Items out of the AL and NL West..
- Much has been made of the Rangers' Josh Hamilton dilemma this offseason, but GM Jon Daniels will also need to re-tool his pitching staff this winter, writes T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. The Rangers will have money to spend, but also have Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz working their way back from injuries. Martin Perez remains an option for the team as well.
- Jim Tracy told Troy E. Renck and Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that there wasn't one particular issue that led to his resignation from the Rockies, but rather a number of factors. It would seem that Tracy was irked by some of the club's unconventional ideas and his overall decrease in power.
- Meanwhile, Jason Giambi would retire as a player if he were given consideration for the managerial opening, a source close to the Rockies veteran told Renck and Saunders.
- Given Hamilton's injury history and age, Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com doesn't think that the Rangers should give him more than three guaranteed years in a new contract. However, Durrett believes that there's at least one team out there that will go beyond that for the outfielder. A vesting option for a fourth year based on whether Hamilton stays healthy could be a concession the Rangers could comfortably make.
- Dave Cameron of Fangraphs wonders if Hamilton might be the most confusing free agent ever. Cameron could see the slugger landing a five-year, $125MM deal from a team that chooses to ignore all the risk but can also envision him taking a one-year pact somewhere to prove that his second half wasn't a sign of things to come.
He is definitely going to get a contract closer to the 5yr/$125 mil, he is always talked about as being the best player in the planet. Why wouldnt you want him on your team?? He does everything well and will change any lineup into a potent one. If Reyes could get 5 yrs, no reason Hamilton wont.
He puts up gaudy numbers when he’s healthy, but he tends to do it in clumps, and the rest of the time he’s a huge black hole in the middle of the lineup. I wish Texas could have had a crystal ball that told them they wouldn’t have made the playoffs this year so they could have traded him in August for 2 or 3 good prospects. I just don’t see them giving him a 5 or 6 year contract considering how iffy he has been at times and with the other personal issues that must also be factored in.
“It would seem that Tracy was irked by some of the club’s unconventional ideas …”
Whose idea was it to go to a 4-man rotation?
It wasn’t Tracy’s idea. He never liked it. The gm and front office are the ones who decided to use it. You can find a number of articles where he was forced into using it.
Dan O’Dowd is culprit. He and his “advisors” came up with the idea, Tracy was only informed and told to implement it.
If it backfires, the Monfort brothers should be demanding Dan O’Dowd’s head on a platter – a 4-man rotation has all the makings of not ending well.
Having read both of Canseco’s books, the idea of Giambi as a manager is one I probably look forward to more than any player in MLB. It would certainly be interesting. Most likely not in a good way.
What part of getting wasted with and sharing a slump breaking gold speedo with your boss doesn’t sound awesome in every way imaginable?
Jason Giambi would be an interesting candidate, may not be the number one pick IMO, but he definitely should get some consideration.
As for Texas, they should lock up Elvis Andrus for maybe an eight year deal and move him or Profar to second base. Then move Kinsler to LF or 1B. Beltre, who’s the best 3rd baseman in the league, could be moved to 1st in one year and Kinsler or Andrus then moved to 3rd.
We’ll see where Olt is. I doubt he’ll ever become a Machado.
The main point: keep Andrus, if he’s not pricing himself out of it. And only offer Hamilton a very team friendly contract. If he won’t sign, let him walk.
Really looking forward to Texas next season. Their pitching staff will be great with Feliz and possibly Ogando back in the rotation.
This year was great in seasoning Ogando. I think he’s got tremendous stuff, and a very high ceiling, he just needed to refine it. Looking very good, and he’s started to pitch, not just throw.
As for Feliz, maybe he should stay a closer for the next 2-3 years, or even for the remainder of his career. He needs to start pitching, not just throw.
I’m having a hard time with your second paragraph…. Lock Andrus up to an 8 year deal? He’s no longer a rookie (who would take a team friendly contrac for that long, a la Evan Longoria) and he’s not an elite enough player to warrant a contract of that size near market value.
Then you openly admit Beltre is probably the best defensive (if not all around 3rd baseman) in the league, and your suggestion is to move him to 1st after another season?
My head is starting to hurt….
Also, you’re saying Mike Olt and his 33 at bats don’t have a chance to become Manny Machado and all of his 191 at bats. Lets let Manny become Manny before we start comparing people to him…
Ok bro, I overrated elvis. I change my mind. Trade him for outfield prospects.
On Elvis Andrus—you have Jurickson Profar waiting in the wings. Andrus’ contract covers the rest of his team control years—this is when his trade value would be highest IF Profar will be ready to play in the majors in 2013. Earlier on this forum, I had suggested not trading Andrus, but if Profar is ready, do the trade.
As for Josh Hamilton, the Rangers should be prepared to go to 4 years, but if it gets beyond $90M for 4 years – keeping in mind that Texas has no state income tax – then let him walk if a team offers more than 4 years. Hamilton is good when healthy – but the when healthy issue is always the question mark.
“Beltre, who’s the best 3rd baseman in the league”
Ever hear of Miguel Cabrera? Evan Longoria?
Ever seen Miggy field?
I think Hamilton has great talent, but his checkered history on drugs and alcohol, and his play during the 2nd half and the playoffs will leave teams not as eager to sign him to a long term deal. I think 4-5 years with drug and alcohol provisions (i.e. if he loses control, he loses the deal ) at $20M a year would be fair. But of course there is always someone insane enough to throw enough money and years at any player…….if he was drug free and had played well during the 2nd half, he may have been looking at $25M a year for 7 years.
Why wouldn’t Giambi be open to being a player-manager?