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
Ogando was flat out dominate for the first half last year. he could be a great half a season rotation fix for them
You mess with a good thing if that good thing can pitch 7 innings instead of 1, which Ogando has proven he is capable of doing. So if it costs less in prospects to fill Ogando’s spot in the pen than it does to get a top line arm, doesn’t that make sense?
after tonight’s game it would hurt to trade away Perez
Perez would be a nice get, but speedy outfielders with no power are a dime a dozen and Buckel is years away from the majors, not satisfying the Brewers need for MLB ready prospects.
Sorry, no Olt, no Greinke.
You’re missing the point. It’s not that Milwaukee would necessarily turn down Martin and Perez. It’s that Olt makes more sense for both sides. If there’s two things Texas is short on, it’s OFers and LHRP. Texas trading Martin and Perez makes zero sense. Not only because it would constitute overpaying for a rental, but Texas would be dealing from two positions of need all while not addressing the Brewers’ primary needs.
Thank god you arn’t a GM, because you would be named Jeff Loria. The Brewers still have a team for next year, it’s not a rebuild for the future. They need mlb ready Olt or 2 years away Profar or else nothing is worth losing ticket sales and settling for comp picks.
Hell yeah Perez, Martin and Sardinas would get Greinke, but Texas would be crazy to do that. It’s hard to see Texas trading Martin with Hamilton and Murphy both headed for free agency. They might trade Olt and Perez, but it won’t be for Greinke. Maybe Upton because he’s still under contract for several seasons, but that’s about it.
It’s easy to see Texas trading Olt because he’s without a position in Texas. He’s a 3B/SS. They’ve been trying him at 1B, but he has the most value at 3B because he’s an elite fielder and would only be an average hitting 1B.
Remember Texas only gave up one elite prospect for Lee and that’s when Texas stood to get draft picks if Lee left. Olt and Scheppers for Greinke is a conversation worth having, but Perez and Martin is a non-starter. Not even sure Texas would trade that much for Johnson.
The Brewers are looking to get a top prospect short stop or thirdbaseman in any deal for Greinke. If Texas can’t pony that up, another team will. Maybe the Angels.
Especialy when he won’t bring back a difference maker pitcher
And if your talking grienke the last thing the brewers need is outfielders it’s infielders or on to the next bidder
Olt > Marin and Buckel, so Olt and Perez would do it. The Brewers are going to get a first round pick if they keep Greinke, and they don’t need the salary relief, so they can be picky and wait for the deal that fills a need.
Fine. Hello, Anaheim…
I can’t help what Jack Z did. He obviously bought into the hype of Justin Smoak (who at the start of the season was the #12 prospect in baseball, which is higher than Olt ranks).
Fine with me. If a match isn’t there, it isn’t there. It doesn’t hurt the Brewers if the Rangers deal with another team. If anything, whatever team the Rangers trade with, it takes another pitcher off the market and increases Greinke’s value. However, it does hurt the Rangers if Milwaukee deals with the Angels.
I dont think it is not that Texas cant pony up….. I think it is Grenke is def not worth Profar and might not be worth Olt
Who knows. If the Angels think Greinke is the difference between catching the Rangers for the division and/or beating them in the playoffs, who’s to say what Anaheim would spend. But if I’m Doug Melvin I pit the Angels against the Rangers and see who blinks first.
Even if Texas could trade Martin (which is very unlikely given the pending FA of Hamilton and Murphy), the Brewers are looking for infielders and pitchers. Olt makes more sense. Texas doesn’t need a 3B or a SS, the Brewers do.
Why such the high value on Olt, he is a prospect. He is ranked lower than Smoak ever was and where is Smoak now? AAA. Trade him. The goal is to win Championships not continually have the best minor leagues.
According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies are nearing a six-year extension with Cole Hamels.
There goes one more “difference maker” off the market.
With Hammels on the verge of signing an extension with the Phils, Greinke is now the best starting pitcher on the market. Is he worth Profar? He could be, if the Rangers were desperate enough (though I don’t think they are). But the Rangers can’t just get to the Series this time, lest they be known as the Buffalo Bills of baseball. So, the question becomes, is getting Greinke and keeping him from another contender worth your second best prospect?
MLB prospects has Olt at 33.
Don’t even have Buckel in the Top 100, BTW.
Angels can have him.
As much as I like the idea of Ogando returning to the rotation, we (hopefully) won’t need him in the rotation in October. The October rotation should be Darvish, Harrison, Holland and/or Oswalt unless Neftali REALLY brings it the second half. No reason to get Ogando out of the bullpen groove that he’s been working on this season just for some second half wins.
but if you are going nowhere this year and going to lose Greinke anyway, trade him for a couple of guys that will be ready in the next 1-2 years over getting one draft pick that will be 2-4 years away. You also will have more of a basis to judge the prospects you are geting and how they are developing. The compensation round of picks is a total crap shoot. Go look at 2009, only 4 of the 16 guys in the compensation round have even made it to the majors as of yet, 6 of 16 in ’08 and none are super stars. Draft picks are way too over rated!
You also still have the opportunity to resign him in the offseason. I don’t think that Greinke will take that much from ticket sales and the amount he takes away will be made up in his salary coming off the books.
I am also all for trading Olt, I know it will take that, but he would have to be the centerpiece on our end. We are deep enough for other guys to fill it out.
Jeff Loira has won more world series (two) than the Rangers have : )
The get a compensation round pick and only 1. Go look at the compensation rounds and see how much of a crap shoot that is. I am all for trading Olt, he is a prospect and you never know how that will turn out. But you don’t get Olt and Perez, pick one. We have a deep enough system to add to the rest but Perez stays.
Again, who knows. But the more teams in the mix, the more they bid against each other. Texas, Anaheim, Atlanta, Washington, Los Angeles, Baltimore…the more, the merrier.
To the Brewers at the time, Shaen Marcum was worth Brett Lawrie. To the Braves, Mark Texieria was worth Elvis Andrus and a slew of top prospects. You never know what a player is worth to a particular team.
yeah but it also gives the Brewers more time to work out an extension.