Earlier today, Rangers closer Neftali Feliz said that he wants to continue finishing games for the rest of his career in an interview with USA Today's Jorge L. Ortiz. After Texas faced the Athletics today, Feliz backtracked from that statement, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com.
"Right now, I'm focused on being healthy and getting back to being the closer," said Feliz, who will turn 23 years old tomorrow.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told USA Today that the team intends to keep Feliz as its closer for the rest of the season, then consider his role for 2012 in the offseason. If Feliz does stick to his guns and decide that he wants to continue to close, Daniels says that they'll weigh that in their decision.
"We'll take his feelings, as well as team need and other factors, into consideration over the winter,'' Daniels wrote via e-mail. "He actually makes a pretty good case for starting by suggesting relieving is more physically demanding. We'll look at that in the offseason.''
Before the start of the season, the Rangers considered moving Feliz into the 2011 rotation. Recently, Daniels said that the organization definitely believes that the youngster has the stuff to start. A March MLBTR poll showed that readers were pretty evenly split on whether or not Feliz should start.
He said that two months ago too. Then he wanted to give starting a try. No need to read too much into this.
Pick something and stick with it sheesh.
I would say his agent had a little talk with him about the difference in money between a good starter and a good closer. That could change his mind pretty quick.
I’m sure he also told him its much harder to be a good starter than a good closer.
Besides, great closers nowadays make very good money. They won’t get 20 but they can make upwards of 10.
True, but even mediocre starters can get 10 mil a year too. (Oliver Perez made 12 for 3 years)
All we need is someone misquoting him and saying he wants to be traded in order to start or close for another team and we’ll have our crazy offseason story already.
I love the Rangers and Feliz was one of my favorite players i was waiting for him to be the homegrown Ace the Rangers have been looking for but if he doesnt want to start then I say trade him for a young ace like Ubaldo or Josh Johnson im not saying those exact guys but someone of that nature. Ogando could be a great closer he throws about the same velocity wise and has a great slider to go with it.
Im not quite sure how u think that felIz could be worth Johnson or Jimenez
Not strait up obviously….
Uh yes straight up actually. Feliz is way more vauable than Jimenez as a closer or a starter, and I’d even make a case about Johnson. Hell, I’d probably say no to either deal because Feliz will be and is already almost better than either of those two.
So… you’re saying the guy with exactly zero starts in the majors is more valuable as a starter than two of the better young starters in the game.
Normally I try to be a little diplomatic… but hell. You’re wrong.
lol
This.
umm.. no.
The value Feliz has rite now is probably a little bit more then Soria. Or you could look at him as a top SP prospect but not an Ace.
Maybe a package or Feliz, Profar, Sheppers, and Mike Olt for Jimenez
or Feliz, Sheppers, Beltre, Mike Olt, and Kirkman for J. Johnson
and if i think your going to give up that much might as well go all out and go for Felix Hernandez with Feliz, Kirkman, Sheppers, Neil Ramirez, Mike Olt, and Beltre
reverse psychology
OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEADDDDD! USA USA!
I was getting ready to say that! May he rot in hell!!
not the place for this, IMO
seconded.
Why? Whats the problem with being happy with the fact that the man who murdered many many people in the world is dead?
How about most of us go to this site to talk about baseball. I don’t mind making or listening to the occasional joke on here about politics, such as Manny’s chance at the HOF are as dead as osama. But I tend to come here to escape some realities.
I get what you’re saying, but even ESPN is showing a rolling ticker saying what he basically said… without the caps. It’s a historic day man, way bigger than anything we usually discuss here.
How about “Feliz’s spot in the rotation is a better hiding spot than Bin Laden’s” ?
+1
Nothing, but since we’re at it why don’t we also discuss the Tea Party movement and the new Thor movie since I’m sure there are people who love or hate those things too. See where we’re going with this?
I see what SWP is saying but I cannot follow what your saying in the slightest.
They’re all irrelevant to baseball pretty much.
how many times can you say that to a commenter?
What does that mean?
Because then it starts a massive 20+ debate as seen below
Pretty sure its not Feliz’ decision to make.
of course not.. but what he prefers will definitely carry some weight
a happy reliever is probably better then an unhappy starter
but it would depend on what kind of person Feliz is