Rangers Signing Fukumori

I guess they were heavy bidders for Fukudome. I hope Rangers fans don't go into next year with Bradley as their centerpiece offseason move.

3 million times 10 probably

So are the Rangers the worst franchise in MLB? That's just sad.

For the price, it's an extremely low risk, decent reward signing. Admittedly, the Rangers bullpen is fairly stacked as it is, but this gives them some flexibility if they want to listen to offers on Benoit, Wilson, Otsuka, etc.

Also, if Fukumori plays well, they can deal him for more prospects.

It's all good mtex - I actually like the Incaviglia comment. And since you asked, I'll tell you what I have against the Rangers - the team's Mgt stated a plan and goals for the offseason that they simply have not lived up to, and cannot live up to.

The primary goal that was set was the acquisition of a CF - there were plenty of options so the team should have no problem getting a new star to solidify what has been discussed for decades as a position of weakness. (I actually thought a lot of Darryl Hamilton, but that's another story). The team also stated that with payroll being lower, that it had an opportunity to take advantage of other teams' payroll woes. This may not have been a stated goal, but it was a stated opportunity.

While I can support adding Bradley, I do so because he doesn't block a prospect, and at the ASB he likely brings us a prospect or two in a trade (if healthy). But the team adding second-tier FAs was specifically dismissed by Rangers Management at the beginning of the off-season as something that they were not interested in doing. (I'll conceed the 1yr contract point.) The team was only interested in adding premier talent GM Jon Daniels has said.

I could continue to ramble on, but my point is that the names I listed above are a far cry from premier talent. Furthermore, I cannot currently be convinced that the Rangers are committed to rebuilding (or even youth) by some who point to the fact that they won't make trades involving youth. It IS a positive step (and cause for optimism for long-suffereing supporters) that people who should know say the Rangers' minor league system is greatly improved, but the upper levels of the minors are STILL very weak. For an example, the team just traded its starting AAA 2B for Ben Broussard - a guy who was going to be non-tendered. This is where the team's current plan of waiting on youth falls WAY short - there's very little help coming in the next two years. So take best case scenario, and the A+ and AA player make it to the majors in 2010 - then they are rookies who will struggle - they're not going to take the league by storm.

The goal that this team will compete in 2009 or 2010 is simply not attainable given the current approach, and that, in a nutshell, is my problem.

Well, that and only getting to see the sun on the weekends.