out of play."

Olney continues to maintain that the Rangers "are considered to be the favorites to land" Darvish.

I'm not convinced Darvish wants to land anywhere but the east coast, and it's got to be a near certainty that the Nationals and Marlins push the bidding for CJ to $90M. I think the Rangers get something solid at the Winter Meetings via trade; then let the chips fall where they may with Darvish down the road.

I feel like the safe forecast is Oswalt on a 1yr deal and a trade for Matt Thornton, say Robbie Ross and a low-level relief prospect for Thornton. My real forecast, though, is the blockbuster that I feel just makes too much sense and requires only that both teams see their chances finally dwindle to nil on signing their homegrown FA:
Greinke for Hamilton.

By next Friday, the Rangers will have Greinke, and they are going to get a reliever, and I'm going to guess that it will be Joel Hanrahan.

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I'll bite

We trade for David Price and sign Prince Fielder and Roy Oswalt during the meetings

Rotation: Price, Lewis, Oswalt, Harrison, Feliz

Starting positional players: Napoli, Prince, Kinsler, Elvis, Beltre, Hamilton, Gentry/Borbon, Cruz, Young

by bigsteve on Dec 4, 2011 11:56 AM CST reply actions

Actually replace Oswalt with Holland

We dont need Oswalt and after running through the possible trade packages I dont think we have to deal Holland

by bigsteve on Dec 4, 2011 11:58 AM CST up reply actions

Bullpen:

Nathan, Adams, Ogando, Uejara, Lowe

by Jobu. on Dec 4, 2011 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

No lefties eh?

by TheHuntforRedOctober on Dec 5, 2011 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

Trade for Sean Marshall

sign Fielder, done.

Some see a glass half empty, some a glass half full. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be. - George Carlin

by t ball on Dec 4, 2011 3:08 PM CST reply actions

We'd just be the Grinch to the Cubs' Christmas, I guess.

by John08Patriot on Dec 4, 2011 4:01 PM CST up reply actions

I would love to acquire Marshall...

But what do you think that would take? I wish a package of Moreland/Murphy, Lowe, & Ross would do it.

by John08Patriot on Dec 4, 2011 4:03 PM CST up reply actions

They might pick up another bullpen arm, maybe a utility IF.

Nothing major happens.

by LiamP on Dec 4, 2011 4:03 PM CST reply actions

Newberg sent out a list of JD's Winter Meetings moves

and nothing major has ever happened.

But, I’ll still go.

Sign Prince and Yu. Trade for Sean Marshall. Trade away Murphy and Torrealba.

by Jobu. on Dec 4, 2011 4:54 PM CST reply actions

I saw that, and I though JDs MO is to set plans during the Meetings

I think this one could be different. Seems to be a lot more chatter and a lot more interest in trades rather than FA.

Once CJ lands, it sets the market for the other FA SP, and I just can’t see the Rangers either going after another FA starter after the bar gets set high with CJ or going into the season with these 5 options. A lot of teams could be looking to the trade market, and I think it will force JD to get into it earlier than he typically has.

Emily Jones: Adrian Beltre's pretty good?
Mike Napoli: Wow. How about that guy.

by rooster on Dec 4, 2011 9:53 PM CST up reply actions

Golf is

Better with Tiger!

by peachygbc_1 on Dec 4, 2011 5:37 PM CST reply actions

No Fielder, No Darvish...

but JD makes a move (trade or FA signing) that none of us really saw coming.

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

by slc ranger on Dec 4, 2011 6:45 PM CST reply actions

This is what usually happens, no?

We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
Hell to the fucking no. -Wash, 10/07/11

by Rodney on Dec 4, 2011 10:22 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Yeah, I don't think I'm going out on a limb at all here.

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

by slc ranger on Dec 4, 2011 10:36 PM CST up reply actions

Sign Michael Cuddyer

take a long nap

by Telegraph on Dec 4, 2011 9:38 PM CST reply actions

boo

by TheHuntforRedOctober on Dec 5, 2011 10:47 AM CST up reply actions

trade for cf and a number 2-3 starting pitcher

by jonathan rigby on Dec 4, 2011 10:07 PM CST reply actions

I could see a splash for a big time relief guy

Maybe something like Neil Ramirez and Robbie Ross+ for Andrew Bailey – I think JD has shown in the past that he’s willing to give up solid prospects for a good bullpen arm. Those probably aren’t the right names, but if the price is right, Bailey seems like an attractive option.

by Schrute Farms on Dec 4, 2011 11:13 PM CST reply actions