Ok reading this in the star telegram

"He has an advanced plate approach, which produced a .368 on-base percentage. The switch-hitter hit for equal pop from each side of the plate, and scouts believe there will be more power as he ages.

But the talent doesn't jump out at people as it does with Mike Trout and Bryce Harper.

Profar isn't going to pile up the stolen bases or even be the threat that Elvis Andrus is. Though he is considered a plus-defender at premium positions up the middle, his arm isn't the strongest in the organization at his position and isn't as good as Andrus'."

Now even in this article they say Profar is can't miss but this isn't what all you guys have been saying. Also I thought Profar had the stronger arm?

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/02/16/4626064/texa-rangers-ponder-when-profars.html#storylink=cpy

Calm down Joe C, The Rangers will figure it out. Good grief!

Elvis is the better base stealer and defender in all likely hood. Profar projects to have the better bat. The main advantage for Profar is there are three cheap seasons of his before we have to start paying him anything legitimate while Elvis is about to get expensive.

Jurickson Profar was clocked at around 95 mph when he was 16. Call me crazy, but I'm saying with solid confidence that Profar has the better arm.

That said, Elvis has more range. I'll take the range over the arm any day, but it's not like Profar is a slouch at getting to balls. Outside of a tick of better defense, stealing bases is all Elvis has on Jurickson. Elvis Andrus has never produced higher than 95 wRC+ in four years. Profar could easily carry a 100+ wRC next year. As far as providing wins is concerned, Jurickson's bat > Elvis's glove any day of the week.

Plus, like JKolar said, Profar is worth around $500K the next three years, then he has 3 arbitration years. 6 years of Profar is exceptionally more valuable than 2 years of Andrus, albeit cheap years.

Yes!!!! Another post where I'm first to respond!! Suckers!!!

You guys wish you had Mike Trout.

Miss Josh Hamilton much?

Y'know what confuses me - realizing this probably aught be its own thread, but.. What is Leonis Martin?

@eric Reining

Profar should be WORTH more than 500K, though that is what they will be paying him.

Mike Trout>Jurickson Profar :)

It does become clear what the Rangers plan really is after this off-season. Sign Elvis to a long term extension. This is not even unprecedented for a Boras client, as long as the long term is top dollar, like 5 to 7 years at $15 annum. What is a worry is the 14 for 2284 number. Andrus ability to drive a ball is progressing, but that would be a quantum jump to take him out of the Eddie Brinkman territory. If this is Plan A, and there has already been hints it that direction, then eventually Profar becomes the starting second baseman and headed toward A.Soriano numbers but with far superior plate discipline And to say that Profar does not have the arm when every other interested team wanted to sign him as a power Pitcher is ludicrous. Sometimes a player has the talent that it makes the game seem easy and this makes it appear that he is lacking, though in reality is eons ahead of the curve. This may well describe Profar, and that many a scout sees it that way, and why a Texas League but .281 hitter is rated higher than a .321 Oscar Taveras with unreal plate discipline.

les, I don't do this very often anymore, but shit.

It does become clear what the Rangers plan really is after this off-season. Sign Elvis to a long term extension.

According to whom?

This is not even unprecedented for a Boras client, as long as the long term is top dollar, like 5 to 7 years at $15 annum.

Evan Grant wrote yesterday that Boras/Elvis are thinking more like 8-10 years at Jose Reyes's AAV ($17.6 million).

Andrus ability to drive a ball is progressing...

Wait, what? When? Where? How? Andrus had his best offensive season in 2012, and he generated 95 wRC+.

...then eventually Profar becomes the starting second baseman and headed toward A.Soriano numbers...

Not a viable comparison, not even in the abstract.

This may well describe Profar, and that many a scout sees it that way, and why a Texas League but .281 hitter is rated higher than a .321 Oscar Taveras with unreal plate discipline.

I assume he's rated high because of his total contribution to the game. Jurickson is a plus defensive SS, a plus runner, and a plus hitter. Tavares is an offensive weapon, and he occupies a corner outfield role -- less priority than SS.

Andrus is basically a slash and dash shortstop while Profar has 5 tools. That's pretty much it.

Good points, Eric, but didn't you once say that Evan Grant had zero credibility?

Good points, Eric, but didn't you once say that Evan Grant had zero credibility?

In his baseball knowledge, sure. I rarely agree with him. But as far as beat reporting goes? If nothing else it gives a more accurate gauge of what we should expect.

Eric, I particularly liked your response to the Soriano comparison, especially the omission of the most significant part of the sentence and your defense of past perspectives of Evan Grant. Shows real journalistic talent.

Les,

I like your talent. Not.

Eric, I particularly liked your response to the Soriano comparison, especially the omission of the most significant part of the sentence and your defense of past perspectives of Evan Grant. Shows real journalistic talent.

I'm not a journalist, so ...

Joe C., much of this is due to the eternal optimism expressed for a prospect. We hope that Profar develops as quickly as Trout or Harper. Heck, for that matter, I hope he can show as well as Elvis Andrus. But Elvis is a now a known quantity (albeit one that is represented by Darth Vader on steroids).

All too often, though, this is NOT the case. Remember these names? Josh Booty, Shawn Abner, Bryan Bullington, Matt Bush (#1 2004 draft pick...0 games played), Todd Van Poppel, Steve Chilcott and Danny Goodwin (minor league terror .313 BA 129 HR). All of these players were considered can't miss phenoms. The reality? They were some of the biggest busts in the history of the sport.

What if Andrus gives you .296/11/.375 37 SB and a Gold Glove? I won't bother to mention the intangibles he brings. That's been done already.Surely you noticed that Elvis was driving the ball deeper last year? His body is still developing. Now, detractors will say that, even with this level of production, it will only make Elvis more expensive and impossible to re-sign.

The Ranger's margin for error is thin. Are we contenders this year? IMO, yes. Are we far from being a perennial also-ran? IMO, no.

Get ready to over-pay Andrus. I don't necessarily like it, but he is going to be the FACE and anchor for this club (the World Series years) as it metamorphoses into it's future forms.

Peace

If we extend Elvis for 7yrs, $15million AAV, would that be an overpayment?

I doubt he'd agree, but hypothetically.

Eric you may just be too young to remember Soriano. With Profar, it was more of a hope as a comparison. You seem to imply that you would not want an ALL STAR original SS who was moved to second, and over his career has had seasons where he produced 46 homers [ Hamilton's high was 43 last year], 108 rbis, 43 stolen bases, a .911 ops and a 6 WAR. It is definitely a possibility that Soriano may be on the Rangers before the end of Spring Training. And Iam sure you have not got a clue who Eddie Brinkman is. To take statements out of context gives an overwhelming clear picture and a future consideration that such is not worthy or knowledgeable of responding to, and makes posting on BBTIA pointless..

BZ, no I don't think signing Elvis for 7/15M would be a bad deal. But you nailed it, Elvis, er Boras, won't think so. I can hear the conversation now.

JD- "So, Lord Vader, uh, I mean Scott, what is "Elvis" looking for?

SB- "My client will start negotiations at 10 years at an average of 22 per, with a private jet (B757), staffed, fueled and maintained by the Texas Rangers." "Hey, the guy lives in Venezuela."

JD- "Hey Wash, how's that Profar kid looking?"

Wash- "Uh, don't know, that's how baseball go."

JD- "#@*&#." "OK....deal."

Elvis is going to be overpaid. My guess is that you're looking at 6-7 years @ 18-20 million. However, 5 years from now, as Elvis enters his age 30 season, what will the market for a player of Andrus' talents be? It looks excessive NOW. What about later?

Regardless, Profar is being viewed as insurance against Andrus. If Elvis is re-signed, my feeling is that either Moreland or Kinsler will be gone. Yes, Kinsler's contract can be traded for a similar, more useful contract.

Profar's problem is timing. He's emerged with a club at a time when there is a better, more experienced SS playing in front of him. Yes, I said A BETTER SS. Elvis is the superior player, as of today. There is no question about it.

Peace

les writes: You seem to imply that you would not want an ALL STAR original SS who was moved to second, and over his career has had seasons where he produced 46 homers [ Hamilton's high was 43 last year], 108 rbis, 43 stolen bases, a .911 ops and a 6 WAR.

Talk about taking a statement out of context and running with it ...

Maybe I'm just not big on "hope" comparisons. A player is either similar to another player or he is not. When comparing players, there's more that goes into their projection than simply being an elite offense 2nd baseman (Soriano), who became a well above average corner outfielder.

Soriano is faster than Profar, stole significantly more bases, and has a much more powerful bat.

Profar has better plate discipline, a significantly better glove, and a better arm. Soriano has 2, maybe 3 tools. Profar can flash all five.

Basically, there are a vast amount of differences in their skill sets, so I think the comparison is erroneous.

Soriano moved to 2b because of deficiency in glove as well as Jeter being at SS. Profar has no deficiency in his glove, every prospect analyst agrees that he can be above average with his glove at SS at the worst.

So why trade a 5 tool player in Profar for a 3-4 tool player in Stanton?

Trading a future elite SS & 5-Tool player for a COF 3/4 Tool Player(with less control)befuddles me also.
Please, someone convince me otherwise, because I don't see the trade-off near the equal in value.