Rangers owner Bob Simpson is happy to leave the baseball decisions to his staff, Richard Durrett of ESPN Dallas writes. Simpson doesn't want to be a general manager like Cowboys counterpart Jerry Jones. "I don't and for the reasons everyone else wishes he wasn't," says Simpson. "I like Jerry, but we've got great people, so leave it to them." Simpson also notes that, with the signing of Shin-Soo Choo, the Rangers' projected payroll is between $130MM and $135MM for 2014. Here are more notes from around the big leagues.
- Simpson says signing Masahiro Tanaka would be "a tough thing," MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reports. "We aggressively went after Yu [Darvish], who we are fortunate to have. I guess I should never say never, but at the moment, we're more interested in just rounding out our team than marquee players," Simpson says. The Rangers have already added Choo and Prince Fielder this offseason.
- Earlier today, a report indicated that the Mets were trying to get the Orioles to trade lefty pitching prospect Eduardo Rodriguez for first baseman Ike Davis, but that, so far, the Orioles had refused to do so. Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun now tweets that the O's would have to be "blown away" to deal Rodriguez. MLB.com ranks Rodriguez the Orioles' third-best prospect.
The first person Tanaka followed on Twitter was Darvish. Darvish tweeted “I’m Batman” Tanaka tweeted back “I’ll be your Robin” True story.
That’s amazing
Rangers said the same stuff before signing Choo. Let’s see if they’re telling the truth or will blindside everybody by signing Tanaka after all. I think they’ll try hard to sign him.
I think they are bluffing a little and are very interested, but I doubt it’ll happen at the price it’ll probably take.
The Rangers look good. They may have reached their payroll limit. There is no reason to roll the dice on Tanaka.
I’m sure they’ll talk to him but there is a limit on how much they’re willing to spend at this point.
I don’t think they’d be in on him at all if the 17 million a year reports are true, that would take them way above their budget which according to the owners, they are already at or above.
I’d be all for it as a fan but that’s a ton of money for an unknown like Tanaka. Maybe those numbers goes down once negotiations start but I’d hope Texas has some kind of advantage with having Darvish but know knows.
The only way I want them signing Tanaka is if they can get him at a discount due to him wanting to play with Yu or something along those lines. Other than that, let the other teams spend big on Tanaka. Many people mock the Choo signing, but at least with Choo you know exactly what you are getting… you can’t say the same for Tanaka.
Tanaka is a grab bag in that as a forkball pitcher he will likely have shoulder, elbow and/or wrist problems and after several years may be already forked out.
Oh how I wish Mr. Simpson and Mr. Davis would buy the Cowboys.
I feel your pain but being a Cowboy hater, I like it the way it is.
God…if only.
I think you tagged the wrong Eduardo Rodriguez @mlbtraderumors
Thanks.
The Mets need to go to rehab. Seriously. “Give us Mike Trout for a milkshake….come on give em”
It’s so nice to have owners that aren’t raging egomaniacs.
What if the Orioles got Davis in a bigger trade, maybe Hardy and Matuz for Montero Davis and Flores?
Sorry my bad made a mistake Hardy, Urrita and Matuez for Montero, Flores and Davis.
Two different spelling mistakes on the same name, and a trade that actually got more ridiculous when corrected. No.
Chris Davis for Ike Davis
Davis for Davis
Fair trade!
Hunter Harvey for Matt Harvey
Harvey for Harvey
Fair Trade!
i like more tommy hunter for hunter harvey
Orioles trade with themself?
If the Rangers were to not make another major move this offseason, I would almost be happy. The one move I feel they need and should make is an upgrade at utility infielder. Rosales I fear, is not the stop gap (at least offensively) player, that could fill in “heaven forbid” Beltre,Elvis,or Profar gets injured.
Now I know I’ll get a lot of disagreement, but I want Michael Young back on a 1 year deal. Ya ya ya he stinks defensively people will argue. But I would much rather have him fill in, if needed than Rosales. Mike can still hit, loves Texas and would love to finish there, and might be a better right handed platoon with Moreland at D.H. Than Choice.
Gotta love me some Young
I think you would bring up odor or sardinas if there was an extended injury.
Not saying Young is the greatest but in a pinch, could fill in at the 3,4,5,&6 infield spots. To which Odor is a young 2nd basemen & Sardinas is a young shortstop with just a little 2b play and both just have a smidg over 100 A.B.’s at AA. I for one would rather have a more proven player to fill in. At least for this years run.
Funny how the other teams want to trade players who they do not want and want a top prospect in return. No reason to trade away pitching after ll the pitching given up last year and a promising short stop in Delmonico for a guy no body wanted last Spring.