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Rangers Like Patterson, Ethier, Hamilton, Fukudome

By Tim Dierkes [December 7, 2007 at 8:38pm CST]

According to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers are targeting various young outfielders.

Corey Patterson, 28, is a free agent and Scott Boras client. He's looking for multiple years while the Rangers only want to give one. His talent might tantalize somebody, though he hit just .269/.304/.386 this year. He's shown in the past that he can hit like a league average CF and play plus defense, so he could be a bargain. Patterson reversed his platoon split this year, hitting lefties pretty well. He's an Atlanta native; maybe the Braves would be a match.

Andre Ethier, 26 in April, is expendable now that the Dodgers have four outfielders. His career line of .295/.357/.464 is solid, though that is average for an AL right fielder. The Dodgers may opt to move Juan Pierre instead, if they can find a taker. The Dodgers previously had interest in Rangers reliever Joaquin Benoit, according to Sullivan. The Rangers would have competition from the Rays on Ethier.

Josh Hamilton, 27 in May, could be moved by the Reds for a starting pitcher. Hamilton was incredible in 300 ABs for the Reds this year in his MLB debut, despite several years off and only 89 ABs above A ball. That's #1 pick talent. He dealt with wrist, hamstring, and stomach problems this year however. Sullivan says the Reds would want Edinson Volquez for him; there was talk of sending him to Florida for Dontrelle Willis previously.

Kosuke Fukudome, 31 in April, hasn't decided yet whether to play in MLB. Even limited by an elbow issue he hit .294/.443/.520 in Japan.

Milton Bradley, 30 in April, needs more time to decide on the Padres' $4MM offer. Coming off knee surgery, he might be interested in the Rangers' open DH job. Bradley is injury-prone, but he hit .306/.402/.545 in 209 ABs this year.

Others who have been mentioned: Coco Crisp, Rocco Baldelli, Jim Edmonds, and Juan Pierre.

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Comments

i have a feeling if all the reds want for hamilton is volquez then he would be a ranger by now

i think they'd try for eric hurley first

Posted by: boomshwa12 | December 07, 2007 at 08:59 PM

Yeah, I would think if the Reds agreed to take just Volquez for Hamilton, the Rangers GM would be stumbling over interns to get to the phone or his Blackberry to accept the offer.

Posted by: Sunny Reiser | December 07, 2007 at 09:59 PM

Volquez for Hamilton is a done deal. If that's on the table, JD shouldn't think twice.

Posted by: N41D | December 07, 2007 at 10:14 PM

Please GOD let the ChiSox take Juan Pierre. Please let Christmas come early. As a Dodger fan I would thrilled. Straight up for Contreras??? I think that would actually help both teams, even though both players are terrible AND terribly overpaid.

Or we could ship Pierre to TEX for Padilla straight up (w/ cash thrown in for the xtra 2 years owed to Pierre)

Also, can't see why CIN seems keen on letting Hamilton go. He's going to be amazing for the next 5 years.

Posted by: | December 07, 2007 at 10:36 PM

I know that after the Andruw Jones signing, the smart thing to do is take some of our young players and get a frontline starter; either Santana or Bedard.
It just feels wrong to give up Kemp or Ethier and have to look at the opening day roster and see Pierre at left field, its just wrong!wrong!wrong!

Posted by: | December 08, 2007 at 10:49 PM

Well, now Fukudome has no choice, he has to play for a team in the states. From Japanball.com is a report from the Yumiuri Giants saying they have officially pulled out of the Fukudome "chase". They said they got word from the MLB's winter meetings, that the American clubs were offering more money than they could contend with. The report also claimed that it was between the Cubs and the Royals as to who would recieve his services. I just hope they don't know something medically that we do not. Japanball.com in the news link

Posted by: goathedxxx | December 09, 2007 at 08:43 AM

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