Richard Durrett talked to Mike Napoli about a variety of topics, including the World Series and Napoli's desire to spend the rest of his career in Texas.
Gio Gonzalez, who the Rangers were supposedly hot and heavy for (at least, before they won the bidding for Yu Darvish), was dealt to the Washington Nationals yesterday for four prospects -- A.J. Cole, Derek Norris, Brad Peacock, and Tommy Milone. A very rough equivalent package from the Rangers would have probably been Martin Perez, Christian Villanueva, Neil Ramirez, and Robbie Ross. Given the price, I'm glad Gonzalez is not a Ranger.
And with Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill both being dealt, while Brett Anderson is recuperating from Tommy John surgery, Oakland appears to be in full-on rebuilding mode, and likely irrelevant to the 2012 A.L. West race.
Manny Corpas signed with the Chicago Cubs, rather than with the Rangers, who signed him to a minor league deal in 2011, and Gerry Fraley seems put out with that decision, saying that Corpus "jilted" the Rangers after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery "at the expense of the Texas Rangers."
The thing is, if I'm Corpas, I'm probably reluctant to sign with Texas because, as I noted yesterday, there's not really much room available in their bullpen anyway.
The story prompted this screed in the comments section: