How many listened to the Elvis Andrus interview with Ben & Skin?

I was one of the dreamers--thinking Rangers could sign Elvis to an extension.
Obvious listening to Elvis that he will go to free agency-"We have 2 years remaining on my contract and then we will see" I dont need a Pujols contract--but one that i can be happy with"
Do we wish we had did the Upton deal now?

I was in favor of extending Elvis and trading Profar while he is rated #1 prospect in a deal for a Price or Stanton.
What's the chance we would sign Elvis if he went to FA?

He wants Boris to get him all he can.
Trade him now--or at mid season?
What can we get for him?
A young prospect under control? Pitcher or Bat?

yes

As was all for trading Elvis early in the offseason for a COF/MOTOB. This late though, with most of our targets now off the market I'd just assume hang on to him until July.

If we're out of the running a week before the trade deadline, the packages that Elvis and a healthy/productive Cruz could bring back make my baseball willy tingle. Those players + one of the low level, high upside guys we brought in last year land you Stanton in November.

I was*

DId you really expect a Scott Boris client to do or say anything else? Here is the issue though with the new rules FA's have a new issue it's not just the money any more you also have to give up the draft pick. Now I really don't think that will hurt Elvis's value because he'll only be 25 / 26 when he hits FA, but we shall see. Plus it's 2 yrs away a lot could happen in 2 yrs.

Also the rangers have 3 maybe 4 legit SS in the system right now (including Elvis and Profar) so you keep him for another 2 yrs and if you can't resign him we take the draft pick and move on.

I missed it, but Newberg went over the highlights. If anything I might have a little more hope that Elvis is at least willing to stay now. I never heard anything from him that even hinted at being willing to extend before this. Regardless of what Boras advises, if he wants to stay he can. I guess it just depends on what the Rangers and he feel is fair. Of course it's possible Elvis fully intends on playing in NY....I mean testing the market, and is just saying all the right things. I have little doubt that JD is working very hard to find out. If they can't come to an agreement I believe the Rangers will trade him this summer, assuming of course they feel Jurickson is ready and there is a good fit with another club. Best case for the Rangers in a trade scenario would be an established outfielder or rotational pitcher, but JD will take the best value, whatever it is.

My hope is that he extends and Profar becomes a center piece for Price. Tampa can move their Korean prospect to 2B or trade him. I really like Profar, but I'm more attached to Elvis, and David Price would look pretty nice at the top of the rotation with Darvish.

Stanton would be nice as well, but Price, a Ranger? yeah, I'd love to see here.

LMFAO. So you wouldn't want your agent to get YOU all he could?

Yeah, I listened to it. I enjoyed the podcast but it definitely seems like Elvis wants to test the free agent market.

Why wouldn't he?

@ Not that Eric- Of course I would, that's what he's there for. But If I'm Jered Weaver and think this is the place to win a World Series, and put up great numbers in my home park, in a place I love, I tell Mr. Boras to get it done. As I said it's up to Elvis. It just depends on what he thinks is fair. He said it, not me. I never said he needed to give a home town discount like Weaver did. And I also said that he may just be saying all the right things. My point was that if Elvis wants to stay he can. I hope he does.

Elvis, I love ya man and I hope you stay with Texas long-term. But in your quest to grab every last penny you can, don't forget that time changes everything. Waiting is a two- way risk. If you get hurt in the next two years, you can wave goodbye to a significant portion of that free agent money. Sign now and you the get the immediate security of knowing that you will forever be crazy filthy rich... Instead of waiting two years and gambling on your opportunity to become obscenely crazy filthy rich.

Don't kid yourselves. What Elvis really wants is to succeed Derek Jeter in NYC and he knows that he can probably do that when he is eligible for Free Agency. Expect the Rangers to deal him before the trade deadline. I like Elvis but Profar is going to be a much better offensive player and his defense will not be subpar either.

Joe C wrote: "Also the rangers have 3 maybe 4 legit SS in the system right now (including Elvis and Profar) so you keep him for another 2 yrs and if you can't resign him we take the draft pick and move on."

Sooooo, since Texas has plenty of depth at the SS position (including the top prospect in all of baseball), Texas should just let Andrus walk and get very little for him (draft pick) over trading him for impact pieces now? That makes no sense.

Like you said, Texas has plenty of high-end depth at the SS position. That's why Texas should feel comfortable moving Andrus, not why Texas should hold on to him.

Totally agree w/utb &WS. Elvis should be dealt under just about any circumstance at the trade deadline because Profar should be a lot better offensively and also projects to be an above avg. to elite defensive SS. While he might not have quite as much range as Elvis (who does), his off the chart instincts should put him pretty close and his arm is better than Elvis'. NY has been largely inactive because they want to get under the cap for the 2014 FA class that includes Elvis and the big 3 pitchers (Verlander, King Felix & Kershaw). Anyone who thinks that the Yanks aren't waiting to land 1/3 pitchers + Elvis to replace Jeter is NUTS. Elvis is gone and I for one would like to get more than a 1st round pick who will be lucky to develop into a major league regular. I just hope that we did not wait too long to trade him while everyone was so willing to give up top prospects. St. Louis seems like a perfect partner. Wish we could land Taveras but that may be a pipe dream. Maybe Furcal will be unhealthy or suck it up at 36. Bottom line, trade his @$$ because he isn't sticking around.

Elvis= Josh 2.0 scenario

Elvis= Josh 2.0 scenario

I suspect this will be a common misconception when Elvis Andrus leaves in two years, and it couldn't be further from the truth. To be honest, I think the Rangers really, really like Elvis, and that they really, really wish he would come back at a discount. They didn't feel that way with Josh Hamilton. If we're all being realistic, it's fair to say the Rangers were more than OK washing their hands clean of Josh and all his baggage. Like Newberg wrote, Texas paid for his 5 best years at around $28 million; the Angels are going to pay him $125 million during his decline.

With Andrus, the scenario is different. As many of us on here presuppose, the Rangers were very likely trying to extend Elvis around they time they settled on Ian Kinsler's $70 million extension. After all, you can only keep two of Kinsler/Andrus/Profar, and when Ian was inked, the next half-decade of the franchise was set. Had Elvis taken a significantly under-market deal, last year would have been Kinsler's last season in the organization, and Jurickson Profar would be our 2nd baseman of the future.

All of us love Elvis Andrus, and most have us are resigned to the idea he will be gone after 2014. Like utb said, with Profar, Sardinas, Alberto, and even Leury Garcia, I suppose, we have plenty of depth at the position. We should have capitalized on Elvis's value this offseason, but since we didn't, that is, and will remain, my biggest critique of the Rangers front office.

"We should have capitalized on Elvis's value this offseason, but since we didn't, that is, and will remain, my biggest critique of the Rangers front office."

The idea that the the off-season of 2012-13 was the Rangers' ideal time to trade Andrus was YOUR biggest mistake in analysis, and apparently it continues to be. But it's not theirs. They have accurately assessed that they can wait until the middle or end of the 2013 season and do as well or better when resolving that talent logjam, while also retaining added flexibility in the career arc of Profar.

^ This doesn't make sense. I must be confused.

"We should have capitalized on Elvis's value this offseason, but since we didn't, that is, and will remain, my biggest critique of the Rangers front office."

The idea that the the off-season of 2012-13 was the Rangers' ideal time to trade Andrus was YOUR biggest mistake in analysis, and apparently it continues to be. But it's not theirs. They have accurately assessed that they can wait until the middle or end of the 2013 season and do as well or better when resolving that talent logjam, while also retaining added flexibility in the career arc of Profar.

Uhm, I didn't write this.

some ones truck is soon to be trashed if they don't curb the trolling

Looks like the person who disputed Eric's point tried to impersonate him once and forgot to change his nametag back to his own. Whoops.

I listened to it........Elvis sounded like he would like to stay in Texas but wanted to be happy, which means how much money can I get. There could be a shred of hope if the Ranger and Elvis could talk direct like Jered Weaver did with the LAA a couple of years back. He is a Boras client and he was "happy" in Anaheim and he settled for a figure that was good for both sides and pretty much told Boras to butt out and let him negoiate with the club himself. Would love to see Elvis do that!!!!!!!! Maybe wishful thinking on my part but this guy could be our team leader for years to come.

I heard Elvis say-- "i'm not going to extend--im going to free agency and let Boris work his magic--so "i can be happy"
If Texas is the highest bidder--i will be happy to stay here.

And really--why should he be worth more to another team than he is to the Rangers?

I wanted to believe that Nolan and JD could make a 24 year old man "happy" with a $100 million/6 year contract extension.
I don't expect a player to give a big home team discount. And i don't want the team to get in ridiculous bidding wars--But If we're not going to pay a 24 year old all star ss--who are we going to pay?

I thought this franchise had turned the corner--with ownership that wouldn't let other teams take our star players.
And an ownership that would go out and get a Grienke and an Upton!

I thought we were going to "be in contention every year--and win the WS a couple times every decade"

But, like that elusive last out,we haven't quite made that commitment yet.
We continue to talk about 2 years of this player and 1year of that one.

Hamilton had to go--it should never have had to happen--but it was a divorce--and we got his best years!
But we replace his bat with a couple of 37 year olds?

And i thought we all knew that the Grienke bidding would begin at 6 yrs/150.
Im stunned that the Dodgers got him at 147. We should have been prepared to go $160 if we were going to declare that he was a target? We should have gotten him at $160 or at least ran the bid up on the Deep Pockets.

Almost makes me want to become a Tampa Bay Rays fan. They really do know how to compete every year--on the cheap--make smart trades. And develop pitching!

Terry C wrote: "If we're not going to pay a 24 year old all star ss--who are we going to pay?"

Texas will probably pay a guy when the organization does not have a superior/cheaper in-house alternative to replace him. Texas has the benefit of owning the rights to Profar.

Texas will contend each year by replacing guys like Elvis with guys like Profar (rather than signing Elvis to a mega contract). That's how good organizations work.

Texas will contend each year by replacing guys like Elvis with guys like Profar (rather than signing Elvis to a mega contract). That's how good organizations work.

^ This, and I surmise when the television revenue starts pumping in, the FO will take shots at various high-priced free agents here and there if they really think it's worth it (a la Cliff Lee, a la Yu Darvish).

Perhaps more accurately, another deft tactic would be to acquire guys with multiple remaining years of control (Price, Stanton), and look to extend them before free agency. It would be tough with those two in particular, but that's the general idea. Try to create a $15-$20 million savings.