Since DCaggie proposed Sleeper TORP 1~ the question has become even more relevant.
See how things change so drastically? Ogando lost his first game in Yankville~ Big sigh.
Our Five Man Staff~ not firiing on all cylinders. The Bull Pen is taking share of hits too.
It's now June 15th... the 2010 "Lee Deal", was made on July 10th. Something brewing in
Daniels office? You'd be crazy to think there's not. I'm not going to be surprised in 2011,
when the news hits us square in the face- BIG TORP acquisition. Shut Down: WANTED.
I don't believe Daniels/Ryan & Crew are thinking any less~ Winning the AL Championship.
Pitching wins Championships. I believe the Rangers are willing to take on a Big Arm, Big Ego,
with as Big a Salary. It won't be a Rental Arm, this time.. it won't cost us the Farm, either.
I do expect Daniels & Staff to be at their best... from here to October, is when the Run BEGINS...
The Road Runs through Texas, in 2011.

It sucks for one cuz its still early and we dont really know who's truly available. St. Louis AND Milwaukee are fighiting it out for first so the chances of Carpenter, Greinke, or Marcum are pretty much out the window.... i just really dunno who fits the bill? For the life of me I just really cant think of who on earth we'd be able to nab without leveraging the farm. I'm with you and quite a few others. I WANT a trade for another rotation arm. I'd LIKE this person to be a notch above CJ. I DONT want to leverage the farm. So is it possible? who the hell knows right now. It sucks it just seems like a really bad year for possible pitching trades right now.

However i'll throw one name out there. Cincy isnt quite out of it so i dont know if he'd be available, but he might fit the bill... big arm, big ego, big salary.... Johnny Cueto. How much does he improve the team? I dunno. A guy to grab on the cheap possibly from Cincy would be Travis Wood. I'd trust him over Harrison right now and his ceiling is endless... could be a possible steal. Another guy i'd take a gamble on, granted again, he might cost too much. I'd gamble on Mat Latos.

However.... if you have a shot at Verlander, Josh Johnson, or Tommy Hanson... i'd be willing to part with farm. Same goes for Felix or Pineda, but with Seattle being in contention, i dont see them making any moves, they in fact might be buyers this year.

Sorry to double post. one thing i forgot... I totally agree with you, the road runs through Texas. Unfortunately this just may not be the year. However, its all about the playoffs. we can keep the team as is now and hope to make the playoffs. Its gonna be a fight the entire way. Now i know there is a HUGE difference between basketball and baseball, so dont hate on me for that. But if the memphis grizzlies can come one game from the WCF.... this rangers team can catch that same lightning in a bottle.

It would just be a little easier with some help...

Well said, Dc. I just can't think of any names because its too early and most teams are looking in at the chance of a playoff birth so I don't know who is available.... But you never know with the FO, because last year were any of us expecting the Rangers to acquire Cliff Lee?

I don't consider Josh Johnson a "Dump Salary Arm". He'd cost the Club, BIG trade Picks.
Seattle is seeing tunnel light for the future. Nothing there that screams ACE, to *let go.
It's really not too early. The War/Trade Room boards are full of tangents-trade "what if's".
Our nimble little minds are in slag mode, comparatively. I agree, even or grade-up to Wilson.
We'll most likely see a reliever or two, come here first. Bull Pen has to be stable- shored up.
I love June/July. Everybody gets to speculate. Rangers are a focused club, w/new owners.
As noted: "We're always going to focus on making our Team better"~ stuck in my brain.
Quote coming from the Club... Daniels/Ryan-Staff- Defending American League Champions.

so no opinion on Cueto or Latos? just curious...

It's not completely out of the rhelm of possibilities that we make a trade with a team in contention who thinks they need a bat, so they give us an arm. Is it?

Latos is intriguing and his numbers aren’t terrible. A little down from last year across the board but not drastically so. I can’t imagine that the Padres wouldn’t ask for quite a bit in return and he’s not really a proven commodity yet. He had a good year last and has tremendous upside so I can see him sliding into our #2 or #3 spot quite nicely but at what cost. Perhaps the powers that be in San Diego will realize that they really aren’t that close to competing and take a number of second tier prospects in addition to a Chris Davis or J Borbon type. The Padres are pretty deep in outfielders and have a speedster in Cameron Maybin so CD is the more likely option.

As for Cueto I would imagine Cincy needs to be buried at the bottom of the division before they start to consider tearing things down. I like Cueto but with the Reds only 2.5 out and lots of season left to play I doubt they bite on anything we would offer. They might be willing to part with Volquez (certainly not the TORP you’re talking about) however if you think he could recapture some of the effectiveness he had before his injury in 2009 it might be worth a phone call. It just depends on how much he has fallen out of favor with the FO which could be pretty far when you consider how much help they were to Josh Hamilton while he was there. It doesn’t appear as if they like damaged goods.

I do think Josh Johnson is an outside possibility. The Marlins have drifted to 8.5 back in perhaps the second toughest division in baseball. If by July 1 they are double digits out I can see them taking their best player who has three years left on a club friendly 4 year 39 million contract and flipping him for an incredible haul of prospects.

I’m typically against emptying the farm for one player but I’d seriously consider parting with my manhood and any four or five prospects the Marlins want for 3 years of Josh Johnson as he enters his prime. But that’s just me.

DC~
I think you're stretching boundaries w/both young arms. Raising the ceiling a bit?
CIN/SD aren't going to dump these guys. Nor, in my opinion, do they live up(yet) to
a "Shut Down Arm". Personally, I couldn't count on either winning 2-3gms in a series.
These guys are going to be stable forces, with the clubs they're with now, as King F
and Prince P, in Seattle. As of NOW, I don't think they measure up to C.J. Wilson- do you?

We ALL know where the line forms with Daniels. He's sought our King F, J.Johnson & Lee.
He's not going to trade on a 'risk of chance win' arm. He'll go hard on a "Shut Down". Tier 1.
Will that arm be there & available? I think so. I think Daniels will get it done... as Team will.
The Lee Sign, was more of a mental boost for the team, as he was a physical help in PO's.
The Game is called "Capture the Flag"... again. Rangers have noted they expect to compete
with ALL and anyone. I don't see the Club holding back monetarily, if an Ace is there to pluck.
I'm more curious about the "Who, When, How Factor". Anyone want to hedge against Daniels?

@ arp, I too have considered Voquez. It would be a risk, but one possibly with a high reward, granted i belive we've said the same thing about Harden and Webb.. however Voquez has actually played more than either of them upon acquisition. Regardless i too have thought long and hard about Volquez especially when they sent him down to AAA.

@Hubz

its hard to say, i've seen a few Cincy games, and i belive of those games i've seen Cueto pitch twice. I agree, and i stated previously that i do belive it would be hard to get either of them since they are still in contention. In my honest opinion though i think Cueto and CJ are about even. they both have good stuff both are prone to some command issues and high walks, but both guys can catch fire and strike you out like you wouldnt believe. I think a playoff rotation of CJ, Cueto, Ogando, Lewis/Holland could be extremely effective. but thats just my opinion.

There's an underutilized bullpen arm who is available cheap and who could build up his innings in measured increments - fellow named Feliz.

@ Dave

Did i make a typo somewhere or am I missing some point youre trying to make....

Is it a small dino-suir found near the Connettykut granite mines? No, nebermind... that's an econosaurus

aggie,

I guess my point which you seem to obtuse to understand is perhaps a spelling class might be in order.

Miami papers reporting Rangers in talks for J Johnson. Talks center around Moreland, N Ramirez, M perez, Profar plus others. A relief pitcher from the Marlins would be thrown in. Marlins want Kinsler instead of Moreland according to reports.

I might be in the minority but right now i'd be more willing too give up kinsler than moreland. granted then again that would leave MY as our everyday 2B.... thats a little scary.... thats a tough one, especially losing perez AND ramirez... not to mention profar. then again its josh freakin johnson. If they want to shake things up.... thats definately the way to go.

@dave

excuse me for being obtuse again... but where the hell in this post did i misspell connoisseur? or was it just a statement in general.... if so i kill my boredom at work on this site. my work unfortunately only has IE with no spell check capabilities? regardless i didn't realize i was in line with 20 indian kids with a giant paper placard around my neck attempting to win some sort of spelling contest. seems like your comment was a waste of breath and time... Everyone makes spelling mistakes on this site. hell even joey makes them in his post at times. you just read on and get over them.

@Dave~
Quote: "I guess my point which you seem to obtuse to understand is perhaps a spelling class might be in order"

Of course Dave, U surely meant "TOO obtuse..." rather than the simplest "to obtuse..." ~ Correct?

You also know the the bit about glass houses, yes? Please - anyone, let's not quibble. DC is no moron. Unless his Mother states so in her "Tell All". Revert to splleing intent, with Mark Twain and his quote about such.

Don't see it happening this year. The candidate would have to meet the three criteria:

1) Be on a team out of playoff contention
2) Be ready to hit the free agent market next year for big bucks, or have a ridiculous contract that the team is no longer willing to pay.
3) Represent an upgraqde from what we have.

Josh Johnson is on the 60 day DL with a shoulder injury for crissakes. Latos is only a 3rd year player making no money, so I don't see the Padres motivation for moving him. The Reds are certainly not out of it and Cueto's got two more years under team control.

I just don't see the guys on the Cubs or Astros being worth going all in. True TORP's? I don't think any of them are moving this year. If Johan Santana was healthy he'd be a possibility, but I don't think he even pitches this year. I think the July trade deadline offerings will be underwhelming this year.

Rich P - being sensible! :)

I totally agree with you, man. I think Texas is probably going to have to try for an overpaid guy like Ted Lilly for their best shot at adding a starter. I imagine they will be working hard on upgrading the bullpen, which should be a little easier, no?

I would be more willing to part with Kinsler than Moreland at this point. Put MY back at 2nd. What he lacks in range he would make up for in baseball IQ. Kinsler is still getting on base a lot, and scoring a lot of runs. But i like what I have seen from Moreland so far, and he will only get better.

Jim h.

Which source? Can you please post a link if possible?

Jon Daniels vs. Cashman/Epstein - Pony Up, Mr. AL Champ GM

The Fans in here are tuned-in. Admittedly, TORP's seem slim for pickings,
but then, whom in 2010 ever thought we'd get Cliff Lee? I'm trying not to be
that Crazy Spider, weaving a schizophrenic web, but there will be changes.
I don't think JD will accept the fact of a NON-progressing shot at the Big Show.
Not only that, but the Fans have supported the team at the Gate- Big Time!

Throw in the fact that the MAVS just WON the NBA Championship. It's added
BIG pressure to meet or beat the Fans expectations of bringing home a Winner.
It simply becomes unstoppable momentum, rolling down hill. Rangers can ill afford
throwing in Defending ALCS Towel, without a major fight, as in improving the team.

The "Who, When, Where & How" are Jon Daniels Job. I'm curious to view the results.
As they say; "Pony Up". Out playing Boston, New York etc, is not just the players
expectations, from Fans. The Front Office controls the game board. You're move JD.

So I was thinking about this proposed Josh Johnson trade. granted I dont think it will happen. but i had a few questions. as far as i know Andrus isnt moving anywhere. How good Profar is related to that i'm not sure, however the last i heard was that Profar would be the heir apparent to taking Kinslers spot in 2nd leaving Elvis at SS. Granted if Profar blossoms into something more than Elvis (which i hear besides the bat, this kid could definately make a run at taking over that position) we could possibly MY, Elvis and move him to 2nd. Which brings me to a few questions.

1. if we dont do this trade, and we arent planning on ever moving profar.... what are the plans with Kinsler? OF? DH? trading him, just letting him leave via FA? does any one know or have any ideas?

2. if we do do this deal and we do include Kinsler instead of Mitch Moreland. i assume MY takes over at 2nd... but what about the future? are there even any decent future 2B FA out there?

3. and this is the best one.... lets say we do the trade and we give in and give them Mitch Moreland, for the rest of the year there will be a 3 man platoon of MY/Naps/CD for 1B/DH... that being said though, we WOULD NOT have a true 1B besides CD. I think his time has passed, and his sole purpose of playing would simply be to somehow hope he does just well enough to up his trade value.

To my point, we would have our ACE, we assume we lose CJ, our rotation would be somewhat questionable but we'd still have Ogando, Feliz, Lewis, Hunter/Holland (just hoping and praying they develop further) and we'd still have one of the best infields and out fields in baseball. Sooo.... with that in mind, would this press the FO this off season to be players for Pujols or Fielder in an attempt to get us a true 1B, but also a star.

Not a double post.... unrelated to the above, but sleeper Torp related. I'm hearing more and more that Billingsley will be available and the asking price may not be that high... worth the trouble? or just better to stay pat and wait for the future to develop?