We've got all kinds of Rangers links to dish out…
- ESPN's Richard Durrett has a fantastic article focusing on Rangers GM Jon Daniels. The piece chronicles Daniels' rise, his early mistakes (especially the Josh Beckett non-trade), and the May '07 decision to stockpile young talent.
- Daniels admitted to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez that the Rangers don't have a lot of catching depth right now, with Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Toby Hall battling ailing shoulders.
- ESPN's Keith Law says his "early look [at Rich Harden] was very discouraging." The Rangers guaranteed $7.5MM to Harden in the December signing.
- Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News wonders if the Rangers and Twins can match up on a trade, with Texas sending bullpen arms to Minnesota for an infielder and/or catcher.
- Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram polled "several baseball people" on whether Chris Davis or Justin Smoak will be the team's starting first baseman in 2012. Surprisingly, Mitch Moreland's name came up multiple times. The Galloway blurb led Jamey Newberg to ponder whether Davis or Smoak could be traded this summer.
- The Rangers' sale to Chuck Greenberg is on track to be finalized on April 1st, tweets Sanchez.
- MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan sees out of options Rangers pitcher Luis Mendoza as a trade candidate if he doesn't make the team.
- For even more on the Rangers, check out our Offseason In Review from March 4th.
“The Rangers’ sale to Chuck Greenberg is on track to be finalized on April 1st”
That would be one kick ass April Fool’s Joke! haha
Is Ramirez no catching, hurt, or not ready yet?
He hasn’t really proved that he can handle a full season. I think he should get some time though behind the plate.
for all the cubs fans that couldnt get over harden……… is it starting to look like a smart move yet?
Yeah Daniels you did make the mistake of not getting Beckett here, but oh well I forgive you. Whatever happened to Taylor Teagarden and Max Ramirez or are they just distant memories? The Rangers have great catching depth. I think Teagarden is ready and Ramirez bat is looking good he still needs a year or two to get CATCHING down. As far as Harden goes the reason we are so disappointed is because it seems the only thing he can use without feeling discomfort is a fastball and a change-up. He can’t go to his splitter and he can’t go to his slider and without those he isn’t much more than a #3 SP.
I think it should be Chris Davis that gets traded and I can think a number of teams that would be interested. The Padres may be interested if the Adrian Gonzalez trade goes through.
Justin Smoak will be ready by mid-season and I expect him to be a major fixture in the Rangers lineup.
That would be hilarious to get A-Gon back to the Rangers for a huge load while the Padres gave up essentially bad players for him.
I think they would rather ask for Smoak though, since Davis hasn’t figured it out yet. That team would be fantastic with him though.
I think you miss the point…
SPAN is saying that if Adrian Gonzalez gets traded then the Padres might look to the Rangers 1B surplus to fill their hole. He’s not stating that Gonzalez come back the Rangers. I think that’s extremely unlikely.
Also extremely unlikely is a Rangers 1B going to the Padres. The Rangers will be wanting a TORP at the deadline and the Padres don’t have one.