FanPost

Why the Texas Rangers Probably Won't Sign a Big, Power Bat This Off-Season

Mike Napoli, Mark Trumbo (two of the elite power bats of the past couple of years), Michael Saunders (recently signed by the Phillies), Chris Carter, Adam Lind, Logan Morrison, Michael Morse, Brandon Moss, Mark Reynolds... even James Loney, Brett Wallace, Travis Shaw and Chris Johnson are all candidates to fill the Rangers' gaping hole at First Base. The departure of jettisoned fan fave, Mitch Moreland (signed with Boston) has provide the team with just such excellence of a hole that we can't stop talking about it.

Napoli and Trumbo have gotten the most traction in the press; James Loney seems to have a following on some of the Ranger blogs; and Chris Carter has been floated around on both. But, Jon Daniels (Ranger GM) just hasn't pulled the trigger on any of them.

Why?

Napoli would be a natural fit: His leadership rating (a trait the Rangers covet highly) coupled with his fun rating are so far off the charts, he should get paid whether he could play or not! And, he has already prowled the Ranger side of the clubhouse helping the team get to its last World Series!

Trumbo's big knock is that he couldn't play in the outfield if you staffed it with 4 other players plus him and just had him stand in a corner and catch love from the stands as they adore his prodigious power at the plate. The expectation is he couldn't catch cold, let alone the love, and wouldn't know what to do with a white (with all those red stitches) thingy if he picked one up.

That "knock" loses steam when it's actually noted he really plays a decent First Base (where the Rangers have a need). His defensive deficiencies evaporate and now you can consider that bat that led the Major Leagues in Home Runs last year -- by a good margin! He drives in Runs (tied for 8th in the Majors) and he hits the ball ... very far.

What's not to like?

Well, he could cool the old Astrodome with his penchant to "fan" (strike out). But, Napoli was even worse! Chris Davis? Justin Upton? Freddie Freeman? All struck out more and all are considered elite players... what gives?

He doesn't walk, much (51 times in 613 ABs). Upton and Miguel Sano were worse; although, Sano is a young up-and-comer so is expected to better his numbers. Ian Desmond only walked 44 times last year -- Trumbo had 50 free passes, at least. So, walks probably aren't why he isn't signed.

Both Mike Napoli and Mark Trumbo look to be the epitome of a "perfect fit" for the Rangers.

So, why aren't they on the payroll?

Well, maybe they don't "fit" -- not because of their abilities, but because of who the Rangers already have on hand (Joey Gallo, Josh Hamilton, Ryan Rua and, to a lesser extent, former Top Prospect in All of Baseball, Jurickson Profar). And, in the pipe line, Ronald "Condor" Guzman continues to shine at AAA and may be pressing for a spot on the roster by the end of 2017 or, at the latest, during the following season (2018). And, his position is First Base. And, he is rated as a top defender at the position. And, he is a left-handed bat with potential for some power and pretty good contact.

As for the rest of the infield (where guys like Gallo, Rua and Profar were expected to play when they were signed), you have near-lock future Hall-of-Famer Adrian Beltre at Third Base (Gallo's natural position and a suitable place for both Profar and Rua); a much ballyhooed, high-dollar Elvis Andrus at Shortstop and the bane of Joey Batista, the fighting heart-and-soul of the team and the 2016 team leader in Home Runs, Roughned Odor patrols Second Base looking for eyes to dot and teeth to (right) cross.

So, if you pay Napoli or Trumbo, they're not going to play any infield position other than First Base. And, if you put them at First Base, where do you play:

  • Josh Hamilton - Josh is dedicated to (re-)learning the position he says he first played in American Legion ball back in 1999 and he wants to do it to protect his body from all those malevolent walls lurking along the boundaries of those beautiful outfield meadows. And, Josh has, apparently, recovered from all those surgeries on those precious knees and is said to be "ready to go". If Josh can play anywhere near the level he showed in 2012, we wouldn't need a Napoli, Trumbo ... anyone. Unless those knees break, again... then, you turn to:
  • Joey Gallo - You want power? Here's your man. Joey puts planets into orbit -- when he makes contact. He's also an adequate defender -- at Third Base (which should translate to adequate or better across the diamond). But, if you're worrying about Trumbo or Napoli's high strikeout (rally killers) rates, this guy would put you in a Looney Bin. With Great Power comes... some really, really high strikeout numbers. But, if he ever turns to his inner Nellie Cruz and figures things out? Chris Davis would be his baseline and everything is up from there. But, then what do you do with all-around good guy:
  • Ryan Rua - Ryan is one of those "tweeners": quick enough, dexterous enough, intelligent enough, to play a pretty decent Second Base (see Roogie Odor under "obstacles") and a bat that would be serviceable in a Middle Infield Position; steady enough with just a little bit of power (think James Loney) to play a Corner Infield Position; and fast enough with a good enough arm and the experience of having been an infielder to know what to do in the Outfield to be a serviceable-to-good Left or Right Fielder. He's a really good guy to have around because of his flexibility, his intelligence and the fact he wouldn't be a black hole sucking the life out of your offense if you gave him a stick and sent him to the plate. But, those types of players shouldn't get more than 150-200 at bats over the course of a season. Still, he's young and could grow into something a little bigger than what he is now. But, versatility is also the calling card of:
  • Jurickson Profar - And, Jurickson has the pedigree of those Greatest Prospect in the Game fellas that Networks, sports tabloids, bettors and true fans of the game rave about. He has more power than Ryan and his bat-to-ball skills, should he regain them, are elite. He has the skill, agility, intelligence and heart to play a very good Shortstop; could transition into a very good Second Base and has the quickness and arm strength to play a very good Third Base. But... all those obstacles... all those Odors, Beltres and Andruseseseses... He's fast enough, talented enough, smart enough and excited about just playing anywhere enough to succeed in the outfield as a very, very good Corner Outfielder who hasn't yet been tried at Centerfield (probably because that position really requires a lot of experience in avoiding the afore-mentioned menacing walls along with hurtling Left- and Right-Fielders careening into his "zone of control") because we had Delino DeShields, Jr. then Ian Desmond already patrolling out there.

So, go ahead and sign your Mike Napoli or your Mark Trumbo. Both could fill in the hole we have at First Base (if you jettison any hope this year of Gallo figuring things out, Profar rediscovering his would-be legendary bat, Condor busting down the door demanding a Big League Role or Rua finally figuring out his front door doesn't lead to a hospital ward) or both could fill in as stellar Designated Hitters (wait... we haven't talked about Shin-Soo Choo and his craving for red crosses and pretty (or ugly, whatever) nurses, that spot we would need to give Beltre's aged legs those needed "half-days off" or a landing spot for former-world-beater and come-back legend, Josh Hamilton, should he not be able to transition to any defensive positions while his bat still plays excellent percussory music to our fanatic ears)...

If we sign anyone to take up the First Base or Designated Hitter roles, we are going to have to (a) cut Ryan Rua -- probably not a big deal; (b) not have a place for Josh Hamilton and/or Shin-Soo Choo; (c) leave Joey Gallo in AAA all year excepting his replacing an injured Beltre, Choo, Hamilton or Trumbo/Napoli; and (d) leaving Profar in limbo with no chance to get on the field and improve his stock other than, maybe, a full-time Left Fielder and super utility guy.

If we can sign one of them for cheap? Yeah... too much talent is always a good problem. But, to pay them what they are expecting? Too much payroll and too many players sucking up that payroll isn't a problem that works out very often; just ask Arte Moreno and his Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Southern California of the West Coast of the United States of America.

Let's just see what JD comes up with and roll with that.