Time to get this thing fired up.

Good to see the Rangers shuffling some players around to get a feel for what to expect moving forward.

Roman Mendez up tonight. Assuming BP trades get made, he'd have been one to consider calling up. Now he gets a taste and they can send him down for a break if necessary.

Feliz was brought up. Give him a chance to showcase. He could be a fill-in or someone to consider shipping.

I'm interested in watching who the Rangers ship off and get in return.

I'm also interested in seeing if they swap some players under contract.

Giancarlo Stanton? Cole Hamels? Do anything for you?

If we can ship some guys (Frasor, Soria, Cotts, Soto)... it will be nice to see who steps up.

One thought might be when Soto returns (after ASB), he returns to the lineup. Giminez moves to 1B and Pena is released. Move Soto and put Giminez back behind the dish.

JP Arencibia has been at 1B in Round Rock.

They'll get Stanton, Hamels, and probably CarGo.

You should email the GM your concerns!!!!!!!!!

I see the Astros' start to sniff getting out of the cellar and their smug fans are crawling out from under their rocks.

Act like you've won before.

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I see the Astros' start to sniff getting out of the cellar and their smug fans are crawling out from under their rocks.

Act like you've won before.

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That's priceless coming from a Rangers fan.

HoustonBold on this thread

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HoustonBold on this thread

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Some never fail to disappoint.

I'd put everyone on the block and see what bites. Yu is the only one I'd be hesitant to trade with 2 years left, but I'd still put his name out there.

Depends on if the Rangers think they can still win with the current group of players they have, even when healthy. If they do, Yu should be untouchable. If they don't, trade him and grab some top prospects to start rebuilding. I doubt they are ready to start that though.

I think Choo, Odor, Profar and Darvish are all off limits.

Choo - perfect lead-off hitter and LF.
Odor - Rookie 2B'er that looks all kinds of great.
Profar - Value is low, ceiling is high.
Darvish - Irreplaceable.
Alfaro - Has a solid future.
Gallo - Heir to 3rd

Everyone one else... I'm listening to.

You're probably right as far as who is off limits. Odor and Profar are the type of major league ready prospects you're looking to trade for, not give up. Not to mention, trading Profar now would be selling low, but you don't want to trade Odor until you know more about what you have in Profar. So they both end up off limits for several reasons. I would like to see them dump Elvis and go with these two in the middle IF. Even if I get crap in return, I free up $15 million to spend on the rotation or an OF with some pop in his bat.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 7/9/2014 4:38p).]

Yu is probably the only "off limits" guy.

They'd deal Belts but very unlikely someone gives the package it would take.

They'd absolutely deal Odor or Profar if it meant a controllable SP or a Stanton. Same for Gallo or Alfaro. Just not a likely scenario, tho.

Tanaka on DL for elbow inflammation.

That helps ensure Darvish will finish in the Top 3 for Cy Young. He finishes Top 3 in 2014 and 2015... he will opt out before the 2017 season.

Regarding SS\2B.

I think Odor is probably the highest of value and likely the least touchable of the four. He has shown at 20... he can play.

Ranked:
Odor (20)
Profar (21)
Andrus (25)
Sardinas (21)

Wash describes Odor\Sardinas\Profar as pretty similar with the exception that Profar has swagger. Apparently he has "it" and that is why he is projected higher.

Benefits to trading Andrus is the $15M/yr and the fact he has seemed to plateau at a level below what he was 2 years ago. He seems tired and lacks hunger. The down side is... his level of play is still pretty good and you give that up for uncertainty.

Profar-Odor is about $1.1M for the next 3 years as they are serfs. Assume the drop off from Andrus is small, the $15M/yr for Andrus could go to someone else.

Sardinas is tradeable with value. However, I don't know that I'd be willing to trade two. If we trade Andrus... Sardinas to SS and we'll take some lumps. I'd want 3 of them for 2015.

Behind those guys...

AA: Odubel Herrera (2B-22) 2016
A: Travis Demeritte (2B-19) 2017
A+: Chris Bostick (SS-21) 2016

I love the guy, so it's hard for me to say this, but I am becoming more and more in favor of trading Yu. I'm pretty confident he's going to be a FA in two years, so it's really not even that much of a long-term white flag. The Rangers need to take advantage of this year as a seller and he and Rios are the only options (other than prospects) that there are. Trade him or rework his deal and guarantee that he's here past 2017. You are putting way too many eggs in the 2016 basket otherwise.

People talk about Beltre and Andrus, but those guys have 0 value unless you pick up part of their contract.

And as far as middle infield, I say definitely trade Sardinas this year. I'm not sure what your best bet as far as Andrus/ Profar/ Roogie is, but I'm confident Sardinas doesn't crack in if all three are healthy.

Soria is a solid trade chip as well. Like Rios, there is a club option in place for next year ($7-8MM, I think) so he has more than half of a season's worth of value.

Beltre has value. He's putting up very good, consistent #'s and only has one more year on his deal (club can void 2016 if he doesn't hit 1200 plate appearances across 2014-15 or 600 in '15). I'd agree about Elvis though. Any move there is largely just to clear salary to spend on another need, which would still be helpful.

[This message has been edited by DannyDuberstein (edited 7/10/2014 8:22a).]

Rangers would never get the type of offer they'd need to move Darvish. Simply too valuable from an attendance standpoint.

I wouldn't be opposed to it though. This team won't have a chance at contending until 2016, which gives us a 1-year window with Yu.

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Beltre has value. He's putting up very good, consistent #'s and only has one more year on his deal (club can void 2016 if he doesn't hit 1200 plate appearances across 2014-15 or 600 in '15).

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His contract is not as big as I was thinking it was ($17 this year, $18 next and $16 in 2016), but I don't think anyone will bet against him reaching those PA numbers. So his value is a lot higher than I thought. Would be interesting to see what they could get for him.

I believe Kouz will start rehab before the end of July.

Let's get moving...

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/07/rangers-relievers-drawing-interest-2.html

I think Cotts, Frasor and Soria are no brainers to be traded.

I think the order will be:
Cotts
Soria
Frasor

Cotts and Soria could be traded together.

Let's get this thing rolling.

Oh... and we'll likely lose games at a faster pace than we have already.

Our 2014 future?!
Feliz - Closer (although I hope he is proven worthy of being traded).
West (25) - 8th Inning.
Mendez (23)
Tolleson (26)
Mikolas (25) to the pen when Luke Jackson gets called.
Poreda (27) <- Our lefty

Im I the only one that still in the back of his mind wants Rangers to make a run at D. Price to try again next yr. Yu, D. Price, Holland then perez back mid season.

You aren't the only one. But be careful... Astros fans will mock you.

I know Philly is looking to dump Hamels (30) who is owed $22.5M for the next 4 seasons and then $20M for the 5th season (Team Option).

Price is Arb next year, so trading for him is for 1 year. Another team, IMO will find it worth more to invest for this year and next, where as the Rangers would just get next year.

That's why Hamels has appeal, to me. The $$$ owed will bring down what they want, because they need salary relief. He is under team control for a few years, which makes getting him a longer strategy.

Looking at the package it took to get Shark and Hammel, i'm guessing JD is reluctant to make that move not knowing exactly what he's going to need off the farm in the next year given all the injuries.

They'd surely want Alfaro or Gallo and probably both seeing as the Rangers don't have a "top 10 prospect" and I just don't see the Rangers doing that.

Soria, however, is drawing plenty of interest and due to the fact you can control him next year the Rangers are apparently asking for a kings ransom as they should be. The Tigers, just for example, could easily be Soria away from solidifying a pretty shaky back end of the bullpen thank to Joe Nathan's decline.

Coupla big things in play for me going into 2015...tv deal goes to a reported 80 mil a yr. second is what happens to HArrison, is he done? Do Rangers get insurance relief for his 15 mil? And Fielder and his 24 mil dollar neck problem. I think the Rangers could part with some younger players for Price and gain some back for Soria, possibly Cotts and Frasor. Dont ask me what package the Rangers offer up for Price tho.. I havent got that far!!!

I am guessing we will have a top 3 draft pick at worst if not the #1 pick at this pace.

That will be helpful in restocking the farm system.

I'm not trading anything out of my farm system until at least the middle of next season, after you know what you have with this team - did the neck surgery bring back the old Fielder, is Harrison really done, what has Profar got, etc.

The only Hamels deal I'd consider is if they took Elvis at the key part of that deal, which I don't see.

Price will be extremely expensive to whomever trades for him.

We're more likely to trade for young talent or just stand pat than trade for somebody like that this year.

And while Price may help us in 2015... anything we do in 2014 to win games could hurt our chances at the #1 pick in June 2015.

So... Dump the guys we can and work to get depth. In the offseason, maybe we make a run.

If we can get enough minors from Soria, Frasor, Cotts, Feliz...maybe we have more chips to consider piecing together in the offseason.

I'd love to be able to get the #1 pick in 2015 that we can get an impact player.

DA...would you then try to sign a Type A free agent in the offseason and risk losing the top pick?

I thought the Top 11 picks were protected?! Thus, they'd lose their 2nd Rd pick.

There are a lot of "depends" that would go into it, as their 2nd Rd pick would still return a pretty good asset.

Depends on who it is they sign.
*** There are some pretty good Arm available.

Depends on what it costs if they sign.
*** If they go after a big name and tie up tons of cash... that could be trouble.

Depends on what they trade off.
*** If they trade of Beltre and\or Rios and\or Darvish, then don't sign a Top FA.

Depends on what they get back from the trades.
*** If the Rangers get a pretty good haul... meaning 4-5 AA-AAA players with MLB potential, or 2-3 high ceiling high risk players... They may get some players that would lessen the impact of a 2nd Rd pick.

Depends on where they are, in terms of competing.
*** I don't believe we'll ever see Harrison pitch in a game (minor or major) again. If the Rangers find they won't get back Holland with any effectiveness, and Nick Tepesch\Martinez both fall apart... Profar continues to struggle with health and such... if 2015 looks like a long shot... The pick is worth far more than the few wins we'd get in a meaningless season.

However (I know tl ; dr)
If Holland gives you hope he'll plug in at least as a #3, one of the Nicks finishes this season as a solid #5... Profar demonstrates by ST he'll be serviceable... If Fielder appears he'll be healthy and capable in 2015.

If we have Choo-Martin-Rios\Beltre-Andrus(or Profar)-Odor-Fielder; Darvish-Holland-Nick

Then, I'd say it might be worth going out and bagging a big Arm. Shields.

On the otherhand... if you have the #1 pick in 2015... and an early 2nd Rder... and Luke Jackson (3GS\6.00 ERA) continues to get people out in AAA, and you have Kaminska (23) at Hickory making progress... You might say, "Hey, I can get a really good prospect in a deep pitching draft so I keep my pick (not signing top FA) and go the trade route." If you can identify a player you feel replaces Jackson, Brinson, Demerrit... or Sardinas... You may trade some prospects for Hamels.

Lots of options, IMO.

I think a lot of people are overplaying the new TV deal. It will certainly put more money in the coffers, but this is already a $135+ million payroll team. You might see is get bumped to $145 or $150, but not much more IMO.

Team has too many holes and question marks for 2015 to go after another big name contract. Still have to keep money earmarked for a run at re-signing Yu as well.

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I think a lot of people are overplaying the new TV deal.

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/Says the guy who beat the drum that LAAA's bad contracts would never catch up to them because of their TV deal.

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It will certainly put more money in the coffers, but this is already a $135+ million payroll team. You might see is get bumped to $145 or $150, but not much more IMO.

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Texas and JD has been clear that they haven't bumped to ceiling, but that they won't just spend to spend. They've had the flexibility to add payroll.

Having said that... $145-150M may be the soft cap target. I could see that being where they are next season. They have $109M committed to 9 players, with 2 options (Rios would add $12.5M and Soria would add %6.5M, based on buyout).

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Team has too many holes and question marks for 2015 to go after another big name contract. Still have to keep money earmarked for a run at re-signing Yu as well.

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I would agree with the question marks... whether they are holes or not, we'll see. If they pick up the options they have:
Choo-Martin-Rios
Beltre-Andrus-Odor-?
Chirinos\Gimenez
Darvish- ? - ? - Tepesch - Martinez?
Cl - Soria
BP - Tolleson - Scheppers? - Ross? <- Serfs
BP - Feliz? - Ogando? - Arbs

Important Questions: Fielder and Holland.
Holes:
1B i?f Fielder doesn't return healthy
DH <- True Hole
#2 i?f Holland is ineffective
#3 <- True Hole
#5 i?f Tepeach or Martinez fall apart the rest of 2014.

One more question mark...

How much relief we get for Harrison.

Oh... and we start getting $6M/yr for Fielder in 2016.

Gallo hit a ball out of Target Field during Futures Game BP. He's not untouchable bit it'll take a lot to get him. Power only Stanton can compare to.