Relatively quiet day today.
Anthony Andro has a story up on Willie Eyre's battling back from Tommy John surgery, and battling for a spot in the Ranger bullpen this year.
Jim Reeves, meanwhile, has a confusing column up on the Rangers. He says that Tom Hicks wants to cut payroll by $20 million next year, getting payroll below $50 million for the 2010 season, but then suggests that this will be accomplished by dropping Vicente Padilla, Hank Blalock, and Frank Catalanotto after the season.
The thing is that Josh Hamilton is probably going to make $6-8 million next season, up from $500K or so this year. Ian Kinsler will make $4 million. A bevy of guys will be arb-eligible, and you'll probably have to non-tender either C.J. Wilson or Frankie Francisco -- or maybe both -- to stay below $50 million.
Hopefully, Reeves is wrong. Because if Tom Hicks really is planning on slashing payroll to below the $50 million mark, then I don't know that it really makes that much difference how strong the farm system is...the idea that the Rangers are going to be a solid contender for a number of years is a fantasy. Our best hope would be to have a nice one-year run before Hamilton, Kinsler, et al are traded as they become more expensive.
It had been hoped that the presence of Nolan Ryan in the organization would make it more likely Tom Hicks would spend money. It is depressing to think that maybe the real purpose is to give Hicks cover to slash payroll even more.
In other news, Evan Grant runs down his choices to stick in the pen.