The Rangers signed Joe Nathan last week, but they're still exploring ways of adding relief help, since they aim to enter the 2012 season with the strongest bullpen possible. They're one of the teams trying to trade for A's closer Andrew Bailey, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. ESPN.com's Buster Olney notes that the Red Sox are also pursuing Bailey (Twitter link).
The 27-year-old right-hander posted a 3.24 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 41 2/3 innings in 2011 after recovering a forearm strain that sidelined him early in the season. MLBTR projects a $3.5MM salary for Bailey in 2012. One of Rosenthal's sources promised that the Rangers will add another reliever to join Nathan, Mike Adams and Koji Uehara at the back end of the bullpen. The Red Sox, who lost Jonathan Papelbon to the Phillies, also have interest in adding to the back end of their bullpen this offseason.
The Blue Jays, Mariners and Reds are also interested in Bailey, who appears to be available. The Rangers had interest in him leading up to last summer's trade deadline.
KyleB
If the Rangers wanted to get hosed in a deal, sure they would do that. Why did you put Perez as just a B+ prospect?
JunKim
John Sickels : 2) Martin Perez, LHP, Grade B+: I think he’s been pushed too quickly, but all the talent to be a number two or three starter is still there.
Martin Perez at AAA : 6.43ERA K/9:6.80 BB/9:3.67
The_BiRDS
You hope we re-sign the best player in the game? Yeah.. me too
KyleB
Best player in the game would imply that Pujols is a 5-tool player…which he is not.
The_BiRDS
I would love to hear who you think is a better player than Pujols…
KyleB
Factoring defense in…Matt Kemp, Curtis Granderson, Josh Hamilton, Ryan Braun, Jose Bautista and if he can replicate last season, Jacoby Ellsbury.
Miguel Arias
lol
Tko11
Sooo you are basically saying that Granderson > Pujols? Because in 11 seasons Pujols has never played less than 143 games, never had less than 32 homers, 99 rbis and is a career .328 hitter. Granderson is a career .267 hitter who strikes out a lot and has had one really good year so far in 8 seasons of playing. Pujols has put up insane numbers ever since he entered the majors.
KyleB
I’m talking currently…so unless Pujols’ stats deviate back up (doubtful) then yea. We’re not going off of what he did the past decade. The arguement was best player in baseball right now.
leachim2
People seem to forget that Pujols was injured for a month last year. If not he would have put the same numbers up as the last 10 years.
Tko11
Its doubtful that his stats get better? I guess when you set the standard so high, you can only go down…He is the best player right now, you cant just take stats from one year and claim someone is the best. Sample size…its like taking Ervin Santana’s no hitter last season and claiming hes the best pitcher in baseball based on that one game. In 2006 Chris Shelton had 9 homeruns in 13 games for the Tigers, was he the best player in baseball?
Miguel Arias
You’re living in the moment. You don’t just claim someone to be the best of the best in a few break out seasons. Pujols has established himself as the best overtime, and I don’t think you need me to post his WAR season by season….
The_BiRDS
No, the argument was who is the best player “in the game”.. not in the last season.. you obviously know nothing about the game and it seems as if you jumped on the Rangers bandwagon this year.. go back to you beloved cowboys my friend.. u are in the wrong forum
Tko11
Sooo you are basically saying that Granderson > Pujols? Because in 11 seasons Pujols has never played less than 143 games, never had less than 32 homers, 99 rbis and is a career .328 hitter. Granderson is a career .267 hitter who strikes out a lot and has had one really good year so far in 8 seasons of playing. Pujols has put up insane numbers ever since he entered the majors.
Darmintak
Like a shot.
slider32
Moreland is injured.
KyleB
The Rangers don’t want JJ. If they did, a deal probably would have been made by now. JJ wouldn’t work in our park.
I do like Venters though, but it would take more than Venters and a B prospect to talk about Cruz. Mike Olt is our back-up in case we trade Mitch Moreland.
I like where you’re going with it though.
bravesdude
Venters , Matt Diaz , and Randall Delgado for Nelson Cruz . Or Venters , Martin Prado , prospect for Cruz , Olt .
FamousGrouse
No perfect matches but some combination of Cole McCurry, Chorye Spoone and Thomas Winegardner might work.
lefty177
i could honestly see the Red Sox trading for Bailey, who would it take to get him though?
KyleB
Josh Beckett and a treadmill
James Scheuerman
A package built around Xander Bogaerts.
KyleB
..
grownice
Kentucky fried chi…. ahh forget it.
James Scheuerman
If they left Adams in instead of automatically going with Feliz, they’d probably be champs.
cubs223425
If Nelson Cruz wasn’t a lazy bum on that fly ball in the 9th and Darren Oliver hadn’t pitched and they hadn’t wasted Hamilton’s HR, and so on.
Nelson Cruz is the first line of blame for me, but EVERYONE failed in the end.
Darmintak
Sorry, I don’t think I stated what I meant well.
I mean that the Giants managed to win games they were losing because their deficit never increased after the bullpen came in.
The Rangers could use that, especially since their bullpen exploded from time to time. They have great hitters, and having a bullpen that they could rely upon to not give up more runs every inning would keep them in games longer.
Sorry, I didn’t make it clear what I was trying to say.
James Scheuerman
Forget Bailey. I’ll trade you Mat Latos for Profar, Perez, and Olt. WIN NOW BAYBEE!!! Or do you like how it feels falling 1 out short…twice….
KyleB
If by Mat Latos you mean Clayton Kershaw…then ok.
James Scheuerman
Olt is blocked, Perez had a 6.43 ERA and becomes expendable if you have Latos. Profar is the real trade target. It’s fair, Latos has 5 years until he hits arbitration.
KyleB
You can’t go off of Perez’s ERA in a 10 game stint in AAA. Everyone knows he’s better than that. Mat Latos isn’t proven enough to warrant that kind of return.
harmony55
Mat Latos, who has two years and 79 days of MLB service, should be arbitration-eligible after next season and a free agent after the 2015 season.
notin
Latos is eligible for arbitration afer the 2012 season. He has 4 years left until he reaches free agency…
Darmintak
Tim doesn’t want to get locked up on long term deals currently; he has frequently stated opposition to anything more than a two year deal. I don’t think you can blame the Giants for not trying.
However, I think you’re right. Lincecum at least will probably sign elsewhere later in his career, but I’m really hoping Cain stays with the Gmen. I like Lincecum, but he’s got star appeal that costs more. Cain doesn’t have that flair, but he’s a fantastic starter.
johnsilver
Agree with you there on Cain.
If he was with a so called “high profile” team and grabbing the press on such, more people would be aware of how good he really is.
Darmintak
This is true. However, I’m more than content to let him cruise along under the radar, as it makes it more likely he’ll stick with the Giants. 🙂
green_and_gold
There is no way that Beane trades Gio to a division rival. Not going to happen
Pete 12
I think he’d make an exception with that deal.
Tyler G
Have you seen the Rangers lineup? Projected 2012 Lineup: Kinsler(4), Andrus(6), Hamilton(7), Beltre(5), Young(DH), Napoli(2), Cruz(9), Moreland(3), Leon’ys Martin(8). Trust me, with that lineup there won’t be many 1-0 games.
Onetimeaccount
I don’t think you’re looking at the full picture
Onetimeaccount
I don’t think you’re looking at the full picture
Onetimeaccount
I don’t think you’re looking at the full picture
Tyler G
Have you seen the Rangers lineup? Projected 2012 Lineup: Kinsler(4), Andrus(6), Hamilton(7), Beltre(5), Young(DH), Napoli(2), Cruz(9), Moreland(3), Leon’ys Martin(8). Trust me, with that lineup there won’t be many 1-0 games.
Tyler G
The Bullpen didn’t really hold the Rangers. Carpenter and Garcia(Game 2) did.
Tyler G
The Bullpen didn’t really hold the Rangers. Carpenter and Garcia(Game 2) did.
Tyler G
Did you watch Koji is Sept, Oct? Adams is a shut down 8th inning guy but he did blow 3 saves for the Rangers while only converting one when given the chance last year. Nathan is coming off a good second half but is also getting up there in age. Baily is under control through I believe 2015, he’s young, and is familiar with the AL West.
Tko11
The Giants might have something to say about that…
James Hannon
They shouldn’t have something to say about that. The whole situation is a joke. Instead of being 10 miles away like they are now, they would be 40 miles from AT&T. Sad state of affairs for a storied franchise.
Tko11
The Giants might have something to say about that…
Matt Azevedo
Martin Perez is what the A’s were asking at last years trade deadline. Seems like if they made that trade, Bailey saves game 6 and the Rangers have a ring, no?
TXHC
And that’s why Bailey is still in Oakland.
Matt Azevedo
Martin Perez is what the A’s were asking at last years trade deadline. Seems like if they made that trade, Bailey saves game 6 and the Rangers have a ring, no?
Tko11
Finally relievers will have to earn their money!
Tko11
Finally relievers will have to earn their money!
Tko11
Finally relievers will have to earn their money!
oaklandfan22
geez if the rangers get bailey there bullpen is gonna b loaded
KyleB
I doubt we’ll get Bailey. It’s too difficult to trade with the A’s because Beane tries to swindle everyone.
oaklandfan22
haha im gonna have to agree with you
Pete 12
Still fuming he backed out of that Rich Harden-Lars Anderson+1 deal because Boston decided at the last minute to remove the +1. Way to let Harden go for nothing. Should have taken that deal anyway.
TXHC
They can get bent for that price. It’s going to take more than a closer to pry away those guys.
Pete 12
The Rangers need him more, and you cant expect div rivals to hook each other up if one comes asking the other for help. I don’t see this deal going down unless gets drunk or something and offers up Perez or Profar.
NYPOTENCE
Don’t see Bailey being traded in the division.
harmony55
Matt Cain enters free agency the same offseason the Giants shed Aubrey Huff’s $10 million annual salary and Tim Lincecum enters free agency the same offseason the Giants shed Barry Zito’s $20 million annual salary (although the combined buyouts for Huff and Zito total $9 million).
notin
Regardless of Harrison, they still came within one out of winning the World Series. You will never be able to prove they could have won if they had an ace. Never. But it is not difficult to prove they would have won if Feliz had gotten Freese out.
notin
And you know what he is saying. That a good bullpen can hold the other team in check and give your team a better chance of coming back…
Onetimeaccount
He agreed with me on what I said on that matter. Time to move on.
notin
Actually its because the Dodgers aren’t leaving them any utility infielders to go for….
notin
Cain makes $15mill this year and is a free agent after. They might be able to extend him, but what if they can’t? Now is as good a time as any to move him for an actual hitter, preferably one with more than one year of control left.
Darmintak
Oh, I’m not saying it’s unreasonable to offer a trade like that, I’m just saying Sabean has abandoned the gold standard and is on the Pitching standard. I don’t think anyone should be untouchable, but Lincecum, Cain, and probably even Bumgarner are basically untouchable from his perspective.
notin
2 years of control is not a rental. Garza is signed through 2013…
cards2WS
Possibly Profar? I know he’s a top prospect, but it doesnt look like they have an opening unless they move Andrus.
Pete 12
Yeah so this deal aint ever gunna happen.
Pete 12
lol
Pete 12
Now Joel Sherman is saying the Mets contacted the A’s about Bailey “but are unlikely to accept their asking price.” I can’t even think up anyone they want from their farm, its a pretty bad one.
johnnycomelately9
His name is Feliz. And yes he’ll be an Ace.
HowdIGetHere
Problem is, the A’s have to be cautious not to do greater damage to
themselves by unduly helping a division rival. The asking price for
Bailey should rightfully be much higher for the division’s top team than
anyone else. Would you give your most dangerous foe a top bullpen arm
for anything less than a lopsided deal in your favor?
gammaraze
Fail.
Replacing CJ Wilson with a “legit” ace STILL leaves Matt Harrison with 2 starts in the WS.