Wonder if they'll change the name of the boomstick hotdogs at the ball park?

There was never really any chance Cruz accepted a 1 year QO deal.

IIRC, the Rangers have indicated they expected Cruz to shop around. Depending on what emerges, they may consider trying to match maybe a 2 year deal.

How great would it be that he sign a 4-5 year deal with the Angels for like $60M... and then Nathan followed with a 3-4 year deal for $40-45M.

We'd have Sand Diego with a glut of our former minor-leaguers... and the Halos with a glut of our overpriced and aging former stars.

And Texas still with an impotent lineup?

Still hope im wrong on this but seems more payroll slashing. Rangers name will be involved in trades and free agents but will always be the team that gets "outbid". Taking the extra mlb tv money and sticking it in their pocket!!!

a non-juiced Cruz is worth _______. Fill in the blank. I for one, will pass. Everything he's done has been cheating.

Woohoo, Morales declined the M's QO!!

piag

An expensive multi-year contract for a 33 year old non-juicing DH who comes with a 100 Game suspension if he test positive...

I'm going to pass.

I think the Rangers (and fans) are going to be VERY happy he declined.

I appreciated Cruz' contribution, and I was fine with him taking the suspension in 2013, which IMO, was appropriate.

But, it is time to cut bait.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you guys on what Cruz is worth, but 2013 showed what kind of offense Texas wound up with playing the offseason value route.

You can pass on everything that is not worth the money until you're left with a team that doesn't have enough pop to make the playoffs... but hey, you didn't overspend!


If Texas decides they won't want to overpay McCann, here is your 2014 lineup:

C - ??
1B - Mitch Moreland
2B - Ian Kinsler
SS - Elvis Andrus
3B - Adrian Beltre
LF - ??
CF - Craig Gentry
RF - Alex Rios
DH - ??


Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre are power hitting anchors in a lineup when they are in their prime... but does anyone feel real confident Kinsler is going to put up an 800+ OPS? How about that Adrian Beltre can hobble his way to staying in 150+ games again?


Jon Daniels is great about not overpaying, and in previous years/markets that was looked at as being very shrewd... but he's starting to develop a reputation as a guy that isn't going to swing you a good deal, or isn't going to "go out and get a guy".

Despite a much smaller budget, Oakland has won the division two years in a row (and then been disbanded in the first round, so they certainly aren't world-beaters).

We can all laugh at Anaheim's horrible long-term contracts, but with that roster eventually the squirrel is going to find the nut. They will win the division at least once in the next 3 seasons.

Since Josh Hamilton took a leave of absence in June of 2012, this offense has looked absolutely mediocre.

A move has to be made this offseason, overpay or not.

All 13 players given QO's declined them.

Well... we are early in the process...

As it stands today:

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C - Soto
1B - Mitch Moreland
2B - Ian Kinsler
SS - Elvis Andrus
3B - Adrian Beltre
LF - Craig Gentry
CF - Leonys Martin
RF - Alex Rios
DH - Jurickson Profar

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We ALL know that won't be the roster, but all being said, it isn't terrible.

The problem with Cruz for more than 1 year is that, it makes going into 2015 that much worse. So, you basically crap all over 2 years, instead of 1.

I would love for them to get McCann over Soto.

I would love for them to trade Elvis Andrus (and) to St. Louis for Shelby Miller and Matt Adams or some trade for Oscar Taveras.

That solidifies our rotation with 5 strong SPs. That puts Moreland on the trade clock (or DH or LF) and improves our 1B.

Matt Kemp seems to be among the OFs the LADs need to move... I wouldn't mind taking on one of them. The contract may not be attractive, but if you can get LAD to pick up some cash or not give up prospects... its a win.

Then, we have some chips to move to fill another hole, or sign a couple 1-year FAs. There are a ton of 30-Somethings, former decent players ** cough Berkman ** who would be serviceable.

What I need to do is look at the 2015 FAs. The Rangers don't have anyone I can think of that is a high percentage penciling in for 2015 at DH\1B\OF... but there is plenty of SP.

Also, if Texas can get St. Louis to bite on Andrus, Colorado may change their direction from trading Tulo, to "someone else."

[This message has been edited by DallasAg 94 (edited 11/11/2013 7:07p).]

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Jon Daniels is great about not overpaying, and in previous years/markets that was looked at as being very shrewd... but he's starting to develop a reputation as a guy that isn't going to swing you a good deal, or isn't going to "go out and get a guy".

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He also has a reputation of winning more baseball games than just about everyone else, so whatever he's doing- and that includes going out and getting the likes of Adrian Beltre and Yu Darvish- it's worked.

Some of what has happened is probably just the cyclical nature of modern American professional sport doing what it does. A group of guys run their course, and you can't get rid of them, and sufficiently replace them, seamlessly. Contracts don't align, or you just don't get a good FA crop to pick from, or whatever.

Maybe they had "lean year" and are in for another "lean year" if they can't address some of the holes along the foul lines, but then again, the Rangers won one game more last year than they did when they went to their first World Series, so its not all doom.

Have some of us been worried about the lineup losing some punch for the past year or so and not seen it fully addressed? Absolutely. Does JD perhaps lean too far on "long term sustainability"? Quite possibly. But the Rangers will be OK.

[This message has been edited by TXAggie2011 (edited 11/11/2013 8:52p).]

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We ALL know that won't be the roster, but all being said, it isn't terrible.

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That would be one of the lightest hitting lineups in the entire league.

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But the Rangers will be OK.

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No one doubts that the Rangers "will be OK". They play in the AL West and spend $125m on payroll.

However this was a World Series caliber team in 2010 and 2011 that failed to get it done both years, and since then have lost major pieces and have been unable to replace them.

If Texas is going to spend with the big boys, then they need to get back to competing for pennants.

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We ALL know that won't be the roster, but all being said, it isn't terrible.

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That would be one of the lightest hitting lineups in the entire league.

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It'd have the talent to be competitive, it'd just need everyone to click which may or may not happen. Again, that most likely won't be the lineup so its somewhat a moot point.

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No one doubts that the Rangers "will be OK". They play in the AL West and spend $125m on payroll.

However this was a World Series caliber team in 2010 and 2011 that failed to get it done both years, and since then have lost major pieces and have been unable to replace them.

If Texas is going to spend with the big boys, then they need to get back to competing for pennants.

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By "OK", I mean competitive for pennants, and they've been about as competitive for pennants as anyone else outside of St. Louis .

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It'd have the talent to be competitive, it'd just need everyone to click which may or may not happen.

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Even if everyone "clicked", it would be one of the lightest hitting lineup in the AL. You're losing 70 homeruns without Cruz/AJ/Baker/Murphy. Even if Kinsler and Moreland have better years, you're still one of lighter hitting clubs in the league.

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By "OK", I mean competitive for pennants, and they've been about as competitive for pennants as anyone else outside of St. Louis .

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Over the last two years 14 different teams have made it to the true "postseason". Texas was not one of them. So, no, over the last two years they haven't been about as competitive for pennants as anyone else outside of St. Louis.

You have to admit...

2B - Ian Kinsler (15 SBs in 545 ABs)
SS - Elvis Andrus (42 SB in 620 ABs)
LF - Craig Gentry (24 SB in 246 ABs)
CF - Leonys Martin (36 SB in 457 ABs)
RF - Alex Rios (16 SB in 186 ABs)
DH - Jurickson Profar

would be one hell of a fun team to watch run on the bases... well, aside from Kinslers 11 CS where he looked completely lost. You could end up with 4 guys with 40+ SBs.

Texas was 7th (176) in HRs in 2013, while the NYYs were 14th (144).

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If Texas is going to spend with the big boys, then they need to get back to competing for pennants.

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Spend on what? Spend just for the sake of spend is stupid.

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You're losing 70 homeruns without Cruz/AJ/Baker/Murphy.

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And you have 3-4 roster spots to fill those HRs.

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Over the last two years 14 different teams have made it to the true "postseason". Texas was not one of them. So, no, over the last two years they haven't been about as competitive for pennants as anyone else outside of St. Louis.

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That's disingenuous... Texas has played more than 162 games for the past 4 consecutive seasons.

If you want to call it the "true post season" then let's just dial-up the WS and forget the rest of this division garbage.

Only 5 teams have played in the WS in the past 4 years:

Texas v SF
Texas v StL
Detroit v SF
Boston v StL

Texas - 2
SF - 2
StLouis - 2
Boston - 1
Detroit - 1

[This message has been edited by DallasAg 94 (edited 11/11/2013 11:53p).]

Does James Loney to 1st base for Rangers appeal to anyone? Not great pop but high average and pretty good ob%. If they pick up a dh (Cruz?) with some pop it gets better... Plus he doesnt cost a 1st rounder!!!

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Spend on what? Spend just for the sake of spend is stupid.

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As is not spending because you believe a player isn't "worth" what the market says he's worth. You're trying to win a World Series, not win "Best Club At Not Overpaying".

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And you have 3-4 roster spots to fill those HRs.

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And if you're filling those spots with Soto, Gentry and Martin you aren't going to get anywhere near 70 homeruns.

Texas doesn't need a couple of 10 homerun guys -- they need a legitimate 20+ homerun guy, likely two if you believe Kinsler is past his prime and Moreland isn't the answer at 1st.

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Only 5 teams have played in the WS in the past 4 years:

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I've got absolutely no beef with what the front office did in 08/09/10/11. My issue is what has gone on post-ASB 2012 and the need to correct that direction.

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Over the last two years 14 different teams have made it to the true "postseason". Texas was not one of them. So, no, over the last two years they haven't been about as competitive for pennants as anyone else outside of St. Louis.

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Over the past year, 8 teams have made the "true post-season". The San Francisco Giants weren't one of them.

Do you have more faith in the Giants front office to field competitive teams of do you have more faith in the Pittsburgh Pirates front office to field competitive teams?

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I've got absolutely no beef with what the front office did in 08/09/10/11. My issue is what has gone on post-ASB 2012 and the need to correct that direction.

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Post-ASB 2012 to the end of the 2012 regular season, the Rangers hit the 4th most home runs in the American League. The Rangers hit 16 more than the AL Pennant winning Tigers.

In the 2013, the Rangers hit 2 fewer home runs than the World Series and AL Pennant winning Red Sox. The Rangers hit the same number of home runs as the Red Sox ALCS opponent Tigers.

"Should" the Rangers have been hitting a few more home runs this past season due to their playing 81 games in Arlington? Certainly, and I think we all knew losing MVPs and All-Stars in quick succession would lead to "lean" power years. They weren't going to replace Hamilton seamlessly, and they weren't going to replace Nelson Cruz seamlessly- remember when they went out and got the "best bat on the market" and he still wasn't an All-Star level slugger?

Perhaps JD was just convinced that no one was going to get suspended during last season.

The point is the Rangers front office is fine. Dramatizing this is just, well, its dramatizing it. Every one goes through lean years- see the 2013 and 2012 World Series Champions for prime examples of how talented organizations can manage to lose 85-95 games in a single season. The "lean" years in Texas you're worried about were 93 and 91 win seasons.

I think the Rangers may be in for another somewhat lean year in the power department, but let free agency play out, wontcha?

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Do you have more faith in the Giants front office to field competitive teams of do you have more faith in the Pittsburgh Pirates front office to field competitive teams?

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Pirates, and it's not close.

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Over the past year, 8 teams have made the "true post-season". The San Francisco Giants weren't one of them.

Do you have more faith in the Giants front office to field competitive teams of do you have more faith in the Pittsburgh Pirates front office to field competitive teams?

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I said over the last 2 years. You've now extended it to 4 and shortened it to 1 to try and prove a point that only you have been making.

Again, no one is arguing the Rangers won't be "OK" and be "competitive". With the money being spent and the division in the shape it's in, the Rangers should be making the playoffs. They aren't. That needs to change this season.

You see 2012 and 2013 as just "lean years that are going to happen". I see what was a World Series caliber team in 2010 and 2011 and suddenly a team that isn't even making the playoffs for two straight years, and a free agency/trade market that looks very thin this year.

I imagine anyone in the front office will tell you the same thing -- if a Top 10 payroll team in the AL West doesn't manage to make the playoffs for three years straight, that is failure -- not "lean years". We take shots at the Angels for their payroll fails, yet the last two Octobers they have been sitting the exact same place the Rangers have -- at home on the couch watching the playoffs.

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And if you're filling those spots with Soto, Gentry and Martin you aren't going to get anywhere near 70 homeruns.

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Alex Rios is one of them.

2013: 18 HR \ 42 SB \ .278
2012: 25 HR \ 23 SB \ .304

At 33, in 2014... you have to believe he is in a great place to meet\exceed the numbers of the past 2 years. He looked stronger as the pressure built both down the stretch. He is in a contract year, and will lay it all out there.

I expect at 26, Leonys will continue to improve. 20 HRs \ 30 SB \ .280... about what I expect.

I think we are all on the same page another OF... one with Power is desirable... I was hoping Engel Beltre would have emerged, but he doesn't seem to have put it all together. Even at the Winter Leagues.

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/org.jsp?id=tex

If I didn't know any better... Ross is trying to stretch himself out to be a SP.

He has 3 GS with 8.1 IP (averaged right at 1IP/Appearance in MLB). I read a report where JD indicated there were several internal candidates considering the 5th spot, and Ross was one that JD indicated wanted to be in the rotation. I believe Scheppers has indicated (mid season) that he wanted to be a SP or a closer, not an 8th Inning guy. Looks like JD has gone in the direction of Closer.

What does that mean for Ross and the rotation? I suspect if he does well in Winter ball... it may mean he goes to AAA for additional stretching out. The historical agenda has been 2 IP for 3-4 GS, then 3IP for 3-4 GS, then 4 IP for 3-4 GS, until they are comfortable with him going 5 IP. I can't imagine even if they wanted, that he'd be worth more than 150 IP in 2014. If he goes the minor path I mentioned, he'd be at about 40 IP before having back-to-back 5IP games. Spell future trade candidate, IMO.

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I said over the last 2 years. You've now extended it to 4 and shortened it to 1 to try and prove a point that only you have been making.

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I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Try again?

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Again, no one is arguing the Rangers won't be "OK" and be "competitive". With the money being spent and the division in the shape it's in, the Rangers should be making the playoffs. They aren't. That needs to change this season.

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Did you read what I said I meant by "OK"? I said "competitive for pennants" in case there is confusion.

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You see 2012 and 2013 as just "lean years that are going to happen". I see what was a World Series caliber team in 2010 and 2011 and suddenly a team that isn't even making the playoffs for two straight years, and a free agency/trade market that looks very thin this year.

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I disagree on how last season should be treated, and I've expanded on that in length before, so I'll leave it there for now.

I think we see the same things, those aren't mutually exclusive views.

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I imagine anyone in the front office will tell you the same thing -- if a Top 10 payroll team in the AL West doesn't manage to make the playoffs for three years straight, that is failure -- not "lean years". We take shots at the Angels for their payroll fails, yet the last two Octobers they have been sitting the exact same place the Rangers have -- at home on the couch watching the playoffs.

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If they don't think missing the playoffs for 1 year in row is a failure, they should re-evaluate their standards.

Anyways, again, the point:

Before we put of John Hancock on the canvas of our painting of this front office as driven by and astute at giving shrewd contracts and not as astute as fielding competitive (for pennants) teams, lets give the guys who have won 90 games four years in a row, have made two World Series, and further had a traditional "wild card" record, a chance to get through the off-season before we freak that the lineup may not hit enough home runs to compete for a pennant?

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Do you have more faith in the Giants front office to field competitive teams of do you have more faith in the Pittsburgh Pirates front office to field competitive teams?

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Pirates, and it's not close.

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Maybe the better question would have been who has done a better job competing for pennants? The Pirates, first winning record in decades, or the Giants, winners of 2 of the last 4 World Series.

But looking forward, I still give the benefit of the doubt to the guys with 2 World Series wins in the last 4 years.

Bring Napoli back

Perfect. Rangers made an offer which they knew he wouldn't accept. Not sure that we wanted him anyway, especially not for what he wants. Since we offered, now we get a draft pick.

RF in Game 6 will haunt me until I die. I say good riddance.