Wednesday Morning Rangers Notes
Joey MatschulatYou know the drill:
- In today's (yesterday's?) episode of Cliff Lee Mystery Theater, an unnamed American League executive tells the New York Post that there is no way Texas would go as high as six years and $140 million to re-sign Lee, who some in the industry believe will sign as early as next week (George A. King III, New York Post)
- Adam Dunn, the power-hitting hot name of the moment (FOXSports.com's Jon Paul Morosi has joined those who have already figured he would represent a good fit in Texas, going so far as to suggest that Texas could accommodate him by moving Mitch Moreland to the outfield), is reportedly seeking four years and $60 million as a mere starting point; on a related note, one baseball executive expects that it will take a one-year, $7 million deal to sign Lance Berkman (Jeff Passan, Yahoo! Sports)
- Frank Francisco has formally accepted the Rangers' arbitration offer, whereas Cliff Lee has predictably declined his offer; Texas also averted arbitration with Mark Lowe, who settled on a $1.2 million deal for 2011, his second year of arbitration eligibility (T.R. Sullivan, MLB.com)
Reader Comments (23)
So far in this whole Cliff Lee master theatre thing, the one thing I can't stand is the Yankees and their medias smugness. With everything from the contract to the Petite thing, they act as if the Rangers are still some second rate ball club. This just reinvigorates my hate for them.
I don't get moving Mitch to out field to accommodate Dunn. Just put him in DH, unless the same rule that applied with V-Mart applies with Dunn also?
$60M seems a bit rich to me for Dunn. If he's demanding that much I'm waiting until the price comes down or looking elsewhere. I consider him a better bat than Vlad, Konerko, etc. but not quite by that much.
I'm not interested in Dunn if it means he's going to be our primary first baseman. I'd prefer to give Moreland a shot at that role. And what's more if we're going to make a move that's going to involve us doing anything with another corner outfielder, why not just take on Crawford. Go Crawford-Hamilton-Cruz with Murphy as a backup, and leave Moreland at first.
Ideally, I'd like to see us make a run at Beltre, and move Young to DH. You then greatly improve the left side of your infield defense, while likely matching last year's offensive output.
Sometimes, 'Discretion is the better part of valor.' There is a point where it gets crazy to go further. The Yankees are throwing a lot of money out for all of their wants and needs. Learn to, "Just Say NO!" They may not win the P.R. war with Jeter.
Joey -
Does the Tulowitski signing have any impact on the Rangers trying to sign Hamilton or even a player like Andrus a little further down the road? Would love to hear your thoughts.
I disagree with the notion that Beltre is a good option for the Rangers. The player has had exactly 2 good years in the majors and those just happened to be when ge was in a contract year. He was a ghost for several seasons in Seattle. MY isn't the best defensively, but at least he plays hard every day. Dunn would hit 40 HR in our park. Platoon him at DH and 1B and stick him in the five hole to protect Cruz. All of this being the second best option behind getting Lee.
Pass on Dunn. Mitch appears to have solved the 1B problem that has plagued the Rangers. Dunn does not want to DH anyway.
The team needs a DH. Good Lord, I so wish the Rangers could sign Beltre and move The Face to Player/Coach and DH. However, Beltre is a client of The Devil so even if The Face were to move the Rangers would not and should not over pay for Beltre. One can still dream I suppose..................
If this latest report of; "5 years/ $23mil/ yr," is close and the Rangers want word back from Lee before Winter Meetings, it sounds like they might fold up their tent and see a trade for Greinke. I could live with either scenario.
@Lfloyd: Hes had 3 contract years and the one you dont mention was his worst ever so you cant just say he can flip a switch and become super man he is solid with the bat and a wizard with the glove no balls would get through on the left side with Beltre and Andrus... thats just my opinion
I like the idea of signing Berkman if he is only 1 year for $7 million. Yes, his skills are declining, but he would be a very good option at DH/1b against RHPs (450 or so PAs a year).
As for Lee, 23 million per year from NY should be about the same as $21 million from Texas when you discount the difference in taxes. And if he figured in cost of living, i would think that $20 million per year from Texas = or > than $23 from NYY. The part I am nervous about would be the 6 year part. My gut feeling is that Lee unravels well before the contract would expire. I don't think that Lee can be the Cliff Lee we saw in the 1st two rounds of the playoffs for longer than a year or two. So if Texas "loses" the Lee-love-fest, I am ok with that.
I predict that if Lee signs in NY he will regret the signing for far longer than Texas will regret that signing.
I second what Lfloyd said.
And everyone keeps saying "stick MY at DH" ... do you guys not remember moving him to 3B and how well that went over? The guy is a gamer, he wants to play every day and he'll want to be in the field everyday. We're going to now tell him he's only allowed to hit for us? I agree that it's an eventual move and one he'll probably go along with in a couple of years, but for now I'd concentrate on signing a big bat to stick at DH (behind Cruz).
I'd platoon Dunn with Moreland at 1B, with a majority of his ABs being logged at DH. If he doesn't want to DH because he feels that he's some great 1Bman, then fine, but I don't like the idea of making him our full time 1B and just playing Moreland whenever at DH/1B/RF... Because for the next four years what do you do with your other LH hitting 1B Moreland? And wouldn't the lack of playing time only retard his defensive progress at 1B? And then what about Davis? I do want Davis to become as comfortable at 3B as he is at 1B though -- I think it will only help increase playing time for him and make him more of an asset.
That type of $$ may be right for Dunn in any other off season than this one... but the market for DH types this year is filled with good players. And while I like Dunn and think he would be a great addition, taking a flyer on a guy like Berkman or Vladdy, at half the price, makes more sense.
I think I have a bad taste in my mouth about Vladdy because of his WS meltdown... when in reality he was an excellent pick up. Maybe Wash has a better idea on the best way to use him in keeping him fresh down the stretch...
Berman is very intriguing. At 1/2 strentgh he's a very good player... and if he's 100% healthy, hitting in our ball park, he could put up HUGE numbers.
BTW - for all its worth, I agree with those saying "NO" to Beltre. The guy only turns it on in contract years. We don't want someone like that in a Ranger's uni.
I was hoping they would get Berkman, from all accounts a great guy, and if the leg is healed he could put up monster numbers in Arlington. However, it's looking more and more certain that Oakland is going to sign him, as soon as maybe this week.
I'm not thrilled about Berkman, but who knows, he could have a great year and he's likely to sign a one year deal. Wonder if the Rangers have even talked to him, as it looks like the A's are closing in on adding him to their wanna-be San Francisco Giants lineup.
I wouldn't hate bringing Vlad back... but I would much rather spend some $ and get Dunn or even Konerko, for the simple fact that they don't have to ONLY DH. I think part of the reason Wash thought Vlad could hang in the OF was just pure respect for him as a player and everything he's accomplished in his career... which is the same reason he played those games in SF -- not because his bat would be missed (it disappeared anyway) -- but because he didn't want to sit Vlad "the legend" when I know I would have much rather seen Murphy at the plate and in the field.
OK--Lee is going to get the megabucks with whomever he signs. The thing that is going to decide this is where does Lee and his family want to live for the next five years?
I'd go with Berkman at DH.
If that didn't work and I had Chuck Greenberg's money I'd offer Jetter 25 million for one year to become a DH and then cut him in ST
@BobbyinBryan: try 6 or probably 7 years
@Cliff - LOL... I love it!!!
Beltre would shore up the left side of my kid's infield ... not any higher.
@BobbyinBryan... families don't move. I live in Central Arkansas. Lee's family live where they have lived since he left Fayetteville for MLB ... in the same town he grew up in.
Lee will get megabucks ... but its the total payout that makes the difference if it comes down to money ... because his deal will be reworked in about 4 years to extend it out 8 - 10 years more for a total payout increase while dropping the annual payout. Makes no difference the number of years in the deal.
@thenamesjordan
-so when do you break the news to MY that he is a terrible third baseman? Think he doesn't know now?
-Davis has about 2 1/2 years at 1b ... the rest of his life has been at third ... not that he's going to get to see either of those spots again in Arlington except when his team is in town.
-Dunn too much baggage ... thinks he can actually play 1b. If signed he shouldn't expect to play except 1 game a week ... and with that amount of work you and I would be better at 1b than he would be.
-As for playing Vlad in SF... TEX had no choice. This was the WS ... had everything to do with winning ... all of the rest of what you are saying is hokey. Maybe in June ... not in the WS.
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