With the clock ticking on their 30-day negotiating window with Yu Darvish, the Rangers aren't done searching for pitching upgrades. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes that Texas still has interest in Athletics closer Andrew Bailey.
If the Rangers were to acquire Bailey, they would almost certainly trade a pitcher – perhaps Matt Harrison – for a first baseman or center fielder, according to Rosenthal.
The Rangers' interest in Bailey is nothing new, though during the Winter Meetings they were said to be balking at Billy Beane's asking price for the right-hander. The Red Sox have been the team linked to Bailey most often in recent weeks, even after their acquisition of Mark Melancon.
Assuming the Rangers can finalize a deal with Darvish within the next month, Neftali Feliz's move to the rotation means the club would have an excess of starting pitching. As Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote yesterday, Texas could consider starting the season with a six-man rotation. A trade is also a possibility. But if the Rangers decided to move Alexi Ogando to a bullpen which already includes Joe Nathan and Mike Adams, you'd think the team would be less inclined to part with premium prospects for Bailey.
If the inferior Adams gets Wieland and Erlin, Bailey gets….?
Adams , Wieland and Erlin?
haha ill take it!
Inferior? Are you serious? Check the stats. The two are almost perfectly identical throughout their careers. Including the fact that Adams’ stats were all better than Bailey last year. But hey, at least Bailey is younger!
But Bailey has all of those $ave$!!!
Yeah, that alone doesn’t make Adams inferior to Bailey though.
Bailey >>>>> Any Petco pitcher. Bailey is twice the pitcher Adams is and has age, performance in a more difficult league/division and the numbers to back it up.
According to baseball-reference, Bailey’s most similar pitchers are John Axford and Neftali Feliz, so stop right there if you are going to try and run with some BS “Bailey is overrated” argument. He’s the same as Feliz.
Hahaha Adams still produced better numbers than Bailey after he moved to Arlington. Using Petco is a weak argument.
Yeah especially since Bailey pitches for Oakland.
Exactly my point. It’s not like it’s a difficult life pitching in Oakland. Especially when you get to face the Angels and Mariners offenses a ton.
Then your point makes equally no sense since coming to the Rangers it meant facing the A’s, Mariners and Angels lineup.
One thing Adams wasn’t though, closer! Obviously do some research before making ignorant comments.
It’s much easier to come into the eighth inning than it is in the ninth or later attempting to secure a victory. It’s why a majority of the time when the setup man gets pressed into closing duties, 99.9 percent of the time they fail to make the necessary adjustments or have the demeanor to do it.
Feliz and Baileys similarities end after saves numbers. Bailey is oft injured and fully healthy no where near as good as Feliz.
First of all Bailey has only one season that had injury struggles yet still recorded 20 plus saves and a much better ERA than Feliz.
In fact you look at all the numbers and Bailey is the far superior pitcher. Has better control, better career era, and doesn’t blown saves.
If the Rangers had acquired Bailey like they were looking for around the trade deadline in 2011, the Rangers would be World Series champions. What’s better at 2.07 ERA or a 2.55 era?
What’s better a pitcher who has never blown a save past the all-star break or the one that has? Feliz going to the rotation now that is going to be filled with hilarious results! Last year alone as closer Feliz struckout 54 while walking 30. Bailey struck out 41 while walking 12.
Nice try though, Feliz isn’t anywhere as good a Bailey.
Um yes it does, being a setup man compared to being a closer are two different roles.
Mike Adams: 1.30 ERA in 117 PETCO innings. Bailey would have an ERA of about 0.20 if he threw in Petco. That park is a joke and so are most pitching numbers there, its like how the Rockies were in the 90s with offense, totally blown out and fake numbers. My grandmother would have an ERA under 3 at Petco.
Yeah, the A’s ballpark is a pitching nightmare.
You mean a hitting nightmare, not pitching
It was sarcasm.
it has played neutral the last couple of seasons but by all means dont bother to check any sources for facts and just continue to spout off lies and bs as truth.
Lies? How are they lies? Sarcastically saying it’s a pitching nightmare is no more a lie than saying Adams is inferior because he used to pitch in Petco. Guess what, he was still better than Bailey after moving to Arlington and the AL.
let’s use stats that adjust for park effects then, eh pete?
SIERA
adams 2.47
bailey 2.91
FIP-
adams 60
bailey 67
ERA-
adams 38
bailey 50
– after moving to arlington last year adams pitched to a 2.54 SIERA, 75 FIP-, and 49 ERA- (still better than bailey)
– though adams has pitched in 25 more games over the last three years, he has one less meltdown and almost 20 more shutdowns
– the average leverage index is similar for both and bailey has done much worse in higher-leverage situations, so you can’t even start with that 9th inning crap
oh please, go away with your average leverage index crap, that stuff is inconclusive.
bailey was hurt last year, use the last 3 years of data and get back to me.
Bailey = Axford or Feliz = Extremely good at relieving. Adams is a product of SD, if you are going to use his 14 inning sample size at Arlington last year, don’t even bother talking to me. You are wrong.
I’d be angry too if my team sucked every year.
that is the last 3 seasons of data you homer. and those stats are park-adjusted
you have no leg to stand on here whatsoever. these are metrics you endorse in every other scenario. you’re ignoring them here because you’re biased
Yu mad?
Exactly. And this isn’t about trading Adams away, but adding Bailey to the pen as a 7th inning/backup closer. Maybe Uehara is trade bait, but not Adams.
I think the best spot for bailey right now is boston . I think they should be more agressive , Im pretty dissappointed my mets didnt try to get Lowrie for Parnell , BOS went with Melacon instead
Seriously. Instead of trading top prospects for Bailey, just put Feldman and Ogando in the bullpen. They killed it in the playoffs last year, so why not stick with the guys we have. We need to get a lefty reliever, not a overpriced closer.
Because they need Ogando in the rotation?
No they don’t. Darvish, Lewis, Holland, Harrison and Feliz. I like Ogando, but if Texas wants to give Feliz a shot this year, and they sign Darvish, Ogando is the odd man out.
Of course, the Rangers could do that, but you can tell this is partly about stacking the deck for them to win the World Series next season…which is why I think the Rangers are going to make another move for a first baseman.
I don’t know how long Adams will be here, but Nathan will be in in Arlington for 2 years. Ogando could be moved to the bullpen with the upside of making him the closer for years to come.
The A’s would be stupid to trade within their division. They should just trade him to the Red Sox.
The Rangers would also be stupid to trade a guy like Harrison within the division.
why? the angels just made them irrelevant for the next 2-3 years and the rangers will be outstanding for that length of time too. Weakening his division rivals farm systems in time for 2015 should be the #1 priority on Beane’s list.
I think our bullpen is deep enough. If Uehara finds a way to minimize the HRs, which I think he will, then our bullpen is stacked. No need to give up multiple top prospects.
All we need now is a lefty reliever. Oliver and Gonzalez are the obvious choices. But JD needs to lock one up before they both bolt.
After that WS Gm. 6 performance by Oliver against 2 lefties and a pitcher, I’d rather have Gonzales back.
I like Gonzalez too. He’d also be a better candidate for a 2-3 years deal.
I like Gonzalez too but he has Boras as an agent so talks will probably drag out because Boras will be looking for Gonzalez to make closer to atleast 7 Mil/year. Oliver will probably be seeking 2.5-3.5 Mil for his last go around.
Oliver gave up two bloopers that happened to drop in…
All I know is that the west is getting some good pitching with the Angles staff, King Felix and Pineda up north the pitching the A’s still have and Texas hopefully they get Darvish really good.
How about Feldman/Moreland/Harrison/Scheppers for Sean Marshall and Matt Garza?
And throw in mark Lowe as well
They should try to upgrade LF rather than getting too many bullpen pieces. That guy in LF sucks and is essentially a sure out/ slap single type of guy.
I assume you only watched in the post season when Hamilton was in center but Hamilton is our left fielder and a damn good one. Center is where we could use the upgrade offensively but Gentry was great defensively. If that is the one spot that we are short offensively but have a guy that can cover a lot of ground, I am fine with that. We also have Beltre (not the 3rd baseman), Martin, and Borbon that can still play in center. There are not a lot of good options in center right now so we can still make it with what we have. Murphy who played a lot in the post season is perfect as a fourth outfielder. And Murphy looks like Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s day off so for that reason and that reason alone we can’t get rid of him.
I’d look for Leonys Martin to win the CF spot over Gentry quite easily this year. He has the potential to be a much better hitting version of Gentry.
At some point this year I hope that does happen. I have seen him a couple of times down in round rock and he has looked lost at the plate. Fast as all get out but his bat may need at least half a year to catch up to his other tools. Granted this is from watching him twice and not being a scout, just my sniff test so to say.
2012 OF will feature Hamilton (LF), Leonys Martin (CF), Cruz (RF), and Murphy (4th OF). We’re set there.
Murphy and Hamilton play LF. there both great hitters kid
bailey does not make sense for the rangers since their bullpen is so deep. Feliz shiould stay as a closer because he will fail as a starter with his lost of comand at times. Rangers should instead just get a one year filler in the #5 spot.
No need for a filler. The 5 sport will go to either Feliz or Ogando with Feldman being a backup plan. Texas is deep at starting pitching.
Matt Harrison in a deal for Joaquim Soria
This has already been said multiple times, we don’t need more closers. If any additions are made to the bullpen, it’ll be for a lefty reliever.
I was just responding to the potential interest in Andrew Bailey. I’m just thinking the Royals would want less prospect talent and more of MLB pitching talent.
The Royals want the entire farm when the Rangers call. Soria also wants to stay there and the Royals want to keep him (if I remember correct, I could be wrong about that)
Soria just appears to be a commodity that could be replaced and actually of value to another team.
I also hear that the Royals are looking for MLB starting pitching.
Yeah but it makes no sense to trade away a young, cost controlled #3 starter, who is still getting even better, for a luxury.
baiey for mike olt. rangers already have beltre at third, so if they want a proven 1b in moreland or and unproven mike olt playing a dif position and unproven in the mlb. oakland needs to addres their 3b problem they have no clear cut prospects in that area for the next few years
if it is one for one like that I am all for it. The problem is that it will take 2-3 prospects for bailey.
Bailey for Olt and Scheppers maybe? Or Olt, Scheppers plus a low pitching prospect. I doubt Texas goes for yet another eighty closer in our bullpen when we already have 3-4 of those on our staff. But if they did a trade, I’d rather it be Olt, Scheppers and low pitching prospect for Sean Marshall.
Whoever they get in the pen, Washington will sniff out the cold hand and sit on the hot one when the October decks are stacked.
I am not a fan of trading Harrison for a bullpen guy. Harrison is a great young middle of the rotation option who has not hit his upside ceiling yet. DO NOT PULL THE TRIGGER ON THIS ONE.
In addition to that, you do not trade young starting pitching, you develop it.
no way will rangers bite on three prospects. yeah i was thinking two for bailey but olt does look to be a stud and fits in oaklands plans. billy is probably asking for 2 of their top 10 prospects for bailey which seems fair. he has been more than consistant and he has the ability to have 30-40 saves oer year on a strong offensive team.
Having all those starters and closers is what will get the Rangers through slumps and injuries next season and hopefully seal the deal on the next World Series. I kind of doubt they’ll actually get Bailey…but maybe. I’m kind of wondering more how desperate the Rangers are to replace Moreland’s average bat in the lineup…if they can’t get Fielder, would they consider trading for Carlos Lee and money from the Astros? Just as a rental of course til his contract ends, but it would be a cheaper option than Fielder.
There’s got to be a better option than Carlos Lee out there. We already had that experience once.
I don’t understand the want for Fielder. Sure he’s a great hitter, but the lineup isn’t the problem. Moreland is a very good bat to have in the 9 hole and plays above average defense. No need to use any funds reserved for extension on a luxury.
True but it is fun to dream. Everybody hates the Yankees until you have the opportunity to be just like them with potential all stars at every position!
Bailey is a stud, the Sox or the Rangers are eventually going to over pay for him. His contract is good and he could put them over the top.
Rangers have 3 guys in their pen that posts the same stats as Bailey. They won’t overpay.
Yet, only one of them is a closer and they are moving him to the rotation. So, technically the Rangers have no one! Again you’re not making a very good point by putting 8th inning guys in a 9th inning role.
bailey is a stud
Bailey is good but not a real need for Rangers more of a luxury