The Official Off-Season Thread of the Texas Rangers

[asmarks18]

2012 Texas Rangers Off-Season

Free Agents

Mike Adams -- Relief Pitcher
Ryan Dempster -- Starting Pitcher
Scott Feldman -- **** face
Josh Hamilton -- Left Field, Center Field
Mark Lowe -- **** face
Mike Napoli -- Catcher, First Base
Roy Oswalt -- Starting Pitcher


Arbitration Eligible

1st time: Neftali Feliz -- Starting Pitcher
2nd time: Matt Harrison -- Starting Pitcher
3rd time: David Murphy -- Left Field

Team Needs

Replacement for Josh Hamilton
A true lead off hitter
A true top of the rotation starter
2 solid bullpen arms (1 lefty, 1 righty)


Potential Free Agent Targets

Grant Balfour -- Closer, Oakland A's **
Michael Bourn -- Outfielder, Atlanta Braves
Johnathan Broxton -- Closer, Cincinatti Reds
Melky Cabrera -- Outfielder, San Francisco Giants
Zack Greinke -- Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
Dan Haren -- Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels **
J.P. Howell -- Left Handed Reliever, Tampa Bay Rays
Francisco Lariano -- Starting Pitcher, Chicago White Sox
Brandon League -- Relief Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kyle Lohse -- Starting Pitcher, St. Louis Cardnals
Jake Peavy -- Starting Pitcher, Chicago White Sox **
A.J. Pierzynski -- Catcher, Chicago White Sox
B.J. Upton -- Outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays
Jose Valverde -- Closer, Detroit Tigers


** indicates club option



Potential Trade Targets

Carlos Gonzalez -- Outfielder, Colorado Rockies
Felix Hernandez -- Starting Pitcher, Seattle Mariners
Josh Johnson -- Starting Pitcher, Miami Marlins
Tim Lincecum-- Starting Pitcher, San Francisco Giants
Joe Mauer -- Catcher, Minnesota Twins
Cliff Lee- Starting Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies
David Price -- Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
James Shields -- Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
Justin Upton -- Outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks


Storylines
Where will Josh Hamilton sign?
What will the Rangers do to replace him?
Can Jon Daniels acquire a legit ace?
Is Mike Napoli worth anything other than a 1 year contract?
Will the Rangers trade Elvis Andrus to make room for Jurickson Profar?
Will the Rangers trade Ian Kinsler or have him change positions to make room for Jurickson Profar?
Is it time to move on from the Michael Young era?
Will Scott Coolbaugh be dismissed as the teams hitting instructor?


Key Dates

Immediately following the WS -- Eligible players become free agents

Six Days Following the WS -- First day that Major League and Minor League free agents may sign contracts with teams other than their former clubs

Twelve Days Following the WS -- Last day for a player to accept arbitration from former club

November 30th -- Last day for clubs to tender contracts

December 3-6 -- Baseball Winter Meetings, Nashville, Tenn.

December 6th -- Rule 5 draft

[Skizzik]

The real official off-season thread of the Rangers right here.

[asmarks18]

Instead of giving 30 million annually to Hambone we should invest in the Upton Brothers.

Justin's 2013 salary is 9.75 million
B.J. Upton will probably get what? 10 million? Probably overpaying but if it's a fairly reasonable contract in terms of years, I would give him that. Like 3 years 30 million.
Then I would offer AJ Pierzynski a 2 or 3 deal worth about 8 million a season.


3 good players for 1 good player. Even though we have 2 billionaire owners and a great TV contract that will assure us of getting whatever player(s) we want, it is still nice to be financially smart and this would be.


1. B.J. Upton -- CF
2. Jurickson Profar-- SS
3. Justin Upton -- LF
4. Adrian Beltre -- 3B
5. Nelson Cruz -- RF
6. Ian Kinsler -- 2B
7. Michael Young -- 1B
8. AJ Pierzynski -- C
9. David Murphy / Mitch Moreland -- DH

[zdennis24]

I'm completely on board with getting CarGo. Guy has the potential to be an absolute stud but I don't know what it would cost and if Colorado would sell.

[Young2Kinsler]

Instead of giving 30 million annually to Hambone we should invest in the Upton Brothers.

Justin's 2013 salary is 9.75 million
B.J. Upton will probably get what? 10 million? Probably overpaying but if it's a fairly reasonable contract in terms of years, I would give him that. Like 3 years 30 million.
Then I would offer AJ Pierzynski a 2 or 3 deal worth about 8 million a season.


3 good players for 1 good player. Even though we have 2 billionaire owners and a great TV contract that will assure us of getting whatever player(s) we want, it is still nice to be financially smart and this would be.


1. B.J. Upton -- CF
2. Jurickson Profar-- SS
3. Justin Upton -- LF
4. Adrian Beltre -- 3B
5. Nelson Cruz -- RF
6. Ian Kinsler -- 2B
7. Michael Young -- 1B
8. AJ Pierzynski -- C
9. David Murphy / Mitch Moreland -- DH

1. AJ Pierpussy is an intollerable douche, no thanks.
2. Michael Young should probably not even be on this roster, much less starting at 1B. Unless we like giving away runs that much.

[asmarks18]

Pierzynski is better than Napoli so he can bring his douchebagness to Arlington all he wants for all I care.

[C-McD]

1. AJ Pierpussy is an intollerable douche, no thanks.
2. Michael Young should probably not even be on this roster, much less starting at 1B. Unless we like giving away runs that much.

Instead of giving 30 million annually to Hambone we should invest in the Upton Brothers.

Justin's 2013 salary is 9.75 million
B.J. Upton will probably get what? 10 million? Probably overpaying but if it's a fairly reasonable contract in terms of years, I would give him that. Like 3 years 30 million.
Then I would offer AJ Pierzynski a 2 or 3 deal worth about 8 million a season.


3 good players for 1 good player. Even though we have 2 billionaire owners and a great TV contract that will assure us of getting whatever player(s) we want, it is still nice to be financially smart and this would be.


1. B.J. Upton -- CF
2. Jurickson Profar-- SS
3. Justin Upton -- LF
4. Adrian Beltre -- 3B
5. Nelson Cruz -- RF
6. Ian Kinsler -- 2B
7. Michael Young -- 1B
8. AJ Pierzynski -- C
9. David Murphy / Mitch Moreland -- DH

No Way on Pierzynski. I wouldn't even want that dude on this team. That's the wrong personality for the Rangers.

[asmarks18]

Welcome to the forum C-McD


Pierzynski gets a bad rap. He's the guy who you hate on the opposing team and love when he's on your side. This team needs to find a way to replace Hamiltons numbers collectively. Napoli is a bum. Pierzynski even at a old age 36, is still a solid hitter and can call a good game.

[ddhulett]

I resign Hamilton unless the money gets too crazy.

As much as he slumped I don't think Hamilton is the kind of person that will not play if he's paid.

Let's put the blame on Cruz, Napoli, Young etc...Everyone had down seasons besides Beltre and Andrus as far as I see it.


The rest of the free agents are laughable compared to what Hamilton is.

[Young2Kinsler]

I resign Hamilton unless the money gets too crazy.

As much as he slumped I don't think Hamilton is the kind of person that will not play if he's paid.

Let's put the blame on Cruz, Napoli, Young etc...Everyone had down seasons besides Beltre and Andrus as far as I see it.


The rest of the free agents are laughable compared to what Hamilton is.

I can tell you now, Hamilton WILL NOT be a Texas Ranger next year. 100%, no doubt. That ship has sailed

[slugger82685]

man, you guys are so hard on face lol....i dont know how you can put any blame for the collapse down the stretch on him. The last month of the season he batted .323 with a .380 OBP, scored 17 runs, hit 3 HRs, and drove 11 guys in. He was more helpful to them than a lot of the other guys....did he have a down year? sure he did, he has obviously lost a step but that is expected for a soon to be 36 year old baseball player. Trust me, I was just as frustrated with him at times as everyone else, but including him as one of the reason for the meltdown is just wrong. I will agree that his playing time should have been reduced but he was more beneficial to the team than hurting them down the stretch.

[slugger82685]

I resign Hamilton unless the money gets too crazy.

As much as he slumped I don't think Hamilton is the kind of person that will not play if he's paid.

Let's put the blame on Cruz, Napoli, Young etc...Everyone had down seasons besides Beltre and Andrus as far as I see it.


The rest of the free agents are laughable compared to what Hamilton is.

all indications point to his contract getting stupid crazy with money.....no way we even come close to whoever ends up paying him, I think the top contract we offer him is 4 years, $80 mil with a club option for 5th year and huge incentive based with restrictions for relapses. No way can we have him relapsing over and over again and being the topic of conversation with the media all the time like in the past.

[slugger82685]

just throwing this out there as an idea in my head, but you guys think there is any chance we could pry Wil Myers from the Royals? Maybe in some kind of deal that includes Holland and/or Cruz if we eat a lot of their salary?

[asmarks18]

So is it a forgone conclusion that Ogando will be a starter in 2013?


1. Darvish
2. Harrison
3. Holland
4. Ogando
5. Acquired Pitcher or Martin Perez?

[slugger82685]

So is it a forgone conclusion that Ogando will be a starter in 2013?


1. Darvish
2. Harrison
3. Holland
4. Ogando
5. Acquired Pitcher or Martin Perez?

it sounds like that is something they are considering, but I think it really depends on how the trade market plays out and who they think they might want to sign in free agency....but as of right now, all signs are pointing that way.

I cringe looking at that rotation and think thats wut it would look like if we didnt make any moves. There is just no way we can go into the season with that. As well as Harrison did this year, I just dont see him as the type of pitcher that continues pithing like that. I think he had a career year and probably wont repeat it. Holland just keeps pissing me off and I would like to see him traded but for some reason Maddux and company are just obsessed with him.