The Rangers will let Josh Hamilton reach the free agent market before bidding on him, GM Jon Daniels told reporters today. Click here for the details on Hamilton and continue reading for more AL West-related notes…
- President/CEO Nolan Ryan said the Rangers will evaluate Hamilton's disappointing late-season play in the context of the entire 2012 season, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan.
- Daniels said the Rangers haven't determined what Michael Young's role will be in 2013, Anthony Andro of FOXSportsSouthwest.com reports (on Twitter).
- Daniels said he’s pleased with the job manager Ron Washington did and will continue to do, Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (Twitter link).
- Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner outlines his offseason plan for the Mariners. It includes one-year deals for Melky Cabrera, Carlos Villanueva and Travis Hafner plus a trade with the Rays.
The one-year signing of Villanueva idea made me laugh. He could easily get a 3-year, $18MM+ deal on the open market and be tried as a full-time starter. If he regresses and goes back to the ‘pen, $6MM on a reliever is still fairly cheap, or at least reasonable.
The rest of the list is kinda silly also.
It would be a definite overpay for a long reliever and probably more than CV will be able to find. However, I think I agree with your general point that it might be tough to get CV on a one year deal. Maybe something like 1 year at 6-8 million could work. If he really believes in himself, then he might view it as a way to get paid well for a year and prove that he warrants a long-term starter contract.
Ehh, I think a 3-year deal with a 6-8MM AAV sounds about right for him. His only issue is keeping the ball in the park, which is a big issue admittedly, but one that can be nerfed in a not-so-hitter’s friendly ballpark, such as Safeco.
$6 mil for a reliever is a good value? Have you seen the amount of relievers and the money they make? $6 mil for a reliever is for your top flight guys, not an average arm.
I’m a diehard Mariners fan.Paying $6 mil to see if CV can hack it as a starter is way more perferrable than seeing another year of Blake Beaven.
Except top flight guys who hit the market are making $10M+, not $6M. One example is Papelbon – not really inclined to search others via mobile, but I’m sure google will give you a slew of them.
Only closers are massively overpaid like that. If CV regresses back into the pen’ his value comes as a swingman. Those guys just aren’t paid a lot. Other guys in the $6m range would be Scott Downs, Al Alberqueque, but those were widely seen as overpays by those respective teams so they could get the signing done quickly. At max, CV gets a 2yr deal + incentives for year #2.
for got one thing Safeco.about to become a diffrent ball back with the fences being moved in. now it becomes a hitters ball park
There’s absolutely no way to say with certainty that moving in the fences turns it into a hitters park. There’s still a thick marine layer and it’s cold from April until June. I bet it still ends up being a pitchers park, albeit less extreme.
Only way Safeco turns into a hitter’s park is if the Mariners sign Josh Hamilton and B.J. Upton while trading for Miguel Cabrera and Buster Posey while at the same time moving the fences into 250″ down the linese and 325 to center.
It’s been a LONG time.. but wasn’t the only stadium to have a 250′ range to one of the corners the old Polo grounds?
Signing Nick Swisher for 7 years @ $15MM per is insane!
3 years would be much more prudent. That way, when you’re disgusted with him after those 3 years, he’s gone.
Too bad he’s not going anywhere at 3 years. Seems like that’s just not the market.
I thought the Mariner’s piece interesting. I wonder how close Swisher’s contract gets to Hamilton’s? As for CV, I think the Blue Jays use and AA’s outlook on CV will keep his years down. Think he’s going to the Cubs on a one-year, as he wants an audition as starter and then traded at deadline.
Haven’t determined on Michael Young. Translation: releasing the guy.
Hello phillies!
Nolan said on teh local ESPN radio station this afternoon that Young would be back. I hope that is just so it will be a little easier to trade him. Surely Nolan can see Young is not the type of player a team wanting to win it all can afford to carry on its team. I really can’t see the Rangers doing very wll next season if Young and Wash are back.
My sentiments exactly.
Whatabout Nolan have a little one on one “conversation” with his old “pal” Robin Ventura. I’m sure that could send Young up to Chitown in no time.
Swisher for 7 years? wow. Not sure 3 years is a great idea, could see that bat slowing really quick. Add 20-30 or so and you could have Hamilton who doesn’t field like Ibanez with an arm. Pretty much disagree with every part of Cameron’s plan except resigning Iwakuma and going after Cabrera. I respect his opinion but Im glad he’s not the GM. Thinking a little to far outside the box searching for hidden value for my taste.
There’s absolutely no hidden value in a batter that has posted a minimum .359 OBP over the last four years, with good defense at a position at which our organization has little to no strength at. Swisher would be an amazing deal, and the sticking point is the length of the contract, which he’s just spitballing at. I’m positive that a five year deal is far more realistic, but if it took seven, so be it, because Swisher’s value is tied to his walk rate, and those remain fairly constant.
I hope Mike Young’s role is on another team.
I’d love to see Hammy sign in Seattle. Jon Daniels would have a field day with the #12 draft pick the Rangers would get for him signing there.
Not sure there. He hasn’t exactly hit many home runs with his #1 picks – Kasey Kiker, Michael Main, Justin Smoak, Purke, Beavan…
Best minor league system in baseball? I’ll take it.
Eh… that’s arguable. I’d put Toronto and Seattle ahead of it. Toronto has absurd depth behind D’Arnaud, and Seattle’s recent drafts have already produced Ackley, Seager, Franklin, Miller, Zunino, Walker, Paxton, Hultzen, Maurer, Capps, Pryor, etc…
Cameron’s reasoning behind the moves is solid, I just don’t like the moves, plus there’s no way the M’s give Swisher a 7 year contract.