Thursday a.m. things

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2007 9:45 AM CST in News Comment 24 comments

A couple of interesting moves yesterday, with Ben Broussard coming aboard and Akinori Otsuka being non-tendered.

We could still see some moves later this offseason, but I'm starting to think we've got a good idea of how the opening day roster is going to shake out...

Broussard and Chris Shelton platoon at first base. Yeah, I know Shelton has something of a reverse split historically, but I think there are some sample size issues there.

Kinsler at second base, Young at shortstop, Blalock at third base. Saltalamacchia and Laird behind the plate.

David Murphy plays centerfield, I presume. If Milton Bradley is healthy, he goes to right field, with Frank Catalanotto and Marlon Byrd platooning in left. If he's not healthy enough to play in the field, I guess Byrd plays right field, and Cat and Jason Botts platoon in left field, with Bradley DHing.

Ramon Vazquez is the utility infielder. And that gives you 13 position players, which is what the Rangers are likely to carry.

Barring a trade, the only change I could see to that group, assuming everyone is healthy, is Nelson Cruz sticking instead of Jason Botts.

Jeff Wilson quotes Jon Daniels as saying that the Rangers would still like to add an outfielder, but if they don't, they are comfortable going with the group they have.

Evan Grant has comments from Jon Daniels on the Akinori Otsuka non-tender:

"We just weren't comfortable not having seen him on the mound for several months," Daniels said. "We talked about a shared risk deal, but the financial information we got just didn't make much sense. All the reports [about Otsuka's health] have been positive, but the bottom line is he hasn't thrown for a number of months, and there was real concern."

Bottom line, if the team doesn't think Otsuka will be healthy for 2008, the non-tender makes sense. If they think he will be healthy, it doesn't make sense, because as I mentioned last night, Otsuka's salary through arbitration wasn't going to be prohibitive. I'll be interested in seeing what sort of contract he ends up signing, because that will give us a better idea of whether this move was a mistake.

Richard Durrett says C.J. Wilson is the closer now. Which is fine with me.

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few things

Since you may not read the other thread again, dont you care that eliminating the possibility of a cat/shelton platoon at 1b would probably cost botts at bats?
Shelton's minor league numbers and other years show that while he may not have crazy reverse splits, he probably just has none at all, even. If we didnt want cat at 1b, why not just let shelton play full time? Broussards career ops is 786, sheltons is over 800. Sample size, but is the possible difference between shelton and a shelton/broussard platoon really worth a roster spot and eliminating sheltons chance to really establish himself and stick around here for a couple years as a cheap under control payer/
If we had gotten fukudome do you think they would have probably kept aki around to have another japanese player to help him get comfortable?

by DSheppard on Dec 13, 2007 9:34 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Your questions

I think there are ABs available for Botts, and I think he should end up getting regular ABs in 2008
I'm not sold on Broussard. The team seems to think there's something there, and maybe his swing is a good fit at TBIA and they think Rudy can do something with him. But a Broussard/Shelton platoon at 1B is something I can live with.
Beats me.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2007 10:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Aki

Bottom line, if the team doesn't think Otsuka will be healthy for 2008, the non-tender makes sense. If they think he will be healthy, it doesn't make sense.

I can live with that, if that's their mentality.

Real shame, though. Between BGL's comments here yesterday and JD's in the paper today, there is no chance Aki's coming back.

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Dec 13, 2007 9:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

So were going into ST

with a lineup of..

Kinsler
MY
Bradley
Hank
Broussard
Laird
Byrd
Cruz/Botts
Murphy

Strikes fear in every staff.

by Nichols22 on Dec 13, 2007 9:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

why do people keep leaving out salty

who actually thinks laird is going to beat him out in spring training?

laird to salty has a major effect on the lineup if you believe the hype on salty, which i do.

by DSheppard on Dec 13, 2007 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

Not only should Salty be starting because of his immense potential in what is sure to be a rebuilding year, he outproduced Laird last year. Laird was horrendous.

by dieselT8 on Dec 13, 2007 10:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

YES LARD was horrendous last year..

a rally killing machine of the first order ....
I sure as hell hope we trade him he's the worst.

"Take this offer and shove it !!" Hunter,Gagne, Jones, Fuku

by LAMuscleFag on Dec 13, 2007 10:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Laird

If (a big if at this point) the Rangers' brass feels that Laird can come back and establish value early in the season, I'm ok with them giving Salty a little time in AAA. He did come up a little earlier than planned in Atlanta.

OTOH, I'm also fine with Laird simply being Salty's backup until they think Teagarden is ready for a look in late summer. If Laird plays well in a backup role he might still be a nice add-in on a bigger trade package.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 13, 2007 10:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If Laird is the starting catcher

the ONLY reason is that they are trying to build up value for him.

At which point there are two scenarios

1> He does well, and gets traded in April/May to some contender whose catching situation takes a turn for the worse (i.e., NYM, San Diego). Salty becomes the full time catcher.

2> He does badly, and Salty becomes the full time catcher.

I'm fully convinced Laird will not be starting for the Rangers come June 1st.

by JBImaknee on Dec 13, 2007 11:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Rebuilding ???

The horrible thing about that lineup is that there really isn't any youth breaking in.

One of the good things about a rebuilding year is that it is a great opportunity to break in multiple young players and endure the growing pains. It sucks that we don't have any high ceiling youngsters to play everyday, except Salty. Sure would be nice if we had a couple more 22-25 year olds mixed in there somewhere.

Some professionals get better with age and experience. Lawyers, professors, engineers. Hookers? Not so much. -- DJ Cahill

by tricer on Dec 13, 2007 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

well of course that lineup

doesn't strike fear.

You have Laird batting 6th which would NEVER happen.

by Coolbean04 on Dec 13, 2007 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Broussard, Otsuka ramifications

Broussard bumping Cat to LF might mean fewer at bats for Botts, but I'm ok with that. I've been one of the biggest Botts supporters, but he needs to show not just numbers, but a whole bunch of very good at bats up until Bradley can play.

The bad news to me about Otsuka: A few blown saves often makes a contending team panic into thinking they need bullpen help ASAP. If Otsuka had come back and been able to put up decent numbers in a setup or closer role, he might have brought back another Max Ramirez type return, preferably in the outfield.

I'm sanguine about the outfield, though. Use these guys, see what they are, and in July if Millwood or Padilla is going well you might get a significant young OFer in return.

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 13, 2007 10:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bradley

I don't think Bradley will be healthy enough to start the season so that should give Cruz and Botts time to prove they belong. I'm pretty sure that one of them will be dfa'd once Bradley is healthy or at least healthy enough to DH.

Derek

Signature! I don't need no stinking signature!!

by DerekSTheRed on Dec 13, 2007 10:25 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Aki

It just doesn't make sense. If you couldn't get a contract hammered out, then go through arbitration. If they wondered about his health, how's that really any different from Gagne?

Now if they strongly suspected Aki was going to need surgery, that makes sense.

"When I was a pup, we got spanked by presidents 'til the cows came home! Grover Cleveland spanked me on two non-consecutive occasions!" LBrooks

by WyoRanger on Dec 13, 2007 10:34 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Broussard

I don't love it, I don't hate it. It's possible they both just put up the same numbers and the Rangers just wasted a roster spot. However, it's also possible one breaks out and the other struggles, in which case it's nice to have options.

"When I was a pup, we got spanked by presidents 'til the cows came home! Grover Cleveland spanked me on two non-consecutive occasions!" LBrooks

by WyoRanger on Dec 13, 2007 10:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't know about Broussard..

I guess he did have a very good year in 2006 but will he ver find that swing again??? We certainly need 1B help but is he going to be the answer??? Personally I think I would have preferred McPherson from the Angels and see if he gets healthy and can live up to the hype. FWIW I am not a big fan of Shelton either.

The C position will sort itself out in ST. We have some nice options and if Salty starts the season in AAA all is not lost.

I agree with those (tricer) who say let the kids play. Cruz, Botts and Murphy need all the AB's they can get before they are DFA's or sent back to the farm. I am less worried about Salty's bat than I am about his defensive abilities behind the plate so his AB's can come later in the year if he is sent to OKC.

Non tendering AO is like rubbing salt into the would of trading away CY and AGonz and now we have nothing for two of the better young players in the league. Oh if only we could undo that trade. Enough whinning.

My question is what value does Cat have on the trade market these days? While I like him isn't he just taking bats away from the kids?

by Bigfan16 on Dec 13, 2007 10:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Cat has

nearly zero trade value. The only thing I can see getting in return is some cheap minor league roster filler.

"As of now they're (The Astros) world series favorites. Period." - Sharky

by DJCahill on Dec 13, 2007 10:55 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

Reasonable contract. He's a good hitter.

by Adam J. Morris on Dec 13, 2007 11:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fukumori officially signed

according to Rosenthal, 2 yrs., $3 mil:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7559430?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49

Tomorrow Never Knows

by t ball on Dec 13, 2007 10:58 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Coffee is for closers!

Can you please Look into getting a less funny signature? That's sarcasm, btw. - Sharky

by rentz on Dec 13, 2007 11:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gulp

...the Chris Young trade just got worse.

by 3Bagger on Dec 13, 2007 11:40 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

broussard

nice little bit from Geoff Baker with the Seattle Times:

"I'm just in a state of disbelief right now,'' Broussard said moments ago from his home in Texas, about two hours from where the Rangers play. "I get to play two hours from where my wife and kids live. This is a dream. It's like getting to play for the hometown team.''

by Randy Richardson on Dec 13, 2007 3:09 PM CST reply actions 0 recs