Being Jon Daniels: Scenario No. 1
David
Ring!
"Hi Jon. It's me, Theo Epstein. Mike Lowell is looking great this spring. His thumb and hip are both nearly back to 100 percent and he should be ready for Opening Day. If you are still interested in a trade, the Red Sox are still interested in Max Ramirez. We would also consider Brandon Boggs, Mitch Moreland or Engel Beltre as a fair return."
"Thanks for the call, Theo. With Vlad now on the roster, there's not a lot for Mike to do here. How much of Lowell's salary are you willing to pay?"
"We really want to do right by Mike, so we are looking for a good home. Texas seems to be a really good fit. I know that you're still a bit strapped for cash, so we can pay for all but $2 million of Mike's salary. But we need to show a nice return in the trade. No more Eric Gagne crap, OK?"
"All right, Theo, let me talk things over with my team. I'll get back to you by the end of the day.
Click.
Lowell provides a veteran for the clubhouse, a potential platoon partner and safety net for Chris Davis, and a backup for Michael Young. He's probably not critical to the Rangers' 2010 success, but he would be a nice guy to have around. You have four names to consider. Whom would you not part with and whom would you prefer moving in a deal for the Red Sox veteran?
[Age = current age; level = most likely levels where the player will compete in 2010; AVG = career minor league batting average; OBP = career minor league on base percentage; SLG = career minor league slugging percentage; '09 OPS = Player OPS for all games played in 2009.]
Reader Comments (23)
No brainer. Boggs. The Sox wouldn't take that deal though.
No more than Boggs and Ramirez..........but with Salty not looking good right now we might just need Ramirez........should not have let Pudge get away!!!
Goodbye, Brandon. And, if necessary, we can throw in Arias as well.
I would not part with Ramirez or Moreland.
No brainer. Boggs.
Boggs or Beltre. I like Boggs, but I have my doubts that he'll ever be fully healthy again. Beltre, I'm not sure will ever make the transition from toolsy upside to actual good player, best to be rid of him while there's still value.
Right now I'm imagining a small door between floors in the Rangers Front Office that you go through and end up in Daniels' head...
no doubt Boggs. I keep Ramirez b/c of Salty's issues. We saw him play and Max is not that bad defensively. If his hitting can come back around I play him over Tgard.
Duuuhhh, Boggs.
Easily Boggs. Oldest and never had much more than fourth OF potential anyway.
You're talking about some of the wrong guys. No way you have to give up Moreland for Lowell. No way you have to give up Beltre. If he was available for Ramirez before it was apparent how bad he was hurt, why would you still be willing to give Ramirez for him now, when you've got Vlad and you know how bad Lowell really was hurt? Lowell is a total dump for Boston at this point.
OK, so I guess I'm in the minority, but I like Boggs. I could see him having a long career as a 4th outfielder. I don't know that MaxRam has the work ethic to stick around long term. I'd rather part with MaxRam.
BTW, I think Boston does want to do right by Lowell. And Lowell has said several times that he expects to have more ABs this year than last year because he is healthier. Hence, barring a trade of CD, Lowell WILL NOT be coming to Texas. I think he would be great, but the dude wants to start or have a very significant role, not be the 25th man.
Any of them but Moreland.
I'm with Andrew. I don't think they would mind getting Lowell, but at this point, someone would have to be injured for him to be able to play enough to warrant what they'd have to pay him. Just saw on MLBTRADERUMORS that Texas picked up a SS/2B guy on waivers - someone who hasn't really played in the bigs, but has been a good hitter in the minors. Maybe he's just a depth candidate, but it could be they've been scouting around and this is the guy they want to be their UT starting the season.
I bet Arias is bummed.
Ring!
"Hello?"
"Hey, Theo. It's Jon. My baseball guys tell me that Moreland has really shown them something in the last six months, so he's definitely off the table. Although we think that he is a major league player, our outfield is crowded enough that we would be willing to part with Boggs."
"I was afraid that you were going to say that. After we spoke, I had a conversation with Peter Gammons and he said that we would get killed in the papers if we failed to get a power hitter who can help us this year or a five-star prospect in return for Lowell. If Moreland's off the table, then we have to have Ramirez or Beltre if we are going to do a 1-for-1 swap."
"All right, Theo. I will huddle again and get back to you later."
Click.
RING !!
"Hello, Jon ... Theo here again ... what are your people saying ... we'd really like to get something done with Mike sooner rather than later ... what can you tell me?"
"Yeah, Theo ... we've talked it over ... and we're willing to do Boggs and Arias, but that's as far as we can go ... and we'll forgo the cash considerations ..."
"Done, Jon ... nice to talk with ya' ..."
"You too, Theo ..."
CLICK
Ring!
"Hello?"
"Hey, Theo. It's Jon. Against my better judgement, we've decided we're willing to give you Beltre. Nolan does have one condition for the trade though. He says he'll only sign off on the trade if you guarantee that you will call Papelbon a douche to his face every day of the season"
"Deal! I've been waiting for just the right excuse to tell that guy off."
Click.
Click.
Correction - the guy they got from Mil off waivers today is a 2B/3B type, with no SS experience.
Why in God's name would Moreland or Beltre be in the discussion? At this point Ramirez should barely be on the table.
Boggs . . . sure. Sub for a sub works for me.
Belttre. I doubt he ever makes it past AA with the Rangers. The other 3 could be contributors this year depending on how they are playing in AAA and who gets injured.
None of the above.
A case could be made for 3 out of 4 to be our 25th man this year-- all more pertinent than Lowell would be. And Beltre finally seems to be taking some pitches (Check me on that).
Max (back up platoon DH in case Vlad hits lefties no better than last year; back up platoon 1B in case Davis has the same problem. Max hits lefties. His presence as Emergen C would also also allow Wash to swap Salt in mid-game, to take advantage of their strong, complementary R/L splits.
If healthy, Boggs is the perfect platoon for Borbon if he needs it. He & David Murphy are perfectly opposite hitters, too (even more so than Salt & Tea!)
Moreland is the real deal, whether or not this is his year. Why lose such a sure bet for a rental without a position who only hit well at Fenway?
I'd suggest Luis Mendoza & Johnny Whittleman, but I want the 25th spot to go to one of our current guys, or a more permanent or pertinent trade target, eg AZ's John Hester.
Offer Luis Mendoza....they take that I think and he's out of options...
But would you rather carry a non-Fenway Lowell, possibly discontent because we're only using him vs lefties (and as back-up to MY), or
1) OF'er insurance we lack vs LHPs (especially one who can play CF);
2) A third C who hits (at DH, 1B, emergency 3B) vs lefties, who allows Wash to platoon Salt & Tea even mid-game (eg if the opposition removes their lefty starter early, and puts in a righty long-man)?
Even if MY is willing to back up Elvis & Ian (with CD manning 3B on those days) I'd prefer we carry the above 2 bench guys. If they're both healthy, they benefit us the most, I think. And if we do carry a UIF (Arias, German, Olmedo or the new guy from Milwaukee, whom we effectively swapped for Inglett), then we only have one spot left, and have to choose from those 2 bench players above OR a Lowell-Brown (1B/3B) type. Of that "type", Moreland or Brown makes more sense than Lowell, because each could play OF vs lefties if that were more necessary (as it is when evryone's healthy).
Gosh, we dont need Lowell. Look at Brown. Moreland is the real thing. Max and Boggs get tons of walks and are very valuable. We need to develop the cream that we have (Holland, Feliz, Moreland, Tracy, Brown, Boggs, Smoak) and not waste innings on old guys (Lowel, Oliver, Franciscol) or below average guys that we hope will become average (McCarthy, Hunter, Harrison). No need for the old guy Lowell, who will be outperformed anyway by each of the Ranger guys mentioned.
Rangers need to package C+ and B- prospects (tons of them in the system, Beaven, Kirkman, Engel Beltre, Gentry, Bankston, Mendoza, Arias, etc.) for true talent: Castro, a TORP or a prospect who will be a TORP, a ML AAA or AA player who will be an all-star etc. Rangers need to keep the A and B talent, DiFazio, Max, Smoak, Holland, Feliz, Scheppers, Perez, etc.
Rangers have a log jam and cannot protect all of the talent. Rangers need to do 5 for 1 deals, but Rangers should not trade the blue chip talent like Holland, Perez, Scheppers, Moreland.