Quote (SimCity @ Dec 13 2012 03:49pm)

Why would you be upset about that?  Swisher is likely going to end up being the best value FA after this nutso offseason is all said and done.

Quote (TritonV8 @ Dec 13 2012 02:05pm)

true, but I was hoping to trade for a young power bat while we have the trade pieces, especially with Cruz hitting free agency next season and likely not coming back. Hamilton was a good plan B to getting the young bat, as long as it was a 3 or 4 yr deal. I can understand why he took the 5-yr/$125mm, he'd be crazy not to.

Quote (SimCity @ Dec 13 2012 04:08pm)

Whenever the Rangers feel like handing the reigns over to Profar, they can trade Andrus for a young power bat whenever they want.  I still think they should have done Andrus for Upton.

Quote (TritonV8 @ Dec 13 2012 04:05pm)

true, but I was hoping to trade for a young power bat while we have the trade pieces, especially with Cruz hitting free agency next season and likely not coming back. Hamilton was a good plan B to getting the young bat, as long as it was a 3 or 4 yr deal. I can understand why he took the 5-yr/$125mm, he'd be crazy not to.

Quote (TritonV8 @ Dec 13 2012 04:12pm)

i do too.  I'm just hoping JD has something up his sleeve, b/c this has been an unproductive offseason to say the least. Bullpen gutted, Napoli/Young/Hamilton all gone. only key addition is Soria

Quote (txO4 @ Dec 13 2012 05:43pm)

Definitely wasn't expecting the Angels...
But, all the Rangers gotta do is throw em nothing but balls down/outside and he's no threat.



This off season really has sucked.. The media hyped the Rangers for all the big free-agents, and we've practically accomplished nothing yet..

Quote (RaCeCaR24 @ Dec 13 2012 05:51pm)

I need a new sig

Quote

I don't believe the Texas Rangers are in a desperate situation. In fact, I can see them contending without adding a single player between now and Opening Day. Yeah, I'm out on this limb alone.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels has talked for months about giving his best young players -- some of the best in baseball -- more of a chance to play. Circumstances -- not the circumstances he wished for -- have given him a chance to do just that.

The Rangers are never going to know how good Mike Olt, Jurickson Profar, Martin Perez and the others are until they throw 'em out there and let 'em play awhile. Not for a day at a time, either.

They must have a real chance to play, and who knows where that will lead? There was a time early last season when it looked like neither Craig Gentry or Mitch Moreland belonged in the Major Leagues.

But they kept playing and got better. That's how it goes with young players. They must have the opportunity to succeed and fail, adjust and readjust. There's only one way to find out.

Those young players may be the Rangers' best options, so why not embrace the future? Yep, this is a scary time.

Quote

The Rangers met with Pierzynski on Tuesday. They also met with Ross, a right-handed-hitting outfielder who hit .267 with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs for the Red Sox last year. Ross turns 32 on Sunday and has been with six different organizations in his Major League career.

Signing Ross or Swisher, who is a switch-hitter, to play right field would allow the Rangers to move Nelson Cruz to designated hitter. Currently Texas' best DH option is a platoon between Mitch Moreland and Mike Olt. Acquiring either Swisher or Ross would give the Rangers at least one corner outfielder signed beyond 2013. Cruz and David Murphy are both free agents after this coming season.

Jackson represents the Rangers' desire to find a fifth starter to fit into a rotation that already includes Matt Harrison, Yu Darvish, Derek Holland and Alexi Ogando. Rookie left-hander Martin Perez finished last season as the fifth starter, but the Rangers are not sure he's ready. Rookie right-hander Justin Grimm is another candidate, and Texas has considered the possibility of moving reliever Robbie Ross to the rotation.