Sullivan had a number of articles up on the Rangers website the other day, one on the front office trying to get an extension worked out with David Murphy during spring training, and the other on David Murphy being a full-time player for the first time.

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130215&content_id=41698072&notebook_id=41698216&vkey=notebook_tex&c_id=tex
http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130216&content_id=41716460&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex

A couple of things Murphy said:

"I want to be as complete of a player as possible, and one way would be if I can take another step against left-handers," Murphy said. "There is still more of a challenge for me against left-handers. What I did last year was in a small sample size. I would like to do it against a bigger sample."

"Last year I took the simple approach of just trying to hit line drives up the middle and get hits when I could," Murphy said. "I know I'm not going to hit in the middle of the order against left-handers, but if I'm in the eighth hole, I can still be productive if I have a 10-pitch at-bat or get a single up the middle."

Definitely nice to see this. I think he knows there was some luck involved in his success against lefties last season. He knows his limitations but is always trying to improve his game. I think he definitely has the right mindset to be a solid everyday contributor.

I'm curious to see what some of you think about this. If you were JD, how many years/dollars would you give him? He's obviously not very young anymore but hasn't really shown any signs of breaking down. He took a big step forward on defense last year as well. Also, where would you put him in the batting order against RHP/LHP?

You need to get a life.

@Not that Eric.....penis is small.....not growing testicles? I am so sad for you

I'm not in real favor of extending him, but if we are going to, I can't imagine anything longer than 2014. You don't give three years to a 4th outfielder.

So, if we sign him through 2014 (two years), I'd expect something in the range of $16-$18 million.

David Murphy is a nice complementary player. I wish we still had the personnel to use him as a platoon guy who can play every day when someone goes down, but it is what it is.

I would not go more than a couple of years past the one year he has left on his deal and even that hurts. Let him reach free agency and decide where to go from there.

Procarion:
Seriously dude the gay thing is getting old. Come on outta the closet.

@ Not that Eric... Seriously dude, you are in serious need of a good ol' fashion ass whoopin.

BBTIA Lineup

The Henchmen CF
ProfarMVP SS
Joey Matches 3B
Mike Hindman 1B
Eric Reining LF
Mike G. RF
Nompton DH
T Ball C
Andy 2B

You guys are a bunch of clowns

Murphy is an excellent starting LF for a lower division team. Would be ideal in Cleveland, KC or San Diego and team leader. But on an upper division team is a 4th outfielder. Is this saying something about the Rangers for 2013, seeing that Wash has already declared Murph the starting LF with likely 600 abs. Extension will probably be in the 3 year / $21 [$6,7,8}, good interim time for by 2017 Akins, Beras, Brinson, Guzman, Mazara, Pinto, Williams should be ready, while Beltre, Cone and Skole would have had their auditions.

heywouldn't:
as if you could.

I really doubt we go to three years on Murphy. Just doesn't seem like the type of move our front office would make with someone who you can find the equal of in FA pretty much every year. Murphy has been very good for us because he gave us a cheap platoon bat to go with the rest of our OF. He's about to get expensive so its time to find the next David Murphy if we can, or try and find something better.

Yeah let's go the CHEAP route since its billionaires money we are talking about.

Anonymous writes:

BBTIA Lineup

The Henchmen CF
ProfarMVP SS
Joey Matches 3B
Mike Hindman 1B
Eric Reining LF
Mike G. RF
Nompton DH
T Ball C
Andy 2B

Wait, so I'm David Murphy? Yikes.

Extension will probably be in the 3 year / $21 [$6,7,8}, good interim time for by 2017 Akins, Beras, Brinson, Guzman, Mazara, Pinto, Williams should be ready, while Beltre, Cone and Skole would have had their auditions.

Like I wrote, like JKolar said, I highly doubt they go three years for a platoon player. You wrote it yourself, he's a good outfielder on a second or third-division team, but not a frontrunner. Can't give three years to a 4th outfielder when we could find a player of equal productivity for the league minimum, or at worst a couple-few million.

Also, none of the prospects you listed figure to be worth a serious look until 2015-2016.

Our only internal hope for a 4th OF, but more likely a 5th OF, soon is Engle Beltre. Right now it looks like he is never going to hit enough to want to give real ABs to in the MLB. So we really do have to find someone, but I'm guessing they aren't currently in our system.

If he's still on waivers I wouldn't be against picking up Trayvon Robinson and stashing him in AAA to see if we can figure something out with him, though he's looking like a failed prospect.

I'd consider taking butler as a 4th OF over Beltre right now.

Do you all really believe the Rangers have a shot at winning the West? Get outta here!!!!

Wow, I fit too well at DH. My bum knee last year... Berkman this year. #illuminati

But wait... Who is pitching?

But on topic...

I'd like to see Murphy prove last year isn't a fluke. Maybe if it means he's got a chip on his should and something to prove, even better. I have no problem paying Murphy $10/ yr (Cruz money) if he can consistently put up 3+ WAR and maintain a good defensive presence in LF.

Judging from the (limited) pictures from Spring Training thus far, it seems like Murphy has bulked up a bit. Ignoring the "best shape of my life" meme, Murphy looks like he's putting his words into work. If Murphy can hit lefties at a good clip and murder RHP, then he deserves an extension. We'll be pretty depleted in the OF if we let Murphy and Cruz walk. As much as I love the prospect of Martin being the next cuban sensation (a la his platoon-mate in Cuba, Cespedes), I think I'd like Murph to hang around... IF he can keep up production.

Will 7 per get it done if you go three? If so, I think I'm in.

If they extend him, it is obviously true that they don't view him as a platoon player, because any extension is obviously going to have to be multiyear in nature to keep Murphy from going to FA.

Of course, I can believe that dumbass Eric Reining's view that he is just a platoon player, or I can believe Bill James who has him ranked as the 10th best LF in MLB right now.

So, right at 7.5 then? I still say I'm in, though 15/2 is about it.

Tough to imagine he'd sign for 2 rather than go to FA. This is his competition in FA.
Left Fielders
Jason Bay (35)
Endy Chavez (36)
Mark DeRosa (39)
Matt Diaz (36)
Chone Figgins (36)
Ben Francisco (32)
Bill Hall (34)
Raul Ibanez (42)
Reed Johnson (37) - $1.6MM club option with a $150K buyout
Austin Kearns (34)
Jason Kubel (32) - $7.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Nate McLouth (32)
Mike Morse (32)
David Murphy (32)
Xavier Nady (35)
Laynce Nix (33)
Ryan Raburn (33)
Juan Rivera (35)
Delmon Young (28)

The Rangers Young Guns hopefully will be playing at Hickory in 2013. Should be a very entertaining team with Gallo [ who may not have enough defense to play third and maybe eventually moved to a corner outfield], Brinson, Guzman, Mazara, Williams and possibly Pinto. The Rangers like to progressively move their talents up a step at a time putting them ready around 2016 or likely 2017. This is why Murphy would fit a 3 year deal. A two year extension is too short without relying on free agents for 2014 on, and 4 year hopefully unnecessary. The problem is that there is simply very little until then unless Beltre, Cone or Skole make a major step up or that Kinsler, Moreland or OLt is moved to a corner outfield posittion. That move for Kinsler has already been predicted by B.A. for 2016.

I really hope Murph continues to improve, and becomes a borderline all-star LF with good offense (20 HR/yr) and .375OBP. hope