There's little doubt that the Rangers are once again one of MLB's best teams — if not the best. Texas entered Tuesday's action with the second-best winning percentage and best run differential in MLB. Now, they're looking to fortify their team for the stretch run and into the postseason, and they're armed with a wealth of prospects whom they could use to push through a blockbuster deal. Here's the latest:
Considering the Rangers' recent history in the World Series, and the fact that they're facing the very real possibility of Josh Hamilton departing as a free agent in the offseason, one AL personnel exec said he'd be shocked if Texas didn't make a move for a top-of-the-rotation starter such as Cole Hamels or Josh Johnson, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post (Twitter links). We already heard earlier today that the Rangers would be willing to acquire Hamels without the added complication of working out a contract extension.
Similarly, the Rangers are focused on acquiring a starting pitcher, such as Hamels or Zack Greinke, who can be a "difference-maker" for them once they reach the postseason, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. Texas won't let the prospect of losing the draft pick attached to an outgoing free agent thwart their plans to acquire such a starter, adds Sullivan. In other words, it sounds like they're fine with acquiring a rental type. One alternative, though, would be "fortifying the bullpen" and deploying Alexi Ogando as a starter.
In addition to Hamels, Greinke and Johnson, the Rangers are also "in the mix" for Rays right-hander James Shields, and they would also be interested in reacquiring Phillies lefty Cliff Lee if he's made available, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com (Twitter links). The latter scenario, however, appears unlikely, Rosenthal adds.
We can't say for sure how things will shake out, but the Rangers certainly look like as strong a candidate as anyone to make a splash for one of the premium pitchers on the trade market before the deadline.
What would it take to land one of these arms? Olt? Profar? Any thoughts Dan?
I don’t see the Phillies sending Hamels to Texas without getting Mike Olt back.
Ditto the Brewers and Greinke. Olt would have to be part of that deal.
A package with Martin Perez and Leonys Martin would probably do it ….. Rangers have a lot of depth
No no it won’t brewers want infielders would the rangers trade for a ss no it wouldn’t make sence as the case with the brewers u have to fill there needs
Brewers need a lot of things
But not outfielders do people look at depth charts before they toss out these names???? The brewers need outfielders like the rangers need shortstops……
The rangers have 2 of the best 15 SS in the league….. Brewers have Ryan Braun and a couple league average outfileders
outfielders*
Olt would certainly be included. Profar ain’t going anywhere. He’s the best prospect in baseball now that Trout, Harper, and Moore have all been called up. Hard to guess what all it would take given the impact of the new CBA agreement, but I find it unlikely that they would trade two of their top prospects (Profar, Perez, Olt, and Martin) for a rental. I’d say maybe Olt and one or two lesser prospects.
Daniels, Ryan and company are taking this team to the promise land.
Lets hope this version doesn’t end up like Mosada?
The Rangers have been on the cusp of winning a WS for 3 years now. I can’t blame them one bit for trying to do whatever it takes to break thru and win it all while they’ve still got this team together.
Curious and some of the Rangers fans here know how much the team would be willing to carry payroll wise more than me..
If the Rangers could get lee back and his 25m a year average over the next 4 seasons. does that end any chance of resigning Hamilton and is that considered a safer bet + more important in their eyes?
I think it would make it very difficult, but not impossible. A lot of Rangers are set to hit FA this Winter: Hamilton, Napoli, Feldman, Oswalt, Adams, Uehara, Lowe, Lewis, and Torrealba. That’s somewhere between $40-$50 million so it depends what those guys do.
I really feel sorry for the rangers they have a stellar prospect ss, but also have a current all star at ss. What seems unreasonable is that both are “untouchable”
The Rangers will just move someone out of position when the time comes. No big deal.
that gets your sympathy?
I like what the Rangers front office has put together and how they remain driven … but I can’t help but laugh at the lack of “this is what is killing the game” talk that came with every Yankee acquisition (even the rumors of one) lol
Rangers get players throught the farm, not typically writing checks.
Don’t go there, just don’t go there..
It’s not like Texas developed a lot of the people putting this team into contention and they wouldn’t be in 1st place without.
Only maybe TB can lay that claim of close to strictly development to compete/win and nobody else.
Umm, all theBrewer difference makers last year in their playoff run were in house players, or players traded for with in house prospects.
Napoli – Angels; traded to Texas from Toronto
Young – Drafted by Orioles (didn’t sign), then Blue Jays; part of Loaiza trade
Cruz – Drafted by Mets; traded to Brewers then Texas
Andrus – Braves; part of the Teixeira trade
Harrison – Braves; part of Teixeira trade
Feliz – Braves; part of the Teixeira trade
Hamilton – Rays; traded from Reds to Texas for Volquez
Ogando – Rule 5 Draft
Beltre –
FA signing
Oswalt – FA signing
Colby Lewis – FA signing
Davish – FA signing
Nathan – FA signing
… for the record, although no longer Rangers,
Vlad was a FA signing
by my count, that leaves Kinsler and Holland as the only home grown starters (since I added Vlad), CJ Wilson was home grown
Yankees have not written checks any more “typically” than Texas; just with more success
although, I will say that no team compares to the Yanks for trading players before they have a chance to reach their potential … Melky being the latest example (for a second round of Javier Vasquez no less) but there was Jay Buhner, Doug Drabek, Jose Rijos, etc.
Through the farm also means trades, but you knew that, right? Oh, I guess not.
actually, I did know that, however …
since Napoli came in a trade for Francisco who came through the Red Sox system, who Texas got from Chicago for Everett … who was drafted by the Yankees
since Young came in a trade for Loaiza who came through the Pirates system, who Texas got from Pittsburgh for Van Poppel … who was drafted by the A’s
since Cruz came in a trade for Cordero, drafted by Detroit
the process of elimination leaves the only “through the farm” players Texas can point to other than Kinsler, Holland, & Wilson are Volquez, Teixeira & Gonzalez … three players Texas flipped into outstanding trades
Also, “writing checks” was redefined by Texas when it signed A-Rod to a contract worth $2M more than the owner paid for the franchise a few years prior.
… but you knew that, right?
Oh, I guess not.
Colby Lewis was originally drafted by the rangers. What you fail to realize is that Andrus, Harrison, Feliz all spent time in OUR farm system. We groomed these guys through our player development not the braves. Salty was the headliner in that trade remember? Our development turned Harrison, Feliz and Andrus into stars.
Michael Young, Hamiliton, Ogando and Cruz are all savvy moves by our front office. Bought them for cheap and they panned out.
Once again Cruz spent years in our farm system, same as ogando.
As a Ranger fan, I’d go with Johnson or trade for a reliever and keep their top prospects. Huston Street would be nice and he’s a former Longhorn.
Brewers would want infielders and pitchers they have no interest in outfielders at all
would profar be moved for lee?
Profar won’t be moved for anyone. He’s as untouchable as untouchable can be.
Nope. Profar is untouchable. He’s the best prospect in baseball now. You don’t trade the #1 prospect in baseball for a guy whom you have to pay $100 million.
Only guy I can even remotely see Texas trading Profar for is Upton and even that doesn’t seem very likely.
not Upton, but Felix possibly
No way Texas trades Profar for Felix. Not because Felix isn’t worth it, but because Texas and Seattle are in the same division. You don’t give the #1 prospect in baseball to a division rival.
Both sides would be receiving someone that could hurt them for years to come. They’d have Profar, Rangers would have Felix. It works both ways.
texas does not have the best run diff….the SECOND best…behind the underperforming cardinals