Monday stuff

by Adam J. Morris on Jan 15, 2007 9:20 AM CST in News

Quiet MLK day. Basically nothing Rangers related out there.

T.R. Sullivan throws some questions out there on his blog this morning.

The Boston Herald reports that the BoSox are in on Roger Clemens, although apparently, the Rangers aren't being considered by Clemens.

Two other things of note from this Boston Herald piece. First, we have an update on the ongoing J.D. Drew saga:

The Sox are seeking to amend the language of the deal in order to provide protection in the event that Drew's surgically repaired right shoulder breaks down and leads to extended time lost. Boras insists that his client is healthy and that the shoulder shouldn't be an issue. The sides talked throughout last week and general manager Theo Epstein reiterated there is no need to be concerned that Drew won't be under contract soon.

I wonder if they'll get him signed before pitchers and catchers report...

Then there is this line, from Goose Gossage on non-HOFer Jim Rice.

"From my standpoint, there was no more fierce guy than Jim Rice," Gossage told the Rocky Mountain News. "No one scared me, but Jim Rice got my attention."...

Rice had a career .235/.235/.412 line against Goose. I guess it would have been better for Rice not to have gotten Gossage's attention...

Paul Sullivan says, in the Chicago Tribune, that Jacque Jones looks to be on his way out of Chicago, as the Cubs look to move him to create space for Cliff Floyd (whom they are apparently going to sign, but haven't yet).

There's been some talk that the Rangers might want to look at Jones, but I can't see that as a real attractive option. The Rangers already have three lefty-hitting OF/DH-types in Wilk, Lofton and Cat, and Jones' contract isn't real pretty. If it turns out that Wilkerson is done, I guess I might consider Jones as a late-spring acquisition, but right now, I'd pass.

And finally, the Phillies, unable to get a solid reliever for Jon Lieber thus far, have hedged their bets by adding Antonio Alfonseca on a one year deal.

Yeah, good luck with that.

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So its the

Bonds-Giants deals and the Drew-Red Sox deals that were announced, but we haven't heard an official signing, right? I hope both become protacted soap operas.

"I told him, 'You (Blalock) are a waste of talent,' " Jaramillo said. "He knows I think he can be the best hitter on our club.

by DJCahill on Jan 15, 2007 9:40 AM CST reply actions

Is Wilkerson already signed?

I agree with Adam that Jones is redundant with Wilky, Cat and Botts already here. I will take exception that his contract is not ugly and is due $9M over the next two seasons. The only way I see Jones coming here is if the Rangers do something with Wilky who will make nearly as much this season. Was Wilky offered arbitration already? What are the Rangers option with him?

Considering Wilky's performance last season a change to Jones may be a positive.

Jones would have to come cheap in terms of talent for me to be interested but he does intrigue me.

by Bigfan16 on Jan 15, 2007 11:40 AM CST reply actions

you would only swap Wilkerson for Jones

if you were convinced that Wilkerson has no chance of getting back to where he was before 2006. Jacque Jones hasn't had a really good season since 2002 (that's also his only really good season).

Jacque Jones has the same career OPS+ as Kevin Mench. I wouldn't swap Brad Wilkerson for Kevin Mench.

by jtts on Jan 15, 2007 11:47 AM CST up reply actions

jtts you are correct.

If the Rangers are interested in Jones there is a deeper meaning to the interest. As I said in my original post re: Wilky, his 06 performance left quite a bit to be desired. Jones posted a good year last season with a .285/.334/.499 performance. A .833 OPS with 27 HR's and 9 SB looks pretty good compared to Wilky's 06 numbers.
I would not give up much talent for Jones in a trade as we already have Wilky here and hopefully he will be healthy. I was more curious of what the Rangers options were and why are they linked in rumors to Jones.

Adam answered one question already. I was curious if the Rangers were ready to dump Wilky and not offer him Arb. Since they already have made the Arb offer Wilky will not be dumped.

by Bigfan16 on Jan 15, 2007 12:10 PM CST up reply actions