9:25pm: The Rangers have interest in Fielder, but he's not high on their priority list, according to Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Texas isn't seriously courting Pujols, either.
7:43pm: The Rangers announced that Mitch Moreland underwent right wrist surgery today and may not be ready in time for Spring Training. However, the GM Jon Daniels expects Moreland to be healthy in time for Opening Day 2012 and says the team won't need to change its first base plans drastically.
"We may look for some protection there now, but I don't see it changing the level of investment we're going to allocate there," Daniels said, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
Michael Young and Mike Napoli can also play first base for the Rangers if Moreland's recovery takes longer than expected. Though Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols are available on the free agent market, the Rangers say they don't have interest in costly options at the position.
Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine, who ranked third on MLBTR's list of GM candidates, announced that he is foregoing job opportunities outside of the organization, according to Sullivan. The Astros requested permission to interview Levine for their GM vacancy.
Good news all around
Hope the surgery was successful and that he heals up soon!
Great choice Levine!
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that even with out Pujols or Fielder, the Rangers offense is still pretty good.
…and I’ll go out on a limb and say that it would be signficantly better with Pujols / Fielder.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that even with out Pujols or Fielder, the Rangers offense is still pretty good.
Well that explains Morelands downfall towards the end of the season last year. Hopefully that was the issue, if so, I’ll take Moreland over Fielder and Pujols. Way cheaper, younger, faster. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s better than Pujols and Fielder, having him just allows the Rangers to spend the money elsewhere.
He had that injury since mid-season. His numbers were good until then, so hopefully.
I agree. Last year the Rangers had one of the 3 best offenses in the majors. While replacing Moreland with Fielder or Pujols does make their offense better it wouldn’t be a good way to improve the team.
If the Rangers are going to spend big this offseason it should be to either retain Wilson or to grab up Darvish.
The Rangers have plenty of money and no doubt Fielder would make our offense literally a minefield for pitchers to run through 1-9, but you’re right, it’s not where their priorities are, or need to be.
although it does give them a nice left handed power bat to be in the line up while hamilton is out hurt. I love josh he is one of my favorite players but he will miss some time next season with some sort of injury. Prince at 1st, young to DH(or traded) moreland to left(better than murphy) hamilton to center and cruz to RF thats my thought if they do sign him if they dont they can clearly have Napoli split time at C/1st and DH with young splitting time as 1st/dh/infield utility…hamilton to Right(might save some him from some injuries) cruz to left(too bad of a fielder to be in right) and finally call up martin to play center….or possibly trade profar (considering he is blocked by elvis, ian and adrian) for a center fielder
The Rangers have plenty of money and no doubt Fielder would make our offense literally a minefield for pitchers to run through 1-9, but you’re right, it’s not where their priorities are, or need to be.
I agree. Last year the Rangers had one of the 3 best offenses in the majors. While replacing Moreland with Fielder or Pujols does make their offense better it wouldn’t be a good way to improve the team.
If the Rangers are going to spend big this offseason it should be to either retain Wilson or to grab up Darvish.
I agree. Last year the Rangers had one of the 3 best offenses in the majors. While replacing Moreland with Fielder or Pujols does make their offense better it wouldn’t be a good way to improve the team.
If the Rangers are going to spend big this offseason it should be to either retain Wilson or to grab up Darvish.
Well that explains Morelands downfall towards the end of the season last year. Hopefully that was the issue, if so, I’ll take Moreland over Fielder and Pujols. Way cheaper, younger, faster. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying he’s better than Pujols and Fielder, having him just allows the Rangers to spend the money elsewhere.
MORE BLUE JAYS NEWS!
This just in: Red Sox hire Valentine, Farrell definitely to return to the Jays. I’m fairly sure that was a headline in the Boston Herald.
This just in: Red Sox hire Valentine, Farrell definitely to return to the Jays. I’m fairly sure that was a headline in the Boston Herald.
This just in: Red Sox hire Valentine, Farrell definitely to return to the Jays. I’m fairly sure that was a headline in the Boston Herald.
Really? The Blue Jays? They are the least known team in baseball
Below the 49th parrallel, yes.
MORE BLUE JAYS NEWS!
People will say that the Rangers should sign Fielder or Pujols now because of the Moreland surgery, but really Young could easily take over til Moreland is ready.
I wonder who the Astros 3rd choice will be if Friedman also says no?
He’s supposed to be ready by the time Spring Training games start.
He’s supposed to be ready by the time Spring Training games start.
People will say that the Rangers should sign Fielder or Pujols now because of the Moreland surgery, but really Young could easily take over til Moreland is ready.
I wonder who the Astros 3rd choice will be if Friedman also says no?
I would prefer we trade Moreland and get Prince, but they know what they’re willing to offer for Prince, which is probably less than he’ll get. But anyway we can improve the rotation is ok with me. Moreland/Borbon/Harrison/E.Beltre for Gio/Balfour?
Guessing the A’s would say “keep that junk”.
Now mix in a Martin Perez or Jurickson Profar…
I would prefer we trade Moreland and get Prince, but they know what they’re willing to offer for Prince, which is probably less than he’ll get. But anyway we can improve the rotation is ok with me. Moreland/Borbon/Harrison/E.Beltre for Gio/Balfour?
Levine and Maddux both count themselves out of the running for serious prestige bumps? instead they add a maddux. do people want to be a part of the ranger organization right now or what?
maddux probably wants to be with his brother and he will come up huge with developing neftali
“The Rangers are interested in Prince Fielder, but he’s not high on their priority list…”
When I read this I thought:
“The Rangers are interested in making it back to the World Series, but winning it isn’t high on their priority test.”
Prince would be unstoppable in TX!
*list not test.
Oh great…
…are you Joe Sheehan?
Do Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal walk around holding hands or something?