Dickerson could turn out to be a late bloomer, somewhat of a poor man's Josh Hamilton. A very athletic left handed hitting outfielder, at 6'4' and 230#, has speed, and can play all outfield positions. Over 5 years that does not total 600 abs, he has .266 / .352 / .407 /.760 numbers. But he is 30 years old. Every year in MLB there is a AAAA player who makes it in the Big Show, aka Nelson Cruz 2009. This year it could be Dickerson.

Yes, I agree.

Not likely. Maybe a guy to sign to a Spring Training invite with hopes of tucking him away at AAA, but his strikeout totals are pretty alarming. I don't think he's realistic in Texas for the simple fact we already have about 10 outfielders.

We are all agreeing. Me? I would rate him below Gentry and Martin, maybe below Murphy, but above Cruz. This means he has a chance to play in AAA. It is conceivable that Rangers would need him next year, but I also think it is possible that the Rangers could retain Borbon and Butler and let them play or platoon next year, or re sign Murphy, sign a free agent, or, I hope not, put Moreland in the outfield, or even Olt or Kinsler.

So, for me? As long as the Rangers trade Cruz asap so Wash wont put Cruz in RF, and so that the Rangers unload some salary that isnt going to produce much this year probably, then I'm good with almost any outfield configuration. Ideally, I am on record wanting Gentry to play full time in CF (4.5 WAR) and Martin to play almost full time in RF or LF.

Why?

.266 / .352 / .407 /.760 isn't a recommendation to sign him, it's one to look elsewhere. Neither is 31 years old without ever doing anything worth mentioning at the big league level. There's no reason to chase random spare players floating through the minors, whenever they are inevitably released after another team finally gives up on them.

Ansel do you know anything about Dickerson? A little history, one of the reasons, besides pitching, the Reds traded Josh Hamilton for Edinson Volquez is they believed that Dickerson had a higher upside then Josh, who had a very successful 1/2 season with the Reds. In the Reds scouts and coaches mind then, that was a driving point in the trade and a strong belief that Dickerson would prove a better center fielder, he already was on defense. That never materialized, but the Yankees in the heart of a pennant chase was willing to put him in on their team last year. Currently, he is a 41st player on a roster, and can be picked up by order by any team. The Rangers if they do pick him up, though another team probably will beat the Rangers to it, would then have to drop some one off the 40 man roster. So all this may just be academic. But Dickerson and a previous Ranger draft choice of I believe 2004, who is currently on the Astros, Justin Maxwell, is worth the Rangers "due diligence"; even if all they do is fill out the Round Rock roster. Every season a player like Dickerson or Maxwell makes it big. Why not on the Rangers?

Les, the Reds made a mistake by overvaluing him many years ...and that's supposed to make him more valuable now?

No.

In addition, why did the Yankees release him rather than trade him? No one was willing to offer anything to get him. That's supposed to make him valuable/

No.

Scrub of the Month wish list. Drool over every player that's released, even though they aren't any good. It makes no sense.

Plus, Nellie was 26 when the Rangers got him from Milwaukee... 28 when he finally blossomed.

A 31 yo player is already 30+ and preparing to enter his declining years. Doesn't bode well for a guy who's never had any "ascending years".

Pass.

Cruz also had a moment with the hitting coach when he opened his stance and suddenly could recognize pitches. That changed him from a bottom feeder at the plate to a star. There would have to be something similar in nature for Dickerson to attract interest but his video looks just......average.

Ansel, David - like I posted, it will be academic because some other team will pick up Dickerson. He would initially be picked up as the 40th player, not a huge commitment. We are not talking a David Price, Tulo or even Pujols here, but those players do not come up for free pick up. All I am saying is that players like Dickerson, with a high level of talent that BA would describe as 'the best athlete in the system', it was a while back. In today's game, there is little difference in a 28 yearold and 30, especially how conditioning has changed with the massive growth in salaries. Wish I could be as dismissive, but having followed pro ball since 1953, have seen nearly every year a DIickerson type making it big. When his name came up, and scrutinizing his career, he seemed a very likely candidate, knowing that it would cost putting on waivers a Jeff Beliveau or Cory Burns. Ideally, Dickerson clears waivers and the Rangers could sign him to a Round Rock contract. This inquiry all began with remembering Dickerson in only a few games last year, but New York Yankee crucial September games and how he was impressive, especially on defense, and thought this is low cost no risk potential acquisition.

Pro, that is all I was postulating about Dickerson, if a talented athlete, it all starts there, makes a seemingly minor change that turns out to be big, although Cruz even before that change had put up some impressive numbers. Like I said with the Yankees last year in crucial games, he was impressive and may have already made that Cruz-like change. Time will tell..

@les - this is a joke right. Dickerson had a good 2 year stretch in Cinci where he wasn't even an everyday player. He was good in his 14 ABs last year but that means nothing. Ever since he had a 743 OPS in 2009 he just hasn't been very good. Look he is probably a nice hardworking guy that probably deserves a shot on a last place team, but he is not a solution or hypothetically even an option for the Texas Rangers. Hey if Texas wants to give him an invite to camp, by all means do it. But unless he knocks your socks off and proves that he can consistently have an OPS over 800, there is no reason to even keep him in the system. Hey if they want to put him in AAA as a fifth outfielder by all means go ahead, but we don't need him taking Plate Appearances away from prospects while he is there, and we don't need him in the bigs unless he is a viable threat which honestly I don't think he is.

He is going to be 31 when the season starts, and there is a big difference between 28 and 31. 28 is an athletes prime, it's when he is at his best. 31 usually is the beginning of decline. Chris Dickerson isn't some incredibly tools guy anymore, HE IS 30. This organization has better internal options with Murphy, Gentry, Martin, and Cruz in the majors and even Julio Borbon and Joey Butler in the minors. Both of those guys are younger and could probably produce at the big league level right away. I'm not saying Chris Dickerson won't end up being a decent big league player, because he could, but he just doesn't fit into this organization. Maybe the Marlins will take a flyer.

JURICKSON, THE MULE HAS ALREADY BEEN BEATEN TO DEATH.

Still... if you go back to Nellie as the example...

Nellie became a star for the Rangers after he opened his stance. not a mega-star by any means, but a star, none-the-less. But, for how long. 3 years? Now, Nellie's 32 (one year older than Dickerson) and his career is spiraling the wrong way.

These guys don't have the steroids to hold 'em up, anymore. And, over the course of time, bodies begin to age. Especially position players. There are very few examples of exceptions (Jeter, but even his range has greatly diminished) and a few DHes.

I like the concept you propose... I just don't think it's executable. He could flare for a month or two, if someone tweaked that one thing that set him free (i.e. Cruz' open stance), but Papa Clock has already been ticking for a while.