Its Friday. Really looking forward to the weekend, you guys.
Evan Grant writes that the trade of Taylor Teagarden to Baltimore means a second chance for Teagarden, who had no role here in Texas.
T.R. Sullivan has a piece on the winter meetings and the moves the Rangers are looking to make, which includes the suggestion that the Rangers could be shopping, among others, Julio Borbon, Mike Olt, Engel Beltre, and (once again) Michael Young.
This entertaining comment was posted on the Sullivan article:
1 hour ago
I don't see why we can't keep the MY, Napoli, Moreland rotation at DH and First. It kept the hot bat in the line up and lets Napoli rest his knees. YT should stay. If Mitch doesn't improve in 2012 then move him at deadline or end of 2012. I don't think Fielder could deal with the summer heat. Albert ain't leaving StL. Now is the time to move Cruz, I think he had a career year and won't repeat it in 2012. Murphy doesn't have his power but has hit many clutch doubles and is faster. I think Gentry should start Center and be given a long look there, let him get comfortable and good things will happen. It's too bad Blanco had back problems, I saw some really good glove work from him. While CJ is good I think his Taoist what will be will be attitude is offputting. And I would not be surprised if JD scores a top of the line lefty for the rotation. Only 79 days until pitchers and catchers report.
GO RANGERS!
PS If Oliver returns he should only be used with the bases empty.
Jeff Wilson's notes discuss the Teagarden trade, and the Rangers' participation in the Cowboy Santas Program.
Overnight, word broke that the Florida Marlins had agreed to a deal with free agent closer Heath Bell on a 3 year, $27 million contract, with a vesting option for a fourth year. I'm not sure there's a reliever out there that I'd be enthusiastic about giving that sort of money to.
Over at FanGraphs, Eric Seidman notes that Jonathan Papelbon's performance the past three seasons has been remarkably similar to the performance of a certain former Ranger closer who will get about a third of the guaranteed money Papelbon got.
And on Twitter this morning, Jon Heyman said that the Nationals have C.J. Wilson as their "top target." Washington has been mentioned as a team with significant interest in C.J. for some time, so this isn't surprising.