McCann to replace AJ (will cost a few million extra) (Salty back here????)

Need a 1B (NAP?)(Lind) - could Cruz play first?

Need to figure out out MI situation. I dont think Kinsler has enough trade value to move him, position change for him?

The $$$ figures being thrown around regarding McCann make it less and less likely Texas lands him. That's a lot of money for a guy his age.

I'm guessing we go hard after Abreu and let him and Mitch battle it out for first. Napoli is going to get a multi-year deal from someone.

I would love Nap back here on a 2 year deal to be a DH and backup catcher/1B. Not sure if he would want more than 2 years or not. 2 for 27/28M.

Soto was ROY in 2008. Why can't he be the starting catcher? I'd settle for .235/15 and hide him in the 9-hole.

The right side of IF is the big problem. Moreland just looks like Adam Dunn with less power too much of the time. And with the OF occupied by speed/defense-type players, you just HAVE to have power from 1B and DH.

Pitching - don't know what to do about it, but Scheppers needs to strike out more people. With his stuff, he should be over 1K/IP. Every pen in the league has guys like that at the back end.

The interest in McCann over Soto is the bat, not the catching ability.

The team desperately needs offense. Beltre isn't getting any younger, Kinsler seems to be sliding, Moreland is a continual "we think he's figuring it out" and who really knows what we're going to get with Cruz (if we resign him).

Nolan is gone, wonder how that effects our pitching staff...

Definitely need two more big bats from somewhere ??

AJP\McCann - Catcher
Abreu - 1st
Cruz - DH
Profar -2nd
Kinsler - LF (Or Traded)

Bring Nathan back

Make a mid-season trade for a hitter.

Win WS.

Trade: Moreland\Kinsler\SP (Tepesch\Other)

Essential benefit:

Upgrade from Moreland to Abreu at 1st
Upgrade from Berkman to Cruz at DH
Upgrade from Murphy to Kinsler at LF
Upgrade from Tepesch\Grimm\Wolf to Perez.

That gets you the 2-3 Ws that would have put us into the playoffs.

We had a number of places we could tweak to improve. 50 more days with Cruz could have been enough.

Nolan's leaving won't help the pitching staff unfortunately.

We are not getting Abreu

Move the team to Memphis, Raleigh or San Antonio?

No one bit? Damn. I guess I am slipping!

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Nolan's leaving won't help the pitching staff unfortunately.

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I don't get the sense that Nolan has been involved with them for some time now. I think we're a few years removed from anything significant.

On McCann, the age is a little concerning, and while his bat is alright, I don't think it's impactful enough to lock into an expensive, long-term deal.

I think you let Nathan walk and spend the money on bats. Curious to see what Abreu fetches if the Rangers don't win that bidding.

Not many bats wow me. I think you look at some 1-2 year deals on veterans. I also think you consider moving one of two guys - Kins to OF or maybe Beltre to 1st. Can't believe I just typed Beltre to 1st, but he's getting old, his D slipped some this year, and it would potentially make room for Profar in the IF. It would be a sick IF defensively, and if Profar can progress at the plate (along with Elvis avoiding a return to First Half '13 Elvis), it's nothing to sneeze at offensively either. That's just throwing **** on the wall though. I don't think that's something they really consider. However, I do think it's time to **** or get off the pot with Profar. Either commit to him as a regular in the IF, or see what needs you can fill with him via trade. This in and out stuff just seems like it's going to help lead to bustville.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 10/17/2013 4:11p).]

Why don't you think Abreu would come here?

Regarding McCann and his big contract. That's one reason I'm ok with AJP. I'm concerned Darvish may have an issue with AJP that is larger than appears already.

Long-term I don't think we need a 3-5 year contract for C. I'm still holding hope for Jorge Alfaro. He is likely 3 years away... if he pans out.

Because we have Rios (@$13M, no less), that counts as a Big Bat. His .280/6HR/16SB in 47 GP is very nice. Would you take a .280\20HR\40SB guy?!

If we resign Cruz (DH), that is effectively GREATLY improving our defense... and replaces Berkman with Rios. Expensive for Rios... but could prove to be money better spent over Berkman.

As much as Garza sucked... Rios makes up for it.
Gentry-Leonys-Rios: Not sold on it... would love Gentry to be the #4, or part of a trade.


TMAC

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We are not getting Abreu

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DANG! I hadn't heard. I'm always the last to hear.

I really doubt we see any real talks of Beltre 1B for at least another year or two. While his defense certainly slipped this season, he's still a very competent 3B and who knows his abilities at 1B.

I agree that I don't think they'd consider it yet. And how he handles the throws to 1B is an unknown, although we know he can handle the hot corner aspect and I'd imagine that would translate well to handling throws. I'd be willing to wager he'd be very good over there.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 10/17/2013 4:21p).]

while Beltre could be a solid bat at first, we would then have a hole at 3B.

I'm saying that's where you find Profar a consistent home in the lineup and the field.

Only playing him sporadically and playing him all over the field just seems like a formula for risking his development and degrading his trade value. If they do find room for him, I think Kins to OF is a far more likely possibility than Beltre to 1st at this point. Was mostly just food for thought.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 10/17/2013 4:26p).]

I think we would take a hit defensively with Profar at 3rd. most anyone would be a downgrade from beltre now.

Beltre is still very solid over there and maybe it was a fluke, but he didn't have a usual Beltre year over there by any means. I don't know that it would be much of a downgrade, at least if that slip was age-driven and something that will sustain. I do think Profar's defensive value is better utilized in the middle. It's just an idea if they aren't ready to move Kinsler, and I'm not sold on the value of Kinsler in the OF. Big decisions ahead. Either somebody key has to move or you have to keep cock-blocking your hotshot prospect.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 10/17/2013 4:35p).]

MLBTR is reporting today that Abreu is down to Houston, Boston and ChiSox.

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I think you let Nathan walk and spend the money on bats.

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I agree....though I wonder if that's the prevailing opinion.

There's still quite a bit of talent in the bullpen without him and more on the way in the minors, plus Nefty will need a home. Wash dropped Ogando's name as a possibility of closing (2nd name he listed after Scheppers) if this were to occur.

I'm guessing Scheppers would get the nod.

If Neftali and Ogando could get their form back, and come out of the bull pen and provide middle relief.....the line up starts to take shape.

I wonder if we'll continue to try to start Ogando.

Yep, most offseason questions usually involve who is leaving vs. who is being signed. The Rangers have some interesting questions about how to deploy guys already on the roster - Profar, Nefty, Ogando, etc.

If Wash had the checkbook, I'm sure Nathan would be back in a NY minute. But from my view, the potential talent available to lean on in the bullpen makes that dropoff look less scary than the issues we continually saw with the lineup this year if they don't hit it pretty hard between signing FA's and/or considering resiging Cruz.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 10/17/2013 5:13p).]

I think (and have always thought) Ogando in the Rotation is where he belongs.

Some thoughts on Closers for the future:
Nathan - Expensive, per se... but worth retaining if possible. 25% of his career Saves are with the Rangers. 2 more years and he could end up 6th in Career Saves. Rangers could use that type of historical player.
Scheppers - He desires to either be a closer or a SP. He demonstrated he could hold the BP down.
Soria - He was signed for 2 years with the expectation he could become the closer in 2014.
Feliz - Been there, capable.
Frasor - Signed him for 2014, but I'd expect him to only close as a last resort.
Cotts - I like this guy. As LHP, he was effective equally against RHP and LHP.

Fillers after that...

Ross (5'11") was 23 last year as a rookie.
JoJo (5'7") was 23 this year as a rookie.

After that...

Wilmer Font (6'4") is 23, and I believe he will be the next addition to the BP, as was Ross, then JoJo.

Font played in AAA in 2013 and I think he'll be the break out BP guy. He is often believed to be the future Closer.

Gentry, Moreland, Kinsler, Feliz, Font, et al, are all assets worth considering.

Ross' cutter was moving too much during the middle of the year, causing him to either hit lefties of leave it over the plate. He really pitched better the last several weeks. I think he needs to come less side-arm to control the cutter better.

Scheppers is better suited as a closer because of his low K/IP ratio. He needs to start innings clean where he can pitch to contact, and get a DP if the lead runner gets on.

Cotts is nails he can pitch in any inning. He's a LH version of Uehara. Not overpowering stuff, but gets a lot of swings and misses. He can close when needed. Love the way he attacks the zone.

This team is about:
--finding 2 bats, one if Nellie is re-signed.
--sorting out Kinsler, Profar, and Moreland.
--getting SP's healthy

I say let Nathan walk. AJP - not too impressed, and think Soto can hold it down with a capable backup.

Key player is Martin. Does he become the next Kenny Loftin or the next Bob Brower?

Chowder, hell need to move the team to Dallas... Need to figure out what to do with Kinsler. WE NEED A LEADOFF HITTER. He is just not that guy. Ideally we need a base stealing outfielder that can lead off. I like Gentry an an asset but I don't think he can do it for the whole season. Kinda like Murphy ,we expanded his role and failed terribly. Word is Profar is gone. Questions at 1st ,catcher at least one outfield spot and of course all of the pitching. Biggest offseason ever for the Rangers

Why would Daniels fire Jackie Moore? What could he have possible seen that he didn't like? How can you hold the manager accountable if you hire his coaching staff?

Jackie Moore = Don Zimmer. The team decided they no longer needed a mascot.

Wash was recently on with Norm and said Ogando was coming back as a starter

I only know what I recently read about Tim Bogar, but sounds like huge upgrade over Jackie. Be nice to have someone worried about defensive positioning over post game hug

One of the many killers of game 6 was that Endy Chavez was there on the bench and could have been used as a defensive upgrade for bottom 9... I think any kind of extra strategic voice on bench can only help with Wash

Wash also mentioned Ogando as a possibility for closer if Nathan leaves (second name he mentioned after Scheppers).

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Wash was recently on with Norm and said Ogando was coming back as a starter

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