AL West News 2019

[Nate Colbert]

Beltre retired.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

I really enjoyed watching him play.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I really enjoyed watching him play.

So did I. One of the very few Rangers that I liked. He was a combination between Schmidt and Boggs.

[Bench]

He'll be in the HOF.

[Mr. Happy]

So did I. One of the very few Rangers that I liked. He was a combination between Schmidt and Boggs.

+1 A class act and a helluva ballplayer whose skills really didn't diminish that much with age.

[JimR]

I really enjoyed watching him play.

I loved the fun he had.

[juliogotay]

I just heard on MLB Network that there are fewer 3B in HOF than any other position. That surprised me.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Mariners continue the dismantling. Cano and Diaz to the Mets and Segura to the Phillies.

[Reuben]

Mariners continue the dismantling. Cano and Diaz to the Mets and Segura to the Phillies.

BUT! now they have Jay Bruce and Carlos Santana.

[Astros Fan in Big D]

So FTR and the Sea hags are in rebuild mode,  presumably leaving Houston,  Oakland,  and LAA to compete for the division.

Interesting to see how those other 2 contenders try to round out their rosters.

[Nate Colbert]

Larry Stone @StoneLarry 16h ago
From when Jerry Dipoto took over as #Mariners GM on Sept. 28, 2015, there are now two players left on the 40-man roster, Felix Hernandez and Kyle Seager.

[Nate Colbert]

Jurickson Profar goes to the A's (which presumably ends their attempt to re-sign Jed Lowrie). Rangers net 3 minor leaguers (4 incoming, 1 outgoing) plus some int'l slot money. Rays also involved in transaction.

[juliogotay]

Jurickson Profar goes to the A's (which presumably ends their attempt to re-sign Jed Lowrie). Rangers net 3 minor leaguers (4 incoming, 1 outgoing) plus some int'l slot money. Rays also involved in transaction.

I was hoping Lowrie might have bounced back to Houston to fill the Marwin role. That ship has apparently sailed though.

[Lefty]

I was hoping Lowrie might have bounced back to Houston to fill the Marwin role. That ship has apparently sailed though.

Yeah, he just doesn't have a place on this team.  I've always liked him.

[Noe]

Yeah, he just doesn't have a place on this team.  I've always liked him.

This is crazy talk from a crazy man (me): But why wouldn't Lowrie be a better option than Tyler White at DH/1st base/occasional 2nd base? Is it just money? Lowrie being a switch hitter is very intriguing to me. Very.

[chuck]

This is crazy talk from a crazy man (me): But why wouldn't Lowrie be a better option than Tyler White at DH/1st base/occasional 2nd base? Is it just money? Lowrie being a switch hitter is very intriguing to me. Very.

Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet. Think of the savings.

[Bench]

Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet. Think of the savings.

Anything to stay under the luxury tax.

[juliogotay]

Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet. Think of the savings.

"Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet."

He always looked a little like a Little Leaguer to me with that helmet. BTW, he still makes his permanent residence in Houston I believe.

[Noe]

Plus, he's one of those rare switch hitters you don't even have to buy a second helmet. Think of the savings.

Eggszactly! Win-win and.. ahum... win!

[Nate Colbert]

Dipoto continues his frenetic shuffling of deck chairs on the SS Mariners, his latest swap involving the acquisition of ex-Astro OF Domingo Santana from the Brewers.

[Lefty]

This is crazy talk from a crazy man (me): But why wouldn't Lowrie be a better option than Tyler White at DH/1st base/occasional 2nd base? Is it just money? Lowrie being a switch hitter is very intriguing to me. Very.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Why Cruz when you can Lowriede?

[Nate Colbert]

With today's Shelby Miller signing...

Evan Grant  @Evan_P_Grant 9m ago
Miller signing gives Rangers a  rotation of
 
Mike Minor (Shoulder surgery '15)
Lance Lynn (Tommy John '15)
Drew Smyly (TJ '17)
Shelby Miller (TJ '17)
Edinson Volquez (TJ '17)

[Astros Fan in Big D]

With today's Shelby Miller signing...

Evan Grant  @Evan_P_Grant 9m ago
Miller signing gives Rangers a  rotation of
 
Mike Minor (Shoulder surgery '15)
Lance Lynn (Tommy John '15)
Drew Smyly (TJ '17)
Shelby Miller (TJ '17)
Edinson Volquez (TJ '17)

They've got Minute Maid North set to open next (2020) season. 

Hard to imagine they'll be anything but bad for awhile.

Oh well.

[WVastro]

With today's Shelby Miller signing...

Evan Grant  @Evan_P_Grant 9m ago
Miller signing gives Rangers a  rotation of
 
Mike Minor (Shoulder surgery '15)
Lance Lynn (Tommy John '15)
Drew Smyly (TJ '17)
Shelby Miller (TJ '17)
Edinson Volquez (TJ '17)

I’ll give it to them. There’s actually some potential in that rotation. But I played the lottery once because I heard that I could win a billion dollars. I had potential then as well.

I’m still posting here so you all know how that turned out.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

With today's Shelby Miller signing...

Evan Grant  @Evan_P_Grant 9m ago
Miller signing gives Rangers a  rotation of
 
Mike Minor (Shoulder surgery '15)
Lance Lynn (Tommy John '15)
Drew Smyly (TJ '17)
Shelby Miller (TJ '17)
Edinson Volquez (TJ '17)

Man, that is some kind of a rotation.

[juliogotay]

Man, that is some kind of a rotation.

But if they can mostly stay healthy looks better than what they have thrown out the last couple of years.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

A new low. Ranger Hall of Fame member John Wetteland was arrested on a child sex abuse charge.

[Texifornia]

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/former-mlb-all-star-john-wetteland-arrested-on-child-sex-abuse-charge/

A new low. Ranger Hall of Fame member John Wetteland was arrested on a child sex abuse charge.

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph I hope it's not true....

[Reuben]

I keep wondering if the Angels might be a "mystery team" that eventually ends up with Harper or Machado. Their payroll is already fairly high, but Moreno has made unexpected splashes before. They've got Trout signed for only two years at this point, they have some good players in Upton, Simmons, Ohtani... they could fit either Machado (moving Zach Cozart to 2B) or Harper (pushing Kole Calhoun out). Seems like this is their time to go for it.

Then again, they don't seem to have done much at all this winter other than pick up a few so-so players like Matt Harvey, Cahill, and Bour, so I'm not really sure what the hell they're doing.

[MusicMan]

Buster Olney reiterated on today’s podcast that he believes the Astros could be the mystery team for Harper.


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[moriartp]

Buster Olney reiterated on today’s podcast that he believes the Astros could be the mystery team for Harper.

I’ll keep saying it until Harper signs somewhere else: the Astros leaked that trade story to Rosenthal for a reason.

[subnuclear]

Just have a hard time believing the Astros would pay more than the Dodgers or White Sox or Cardinals would.

[BUWebguy]

I’ll keep saying it until Harper signs somewhere else: the Astros leaked that trade story to Rosenthal for a reason.

I figured it was one of the recently departed front office folks who leaked it; the revelation seemed to follow shortly after the exodus.

[juliogotay]

Buster Olney reiterated on today’s podcast that he believes the Astros could be the mystery team for Harper.


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Amazing that we are a month or so from Spring Training and so many guys are still unaffiliated.

[BUWebguy]

Just have a hard time believing the Astros would pay more than the Dodgers or White Sox or Cardinals would.

My guess is the Astros are hoping his price/contract length will come down, in which case they're waiting with an offer -- much like the Realmuto talks.

[Reuben]

I’ll keep saying it until Harper signs somewhere else: the Astros leaked that trade story to Rosenthal for a reason.

What exactly would be the reason?

[TeeJoe]

Amazing that we are a month or so from Spring Training and so many guys are still unaffiliated.

I'm amazed by this too.  Though, it makes me think that with each passing day there is a greater chance of Keuchel coming back for a 1 year contract.

[MusicMan]

I'm amazed by this too.  Though, it makes me think that with each passing day there is a greater chance of Keuchel coming back for a 1 year contract.

I fully agree with this.


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[juliogotay]

I'm amazed by this too.  Though, it makes me think that with each passing day there is a greater chance of Keuchel coming back for a 1 year contract.

I can't imagine that. He has very good offers. He could screw the pooch on a 1-year deal, or get hurt,  and not come close to his current offers.

[TerryPuhl21]

I’ve thought all along that we could be in on Harper but that it would only be a short 3 or 4 year deal with a very high AAV. Of course it would mean Crane would have to sign off on going over the luxury tax but I could see him doing that. Our window to win another title is 2-4 more years for sure. No guarantees after that. If I could get Harper for 3 at 120 I’d do it. Then I’d try to move Tucker for some starting pitching depth that had some years left before free agency. This lineup would rake......

Springer
Altuve
Harper
Bregman
Correa
Brantley
Gurriel




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[moriartp]

I’ve thought all along that we could be in on Harper but that it would only be a short 3 or 4 year deal with a very high AAV.

Or even one year at a very high value.

[moriartp]

What exactly would be the reason?

I think it was to demonstrate that they’re serious about wanting him in Houston. I don’t expect him to sign here, but I think the Astros do want him.

[subnuclear]

Amazing that we are a month or so from Spring Training and so many guys are still unaffiliated.

I'm not amazed that teams are planning on lower cable money in the future and want to reign in big contracts.

[TeeJoe]

I can't imagine that. He has very good offers. He could screw the pooch on a 1-year deal, or get hurt,  and not come close to his current offers.

Yea, I'm sure Keuchel is weighing that as well.  With many of those teams having signed other options I'm not sure how many offers are still available.

[TeeJoe]

I'm not amazed that teams are planning on lower cable money in the future and want to reign in big contracts.

As has been written elsewhere, teams are seeing greater value in young, cheap, multi-years under club control talent.  The era of the long term big money deal has changed.

I guess where I'm amazed is that it seems all the teams have switched to this direction so quickly.

[moriartp]

I'm not amazed that teams are planning on lower cable money in the future and want to reign in big contracts.

This isn’t really a threat in the timespan of any contract signed in 2019. Revenue growth is still far outpacing payroll growth.

Not offering big contracts to chunky 32-year-old sluggers is smart. Not offering them to 26-year-old phenoms is dumb.

[Noe]

This isn’t really a threat in the timespan of any contract signed in 2019. Revenue growth is still far outpacing payroll growth.

Not offering big contracts to chunky 32-year-old sluggers is smart. Not offering them to 26-year-old phenoms is dumb.

A contract offer now to a 26 year old budding star with opt out clauses in his favor is very attractive for both team and player. Boras will angle for a larger yearly income (no back-loaded deals) with at minimum an opt-out that favors the players in year four (for instance) is doable for both. Boras knows that, but if there is a team that wants to panic and overpay in terms of years and money, he'll welcome it and still seek a favorable opt-out clause. I'd say if a team offers 35 million a year for six or seven years with an opt-out at year four, that teams wins the Harper sweepstakes.

Harper wins if he gets on with a team that is position to win a ring (like the Astros) and in his 29th or 30th year, he could opt-out and get another big contract from someone else seeking a ring and ready to pay his price.

[Reuben]

I think it was to demonstrate that they’re serious about wanting him in Houston. I don’t expect him to sign here, but I think the Astros do want him.

Demonstrate to who? I'm sure Harper already knew about it. Demonstrate to Astros fans that they tried to do more at the deadline but were foiled by another team's owner, sure, we've seen that PR move employed before.

But I think the only thing that would show fans they're serious about wanting him is if they make a legitimate offer, and leak THAT to the media at some point.

[NeilT]

When does the hot stove season start? I'm ready for the winter meetings and some big signings by the Stros!

[juliogotay]

When does the hot stove season start? I'm ready for the winter meetings and some big signings by the Stros!

we are well into it.

[Reuben]

we are well into it.

Either your sarc-meter has been irreparably damaged, or mine has.

[NeilT]

Either your sarc-meter has been irreparably damaged, or mine has.

Maybe I'm out of practice.

[moriartp]

Demonstrate to who? I'm sure Harper already knew about it. Demonstrate to Astros fans that they tried to do more at the deadline but were foiled by another team's owner, sure, we've seen that PR move employed before.

I'm not sure he would—Rizzo & ownership might well have kept that quiet. And he might not have known the destination even if he knew a trade had been nixed.

It could just be to let the fans know they tried. But the information clearly came from the Astros, who don't leak a drop unless they mean to. So I figure there's purpose behind it when something does get out.

[juliogotay]

Either your sarc-meter has been irreparably damaged, or mine has.

I need a drink. Damn post-holiday self-denial period.

Meanwhile, https://houston.sportsmap.com/jim-crane-says-luhnow-wants-to-make-a-couple-more-moves

[MusicMan]

I need a drink. Damn post-holiday self-denial period.

Are you still... master of your domain?


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[juliogotay]

Are you still... master of your domain?


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At my advancing age it is not that hard...err difficult.

[JimR]

Demonstrate to who? I'm sure Harper already knew about it. Demonstrate to Astros fans that they tried to do more at the deadline but were foiled by another team's owner, sure, we've seen that PR move employed before.

But I think the only thing that would show fans they're serious about wanting him is if they make a legitimate offer, and leak THAT to the media at some point.

So cynical. So they were lying about Britton and Harper, eh? Cite your sources, please.

[Reuben]

So cynical. So they were lying about Britton and Harper, eh? Cite your sources, please.

I don't think they were lying. I believe the O's and Nats owners nixed those deals. But it was definitely a PR move for Crane/Luhnow to share that info. I'm sure there are plenty of nixed-deals around baseball where one team could make another team look bad or foolish by sharing what happened, but they don't.

[VirtualBob]

I don't think they were lying. I believe the O's and Nats owners nixed those deals. But it was definitely a PR move for Crane/Luhnow to share that info. I'm sure there are plenty of nixed-deals around baseball where one team could make another team look bad or foolish by sharing what happened, but they don't.

Well then! As long as you are sure ...