The Ranger Rundown

May 21, 2008

Loe Up, German Out

Texas recalled pitcher KAMERON LOE from AAA and designated pitcher FRANKLYN GERMAN for assignment.

An odd move, if not a consequential one. I wasn’t a big fan of German’s procurement of a roster spot, and he hasn’t pitched as well as his 2.08 ERA would suggest. That said, he’s been an adequate back-end to the bullpen. Also, I thought the point of a seven-man bullpen was to avoid the need for roster shuffling like this. Despite last night's blowout, Texas has five relievers capable of pitching tonight.

Loe hadn’t distinguished himself in AAA. He’s pitched a little better than his 5.14 ERA indicates, but aside from a nice 6.5% walk rate, his peripherals are ordinary. Frankly, I think Loe himself would be a candidate for assignment if the Rangers needed room on the 40-man roster (they don’t).

Posted by Lucas at 06:40 PM

May 14, 2008

Win Win

Posted by Lucas at 01:52 AM

April 30, 2008

Botts DFA'ed, Shelton and Boggs Up, Blalock DL'ed

Texas designated 1B/OF/DH JASON BOTTS for assignment, purchased the contract of 1B CHRIS SHELTON, placed 3B HANK BLALOCK on the 15-day DL, and recalled OF BRANDON BOGGS from AAA Oklahoma.

In terms of wins and losses in 2008 , it makes little difference whether Ben Broussard, Jason Botts, or Chris Shelton starts at first. Broussard was certain to be subadequate , Shelton had a stellar April 2005 and modest success at other times, and Jason Botts had yet to capitalize on the potential shown in his tremendous AAA performances. None is/was likely to be an above-average 1B in 2008. All that said, some semblance of a plan regarding these guys might have helped. This chain of events sure seems haphazard:

Nov 18, 2007 – Texas inquires about Broussard, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Dec 5 – Shelton acquired for Freddy Guzman.

Dec 13 – Broussard acquired for Tug Hulett. Broussard is arbitration-eligible.

Jan 5, 2008 – Broussard gets $3.85 million in a pre-arb agreement.

Jan 14 – Shelton DFA’ed to make room for Kaz Fukumori. He clears and is assigned to AAA.

Mar 4 – Ron Washington declares Broussard an everyday player. Enthusiasm is not a plan!

Mar 25 – Botts makes the active roster without unanimity and despite no apparent role. I suggest he’ll be encased in carbonite at the end of the bench.

Mar 31 – Broussard starts against lefty Eric Bedard on Opening Day, batting 9th. No Rangers 1B had ever batted 9th on the first day of the season. Through April 29th, Broussard has batted 9th in 16 of his 21 starts.

Apr 10 – Botts makes his first start in the team’s ninth game. He has one plate appearance in the first eight games.

Apr 19 – Botts makes his third start. Texas has faced four lefties; Broussard faced the first two and Botts the next two. On the 21st, Ron Washington acknowledges that Botts will play more often after a meeting with Jon Daniels.

Apr 29 – Botts is designated for assignment after nine starts and 38 plate appearances. Shelton added to 40-man roster, active roster, and starting lineup.

Also: good for Boggs.

Posted by Lucas at 12:19 AM

April 04, 2008

Cruz Clears

Outfielder NELSON CRUZ cleared waivers and was outrighted to AAA Oklahoma.

When 30 teams collectively say you’re not worthy of even a bench spot in the Majors, you might finally decide your batting won’t suffice. I thought Cruz would gain that insight when optioned last summer, but no such luck. It may not matter now. Cruz could win the rate-stat Triple Crown in the PCL.

Posted by Lucas at 08:02 AM

March 31, 2008

Final Transactions

Texas purchased the contracts of pitchers FRANKLYN GERMAN and JAMEY WRIGHT and catcher ADAM MELHUSE, optioned reliever WES LITTLETON to AAA Oklahoma, and designated pitcher ROBINSON TEJEDA and outfielder NELSON CRUZ for assignment.

Dustin Nippert’s arrival sealed Tejeda’s fate, but Tejeda also lost out to non-roster invites Wright and German. Here’s an interesting comparison:

--	Pitcher A	Pitcher B
MLB Career
ERA+	95	92
HR%	2.5%	2.8%
BB%	11.1%	12.4%
SO%	11.9%	15.7%
08 Spring
IP	8.2	8.2
H	13	7
HR	0	1
BB	3	3
SO	5	8

Pitcher A has walked far too many people and doesn’t miss enough bats. Opponents batted .320/.370/.340 against him this spring.

Pitcher B is even wilder than Pitcher A but at least has produced a league-average K rate. He surrendered a .260/.309/.460 line in March.

“A” is Wright, “B” Tejeda. Aside from the homer that inflated his opposing slugging percentage, Tejeda pitched more effectively this spring and has comparable (if uninspiring) Major League results. Yet it was Wright who once again, for reasons not completely clear to me, secured a job in mid-March. Here’s one reason: despite the extra hits allowed, Wright pulled down a 3.11 ERA compared to Tejeda’s 6.23. Wright spread out the damage, Tejeda allowed baserunners in ugly clumps.

I don’t think it matters much whether Wright or Tejeda is mopping up. But I would point out that Wright’s 3.62 ERA was the result of some seemingly unrepeatable splits. Wright was terrible out of the gate (opponents batted .391/.475/.478 when leading off an inning) but brilliant with runners in scoring position (.188/.284/.325). He also walked more batters than he struck out. A more typical distribution of baserunners should push his ERA into the fives. Again, that doesn’t hurt much if he’s only pitching in blowouts. Still, I don’t think Tejeda’s any worse than Wright, and there’s still a small chance he might improve.

Jason Botts won the battle with Cruz and Kevin Mench, for which his reward will be encasement in carbonite at the end of Ron Washington’s bench. I maintain that Botts’s willingness to adjust indicates a possibility of success against Major League pitching, while Cruz’s stubborn “grip and rip” philosophy (even after demotion to AAA last summer) shows he’s topped out. Botts needs 197 MLB appearances to catch Cruz on the Tryout-o-meter.

German supposedly cured his wildness this spring, yet he ended up walking five of 39 batters faced (12.8%, actually substantially lower than his awful career rate of 16.4%).

Melhuse has adequate defensive skills (though nailing basestealers isn’t among them) and hasn’t hit a lick since 2004. He’s absolutely unsuitable as a fill-in if Laird gets hurt.

Posted by Lucas at 12:33 PM

March 28, 2008

Nippert Obtained

Texas traded minor-league reliever JOSE MARTE to Arizona for pitcher DUSTIN NIPPERT.

In 2007, Arizona was 80-46 in games in which Nippert didn’t appear, so clearly, the answer is to limit him to about five innings all year. Anyway…

The soon-to-be 27-year-old had a 5.56 ERA in 45 innings, but his opposing line was a tolerable .267/.327/.417. That indicates some ugly baserunner-clumping, and sure enough, Nippert allowed 30% of his season’s 30 runs in two consecutive appearances. His minor-league stats are all over the place, though he’s maintained a fine strikeout rate. Is he an improvement over Robinson Tejeda? Maybe. Probably won’t make much difference one way or the other. Both players are out of options.

Marte is big, hard thrower. Only two years younger than Nippert, he has yet to clear A ball. In 2007, he struck out 27% of opposing batters… and walked 17%. Neither Jamey Newberg nor I ranked him among Texas’s top 72 prospects.

Posted by Lucas at 10:04 PM

February 08, 2008

TEXAS RANGERS 40-MAN TREE

ACQUIRED IN TRADE

JOAQUIN ARIAS
---- Alex Rodriguez (Major League free agent, signed 2001)

BEN BROUSSARD
---- Tug Hulett (14th round, 2004)

NELSON CRUZ
---- Francisco Cordero
-------- Juan Gonzalez (undrafted free agent, signed 1986)
-------- Danny Patterson (47th round, 1989)
-------- Gregg Zaun (traded for no one, 1998)
---- Kevin Mench (4th round, 1999)
---- Laynce Nix (4th round, 2000)

FRANK FRANCISCO
---- Carl Everett
-------- Darren Oliver (3rd round, 1988)

KASON GABBARD
---- Eric Gagne (Major League free agent, signed 2007)

MATT HARRISON
---- Mark Teixeira (1st round, 2001)
---- Ron Mahay (minor-league free agent, signed 2003)

JOSH HAMILTON
---- Danny Ray Herrera (45th round, 2006)
---- Edinson Volquez (undrafted free agent, 2001)

GERALD LAIRD
---- Carlos Pena (1st round, 1998)
---- Mike Venafro (29th round, 1995)

BRANDON MCCARTHY
---- John Danks (1st round, 2003)
---- Nick Masset (8 th round, 2000)

LUIS MENDOZA
---- Bryan Corey (minor-league free agent, 2006)

DAVID MURPHY
---- Eric Gagne (Major League free agent, signed 2007)

VICENTE PADILLA
---- Ricardo Rodriguez
-------- Ryan Ludwick
------------ Carlos Pena (1st round, 1998)
------------ Mike Venafro (29th round, 1995)

MAX RAMIREZ
---- Kenny Lofton (Major League free agent, signed 2007)

JOHN RHEINECKER
---- Juan Dominguez (undrafted free agent, signed 1999)

JOSH RUPE
---- Carl Everett
-------- Darren Oliver (3rd round, 1988)

JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA
---- Mark Teixeira (1st round, 2001)
---- Ron Mahay (minor-league free agent, signed 2003)

ROBINSON TEJEDA
---- David Dellucci (minor-league free agent, signed 2004)

MICHAEL YOUNG
---- Esteban Loaiza
-------- Warren Morris (5th round,1996)
-------- Todd Van Poppel (minor league free agent, signed 1997)

RANGER LIFERS

OMAR BELTRE (undrafted free agent, 2000)
BRANDON BOGGS (4th round, 2004)
JULIO BORBON (1st round supplemental, 2007)
JOAQUIN BENOIT (undrafted free agent, signed 1996)
THOMAS DIAMOND (1st round, 2004)
HANK BLALOCK (3rd round, 1999)
JASON BOTTS (46th round, 1999)
SCOTT FELDMAN (30th round, 2003)
IAN KINSLER (17th round, 2003)
WES LITTLETON (4th round, 2003)
KAMERON LOE (20th round, 2001)
TRAVIS METCALF (11th round, 2004)
A.J. MURRAY (19th round, 2000)
C.J. WILSON (5th round, 2001)

FREE AGENTS

MILTON BRADLEY (Major League free agent, signed 2008)
MARLON BYRD (Major League free agent, signed 2007)
FRANK CATALANOTTO (Major League free agent, signed 2007)
KAZ FUKUMORI (Major League free agent, signed 2008)
EDDIE GUARDADO (Major League free agent, signed 2008)
JASON JENNINGS (Major League free agent, signed 2008)
WARNER MADRIGAL (Major League free agent, signed 2008)
KEVIN MILLWOOD (Major League free agent, signed 2006)
RAMON VAZQUEZ (minor-league free agent, signed 2007)

OTHER ACQUISITIONS

ALEXI OGANDO (minor-league Rule 5 pickup, 2005)

Note: Year of signing = season to which signing first applies. For example, Milton Bradley is listed as "signed 2008" though he signed in December 2007)

Posted by Lucas at 02:16 AM

February 05, 2008

Galarraga Traded

Texas traded pitcher ARMANDO GALARRAGA to Detroit for outfielder MICHAEL HERNANDEZ.

The good news is Hernandez hit 20 homers and slugged .469 in 116 games for high-A Lakeland last year. That’s legitimate power – the Florida State League smothers hitters, and Lakeland’s home park depresses homers even relative to the league. The bad news is he has a career OBP of .320 and has spent an alarming number of games at DH.

In truth, the genuine good news is that when he’s eventually released, it won’t be newsworthy enough for even an agate-type mention in the local papers. Thus, the A-Rod saga is effectively over, personnel-wise, as far as Texas is concerned. Said saga will likely be Tom Hicks’s epitaph in baseball unless the Rangers do some serious damage in the next few years.

Update: Duh. Joaquin Arias is still around. Penalty box for me.

Posted by Lucas at 12:35 PM

January 26, 2008

Galarraga DFA'ed

Texas designated pitcher ARMANDO GALARRAGA for assignment.

Disappointing, but dismissal of any of the potential candidates – Galarraga, Scott Feldman, Robinson Tejeda, perhaps Josh Rupe or John Rheinecker – would have left a bitter taste. Galarraga’s is slightly more bitter because he represents the vestige of and final hope for payback from the Alfonso Soriano trade.

Galarraga rebounded from a dismal, injury-plagued 2006 and seemed to have an outside shot at a bullpen role. He still has an option left, so the chance of clearing waivers is quite small. For the first time since mid-December, it seems, Texas’s 40’man roster is not in limbo.

I’m going to walk out on a thin limb and say that Robinson Tejeda makes the rotation.

Posted by Lucas at 03:55 PM

January 12, 2008

Wright, Melhuse Signed

Texas signed pitcher JAMEY WRIGHT and catcher ADAM MELHUSE to minor-league contracts.

Both moves appears harmless, but I’m a worrywart, as these aren’t truly “no-risk” signings. The risk is that they could make the team based on their Proven Veteran-ness, and play terribly.

I assume they’ll have clauses allowing them to leave by April if they aren’t on the active roster. Both can play their way to Arlington with a hot spring. Sounds implausible, but Jamey Wright did just that in 2007. A couple of solid outings and management was talking about how hard it would be to lose him. Really! Jamey Wright, who’d been released or denied arbitration ten times in thirteen years.

Wright did in fact pitch adequately last year, but the foundation of his success was awfully shaky. He allowed a .475 OBP to the first batter of an inning and was third in percentage of double-play situations permitted among all pitchers with 60 innings. A high percentage is common among good relievers, but Wright rarely entered with men on base. He inherited only six runners all season. On the upside, he induced a double play once per 20 batters faced and permitted a miniscule lie of 188/.287/.325 with runners in scoring position, but it’s hard to believe either is sustainable.

So, Wright spent much of 2007 pitching himself into and out of double-play situations. In the long run, that’s trouble. There are exceptions, but in general the pitchers with the highest percentage of double-play situations were pretty lousy (MLB leader: Vicente Padilla). 2007 seems like a one-shot deal, particularly for a pitcher who walked more batters than he struck out for the fifth time.

As for the other guy, Melhuse last posted a .300 OBP in 2004, was never much defensively, and turns 36 in a couple of months. Ron Washington extolled Melhuse’s leadership ability when first acquired in 2007. Meaning, there’s a chance Melhuse could lead his way to 150 plate appearances with a line of .220/.260/.300.

Having an insurance backup catcher is necessary, of course. I just have a hard time believing Melhuse is the best option.

I’m probably making way too much of this, but I haven’t written much lately.

Posted by Lucas at 12:31 PM

Guardado Signed

Texas signed reliever EDDIE GUARDADO to a one-year contract.

Eddie says:

I love closing. Pitching the seventh and eighth inning is great, but there is something about the ninth that's unbelievable…. If C.J. is the closer, I'm still going to be there. I'm going to be ready to pitch whether it's the eighth or ninth inning.

Or the sixth. Guardado turned 37 last fall. Even if he recovers fully from Tommy John surgery, he may not have a full tank. Texas will discover how full, then use him accordingly (I hope). At the least, he’s almost assuredly a LOOGY upgrade over John Rheinecker, which is good news to everyone but Rheinecker.

Posted by Lucas at 12:29 PM

White Released

Texas waived reliever BILL WHITE.

White strikes out a ton of hitters and walks nearly as many. He shouldn’t be too upset at getting released; Texas did give him his union card and lock in respectable pay for the rest of his career. He might re-sign a minor-league deal.

Posted by Lucas at 12:28 PM

December 22, 2007

Hamilton For Volquez

Texas traded pitchers EDINSON VOLQUEZ and DANNY RAY HERRERA to Cincinnati for outfielder JOSH HAMILTON.

Jon Daniels loves the Christmas surprise. On December 20, 2005, Texas consummated the infamous Eaton/Otsuka-for-Young/Gonzalez deal. On December 23, 2006, the Rangers completed the notorious (but not infamous) McCarthy-for-Danks trade. Now this.

I uneasily endorse this trade. That is to say, my anxiety about Volquez becoming a quality rotation figure is slightly higher than about Hamilton washing out. It’s a risky play for both teams. Texas just traded its third young and promising starter in three years, but Hamilton could become the best centerfielder in franchise history.

More thoughts later…

Posted by Lucas at 01:13 AM

December 13, 2007

Broussard Acquired

Texas traded infielder TIM HULETT JR. to Seattle for 1B BEN BROUSSARD.

So why bother trading a quasi-prospect like Hulett if Texas isn’t competing in 2008? Well, that sort of thinking can become too reductive; Texas does have to field a team next year. Broussard has a Major League bat, albeit a limited one, and could provide twenty homers as the fat side of a 1B platoon with Chris Shelton for $4.5 million or so (the righty Shelton has a reverse split but still surpasses Broussard against lefties). Fond as I am of Hulett, he projects as a 5th infielder on his best day and 6th on the rest.

It’s a nice little trade, though one that drives home the organization’s honest but depressingly modest expectations for next season. It also firmly situates Jarrod Saltalamacchia behind the plate (in Oklahoma, if not Texas) and preemptively quashes Nate Gold’s Spring Training dreams of breaking camp with the big boys.

Posted by Lucas at 08:25 AM

Otsuka Non-Tendered

Texas declined to offer a contract to reliever AKINORI OTSUKA. Texas offered contracts to catcher GERALD LAIRD and outfielder MARLON BYRD.

Just when you thought the Young/Gonzalez trade couldn’t look any worse…

The months-long mystery of “How badly hurt is Otsuka?” deepened in the worst possible way (short of Tommy John surgery). Apparently he’s healthy but still not throwing off a mound, and Texas didn’t want to commit $5 million to a 35-year-old question mark. Texas probably wanted (and still wants) to sign him to an incentive-based deal unworkable under arbitration-based minimum salary rules.

I can’t review the available information and claim that Texas made a mistake. But that doesn’t make me any happier. Incidentally, I don’t think the non-tender had anything to do with Otsuka’s recommendation that Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome sign with San Diego.

2008 just got a little more depressing.

Posted by Lucas at 08:24 AM

Gorneault DFA'ed

Texas designated outfielder NICK GORNEAULT for assignment.

Pass.

Posted by Lucas at 08:13 AM

December 09, 2007

Bradley Signs

Texas signed outfielder MILTON BRADLEY to a one-year contract for $5 million plus incentives, pending a physical.

A worthwhile dice roll. Bradley has serious on-base skills (never below .350 during 2003-2007 and a 114 OBP+ during that span) and some pop (110 SLG+ during the same period). The 29-year-old has also qualified for the batting title only once, been traded three times in-season, and will be joining his sixth team in eight years. Indeed, Oakland designated him for assignment in June before shifting him to San Diego.

Bradley’s played a strong majority of his career in center but is probably suited to a corner at this point, particularly since he’ll be coming off ACL surgery.

Posted by Lucas at 11:22 AM

December 05, 2007

Freddy Guzman Traded

Texas traded outfielder FREDDY GUZMAN to Detroit for a player to be named later.

I can’t find a transaction post on my site from when Texas acquired him for OF/1B Vince Sinisi and pitcher John Hudgins in May 2006. Here’s what I wrote for ESPN:

Texas recently acquired outfielder Freddy Guzman from San Diego for a couple of minor leaguers. The Rangers will send him to AAA initially but may ask him to replace backup outfielder Adrian Brown before long. Guzman has decent on-base skills, zero power, and ferocious speed: 166 steals versus 30 caught in 249 minor-league games. Guzman might provide a little help in AL-only leagues if a Ranger starting outfielder suffers an injury. Keep his name if the back of your head. A true center fielder by trade, Guzman’s arrival would appear to dump water on the smoking embers of Laynce Nix’s fantasy value.

I remember favoring the trade. Guzman appeared to be a solid 4th OF candidate while Sinisi and Hudgins had stalled.

Guzman continued to post decent numbers in Oklahoma but never did anything to force a serious look on the MLB roster. He’s out of options and had little chance of making the ’08 squad even with lackluster competition in the outfield. Sinisi, meanwhile, has re-established his credentials as a 4th OF prospect, and Hudgins pitched in the Arizona Fall League (and was pummeled) after a lost year following Tommy John surgery.

With 39 players on its roster, Texas can participate in the Rule 5 draft.

Posted by Lucas at 05:55 PM

November 21, 2007

Vazquez Signs

Texas signed infielder RAMON VAZQUEZ to a one-year contract for $810,000. Vazquez was arbitration-eligible.

Last year, Vazquez was a fifth infielder who started 85 games and had 345 appearances subbing for various injured infielders, mostly Hank Blalock. Ideally, he’s a sixth infielder regardless of whether infielders #1-#5 are healthy, and not a terrible signing as long as he’s limited to 25 starts and/or 150 plate appearances from the bottom of the order. And if Texas pulls a “sign and cut” a la John Wasdin and Rick Bauer, well, who cares.

Posted by Lucas at 05:29 PM

November 19, 2007

Texas Rule-5 Eligibles

Pitchers
Kevin Altman (2003 draft)
John Bannister (2002 free agent)
Kendy Batista (2008 free agent)
Bear Bay (2002 draft pick by Cubs)
Jesse Ingram (2004 draft)
Jose Marte (2004 free agent)
Brandon Puffer (2008 free agent)
Julio Santana (2002 free agent)
Scott Shoemaker (2004 fee agent)
Steven Rowe (2002 free agent)

Catchers
Kevin Richardson (2002 free agent)

Infielders
Casey Benjamin (2003 free agent)
Jim Fasano (2004 draft)
Adam Fox (2003 draft)
Emerson Frostad (2003 draft)
Micah Furtado (2003 draft)
Ian Gac (2003 draft)
Nate Gold (2002 draft)
Mauro Gomez (2003 free agent)
Tug Hulett (2004 draft)
Drew Meyer (2002 draft)
Ryan Roberts (2008 free agent)
Freddie Thon (2004 draft)

Outfielders
Ben Harrison (2004 draft)
Keven Mahar (2004 free agent)

Posted by Lucas at 08:56 PM

40-man Roster Additions

Texas added pitchers THOMAS DIAMOND and MATT HARRISON, catcher MAX RAMIREZ, outfielder BRANDON BOGGS to the 40-man roster.

No surprises. Teams might sniff reliever Jesse Ingram, utlility infielder Tug Hulett, or perhaps 1B Nate Gold, but I doubt anyone will take the bait.

For a list of Rule-5 eligibles, look up.

Reviewing the Rundown archives, I see that four years ago, Texas added pitchers EDWIN MORENO and NICK REGILIO, 1B ADRIAN GONZALEZ, and 2B JASON BOURGEOIS. That didn’t work out so well.

Texas also designated outfielder VICTOR DIAZ for assignment.

Texas appears to think less of Diaz than Freddy Guzman or Nick Gorneault. Ouch. I don’t know about that, but, sad to say, his loss won’t affect the team’s short or long-term outlook.

The 40-man is full.

Posted by Lucas at 08:55 PM

October 15, 2007

Reinstatements and Deletions

Texas reinstated pitchers WILLIE EYRE and AKINORI OTSUKA and infielder JOAQUIN ARIAS from the 60-day Disabled List. Texas also designated pitchers EYRE and MIKE WOOD, catcher CHRIS STEWART, and outfielder KEVIN MAHAR for assignment.

Having been designated previously, Wood could and did elect free agency. He might latch on somewhere as a passable middle reliever. Most likely, he’ll be an insurance policy. The other three return to the minors and will be eligible for the Rule 5 draft. None will be selected.

The 40-man roster now contains exactly 40 players. Jerry Hairston, Sammy Sosa, Brad Wilkerson and Jamey Wright will presumably depart via free agency, and Brandon Boggs, Thomas Diamond, Matt Harrison, and Max Ramirez have a sporting chance of replacing them. Thus, any free-agent acquisitions will demand additional cuts or trades.

Bill White and Freddy Guzman strike me as the next targets for designation. Guzman would probably be a tolerable 5th outfielder (particularly as a pinch-runner/defensive replacement for Jason Botts and similarly equipped outfielders), but… meh, it’s Freddy Guzman.

Posted by Lucas at 11:46 PM

September 07, 2007

Rule 5 Eligibles and Six-Year Minor-League Free Agents

I’ve tried my best to be thorough, but I’m not going to mislead you by saying these lists are authoritative.

RULE FIVE ELIGIBLES

In essence, players who signed in 2004 and were at least 19 years old and all other players who signed in 2003 or earlier are eligible for the Rule 5 draft. The rules are more complex, but I don’t want to crush your spirit with a full explanation.

Players already on the 40-man roster aren’t eligible. This list excludes potential minor-league free agents (see below).

Pitchers

Kevin Altman (2003 draft)
John Bannister (2002 free agent)
Bear Bay (2002 draft pick by Cubs)
Thomas Diamond (2004 draft)
Matt Harrison (2003 draft pick by Braves)
Jesse Ingram (2004 draft)
Julio Santana (2002 free agent)
Scott Shoemaker (2004 fee agent)
Steven Rowe (2002 free agent)

Catchers

Max Ramirez (2002 free agent)
Kevin Richardson (2002 free agent)

Infielders

Casey Benjamin (2003 free agent)
Jim Fasano (2004 draft)
Adam Fox (2003 draft)
Emerson Frostad (2003 draft)
Micah Furtado (2003 draft)
Ian Gac (2003 draft)
Nate Gold (2002 draft)
Mauro Gomez (2003 free agent)
Luke Grayson (2002 draft)
Tug Hulett (2004 draft)
Drew Meyer (2002 draft)
Freddie Thon (2004 draft)

Outfielders

Brandon Boggs (2004 draft)
Ben Harrison (2004 draft)

SIX-YEAR MINOR-LEAGUE FREE AGENTS

The “six” in “six-year free agent” refers to annual contract renewals, not seasons, so players who signed in 2002 and are completing their sixth seasons (Nate Gold, for example) aren’t eligible.

Pitchers

Ezequiel Astacio
Chris Baker
Michael Bumstead
Bruce Chen
Ken Chenard
Francisco Cruceta
Franklyn German
Jose Jaimes

Derek Lee
Jose Marte
Brandon Puffer
Scott Rice
Alfredo Simon
Jorge Vasquez
Randy Williams

Catchers

Salomon Manriquez

Infielders

Dave Matranga
Desi Relaford

Outfielders

Anthony Webster
Kevin West

OTHER POTENTIAL FREE AGENTS

Players who have been previously released can become free agents irrespective of the service time requirement. These players appear to fit that criterion.

SP Kendy Batista
RP Ryan Knippschild
C Reese Creswell

Posted by Lucas at 04:56 PM

August 16, 2007

Updates

40-man, org chart and draft list updated.

Posted by Lucas at 01:57 PM

August 15, 2007

McCarthy Out, Padilla Back

Texas activated pitcher VICENTE PADILLA from the 15-day Disabled List and placed pitcher BRANDON MCCARTHY on the same.

Apparently, McCarthy’s been battling pain for almost three months, but the injury, a stress fracture in his right shoulder blade, wasn’t discovered until Tuesday. Originally presumed to be a season-ending, he might miss only a couple of weeks and make a small handful of September starts.

Padilla was uniformly dreadful in his rehab outings but pitched well against Kansas City. Go figure.

Posted by Lucas at 11:56 PM

August 04, 2007

Other Transactions

Texas recalled reliever A.J. MURRAY from AAA Oklahoma and designated infielder DESI RELAFORD for assignment.

Texas recalled outfielder JASON BOTTS and reliever WES LITTLETON from AAA Oklahoma and optioned 3B TRAVIS METCALF and reliever SCOTT FELDMAN to AAA.

I’m not especially optimistic that Jason Botts will succeed in the Majors *, but he most definitely deserves an opportunity. If he fails, so be it. Better to find out now than wait until next March and have his future decided by 60 at-bats against a grab-bag of pitchers loosening their arms.

* Not to say I’m pessimistic, either. Somewhere in between.

Posted by Lucas at 11:17 AM

Thoughts On The Gagne Trade

Texas traded reliever ERIC GAGNE to Boston for pitcher KASON GABBARD, outfielder DAVID MURPHY, and outfielder ENGEL BELTRE.

Pretend that Texas led the AL West in late July and needed an ace reliever for the stretch run. Also pretend that Texas had a surfeit of starting pitching (use all your imagination). If Texas traded Kam Loe, Kevin Mahar, and Cristian Santana for Eric Gagne, how would you feel? (Maybe not a great comparison – Texas really doesn’t have an analog for Beltre -- but I think I’m in range. Your mileage may vary.) I’d miss Loe a bit, and I’d worry about Santana. But on the whole, I’d be happy with the GM.

As a fan on the receiving end of the prospects, I’m a bit underwhelmed. No, Gagne couldn’t hope to bring Teixeira’s bounty, but even if the Red Sox collapse, what are the odds that they miss any of these players?

Gabbard’s a ground-ball specialist and a lefty, two prized attributes in Arlington, but his 3.65 ERA in 67 Major-League innings rests on an unsustainable .265 BABIP. Indeed, his brief MLB career contradicts his run through the minors, which has consisted mostly of harsh beatings whenever he advanced a level followed by eventual, moderate success. He’s also already undergone four elbow surgeries. I worry that he’ll eventually reside in that Tweener Zone occupied by Mike Wood, John Rheinecker, John Koronka, and the like.

Maybe Gabbard evolves into a decent #4 starter. I hope so. Regardless, this statement…

Gabbard, who has a 1.12 WHIP and has held opponents to a .196 batting average this season, immediately becomes the Rangers' best young starting pitcher. Put him at the front of a line that includes Kam Loe, Brandon McCarthy and Eric Hurley.

…tells you all you need to know about the Dallas Morning News’s Tim MacMahon.

Outfielder David Murphy has yet to justify his 17th-overall selection in the 2003 draft. Murphy spent three years at Baylor, has never been young for his level, and has a career minor-league line of .273/.343/.407. He’s never slugged better than .447 or achieved 15 homers in a season. His OBP, while acceptable, won’t mitigate the lack of power. He appears to add a fourth outfielder to an organization already swimming in them.

The wild card, very wild, is Beltre, a 17-year-old outfielder fresh out of the Dominican Republic. Beltre received the tenth-highest International signing bonus in 2006 ($75,000 above Texas’s Emmanuel Solis) and is among the most highly regarded of that class. Baseball America described him as “loaded with tools” and possessing a “huge ceiling” but also “raw” and “years away from the Majors.” An 0-13 skid dropped him to .208/.310/.400 in the Gulf Coast League. To the tiny extent that rookie-level stats have meaning, he’s shown good power (five homers in 137 appearances), adequate patience (8% walk rate) and a scarifying strikeout rate (30%). Beltre’s the one to watch in this deal.

Finally, I’m astonished that the Yankees didn’t top Boston’s offer.

Posted by Lucas at 11:11 AM

July 27, 2007

Lofton Traded

Texas has traded outfielder KENNY LOFTON to Cleveland for catcher MAX RAMIREZ. Texas also recalled outfielder NELSON CRUZ from AAA Oklahoma.

A nice return for two months of a 40-year-old outfielder. Lofton fulfilled his role perfectly, which was to produce at a respectable rate for a good team or serve as worthy trade bait for a bad one.

Ramirez has a career minor-league line of .306/.407/.494, though he’s never been young at any level. He’s currently hitting .303/.418/.505 in the high-A Carolina League, which is significantly less hitter-friendly than the Cal League he’ll join. Good contact, great eye, decent power… and dubious defensive skills. There’s question of whether he can get by as a catcher, and he’d make an awfully short first baseman (5-11).

He’s not on the 40-man roster now but must be added this winter or face the Rule 5 draft. He’ll be added.

To my mild surprise, Cruz gets another shot. He destroyed Triple-A pitching, as is his wont, but only a few days ago his manager noted that he still chases too many bad pitches. I’m skeptical.

Posted by Lucas at 06:38 PM

July 14, 2007

Teixeira Back, Diaz Down

Texas activated 1B MARK TEIXEIRA from the 15-day Disabled List and optioned outfielder VICTOR DIAZ to AAA Oklahoma.

See below.

Posted by Lucas at 10:39 AM

July 10, 2007

Koronka Gone

Cleveland claimed pitcher JOHN KORONKA off waivers.

I saw Koronka pitch in Round Rock last August. Aside from a Jason Hirsh start, his performance was the most impressive I saw that year at the Dell Diamond. In seven innings he allowed two runs, walked one, and struck out twelve. He exhibited confidence, pinpoint control, and a revelatory changeup. The Express hitters guessed wrong most of the night and swung at air repeatedly. Texas called him up again, whereupon he reverted to his nibbling worst.

Cub Town’s Derek Smart nailed it back in 2005:

Congratulations to John Koronka on his first Major League victory, although in the interest of full disclosure, I found his outing less than inspiring. His early success looked to have more to do with the Dodgers' lack of familiarity than with any great show of competence on Koronka's part, and it showed the second time through the order as the Dodgers started to get after him more consistently.

His fastball was sans giddyap, and his breaking pitches didn't have the sharp bite of effectiveness. The change-up was his most effective pitch, although it wasn't the sort of ball that gives hitters fits. It was a solid turn, good enough to keep the team in the game, which is the most anyone could hope for, but it wasn't the type of work that would give me confidence enough to request a return visit.

Koronka's is the sort of stuff that is destined to be overmatched with prolonged Major League exposure, and barring abject need, it's a game that he and the Cubs should refrain from questioning, put in their pocket, and walk away from post-haste.

Posted by Lucas at 10:05 AM

July 08, 2007

Tejeda Down, Littleton Up

Texas optioned pitcher ROBINSON TEJEDA to AAA Oklahoma and recalled reliever WES LITTLETON from AAA.

A temporary move until Texas needs Tejeda to start again. He's been awful all season.

Posted by Lucas at 06:58 PM

July 02, 2007

McCarthy Up, Kinsler Out

Texas activated pitcher BRANDON MCCARTHY from the Disabled List and placed 2B IAN KINSLER on the 15-day Disabled List.

Someday soon the Rangers lineup may include Jamey Wright, Ramon Vazquez and Desi Relaford. And I will weep quietly.

Posted by Lucas at 10:42 PM

July 01, 2007

Desimania!

Texas added infielder DESI RELAFORD to the 40-man roster and recalled him from AAA Oklahoma. Texas optioned reliever SCOTT FELDMAN to AAA. The Rangers also designated pitcher JOHN KORONKA for assignment.

With ten nominal outfielders on the roster, I expected Freddy Guzman to get the boot. However, a dealing Mike Wood and healthy John Rheinecker have supplanted Koronka in terms of filling the emergency starter role.

The active roster now contains Relaford, Ramon Vazquez, and Jerry Hairston. Good times. Relaford can play everywhere but can’t hit anywhere.

Posted by Lucas at 12:49 PM

June 26, 2007

Padilla Down, Feldman Up

Texas placed pitcher VICENTE PADILLA on the 15-day Disabled List and recalled reliever SCOTT FELDMAN from AAA Oklahoma.

Padilla's been hurt all year, apparently. Lovely.

Posted by Lucas at 12:37 AM

June 17, 2007

Wright Activated, Litteton Optioned

On Saturday, Texas activated pitcher JAMEY WRIGHT from the Disabled List, optioned reliever WES LITTLETON to AAA, and activated pitcher JOSH RUPE before transferring him to the 60-day Disabled List.

Save us, Mike Matheny!

Posted by Lucas at 11:44 AM

June 15, 2007

Mahay Returns, Feldman Down

Texas activated reliever RON MAHAY from the 15-day Disabled List and optioned reliever SCOTT FELDMAN to AAA.

Mahay hadn’t pitched very well in rehab. He has a 3.86 ERA in the Majors… and a 1.65 WHIP… and 15 walks in 16 innings pitched.

Posted by Lucas at 06:34 PM

June 14, 2007

McCarthy Down, Loe Up

Texas placed pitcher BRANDON MCCARTHY on the 15-day Disabled List and recalled pitcher KAMERON LOE from AAA.

I hope all that time Loe spent in Oklahoma working on his offspeed pitches will pay off.

Posted by Lucas at 12:54 PM

June 09, 2007

Melhuse Acquired

Texas has acquired catcher ADAM MELHUSE from Oakland for cash considerations and has optioned catcher CHRIS STEWART to AAA.

Jason Kendall is the worst hitter in baseball even when accounting for his starting position, and now Oakland’s backup is a true-rookie 23-year-old who was hitting.280/.351/.365 in AAA. Kendall, as before, will rest less often than any catcher in baseball despite his spectacular inadequacy (.197 with a 4% walk rate and an isolated power of .010).

Melhuse won’t supplant Laird but will play more often than Stewart, who started 11 games in 10 weeks. He had a couple of good hitting seasons in 2003-2004 but hasn’t done much since. As reported in the DMN, he’ll “tutor and push” Laird.

Melhuse will be arbitration-eligible after the season.

Posted by Lucas at 11:43 PM

Teixeira Hurt, Loe Down, Wilkerson and Metcalf Up

Texas has placed 1B MARK TEIXEIRA on the 15-day Disabled List and optioned pitcher KAMERON LOE to AAA Oklahoma. Texas has activated outfielder BRAD WILKERSON from the DL and recalled 3B TRAVIS METCALF from AA.

Strained quad. Teixeira hasn’t missed a game since May 20, 2004. He’s batting .302/.405/.554; other Rangers non-pitchers were batting .248/.313/.413 coming into Saturday’s game. That’s an OPS+ of 88.

Demoting Loe to Triple-A is actually a vote of confidence. Texas really wants to see if he came become a viable starting pitcher, so he’ll work on his offspeed stuff in Oklahoma.

Ron Washington says Travis Metcalf will play, not sit. We’ll see. Ramon Vasquez has predictably cooled off (.197/.237/.222 in his last two weeks) after a stellar first few days, so Metcalf might not represent much of a dropoff.

Posted by Lucas at 11:20 PM

June 08, 2007

Hairston Up, Rheino Down

Texas activated utility guy JERRY HAIRSTON from the 15-day Disabled List and optioned pitcher JOHN RHEINECKER to AAA.

Noted for the record. Not having Hairston and Kata on the same roster is progress. Tiny progress, but progress.

Posted by Lucas at 01:04 AM

June 05, 2007

Hairston and Rheino Up, Cruz Down, Kata Out

Texas activated infielder JERRY HAIRSTON from the 15-day Disabled List and pitcher JOHN RHEINECKER from the 60-day DL. Texas optioned outfielder NELSON CRUZ to AAA Oklahoma and designated utility guy MATT KATA for assignment.

Welcome to the end of Nelson Cruz’s Major League career. Well, not the end, but as a soon-to-be 27-year old who failed a pretty lengthy trial stretching back to last August, he’s almost certainly done as a regular. Sure, there’s talk about him “making adjustments” and whatnot in Oklahoma, but really, he’s done.

That said, I still think the quasi-blockbuster Lee/Cruz for Cordero/Mench/Nix trade holds up. Cordero has pitched brilliantly, of course, but Mench is basically an expensive ($3.4 million) and ineffective (.285/.285/.417; 1 walk all season!) platoon outfielder, and Nix was dead as a prospect before the trade. With this trade, Texas tried, and failed, to make a run for the postseason last year but didn’t get burned too badly in the process. That’s a tolerable outcome.

As for Kata, here’s what I wrote on April 1st: “The surprise, in terms of incoming expectations, is Byrd, who only needed to beat out NRI Matt Kata for a roster spot and could not. Byrd would have made a fine fifth outfielder and 25th man.” And on May 27th, “Byrd ought to make one of Jerry Hairston or Matt Kata superfluous.” So I guess it worked out in the long run. Props to Kata for the hot spring that earned him two months of an MLB salary. The question is why Texas thought that hot spring was more indicative of his future than his career MLB line of .248/.308/.392 in 550 PAs or his line of .286/.325/.430 in 900 AAA appearances.

Posted by Lucas at 06:50 PM

June 01, 2007

Millwood Returns

Texas has activated pitcher KEVIN MILLWOOD from the 15-day Disabled List and optioned pitcher JOHN KORONKA to AAA.

Ideally, Millwood's stay on the active roster will last longer than an hour.

Posted by Lucas at 06:37 PM

May 31, 2007

Transaction

Texas optioned pitcher MIKE WOOD to AAA and recalled pitcher JOHN KORONKA from AAA.

Happened Wednesday. Just posting for the record.

Posted by Lucas at 11:46 PM

May 28, 2007

Wood Up, Feldman Down

Texas has recalled pitcher MIKE WOOD from AAA Oklahoma and optioned reliever SCOTT FELDMAN to AAA.

Wood is up for one of his spot starts. I’d guess that presently DL-ed Ron Mahay will replace him in a day or so. Oklahoma has only three true starting pitchers at the moment: John Koronka, Alfredo Simon (who has an 8.37 ERA) and rehabbing John Rheinecker.

I know Texas wouldn’t promote Eric Hurley from AA purely on that basis, but he sure seems ready to handle the challenge.

Posted by Lucas at 12:21 PM

May 27, 2007

Byrd Up, Mahar Down, Ojeda Out

Texas added outfielder MARLON BYRD to the 40-man and active rosters, optioned outfielder KEVIN MAHAR to AAA Oklahoma, and designated catcher MIGUEL OJEDA for assignment.

Back on April 1st I wrote that “Byrd would have made a fine fifth outfielder and 25th man.” Eight weeks later, he will. Byrd ought to make one of Jerry Hairston or Matt Kata superfluous, but he may not possess the precise combination of positional versatility and weak hitting that Texas demands in a bench player. He almost certainly won’t accept another outright assignment.

I know Ojeda has been designated previously, but I don’t know if he’s been outrighted. He’s had a long and peripatetic career that’s hard to follow. So, I can’t say whether or not he must accept an outright assignment.

Posted by Lucas at 11:27 AM

May 20, 2007

Koronka Down, Littleton Up

Texas recalled reliever WES LITTLETON from AAA Oklahoma and optioned pitcher JOHN KORONKA to AAA.

Koronka performed as hoped, chewing up six innings without too much damage. Littleton ought to be a full-time member of the pen, but we’ll see.

Posted by Lucas at 09:43 PM

May 19, 2007

Koronka Up, Hairston Hurt

Texas placed utility guy JERRY HAIRSTON JR. on the 15-day Disabled List and recalled pitcher JOHN KORONKA from AAA Oklahoma.

Probably a one-shot start for Koronka. He's ranged between respectable and awful in AAA.

Posted by Lucas at 05:44 PM

Blalock Out

Texas placed 3B HANK BLALOCK on the 60-day Disabled List and added 3B TRAVIS METCALF to the 40-man and active rosters.

Blalock suffers the same malady that felled Kenny Rogers suffered in 2001. Metcalf already has the glove rep; in 2007 his bat has returned after taking off ’06. Still, he’s never played above AA and wasn’t that highly regarded, and third isn’t where teams trade offense for defense.

The character litmus test will be whether anyone in the organization uses the rash of injuries as cover for the team’s performance.

Posted by Lucas at 12:01 PM

May 17, 2007

Another Exciting Transaction

Texas added infielder RAMON VAZQUEZ to the 40-man roster and active roster, optioned reliever A.J. MURRAY to AAA Oklahoma, and transferred shortstop JOAQUIN ARIAS to the 60-day Disabled List.

Vazquez was hitting .258/.375/.409 in AAA, not that it matters.

Posted by Lucas at 11:52 PM

Roster Moves: Mahar Debuts

Texas added outfielder KEVIN MAHAR to the 40-man roster and active roster, placed outfielder BRAD WILKERSON on the 15-day Disabled List, and transferred pitcher JOHN RHEINECKER to the 60-day Disabled List.

Yesterday, I had the following conversation with a Newberg Report reader via email:

Reader: Have you heard about Kevin Mahar joining Texas in Orlando?

Me: What?!? You must be thinking of Marlon Byrd. What’s your source?

Reader: Kevin’s dad.

That’s a good source. Ten minutes later Mahar’s promotion appeared on the wire.

Posted by Lucas at 09:56 AM

May 15, 2007

Roster Moves: Murray Debuts

Texas placed pitchers KEVIN MILLWOOD and RON MAHAY on the 15-day Disabled List and recalled pitchers SCOTT FELDMAN and A.J. MURRAY.

Murray makes his big-league debut, a little under seven years after being the 574th player selected in the 2000 draft. Other MLB players from the infamous ’00 draft are Tyrell Godwin (cup of coffee with Washington in ’05), Laynce Nix, Nick Masset and Edwin Encarnacion.

Interesting that the Rangers didn’t recall a starter and that both relievers are lefties. Presumably Texas will make another move near the end of the week.

UPDATE: Feldman isn't a lefty. Just a righty with a weird delivery.

Posted by Lucas at 02:54 PM

May 14, 2007

Millwood Returns

Texas activated pitcher KEVIN MILLWOOD from the Disabled List and optioned pitcher MIKE WOOD to AAA Oklahoma.

After I commented on a message board that Wood looked “ordinary” in a Triple-A start, he held the Yankees to two runs in 6.1 innings with an effective sinker. In two subsequent starts he only aspired to ordinary, giving up ten runs in eight innings. Those three games effectively summarize his ability to help a Major League team.

Posted by Lucas at 12:18 PM

April 23, 2007

Francisco Up, Gagne Disabled

Texas recalled reliever FRANK FRANCISCO from AAA Oklahoma and placed reliever ERIC GAGNE on the 15-day Disabled List.

In case you’re not on the Newberg report mailing list, here’s what I said about Francisco after his Friday night appearance against Round Rock:

Frank Francisco pitched the last two innings for Oklahoma. Quite simply, he exists on a much higher level than any of the game’s other pitchers. Tonight, he used a fastball that ran between 92-95, an upper-eighties splitter, and a slow curve. Francisco’s first pitch of the game was a 94 MPH fastball that rose beyond Quiroz’s glove and hit the screen. He flashed a big smile as he received another ball. Then, he struck out the side in order.

In the ninth, Francisco very nearly blew the game. He had Josh Anderson down 0-2 but buried his fourth consecutive splitter in Anderson’s posterior. Anderson stole second entirely off Francisco, who then walked Eric Bruntlett and Hunter Pence to load the bases with none out. Brooks Conrad generously popped out on a 1-0 pitch. Eric Munson worked his count to 3-2, but Francisco crushed him with a low, hard fastball. Francisco completed the dramatic win by striking out Danny Klassen on three consecutive fastballs.

Francisco has faced 23 batters in AAA. 14 have struck out. Four made other outs. Three walked. One was hit by a pitch, and I think one reached on an error. Which is to say, opponents are hitting .000/.130/.000 against him. Control may be an issue, but he’s cooking with serious gas again.

Posted by Lucas at 06:08 PM

April 22, 2007

Chen Gone

Texas added reliever WILLIE EYRE to the 40-man roster and purchased his contract from AAA Oklahoma. Texas also designated reliever BRUCE CHEN for assignment.

Eyre has 7.1 scoreless innings and eight strikeouts in AAA. His 2006 MLB debut season was unimpressive.

Posted by Lucas at 12:01 PM

April 10, 2007

Wright Up, Wood Down, Haigwood Out

Texas added pitcher JAMEY WRIGHT to the 40-man roster and purchased his contract from AA Frisco. Texas also optioned reliever MIKE WOOD to AAA Oklahoma and designated pitcher DANIEL HAIGWOOD for assignment.

Bleah.

Haigwood probably won’t ever become a useful MLB pitcher, but he at least has potential, whereas Wood is the very definition of a spare arm. Put another way, losing Haigwood on waivers would hurt just a little, while losing Wood would not even register.

Wood only made the Opening Day roster because Texas didn’t need a fifth starter for a week and Gagne needed a longer warmup, yet Texas is keeping the 27-year-old on the 40 in favor of the 23-year-old Haigwood.

Posted by Lucas at 06:20 PM

April 01, 2007

Transactions For Opening Day

Texas designated for assignment pitcher EZEQUIEL ASTACIO, catcher GUILLERMO QUIROZ, and outfielder MARLON BYRD.

Astacio had the thinnest of opportunities to make the roster and pitched poorly. Quiroz was out of options but probably would have been waived anyway, as four catchers are an awfully tight fit on a 40-man roster. The surprise, in terms of incoming expectations, is Byrd, who only needed to beat out NRI Matt Kata for a roster spot and could not. Byrd would have made a fine fifth outfielder and 25th man.

Texas has placed reliever ERIC GAGNE on the 15-day Disabled List.

Ostensibly this move is precautionary, simply to insure Gagne gets enough innings prior to pitching in a real game. Frankly, I’m a little worried. Maybe needlessly, but there it is.

Texas has purchased the contracts of relievers BRUCE CHEN and MIKE WOOD, super-duper utility guy JERRY HAIRSTON JR., utility guy MATT KATA, and outfielder SAMMY SOSA. All are new additions to the 40-man roster.

With Gagne disabled and fifth starter Jamey Wright not needed for a little while, both Chen and Wood get to fly to Anaheim. If Chen pitched well, I wonder if management might give him or Kam Loe the back end of the rotation and sheepishly tell Wright, “Ummm, I know we promised you a roster spot and everything, but… well… no.”

As for Kata, his spring was inspirational and all that, but what exactly does he bring to the table? Is there anything he does better than Hairston, which is to say, is he not completely superfluous? Okay, he does hit for a little more power, but he and his .392 career slugging percentage aren’t going to be pinch hitting for anyone. Why not keep Jason Botts instead? Botts is one-dimensional, but that dimension would be awfully handy whenever the opposition inserts a lefty reliever to face Kenny Lofton or Frank Catalanotto (or, dare I say it, Hank Blalock). Use Botts as a designated pinch-hitter, then use Hairston, Cruz or Wilkerson (or whoever’s on the bench that night) as a defensive replacement.

Posted by Lucas at 01:23 AM

March 29, 2007

Transaction Roundup

Texas released reliever RICK BAUER.

The Rangers couldn’t find a trade partner for Bauer, so away he goes. In just four weeks, Bauer slid from valued reliever and trade bait to unemployed. He’ll find a job somewhere.

Texas placed shortstop JOAQUIN ARIAS and pitcher JOHN RHEINECKER on the 15-day Disabled List.

Rheinecker never got out of the trainer’s room long enough to take a crack at the fifth starter job. He’ll join Oklahoma’s rotation when healthy. Likewise, Arias’s meager hope for a roster spot was ended by injury, in this case, an infected thumb.

Texas optioned relievers FRANK FRANCISCO and WES LITTLETON and outfielder JASON BOTTS to AAA Oklahoma.

Both Francisco and Littleton had roster positions waiting for them, but terrible springs left the door open for the likes of Bruce Chen and Mike Wood. I’d guess that Littleton gets first dibs on a bullpen opening.

Texas has removed FRANCISCO CRUCETA from the 40-man roster and outrighted him to AAA Oklahoma.

Cruceta cleared waivers. He’ll join the AAA bullpen and fall in line behind several others in the potential call-up order.

Posted by Lucas at 11:56 PM

March 26, 2007

Astacio in, Bauer Out

Texas claimed EZEQUIEL ASTACIO off waivers from Houston and placed pitcher ALEXI OGANDO on the restricted list.

One of three heralded minor-league prospects acquired from Philly for Billy Wagner, Zeke has yet to fulfill his potential. Occasionally very good, often very hittable, Astacio’s main problem is a catastrophic 2.5 homers allowed per nine innings. That’s one per sixteen batters faced. Astacio has no options remaining, so, like Houston, the Rangers must attempt to pass him through waivers if they want him in AAA. Perhaps he’s more likely to squeeze through at the end of the month when many teams will be facing difficult roster decisions. Now 27, he’s just a pitcher instead of a prospect, but he’s not a terrible insurance policy for the rotation.

Ogando and Omar Beltre will once again terrorize the Dominican Summer League.

Texas designated reliever RICK BAUER for assignment and added infielder ADAM FOX to the 40-man roster.

Huh? Like John Wasdin in ‘06, Bauer signed a Major League contract in the offseason, only to be released before the season begins. Going into Spring Training, he was the Ranger Most Likely To Be Traded To A Team Ready To Overpay For Relief Help, but his atrocious spring snuffed whatever hope Texas had of converting him into a real prospect or reasonable facsimile. Now, apparently, Texas will pay him not to pitch in Arlington. This is one of those roster moves that probably won’t have any positive or negative effect on the team. That said, it’s an odd decision. Despite his middling track record and awful spring, Bauer was a useful reliever last season.

As to why Texas added a 25-year-old who spent most of last year in high-A instead of, say, Sammy Sosa, it’s just a temporary situation. Per Jamey Newberg, Fox recently became a father and is held in high personal regard in the system, so Texas is buying him a few days in the MLB pension plan and a union card. When Texas puts Sosa, Jerry Hairston, or someone else on the 40, Fox will clear waivers with ease and probably join Frisco.

Posted by Lucas at 11:48 PM

March 19, 2007

"Transaction"

The Texas Rangers announced the cessation of its relationship with Ameriquest Mortgage Company. Its stadium will now be known as “Rangers Ballpark In Arlington” instead of “Ameriquest Field.”

As a fan, I can accept corporate sponsorship of stadiums, but I was never thrilled about the Rangers associating with the nation’s top sub-prime lender. Not that sub-prime lending is inherently unethical, despite its reputation. Folks with bad credit need loans, too. No, the problem is that when the naming deal was announced, Ameriquest was already under investigation by several state attorneys general for overcharges and other predatory lending practices. The investigation expanded to 49 states plus the District of Columbia, and in early 2006 Ameriquest agreed to a $335 million settlement. The company had also paid fines for prior transgressions.

To be sure, any renaming would have caused a little anguish because it eliminated the real sponsors of the stadium, the citizens of Arlington. Allying with a good corporate citizen with local ties would have eased the pain. Naming the stadium after a SoCal-based company of dubious standing did the opposite.

Now, with the sub-prime mortgage market in tatters and several lenders going belly-up, Ameriquest probably wishes paying the settlement was its only problem. Whatever its future, I’m glad its affiliation with the Rangers has ended. Despite a Ranger press release to the contrary, I expect another sponsorship before long, hopefully a more palatable one.

Incidentally, Ameriquest’s founder and majority owner of its holding company is Roland Arnall. Arnall has been the most successful fundraiser for President George Bush since 2002. In 2006, after the announcement of the $335 million settlement, he was appointed the US ambassador to The Netherlands.

Posted by Lucas at 07:07 PM

March 08, 2007

On Young

Note: I was in Las Vegas when Texas signed Young, so here's a belated review.

Texas signed shortstop MICHAEL YOUNG to a five-year extension beginning in 2009. Young will earn $80 million, $15 million is deferred. Details are lacking.

A huge roll of the dice on the part of Texas. Young will be only two weeks shy of his 37th birthday by the time this contact ends (or actually be 37 if Texas makes the ALCS). Some thoughts:

Age

Young will turn 32 before his new contract commences. Here’s a list of starting shortstops in 2006 who were Age 32 or older:

Omar Vizquel (39) Royce Clayton (36) Craig Counsell (35) Derek Jeter (32)

That’s it. Two others were 31, another five were 30, and the other nineteen were under 30 (including Young).

In 2007, probably only eight regular shortstops will be older than Young: Vizquel, Jeter, Orlando Cabrera, David Eckstein, Carlos Guillen, Miguel Tejada, Julio Lugo, and Edgar Renteria. That’s as of today, not in two years when Young’s extension begins. By the time that happens, Young might already be among the five oldest shortstops in the Majors.

What became of 2002’s collection of aged starting shortstops? 2002 featured seven who were 32 or older and another four of 30-31 years of age:

Shortstop	Age	What Became of Him
Barry Larkin	38	Retired after two more seasons. Could still hit respectably
Mike Bordick	36	Out of baseball after one more season
Omar Vizquel	35	Still starting and getting on base, averaged 151 games during last three years
Royce Clayton	32	Still starting, but on six different team in five years. Replacement-level hitter in 2002 and today
Shane Halter	32	Out of baseball after two more seasons
Tony Womack	32	Intermittent starter from 2003-2005; on the fringes of employment in 2006 and 2007
Jose Hernandez	32	Still playing but has declined from regular to super-utility player to ordinary sub to infrequent sub and pinch-hitter
Chris Gomez	31	Mostly a utility player and most often a 1B; only 110 games at short during 2003-2006
Andy Fox	31	Retired after two more seasons of minimal play
Rich Aurilia	30	Mostly a super-utility player who spends most of time at 1B and 3B, now a starter at 1B; bat improved during 2005-2006
Rey Ordonez	30	Had two seasons of dwindling play; not retired but no MLB appearances since 2004

Six of the eleven players are retired or effectively out of Major League Baseball. Two others are bench players. One is now a regular first basemen, and two are still starting at short (though I’m skeptical of Clayton’s immediate future).

Now, I’m not suggesting that Michael Young won’t last at shortstop because of the case histories of Chris Gomez and Shane Halter. But this exercise clearly indicates that shortstop is a young man’s position. Young has been exceptionally durable, and I expect him to remain at short longer than most of his peers. Near the end of his term, though, he may have to move to third or left, where his bat probably will be a liability.

Money

Did the Rangers pay too much? Of course they did. But this contract doesn’t seem too far out of line with other deals inked this winter. Young’s contract wedges nicely between former Rangers Carlos Lee (6 years, $100 million) and Gary Matthews (5 years, $50 million). Give a choice between the three, I’d take Young and his contract.

Deferment

Reportedly, $15 million of the $80 million total is deferred. To my knowledge, the specifics weren’t publicized, but let’s assume $3 million is deferred in each of Young’s five extension seasons with deferred payments to begin the year after the extension ends. Thus, Young would receive $13 million during 2009-2013 and $3 million from 2014 through 2018. What do those deferments mean relative to a straightforward five-year contract at $16 million per season?

In terms of present value, not much. Using a discount rate of 6% (equivalent to a “safe” rate of return), deferring $3 million per season for five year lowers the present value of the contract from $69.2 million to $67.5 million, a difference of just $1.7 million. Upping the discount rate to 8% (equivalent to salary inflation) results in a savings of $2.2 million.

The real savings come from the retention of his current contract. Texas will pay Young only $3.5 million in 2007, his last arbitration-eligible year, and $5 million in 2008, his first free-agency year.

Assuming my guesses are within reason, I’d say the deferred payments make the deal more palatable for the Rangers but will have, at best, a small effect on their payroll structure and (in)ability to sign players during Young’s extension.

Defense

This is something I’ve been saving for my boffo article on Hank Blalock that I’ve been promising for many months, but I’ll print it here instead. For years, Baseball Prospectus rated Young as a bad defensive shortstop and Hank Blalock an average third baseman. Suddenly, in 2006, Young became Ozzie Smith and Blalock became Butch Hobson. You think I’m joking? I am not:

Baseball Prospectus “Rate2” Defensive Stat *

Michael Young, 2002-2005: Michael Young, 2006: Ozzie Smith, career:	90 113 112
Hank Blalock, 2002-2005: Hank Blalock, 2006: Butch Hobson, career:	99 87 87

* Rate2 is an indexed statistic measuring how many runs a player saves or costs a team defensively. 100 is average. Young’s 113 in 2006 indicates he saved Texas 13 runs per 100 games played. Scores outside the 90-110 range are rare.

My stat-free, visual opinion is that Young is an average defensive shortstop, neither as bad as previously rated by BP nor as fantabulous as rated in 2006. He’s no elite, but I certainly see no reason for a position switch in the near future. But again, age is a killer. Texas has locked up Young through 2013, but they haven’t locked up a shortstop for that long.

Teixeira

I don’t recall Teixeira ever indicating that he’d prefer to stay in Texas. He’s here only because Texas drafted him, and after 2008, he’ll sign with the team that offers the best combination of money and potential to win a championship. Retaining Young will have only a minimal effect on Teixeira’s decision.

I don’t mean that as a criticism. He wants to work for a winner and get paid as much as possible. Don’t we all?

Conclusion

Is it okay to remain ambivalent about this deal? To an extent, it is an attempt to defy Time, and Time never loses (except to Julio Franco and Elizabeth Hurley).

Texas desperately needs to make some noise during Young’s most productive years because the downside of this deal is almost too depressing to contemplate. Imagine a Ranger club that hovers around .500 for three or four more seasons, then falters with Young’s inevitable decline. At that point we’re looking at fourteen years (2000-2013) of mediocrity or worse.

On the other hand, I think that Young, more than anyone in baseball (and I do mean anyone), has the work ethic to make this deal pay off for Texas. Given how far he’s surpassed the expectations of almost everyone (me included), presuming that he’ll decline precipitously would be foolish. Who’s to say Young can’t emulate Omar Vizquel and Barry Larkin, blithely hitting well and playing shortstop into his late thirties?

I hope so.

Posted by Lucas at 06:07 PM

February 09, 2007

Transactions

Texas signed pitchers OMAR BELTRE, SCOTT FELDMAN, A.J. MURRAY, ALEXI OGANDO, JOSH RUPE, ROBINSON TEJEDA, and EDINSON VOLQUEZ, catcher CHRIS STEWART, infielder JOAQUIN ARIAS, and outfielder FREDDY GUZMAN to one-year contracts at or near the MLB minimum of $380,000.

All have splits that pay considerably less for time spent in the minors. Click the 40-Man Roster link at upper right for the details.

Posted by Lucas at 06:34 PM

January 16, 2007

All Arb-Eligible Players Signed

Texas signed outfielder BRAD WILKERSON to a one-year deal for $4.35 million, reliever AKINORI OTSUKA to a one-year deal for $3.00 million, and reliever RICK BAUER to a one-year deal for $735,000, avoiding arbitration with all three.

Reasonable contracts for all three given the strictures of arbitration. A player taking a pay cut in arbitration is as rare as a unicorn, so even Wilkerson gets a 12% raise after his lost 2006. Jon Daniels has absorbed his predecessor’s loathing of arbitration hearings.

Texas now has 14 players signed for a sum of $69.265 million, ignoring incentives.

Posted by Lucas at 04:42 PM

January 15, 2007

Benoit Signed

Texas signed reliever JOAQUIN BENOIT to a one-year contract for $1.05 million, thus avoiding arbitration.

Benoit gets a fairly modest raise over last year’s base of $750,000. He held opposing batters to a nice line of .224/.314/.310 overall (roughly speaking, he turned everyone into Brandon Fahey or Matt Treanor) and stranded 34 of 44 runners, a better rate than all but Wes Littleton. He also posted an uninspiring 4.86 ERA and has no lock on a roster spot. All pitchers melt down on occasion, but some of Benoit’s were painfully memorable, including allowing three runs in That Game and permitting a bases-clearing lead-losing triple to Adam Everett just three days later.

Benoit had one of the flakiest set of splits I’ve ever seen:

None on -- .240/.327/.340
Runner on first only -- .110/.217/.110
Runners in scoring position -- .298/.374/.381

Yes, with only a runner on first, Benoit’s opposing batters went 8-for-73, all singles, with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts.

Posted by Lucas at 11:51 PM

January 12, 2007

Meyer DFA'ed To Make Room For Trade Acquisition

Texas traded pitcher JOHNNY LUJAN to the Chicago White Sox for catcher CHRIS STEWART. Stewart joins the 40-man roster, and Texas has designated infielder DREW MEYER for assignment.

Stewart was Chicago’s 12th rounder in 2001. He’ll start in AAA with a chance to back up Gerald Laird in Texas. Stewart batted pretty well in AA as a 23-year-old (.286/.341/.460) but backslid to .265/.314/.393 in AAA last year. Lujan is two years younger and hit a big wall in high-A Bakersfield last year after gliding through lower levels in 2004-2005. So Texas gets the sure thing, albeit a drab one, in exchange for a longshot.

To clear space for their shiny new fourth catcher, the Rangers designated the tenth-overall pick on the 2002 draft. Drew Meyer depended heavily on a high batting average in college and has yet to develop much patience or power in five years in the minors. He never posted better than a .789 OPS except during a brief return to the Rookie League in 2004.

I loathe the “We drafted X when we could’ve have Y!” game because no team survives it. The best GMs on the planet routinely pass up future studs. However, I would note that the subsequent seven picks were Jeremy Hermida, Joe Saunders, Khalil Greene, Russ Adams, Scott Kazmir, Nick Swisher and Cole Hamels. On the other hand, Picks 1, 3 and 5 were Bryan Bullington, Chris Gruler and Clint Everts. It’s a tough racket, the draft.

Posted by Lucas at 07:03 PM

January 06, 2007

Hairston Signed

Texas signed utility guy JERRY HAIRSTON JR. to a minor-league contract.

After my initial reaction (“Aaaaa!”) subsided, I decided this deal makes sense. Hairston, while by no means a good hitter, isn’t nearly as bad as last season’s display. He can play anywhere but catcher and probably can reach base near the league-average rate. As long as the new skipper doesn’t fall into the trap of believing Hairston’s is anyone’s platoon mate or a top-flight defensive specialist, all is well.

It’s a hard fall for a player who competed for starting 2B with the Cubs last March, and, to my knowledge, was seeking a full-time job this winter. Hairston is only 30 and made $2.3 million last year. Now, instead of getting DeRosa money, he’s an NRI.

Posted by Lucas at 12:51 PM

December 28, 2006

Quiroz signed

Texas signed catcher GUILLERMO QUIROZ to a Major League contract and added him to the 40-man roster.

Once a well-regarded prospect, Quiroz has toiled for eight years with only 98 MLB plate appearances to his credit. He peaked statistically in 2003, batting .282/.372/.518 for AA New Haven (Toronto system), and has bounced between AAA and the Majors ever since. He did hit .304/.359/.428 for AAA Tacoma last year, and as a 25-year-old, may yet mature into a decent MLB backup. Anything that might improve upon Miguel Ojeda would be most welcome. With his signing, Texas has filled its 40-man roster.

The Rangers also signed pitcher Mike Wood to a minor deal after waiving him a few weeks ago. They also signed former Twin reliever Willie Eyre, who should spend most or all of 2007 regaling the Redhawk faithful with his presence.

Posted by Lucas at 09:49 PM

December 23, 2006

Gigantic Trade

Texas has traded pitchers JOHN DANKS, NICK MASSET and JACOB RASNER to the Chicago White Sox for pitcher BRANDON MCCARTHY and outfielder DAVID PAISANO.

And here I am, doing Christmas with the in-laws (XM radio! Two bottles of wine!), blithely assuming MLB would be taking the weekend off, caught totally off-guard.

Ultra-quick first impression: I'm not sure I agree, but I understand. And Jon Daniels has a huge pair.

Posted by Lucas at 11:30 PM

December 13, 2006

Arbitration

Texas tendered contracts to arbitration-eligible pitchers RICK BAUER, JOAQUIN BENOIT and AKINORI OTSUKA and outfielder Brad Wilkerson. Texas did not offer a contract to pitcher MIKE WOOD.

I hadn’t given any thought to Wood being eligible for arbitration. Otherwise, no unexpected moves.

Posted by Lucas at 12:46 PM

December 12, 2006

Gagne Signed

Texas signed reliever ERIC GAGNE to a one-year contract for $6 million with (allegedly) $5 million in incentives.

The ultimate high-risk high-reward signing. Gagne has pitched in only sixteen games over the past two years, missing time with nerve-replacement surgery on his elbow and disc surgery on his back. So why drop no fewer than $6 million on a two-year hospital resident, particularly when the bullpen is already a team strength? Here’s why:

Hitters Against Gagne by Plate Appearance, 2002-2006:

Strikeout	38.7%
Out in play	36.8%
Single	10.8%
Walk	6.2%
Double	2.9%
Homer	1.5%
Hit by pitch	1.1%
Sac bunt	1.1%
Sac fly	0.4%
Reached on error	0.3%
Triple	0.2%

Opponents have batted .169/.229/.254 against him during the past five years. He had a WARP of over ten in 2003, an absolutely outrageous number for a relief pitcher. If he returns most of the way to his prior form, he could be worth five to seven wins. Gagne’s presence also makes a trade of Aki Otsuka (packaged for starting pitching, presumably) more likely.

Posted by Lucas at 06:14 PM

December 11, 2006

Lofton Signs

Texas signed outfielder KENNY LOFTON to a one-year contract for $6 million.

Texas badly needed a sure thing in the outfield. The team already had far-from-proven Nelson Cruz in right and arb-eligible, shoulder-impaired Brad Wilkerson (or Frank Catalanotto) in left. Adding Fast Freddy Guzman or Marlon Byrd in center was too much to bear.

So, Texas gets a leadoff hitter and center fielder. Lofton doesn’t walk quite as often as in his prime but still reaches base at a respectable clip, and he’s stolen 54 bases versus only eight caught during the past two years. Defensively, he’s only adequate, though he probably won’t represent too much of a decline from the departed Gary Matthews, who mostly built his reputation on highlight plays.

For these services, Lofton receives his biggest paycheck since 2001. Let the good times roll!

Posted by Lucas at 10:26 PM

December 08, 2006

Byrd Sighting

Texas signed outfielder MARLON BYRD to a one-year contract.

Is it a Major League contract? Is he on the 40? Don’t know.

After a splendiferous rookie campaign in 2003, Byrd has since hit .238/.306/.345 in 850 plate appearances. He’s hit well in AAA (.300/.372/.496) during the same span, but at age 29 seems an unlikely candidate for resurgence. Then again, he might be the boffo sequel to From Waiver Bait To Multi-Millionaire: The Gary Matthews Jr. Story by Rudy Jaramillo. Also, I might discover gold in the creek in my backyard.

Byrd is probably 2007’s version of Adrian Brown, but I wouldn’t describe his signing as low-risk high-reward. There’s a chance he could attain 200 plate appearances and suck, which would make him the 2007 version of Doug Glanville.

Posted by Lucas at 08:10 PM

December 04, 2006

Padilla Signs

Texas signed pitcher VICENTE PADILLA to a three-year contract for approximately $33 million with a fourth-year option for $12 million.

Three and $18 would have seemed appropriate only three months ago, but this ain’t your daddy’s Collective Bargaining Agreement. Given the $19 million bestowed on reliever Dannys Baez and $24 million on perpetual mediocrity Adam Eaton, Padillla’s signing doesn’t shock the conscience.

It also refills a gigantic hole in a rotation that temporarily featured Robinson Tejeda as its #2 starter. In 2006, he rebounded from two injury-plagued seasons and career highs in strikeouts, strikeout rate, batters faced, and wins. Statistically, he doesn’t do anything exceptionally well but also does nothing badly. While he’s had issues both on and off the field, Ranger management presumably is satisfied with his demeanor and long-term outlook.

200 annual innings of what should be slightly above league-average performance is a godsend to this team. Congrats to Daniels and company for closing the deal.

Posted by Lucas at 11:45 PM

December 01, 2006

Arbitration

Texas offered arbitration to pitcher VICENTE PADILLA and did not offer arbitration to catcher ROD BARAJAS or outfielder ERIC YOUNG.

Texas would have offered to Barajas had he signed with Toronto. Once he and the Jays departed on bad terms, the Rangers couldn’t risk that he’d hang around and earn a raise just to caddy for Gerald Laird.

Texas has four other arb-eligible players under their control – Rick Bauer, Joaquin Benoit, Aki Otsuka and Brad Wilkerson – and must decide on them by the 12th, if I’m reading the rules correctly.

Posted by Lucas at 11:02 PM

November 20, 2006

Two added to Forty

Texas added pitchers A.J. MURRAY and ALEXI OGANDO to the 40-man roster.

Murray is a 19th-round pick from 2000 who spent most of the last three years in the trainer’s room. The Rangers have been very patient with him and must have liked what they saw during his stint in the Arizona Fall League. I’d guess that they start him in AA with a quick promotion to AAA upon quality performance. He’s yet to turn 25.

Texas nabbed Ogando in the 2005 minor-league Rule 5 draft. Like Omar Beltre, he hasn’t pitched in the US since 2004 because of visa problems.

Posted by Lucas at 08:49 PM

Little Cat Comes Home

Texas signed OF FRANK CATALANOTTO to a three-year contract for about $13 million with a fourth-year club option.

Catalanotto returns to Texas after four years in the Great White North. Little Cat has a career line of .297/.362/.454, and last year he drew a career-best 52 walks. Texas can place him atop the lineup if new manager Ron Washington can tolerate modest speed at leadoff. Unfortunately, he doesn’t hit lefties, batting .221/.287/.331 against them during his four years in Toronto. He hits over .300 with mostly doubles power against righties.

Though considered a utility player, Cat honestly doesn’t have much utility in the field. The Dallas Morning News suggested he could fill in at second, but he hasn’t played there since 2002. From 2004-2006 he played 253 games in left field and one in right. That’s it. He’s not replacing Mark DeRosa.

Texas surrenders its first-round pick in 2007 by signing Type-A free agent Catalanotto. That’s a heavy price, but the Rangers aren’t done with the free-agent market and almost assuredly will sign another, similarly ranked player. With the many holes they needed to fill this offseason, losing that pick was a foregone conclusion.

Posted by Lucas at 08:41 AM

November 17, 2006

Ojeda Signs

Texas signed catcher MIGUEL OJEDA to a one-year contract for $430,000, $300,000 of which is guaranteed.

Last winter, Texas threw some guaranteed money at John Wasdin and waived him anyway. Ojeda might receive the same fate. I agree with Rod Barajas’s departure, but that’s not to say that Ojeda inspires confidence even as a backup.

Ojeda signed with the Pirates in 1993 but spent all but a smidgen of 1995-2002 in Mexico. He’s a career .240/.308/.380 minor-league hitter and not considered better than adequate defensively. Should Gerald Laird falter, the Rangers cannot abide 80+ games of Ojeda’s bat. I hope they sign another catcher, and by that I don’t mean Ken Huckaby.

Posted by Lucas at 01:23 AM

November 07, 2006

Texas Retains Mahay

Texas picked up the team option on reliever RON MAHAY.

Mahay’s had an odd tenure in Texas. After a couple of nice seasons, the Rangers signed him to a two-year contract with a team option for a third. Nine months later, they designated him for assignment and dumped him to AAA. The following April they re-instituted him on the 40 and active rosters, whereupon he pitched successfully, if not as well as during 2003-2004.

Mahay will earn $1.2 million next season and becomes a free agent afterwards. Already 35 and never more than a middle reliever, he won’t have suitors dumping wheelbarrows of cash at his feet next November, but he stands a good chance of earning very respectable money for another couple of years. More power to him.

Posted by Lucas at 12:57 AM

November 06, 2006

Texas Has A Manager

Texas hired Ron Washington as manager.

This managerial appointment was bound to be uncontroversial. Given the set of personality characteristics that distinguished Buck Showalter’s dismissal, the replacement was destined to be less authoritarian, more affable, more communicative, more a “player’s manager.” Ron’s not just your boss, he’s your pal, but he’s also no pushover. Who wouldn’t want to play for him?

I exaggerate, but you understand. After several years of machinations (never proven but always suspected) and increasingly bad vibes in the Ranger clubhouse and front office, Washington is a deep gulp of fresh air.

Can he manage? Beats me. Assessing experienced managers is tough enough, much less new hires. Informed fans can evaluate players reasonably well with numerical data and GMs with analyses of trades, free-agent signings, etc. Conversely, a fan’s assessment of a manager usually has to be personality-driven because managerial performance doesn’t translate to an easy number like ERA. Sure, managers can show their ineptness with ludicrous batting orders and pitching changes, but few are truly incompetent in those respects. At the moment, we have very little on which to base our opinions.

That said, Athletics players hold him in extremely high regard, their fans seem disappointed in his departure, and I would very much like for Texas to win a World Series at some point during my corporeal residence on Earth. So count me on board.

Posted by Lucas at 11:55 PM

October 12, 2006

Waiver Claims

Texas claimed pitcher FRANCISCO CRUCETA off waivers from Seattle and pitcher MIKE WOOD off waivers from Kansas City. Texas also designated utility guy JERRY HAIRSTON for assignment.

Despite my admonition, the Rangers made a roster move while I was out of town (in Beaumont, the crown jewel of southeast Texas).

Learn everything you’d ever want to know about Cruceta here. Also, USS Mariner is displeased. Sounds good to me. While Cruceta looks like a failed prospect that might yet pan out, Wood already looks played out. With 293 MLB innings, mostly during 2004-2005 when Kaufmann Stadium favored pitchers, Wood has produced a vanilla walk rate (3.3 per nine IP), a subpar homer rate (1 per 7.3 IP), and a grim strikeout rate (4.8 per nine IP). Feels like a Spring Training roster cut to me.

I guess the Nevin trade was a bust because we couldn’t resign Hairston. But seriously, folks...

Posted by Lucas at 12:34 PM

October 04, 2006

Showalter Fired

Texas fired manager Buck Showalter.

I haven’t written much about Showalter because I’m ambivalent about him. I agree that Showalter had to go, and I won’t miss him. Having said that, I have no doubt that he tried his best to make the team a winner and that he believed he could lead capably into the future. He refused to resign, and rightly so.

I doubt I’d enjoy working for him, but that’s an issue of personality, not managerial competence. Most people (and I can’t say I’m excluding myself) judge a manager based on personality because that’s all they have to go on. Sure, there are wins and losses, but that’s mostly the domain of the players. Grading managers objectively is a difficult task with nebulous results. Only those on the far end of the curve (say, Earl Weaver and Larry Bowa) are easily assessed.

Showalter’s dismissal actually did hinge on personality. Tom Hicks (and it is ultimately Hicks’s decision despite his public handoff to Jon Daniels) didn’t fire him because he started Rod Barajas too often. In today’s press conference Daniels expressed the need for a “fresh perspective,” usually an empty phrase but appropriate in this case. Not for the first time, Showalter’s personality didn’t mesh with the players. He consistently ranked among the least-liked managers according to secret ballots of players. Though a friendly relationship between manager and players certainly isn’t requisite to winning, too much dislike and mistrust can poison a clubhouse (or any working environment).

Tom Hicks may have wanted to retain Showalter, but Hicks himself paved the way for Showalter’s firing with his ill-advised interview questioning the character of the players. After the predictable backlash from the players, media and fans, the present situation could not stand. Someone had to go in order to relieve the tension. Should Hicks and Daniels have dismantled the team to save the manager? Of course not. Even on the assumption that Showalter is a great manager and doesn’t deserve firing, it’s far easier and sensible to replace him rather than the players.

Far more difficult is the task of replacing the team’s the biggest problem, its owner. As pointed out by Ed Coffin, frequent commenter at Lone Star Ball and Jamey Newberg’s message board, Tom Hicks is a deal broker, not an executive. It’s not that he has no plan. In fact, he’s had many plans, each diligently followed for a couple of years or so, whereupon an entirely new and often diametrically opposing plan takes its place.

In eight seasons of ownership, Hicks has employed three general managers and will soon hire his fourth manager. After 2001, Hicks replaced Doug Melvin with John Hart and simultaneously hired Grady Fuson with the understanding that Fuson would assume GM duties after a three-year “internship.” Two years and nine months later, Hicks dismissed Fuson. After Texas unexpectedly won 89 games in 2004, only the second winning season during Hicks’s tenure, he signed Hart to a rolling two-year extension and Showalter to a three-year extension with a club option. Nine months later, Hicks reassigned Hart. One year and nine months later, he fired Showalter before his extension began. Mull that one over. Hicks signed Showalter to a guaranteed three-year, $6 million contract when the existing contract still had two years remaining, and Showalter will receive that money without managing a single game.

Wait, there’s more. Hicks signed Alex Rodriguez to a ten-year, $252 million contract. Rodriguez lasted three years. During the next nineteen years the Rangers will pay him $87 million (plus interest) to play for the Yankees and to hone his golf skills after he retires. On a broader level, he instigated a period of frivolous spending followed by extreme parsimony. Accounting errors during 2001-2002 continue to haunt the team.

Replacing Showalter was necessary, but it doesn’t necessarily improve the team. I hope that in two years I’m discussing a Rangers playoff game and not the next Two Year Plan.

Posted by Lucas at 06:52 PM

September 08, 2006

September Call-Up Roundup

Between September 1 and September 8, Texas recalled pitchers SCOTT FELDMAN, JOHN RHEINECKER, and NICK MASSET from AAA Oklahoma, pitcher FRANK FRANCISCO from short-season Spokane, and shortstop JOAQUIN ARIAS from AAA Oklahoma. Texas also purchased the contract of catcher MIGUEL OJEDA and transferred outfielder BRAD WILKERSON to the 60-day Disabled List.

Francisco will see his first MLB action since September of 2004, when a thrown chair and Tommy John surgery suspended his career. The surprise is Arias, who batted a meager .268/.296/.361 in AAA as a (mostly) 21-year-old. I wouldn’t expect more than a couple of token appearances from him.

Posted by Lucas at 06:05 PM

August 30, 2006

Hyzdu Outrighted

Texas designated outfielder ADAM HYZDU for assignment and outrighted him to AAA Oklahoma.

Rotoworld expressed amazement that Hyzdu stayed on the roster for so long. Hyzdu didn’t survive on merit, rather on Texas’s lack of additional trades or need for another roster spot. Now, the Rangers need his spot, as they have traded 2004 fifth-rounder Mike Nickeas for New York Mets outfielder Victor Diaz. The Mets themselves designated Diaz last week, but Texas probably will add him to the roster and bring him to Arlington on September 1.

Diaz has cratered this year (.223/.275/.334 in AAA Norfolk) after showing promise in the Majors last year (.257/.329/.468). Still, he doesn’t turn 25 until December.

Posted by Lucas at 04:56 PM

August 25, 2006

Eric Young Rejoins Rangers

Texas purchased the contract of utility guy ERIC YOUNG and recalled him from AAA Oklahoma. Texas optioned pitcher NICK MASSET to AAA.

It’s nice to have Young back, in theory. In practice, maybe not so much. Young does have the warm ‘n’ fuzzy memories of 2004 attached to his name, but he also has the exact same skill set and handedness as Jerry Hairston plus nine additional years of wear and tear. What, honestly, does he bring to a team with its playoff hopes hanging by a thread? I think the Eric Young Farewell Tour is a terrific idea. I just didn’t expect it to begin a week before rosters expanded.

Posted by Lucas at 05:28 PM

August 21, 2006

Transactions A Go Go!

On Saturday the 19th, Texas recalled pitcher ROBINSON TEJEDA from AAA Oklahoma and optioned outfielder FREDDY GUZMAN to AAA.

On Sunday the 20th, Texas recalled pitcher JOHN KORONKA from AAA Oklahoma and optioned pitcher SCOTT FELDMAN to AAA.

On Monday the 21st, Texas recalled pitcher NICK MASSET from AAA Oklahoma and optioned pitcher JOHN KORONKA to AAA.

Nobody said maintaining a fourteen-man pitching staff would be easy. Of the two Redhawks called for duty last weekend, I would have expected more from Koronka. In contrast to his recent plate-nibbling that led to excessive free passes, his one AAA effort featured sharpness, efficiency, and a wicked changeup that fooled many a Round Rock Express batter (Expresser? Expression?). Tejeda, on the other hand, offered a superficially brilliant performance (two walks, ten Ks) that, in my opinion, relied too much on pure heat and papered over too many high-pitch at-bats (98 pitches in just five innings).

Sure enough, against the big boys Tejeda excelled while Koronka inexplicably reverted to nibbling. Watching him try, and try, and try to squeak a third strike by a batter has become a gloomy experience. As for Tejeda, simply being league-average would greatly assist the Rangers’ quest for a fourth division championship and provide a partial answer to the question of who joins Kevin Millwood in the 2007 rotation.

Posted by Lucas at 06:02 PM

August 17, 2006

Wilkerson DL'ed, Out For Season

Yesterday, Texas placed outfielder BRAD WILKERSON on the 15-day Disabled List and recalled outfielder FREDDY GUZMAN from AAA Oklahoma.

Well it wasn’t supposed to work out that way. The keystone of the Alfonso Soriano trade batted a meager .222/.306/.422 and gave up on his sore shoulder with six weeks remaining. I loved the trade at the time. There are worse ways to embarrass myself, I suppose.

In his first twenty games, Wilkerson struck out in an ungodly 40% of his plate appearances (34 of 85) and often seemed utterly helpless at the plate. No, strikeouts don’t normally hurt more than any other type of out, but Wilkerson certainly didn’t endear himself to fans with his frequent whiffing despite leading the team in homers for much of the season. Only in May (.293/.414/.598) did he avoid dragging down the offense.

Texas management now faces the uncomfortable decision of whether to offer Wilkerson arbitration. He earned $3.9 million this season. My guess is that the Rangers cut bait.

Posted by Lucas at 05:35 PM

August 15, 2006

Wells DL'ed, Feldman Recalled

Texas placed pitcher KIP WELLS on the 15-day Disabled List and recalled reliever SCOTT FELDMAN from AAA.

Sprained ankle. Wells may not achieve even the modest goal of bettering the performance of John Rheinecker.

Posted by Lucas at 07:20 PM

August 11, 2006

EY rejoins Rangers

Texas signed outfielder ERIC YOUNG to a minor-league contract.

Eh, why not. On the field, Young offers scant value beyond his ability to play numerous positions, a skill that both Mark DeRosa and Jerry Hairston provide with superior quality. At this stage of his career, Young doesn’t hit lefties especially well and is beyond hope against righties.

Still, his Ranger teammates loved him back in the salad days of ’04, and perhaps come September’s roster expansion he can dispense some advice, encouragement and peaceful vibes to a clubhouse in need of them. That’s worth a little something and costs essentially nothing. Texas has an open spot on the 40, and it’s not as if Young would be preventing Adam Hyzdu from achieving his destiny. If Texas’s faint playoff hopes evaporate, the Rangers can give him a few starts as a pleasant coda to a nice career.

Posted by Lucas at 11:59 PM

August 07, 2006

Volquez Recalled

Texas recalled pitcher EDINSON VOLQUEZ from AAA Oklahoma and optioned pitcher JOHN KORONKA to AAA.

Here we go! The 22-year-old takes over for ailing Kip Wells in the most important game of the season (to date). Here’s why Volquez will mow down the A’s.

9.7 strikeouts per nine innings in AAA.
One homer allowed per 13 innings.
.208 opponents’ batting average (86 hits in 120.2 innings)

Here’s why he’ll get slaughtered:

5.4 walks allowed per nine innings.
5.7 walks per nine in July.
Ordinary .242/.367/.426 line against righties.

Posted by Lucas at 08:59 PM

August 04, 2006

Loe Optioned

Texas activated pitcher KAMERON LOE from the 15-day Disabled List and optioned him to AAA Oklahoma. Pitcher JOHN WASDIN refused assignment to AAA and has been released.

Loe isn’t getting his rotation job back with Adam Eaton and Kip Wells on the roster, so the Rangers have dropped him off in Oklahoma to get acclimated to the bullpen. Wasdin lasted nearly three years in Texas and occasionally pitched well. He’ll have another job within the week.

Amazingly, Texas hasn’t a single player on the Major League disabled list. Frankie Francisco, Edinson Volquez and Jason Botts reside on minor-league DLs at the moment.

Posted by Lucas at 08:56 AM

August 02, 2006

Feldman Up and Down, Wells In, Rheinecker Out

On Tuesday, Texas recalled reliever SCOTT FELDMAN from AAA Oklahoma and optioned pitcher JOHN RHEINECKER to AAA. On Wednesday, Texas activated pitcher KIP WELLS and optioned FELDMAN.

I hope Texas lets the players keep their frequent flyer miles.

Posted by Lucas at 11:18 PM

July 31, 2006

Wasdin DFA'ed (again)

Texas designated pitcher JOHN WASDIN for assignment.

Wasdin enjoyed a run of surprising adequacy last year, but in 2006 he regressed to his replacement-level mean. He has withstood numerous DFAs without a claim, and he’ll likely ply his trade for Oklahoma within a few days.

Posted by Lucas at 11:58 PM

Texas acquires Stairs, Wells (Kip, not Vernon)

Texas traded minor-league pitcher JOSELO DIAZ to Kansas City for outfielder MATT STAIRS.

Stairs has a zesty career line of .273/.367/.501 against righties but hasn’t actually slugged .500 since 2003. This season, he’s a more vanilla .264/.361/.447. He obviously improves the roster, and yet I wonder how much he’ll actually help. Mark DeRosa has backslid rapidly during July but probably will continue to start every day because… well, because he’s Mark DeRosa. Thus, Stairs would supplant Brad Wilkerson, who despite his struggles isn’t that much worse than Stairs against righties (.240/.327/.471). Likewise, if Texas continues to bench Hank Blalock against tough lefties, Stairs seems a bit superfluous. Considering how infrequently Buck Showalter employs his bench, does having two quality lefty bats mean anything?

I don’t dislike the trade. I just think its impact is very marginal.

Texas traded minor-league pitcher JESSE CHAVEZ to Pittsburgh for pitcher KIP WELLS.

Wells missed almost three months while recovering from shoulder surgery. In seven starts he has an ERA of 6.69, a WHIP of 1.76, and 2.6 fewer strikeouts per nine innings than his pre-’06 career. Though he’s allowed only four runs in his last three starts, he’s allowed permitted 30 baserunners in those 19.2 innings. Frankly, he hasn’t pitched well since 2003. Nevertheless, ousting John Rheinecker for Wells certainly improves the rotation.

Neither Chavez nor Diaz ranked among John Sickels’s pre-season Top 20 Ranger prospects. DVD-H remains intact. (That's Danks-Volquez-Diamond Hurley for you non-Ranger fanatics.)

Posted by Lucas at 06:20 PM

Last Week's Non-Carlos Transactions

Last week I was out of town every day but Thursday. For the sake of completeness…

On July 25, Texas activated pitcher ADAM EATON from the 60-day Disabled List and added him to the active roster. Texas designated pitcher BRYAN COREY for assignment.

On July 30, Texas traded pitcher BRYAN COREY to Boston for minor-league pitcher LUIS MENDOZA. Texas also acquired catcher MIGUEL OJEDA for cash.

Barring another deal, Eaton serves as Texas’s Big Trading-Deadline Pitching Acquisition. He’s not even above-average, of course, but perhaps with some luck he can imitate Jason Schmidt for a couple of months.

I was a bit surprised Texas chose to DFA Corey instead of optioning Rheinecker or C.J. Wilson, but it probably doesn’t matter. The 22-year-old Mendoza pitched well in high-A but has struggled in AA (67 hits allowed in 43 innings). Ojeda is a stopgap in case Texas trades Barajas.

Posted by Lucas at 12:10 PM

July 28, 2006

Carlos Lee A Ranger, Mench and CoCo join Brew Crew

Texas has traded outfielder KEVIN MENCH, outfielder LAYNCE NIX, reliever FRANCISCO CORDERO, and minor-league pitcher JULIAN CORDERO to Milwaukee for outfielder CARLOS LEE and outfielder NELSON CRUZ.

In short, I like it. Yes, Lee will be a free agent and almost certainly will find himself in another uniform next season, but so will the players Texas relinquished. Now 28, Mench appears to have topped out as merely average outfielder. He does have two arbitration years remaining, but neither will be cheap since he makes $2.8 million already. Nix is three years younger but has stalled in AAA. Perhaps Texas wrecked his career in 2003 by calling him up from AA as a 22-year-old despite his unspectacular stats, but that’s a philosophical discussion for another time. Cordero had probably pitched himself out of next year’s team option.

The wildcard is Cruz, who is three months older than Nix and a bit old for a prospect. Still, he’s batted .302/.380/.525 for AAA Toledo with good patience and a terrible strikeout rate.

I’m revising the organization depth chart, so no update of that for a few days.

Posted by Lucas at 02:03 PM

July 13, 2006

Guzman Up, Botts Down

Texas optioned outfielder JASON BOTTS to AAA Oklahoma and recalled outfielder FREDDY GUZMAN from AAA.

Given that Botts wasn’t starting and Buck Showalter apparently is legally proscribed from using a pinch hitter, Guzman makes better use of the 25th spot on the roster.

Posted by Lucas at 03:09 PM

July 04, 2006

Littleton Up, Guzman Down

Yesterday, Texas recalled reliever WES LITTLETON from AAA Oklahoma and optioned outfielder FREDDY GUZMAN to AAA.

In a mild surprise, Guzman hung around for three games beyond the end of Texas’s tour through NL parks. Guzman had no value beyond pinch running because Gary Matthews occupies his natural position, and Buck Showalter avoids pinch hitting like the plague. Littleton didn’t make an appearance in his first stint with the club.

Posted by Lucas at 07:24 PM

July 01, 2006

Wasdin Up, Masset Down

Texas activated pitcher JOHN WASDIN from the 15-day Disabled List and optioned pitcher NICK MASSET to AAA Oklahoma.

The Rangers need a starter for Saturday’s game. Masset got a fly out from Kevin Frandsen to retire his first MLB hitter.

Enjoy your Fourth.

Posted by Lucas at 01:06 PM

June 29, 2006

Castro Traded for Haigwood

Texas traded reliever FABIO CASTRO to Philadelphia for pitcher DANIEL HAIGWOOD. Texas also activated pitcher JOSH RUPE from the 60-day Disabled List, optioned him to AAA, and released infielder MARSHALL MCDOUGALL.

A nice return for the DFA’ed Castro. Haigwood was one of the chips traded to Philly for Jim Thome. This season he has a 3.86 ERA, 3.54 ERA, 85 strikeouts and 42 walks in 84 innings for AA Reading. He turns 23 in November.

McDougall might have made a decent bench player, but we’ll probably never know now.

In other news, the Rangers lost again, and Sleater-Kinney have broken up.

It’s been better.

Posted by Lucas at 07:17 PM

June 26, 2006

Tejeda Up and Down, Masset Up, Castro Out

I'm running late...

On Saturday, Texas recalled pitcher ROBINSON TEJEDA from AAA Oklahoma and designated relief pitcher FABIO CASTRO for assignment.

Odds are that Texas won’t regret losing Castro, the first pick of the offseason Rule 5 draft, but it’s an irritating move nonetheless because of the rationales offered.

One, Buck Showalter noted that “there are some things to like about [Castro]… but we’re also trying to win a division. It’s a tough call.”

In spending tens of millions for Kevin Millwood, trading for Adam Eaton and Brad Wilkerson and Aki Otsuka, trading away Alfonso Soriano and Chris Young, and so on, the Rangers quite obviously have been “trying to win a division” since last November. If holding on to a not-ready-for-prime-time Rule 5 pick contradicts that goal, why bother drafting him? Alternately, why not give Castro a legitimate chance to show whether he belonged and then cut bait in May if need be, rather than let him rot on the bench and remain an enigma in late June?

Two, per MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan, reliever Bryan Corey’s “performance was one of the reasons why the Rangers were willing to let go of Rule 5 pitcher Fabio Castro.” Texas would have had to send Corey through waivers to get him back to Oklahoma. Showalter said, “With the state of pitching in baseball, we could have lost Bryan,” who would have been exposed to waivers had Texas tried to send him back to AAA.

Really? Bryan Corey? The 32-year-old with only four more big-league innings than the 21-year-old Castro? Now, I’m rooting for him; the Bryan Corey Story is an example of what makes baseball more interesting than any other sport. But will Texas keep him when Adam Eaton, Frankie Francisco, John Wasdin and perhaps Josh Rupe claim their places on the active roster?

On Sunday, Texas recalled pitcher NICK MASSET from AAA Oklahoma and optioned pitcher ROBINSON TEJEDA to AAA.

Three cheers for Masset, who pitched himself off the 40-man roster in 2005 but revitalized his career this season.

Posted by Lucas at 09:49 PM

June 20, 2006

Loe DL'ed, Guzman Recalled

Texas placed pitcher KAMERON LOE on the 15-day Disabled List and recalled outfielder FREDDY GUZMAN from AAA Oklahoma.

Loe doesn’t strike anyone out, so he lives and dies on the basis of homers allowed (over which he has substantial control) and his hit rate on balls in play (over which he has little). Last year, Loe allowed one homer per 56 batters faced and had a quite lucky .271 average on balls in play. This year, one homer per 36 batters and an unlucky .328 average when the ball stayed in the park. Somewhere in the middle is a pitcher with a borderline-acceptable ERA of 5.00.

Guzman came to Texas from San Diego in exchange for minor-leaguers John Hudgins and Vince Sinisi and was batting .278/.378/.346 in Oklahoma. Guzman should be limited to pinch-running duties but might get an at-bat or two during Texas’s upcoming jaunt through NL parks. He can dream of more without undue illegitimacy; after all, ostensible 25th man and non-hitter Jerry Hairston has inexplicably started five of the last ten games, two more than Jason Botts.

Posted by Lucas at 01:07 PM

June 16, 2006

Wasdin Out, Castro In

Texas placed pitcher JOHN WASDIN on the 15-day Disabled List and activated reliever FABIO CASTRO from the Disabled List.

Wasdin bruised his hand fielding a comebacker. Texas stashed Rule 5 selection Castro on the DL with a minutely strained groin six weeks ago and has been trying to avoid having to place him on waivers ever since. With twelve other pitchers on the roster, Texas can hide him more easily while he accrues the mandatory service time.

Posted by Lucas at 07:20 PM

June 09, 2006

Corey Purchased, Alfonseca Booted

Texas purchased the contract of reliever BRYAN COREY and recalled him from AAA Oklahoma. Texas also designated reliever ANTONIO ALFONSECA for assignment.

What? Texas discarded El Pulpo just two days after activating from the DL, in favor of a 32-year-old with five MLB innings to his credit. Corey has pitched extraordinarily well between Frisco and Oklahoma: a 1.39 ERA, eight walks and 35 strikeouts in 32 innings. His career ERA in AAA going into this season was 4.48 with generally shrug-worthy peripherals. He credits a slight mechanical change for his sudden improvement.

Alfonseca was allowing baserunners at an alarming rate, but Corey’s odds of a better performance are pretty thin. On the other hand, hey, why not? A disaster would result in perhaps five innings of terrible pitching followed by his own designation and the return of Wes Littleton or the rehabbing Frankie F