A few odds and ends to pass along …
- Free agent outfielder/DH Johnny Damon prefers to re-sign with the Rays but said he hasn't had discussions with Tampa because EVP of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is a "free agent," according to Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe. Friedman isn't under contract and is expected to be courted by the Astros to be their next GM, but Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times reiterates that it's unlikely Friedman will leave the Rays.
- The Rangers are making "no progress" in talks with free agent starter C.J. Wilson, tweets Jon Heyman of SI.com, who suggests Texas may look elsewhere — perhaps at Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols.
- Tim Wakefield would like to pitch one more year with the Red Sox, according to Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald. The free agent knuckleballer, 45, has also mentioned the possibility of pitching in the National League.
- NBA Hall of Famer Magic Johnson plans to bid on the Dodgers as part of a potential ownership group with former Braves and Nationals president Stan Kasten and Mark Walter of Guggenheim Partners, a financial services firm, according to Bill Shaikin and Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times. Johnson is a former minority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, selling his 4.5 percent stake in the team in 2010, according to the report.
The rangers need wilson theirs no reason to talk to fielder, they had the best offensive park in baseball last year leave the offense how it is.
“they had the best offensive park in baseball last year”
I really, really miss every short popup to LF at fenway not leaving the yard.. When they built that goofy new press box around ’89-90, it killed balls traveling to LF and all the wind blown HR in that direction..
That park MADE power hitters like Rico Petrocelli and some like Hawk Harrelson, Nick Esasky would have never put up as many as they did without the wind blown cheapos either..
Tear it down..Who needs all those useless reporters anyway..
yeah i think the rangers need more power hitters! not…… i thought they were content with morland, i guess not
We can never be content -ever
Just because a writer mentions a players name doesn’t mean that the team is actually pursuing them.
sarcasm
It’d feel like almost a slap in the face to have pujols in Tx. I know he is arguably one of the greatest players of this era already, but he just beat us in the WS, it wouldn’t feel right cheering for him, and he doesn’t address our main need, pitching. plus he’s 31 and would cost over 200 mil. I’d rather have prince at 40 mil less with his best years upcoming.
You know what they say, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
I’d agree with you though, I think Fielder is a much better fit for Texas. You’re going to get much better production of him through the contract. Being realistic, both are going to break down during the length of the contract, it’s just a matter of trying to guess which one is more likely to first.
Can’t predict injuries.
Injuries are hard to predict, but your health track record can be used to measure one’s durability. And prince fielder is the definition of durable. He’s missed like 13 games since ’06. I don’t see the rangers breaking the bank for prince, but I do see them going for prince before pujols. Also, I rather see a Rangers/Darvish connection than anything else.
Pujols won’t be going to Texas b
Wakefield’s corpse might be a solid #2 starter in the NL. For the Red Sox, I might slot him in for the second game of a day-night doubleheader in August just to give Kyle Weiland a rest.
You seem to completely ignore the fact that the NL bested the AL in nearly every offensive and pitching stat this past season.
Yeah, I have a hard time looking up stats and keeping my tongue planted firmly in my cheek at the same time. It’s probably because I’m blond.
Blonde
No, I’m blond. My wife is blonde.
Didn’t Wakefield have to start 23 games for the 2011 Sox and outpitched john lackey at less than 1/10’th lackey’s salary?
“outpitched john lackey in 2011” is a helluva credential
I agree with you there. I was attempting to point out that the red sox rotation really did need wakefield despite the original poster’s argument that he doesn’t even belong in the AL east. The OP was making it out to be that wakefield wasn’t good enough to be pitching for the sox, which is false since he wasn’t even the worst pitcher on his own team…much less the entire AL or AL east.
I think the fact that you seized on anything in the original post as an “argument” shows that you take this stuff way, way too seriously.
From now on, I’ll have to be more careful when I talk baseball around you and the kid from the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.
and the red sox signing him and proceeding to pay him 15 million to suck harder than Wakefield is a helluva credential for the previous incarnation of the red sox front office
So either Damon and Friedman became BFF’s out of no where or Damon is lying again (huge shock), going by the other options and Ortiz’s price tag, I would welcome Johnny back to Tampa, though.
Molina seemed to get signed without an issue
Pujols won’t be going to Texas because the Rangers won’t make him an offer. Heyman is offering an opinion which is wrong. The Rangers may pursue Fielder–may–but they won’t offer more than a 5 year deal. Their priority is resigning guys like Josh
Heyman is a fool if he thinks the Rangers should go after Fielder or Pujols. The Rangers offense was one of the top 3 in the majors last year. Adding another power hitter won’t add as much when you compare it to the price the price tag, there will be a diminishing returns when it comes to wins. If they can’t bring Wilson back then they should be prepared to spend money on Oswalt, Darvish, or Buhrele (sp?). Besides they have enough people who can play first even if Moreland is out for longer than assumed.
I get what you’re saying, but Pujols/Fielder adds about 5 wins over what they have now in Moreland IMO. Never been a huge Moreland guy, as he notched over 500 PAs last year and managed just a .734 OPS in a hitter’s park with a below average glove.
Now if they can get Darvish, then I’m fine with Davrish+Moreland over Pujols/Fielder+???, but right now the projected rotation is far from terrible:
Lewis
Holland
Feiiz
Harrison
Ogando
Well you have to view Feliz as a bit of a wild card. He’s never started a game in the majors, I’m well aware he was a star starting pitcher in the minors but it’s not the majors. Also as the adage goes, pitching wins playoff games. As crazy as it sounds I think the Rangers are better in the long run with a top of the rotation starter over Pujols/Fielder.
I hear you. I am not assuming the transition for Feliz will be as smooth as it was for Wilson, but it could very well be. The Rangers still have the depth without Wilson, as guys like Martin Perez and Neil Ramirez are close and in Ramirez’s case, ready to contribute at the back-end. Of course I’m open to being completely wrong here, but I’d rather roll with an elite bat (they don’t hit the FA market very often) than with a guy in Wilson who has already peaked.
i’m all for your statement if you take the “if” out and everything that comes after it in the first sentence
Buehrle, by the way.
Sorry (Jerry Crasnick) since I see your name in MLB Trade article just now and I was reading my postings from yesterday a Yankeefan informed me that it wasn’t your own words about the Red Sox and Yankees affording Cespedes. I called you an apologist. I was re-read the article and it was a front office man. My apologies for calling you an apologist.
Anyway, I also think CJ Wilson is gone from the Rangers. He’ll go somewhere, just as long as it’s not that Orioles =P.
…but that’s where all rangers go
“…a Yankeefan”
That was me! Haha
I don’t see why Texas would need to waste $200 million dollars on a first baseman when they’re arguably the best offensive team in the league. Not my money, but I’ve got to think there’s other ways you can improve your ballclub.
Heyman only suggested it…just as every writer has for half the teams in baseball.
I think it leans more to going after Darvish than it does Fielder, but really the Rangers are in a great spot because they have pitchers (Ross, Perez, and Ramirez) heading to the majors that will really help.
The Rangers are my pick to sign Darvish.
I agree, I think they just got good news today.
Don’t forget that teams have to bid on Darvish. The highest bid wins the right to negotiate with him – no one else. Texas are up against a lot of other teams with deep pockets too and it should be interesting to see which team bids the highest.
I still think it’ll be the Rangers that win the bid; not that I think Darvish is worth it.
I can’t wait for Fielder and Pujols to hurry up and sign somewhere so I can stop reading these annoying baseless speculations about the Rangers signing them.
There won’t be any hurrying…this is going to be dragged out to as long as January.
You’re mean.
Damon figures (probably rightfully so) that only the Rays want him at this point but they haven’t talked to him yet so he’s claiming it’s because we don’t have a GM but if we didn’t have a GM, there would be no Molina signing or Jaso trade. We will talk to Damon and I think bring him back but Johnny, Friedman doesn’t have a mancrush on you, he’s exploring other options first, like he always does.
Magic + Kasten + Walter look like a dream team for returning the Dodgers to their former glory. Magic is making all the right noises about rebuilding the team and fan trust, and you know LA fans would love to see him at the games.
It’s all coming together just as I foretold. They will sign Fielder, yes, They will need an Ace, yes, They will need him to be cheap, yes, They will give my Padres Profar, Olt, Perez for Mat Latos, yes….
So shall it be, yes…
I hate to admit it, but you’ve grown on me.
you’ve managed to allow me to enjoy your posts despite the caps lock. The persona has grown on me as well.
So you think Josh Hamilton is a CF? Not sure I’d want to put that on his plate…
Rangers have no SP to trade
If they trade fr Alonso there is no need for fielder. I’m not in anyway saying Alonso is as good as or will ever be as good as fielder but he is a firstbasemen. Not an outfielder plus the need to keep the corner open for
Josh. I truly think he should be in right with Cruz in left
There’s several fungi that grow on people too…
WE have starting pitching to trade…but we won’t.
Funny you say that cookmeister, because we actually have too many starters as is, and none are worse than a #3 starter.
Why’d you put that twice?
my apologies, i should have clarified more clearly. Reds are looking for a top of the rotation SP, which the Rangers don’t have to trade. I think the Rangers have some decent starters, but not that front of the rotation type the Reds want. Could the Rangers pitchers develop into that kind of starter? Sure. But until it happens i can’t see it. And even if the Rangers did have that guy the Reds want, would the Rangers give him up?
Yes, keep Harrison and give him two starts in the World Series. What could possibly go wrong?
Doesn’t Cruz have a cannon though?