The Rangers have “ramped up” their pursuit of free-agent center fielder Lorenzo Cain, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter). The report from Crasnick comes not long after a morning report from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal that tied Cain to the Brewers — the team that initially drafted him.
[Related: Free Agent Profile — Lorenzo Cain]
Cain, 31, rejected a qualifying offer from the Royals following a characteristically excellent season, so he’d require the Rangers to part with their second-highest draft selection as well as $500K of next year’s international signing pool. However, Cain would also provide the Rangers with a noted boost in an outfield that saw Carlos Gomez hit free agency at season’s end.
Over the past four seasons, Cain has been at least an average bat and often rated considerably higher. In that time, he’s slashed .300/.352/.437 — numbers that would look considerably better on the surface had Cain not spent his home games playing in one of the league’s more pitcher-friendly settings. His OPS+ in that time, which adjusts for league and park, was a strong 113 (or 13 percent better than a league-average hitter).
Cain also brings sterling defense and baserunning value to the table. Both Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating feel his glovework has deteriorated in recent years, but he was still at +5 DRS and +1.6 UZR last season. And, only four outfielders in all of baseball ranked higher than Cain in Statcast’s Outs Above Average metric in 2017. As for his baserunning, Cain has averaged 24 steals in 28 attempts per year over the past four seasons, and Fangraphs ranks him 17th of 289 position players in total baserunning value in that time.
For Texas, the question isn’t necessarily one of whether Cain would fit the roster or better the team, but rather one of whether they can afford him from a financial standpoint. Texas has already signed Mike Minor, Doug Fister, Chris Martin and Tony Barnette this offseason while also acquiring Matt Moore from the Giants. The Rangers currently project to open the year with a payroll just north of $144MM, and reports earlier this offseason indicated that the Rangers hoped to keep their 2018 payroll in the $155MM range. Backloading a multi-year deal for Cain could certainly make that possible, though it’d likely mean that the signing of Cain was the last of the significant moves for Texas GM Jon Daniels and his staff this offseason.
At present, the Rangers figure to have an outfield consisting of Nomar Mazara, Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo, though Choo could move to designated hitter (and the Rangers have reportedly been trying to shed his contract).
If money is close or even this might be the first time the Brewers have an edge for a top level free agent.
Is Cain truly top level though ?
This offseason? I would say he is a top level free agent.
Fair enough
He seems like a pretty good candidate to be the best free agent value signing this season.
You wrote “Angels” instead of Rangers in the last paragraph.
Just about to say that lol
Last paragraph reads angels outfield lol
“At present the ANGELS figure to have a outfield consistent of”
Think you mean Rangers. Not trying to make fun, just helping out in case someone missed that.
Might want to change “Angels” to “Rangers” in that last paragraph. However, the Angels can keep Choo with it.
someone needs to take him so it isn’t an option for the giants – they don’t need to be giving up a high 2nd round pick this year –
Totally disagree. Cain is a proven high level CF. Giving up a 2nd rd pick, aka prospect for a proven player is a no brainer!
in total it is the 2nd, 4th and bonus pool money – for a team with a depleted farm that is too big a cost, better to go for a 1 or 2 year on an austin jackson that won’t cost a pick, will be cheaper and bring up duggar that the FO has a lot of faith in as a 4th/5th OF to get some time to eventually slot in as a starter. that way you have more room to add someone in one of the corners.
F**k King joffery smh little prik
GOT season 1 was really good.
Dilly, Dilly!
Any more than 3 years for Cain is a mistake
Pretty much true on anyone.
I’m okay with the Rangers getting Cain.
As an Astros fan, I’m all for it- I’m sure he will age gracefully, like Michael Bourn and other speed based players.
Lorenzo Cain has more tools than Michael Bourn who was really on + in the speed tool set, maybe defense. Cain is + in average, speed, defense, and arm. But based on his history of injuries, I don’t think he’ll age very well. He just doesn’t belong in the same category as Michael Bourn.
Lorenzo Cain has more tools than Michael Bourn who was really only + in the speed tool set, maybe defense. Cain is + in average, speed, defense, and arm. But based on his history of injuries, I don’t think he’ll age very well. He just doesn’t belong in the same category as Michael Bourn.
He is better than Bourn every was, but I agree with you, I don’t think he will age well..
Yeah… Kenny Lofton… Rickey Henderson… Mike Cameron… Those guys sure did suck in their 30s.
I wouldn’t go for a long term Cain contract but he’s at the very least a good hitter who can play defense with the best of them. Cain is a good move for just about any club.
Idk why but if the Rangers sign him, I expect him to play really well for them.
Good fit.
How many years does he want? If were Cain and still unsigned in January as I get set to play my age-32 season this year, I’d push for the 3/70 w/ a one year opt out that Cespedes originally got with the Mets a few years back. That contract structure is probably the best option in this market that has made it clear no team will overpay for a player especially with the outfielders available next year.
My heart is with Cain, I adore him. A complete player.
If he was 28, I’d say 23 a year isn’t unheard of. Unfortunately for him, he’s 32, late bloomer. Won’t get 70, probably not even 50…
Sort of just used the structure of the deal rather than the monetary value. Higher AAV w/ a one year opt out.
I’d love to have him at 3/70 – he’s a pretty good bet to produce 8+ wins over the next three years. I’m not sure I’d give him the opt-out, though.
Cain will never get a contract of 3/70! No way!
As another Astros fan commenting, I’m all for this move.
Not sure what Daniels would be thinking to sign him. Rangers don’t look to be competitive for the next 2 years, at which point, Cain will be entering his age 33 season and likely his plus skills will drop off significantly.
Seeing how Choo and his contract haven’t panned out, signing another aging, soon to be corner outfielder with little pop…. this move would continue to handcuff the rangers for the duration of the contract.
I don’t think Daniels has the guts to make the moves needed to compete in the AL WEST for the next 5 years. Which would require selling off big contracts, stockpiling draft picks in trades by acquiring comp picks in deals and rebuilding the farm which has very little impact talent close to helping.
I agree. The rangers need to make a ton of moves to be competitive. Mike minor, Matt Moore, Cole Hamels and whoever else they are going to trot out there is going to get pounded by the Astros the next couple years.
LOL the Rangers will be fine. Cain inserted into that lineup in a hitter friendly park should be quite an improvement. Still would like another SP but Cain could and would help this team if we decided to go that route.
If Cain can somehow pitch as well, then maybe he’ll improve the team.
The Rangers should be worried about the pitching staff a lot more than their lineup , cuz if they don’t upgrade more, they are gonna give up a bunch of runs! I’m sure they will score a bunch as well
and prob lose a lot of close games like 11 to 8.
Yes we need more teams like the astros who were rewarded for intentionally tanking. Im trying to figure out what kind of team let alone fan is in favor of deliberately trying to lose at any point.
Maybe fans that want to win a championship! Its called rebuilding. Only know nothing blowhards like to throw around the new “cool phrase” tanking to make you sound like you know something. Obviously you do not. The rebuild worked. Astros got their first championship and their fans are ecstactic!
It needed to be done. The minor league system was abysmal and there was zero talent on the major league roster. What exactly would you have done differently? Continue to be mediocre, signing free agents to fill voids and waste money?
It was miserable watching the team lose, but watching the guys in the minor leagues get drafted and progress thru the system and ultimately win the world series as the entire process came 100% to fruition was as rewarding as any sporting event can be for a fan.
You went thru all that crap with Uncle Drayton and now with Crane and switching to the AL West and think this World Series win makes it all worth it? Enjoy your kool-aid.
Owners like Drayton kill organizations. The only reason they were relevant in the 90s was because of homegrown talent….. he assembled a staff incapable of drafting and identifying talent and attempted to sign players via FA to fill the roster.
Crane wanted to own the Astros and was forced to agree to the move to the AL to approve the sale. If you have an issue with that, all charges go straight to Bud Selig for holding the deal hostage.
Winning the world series is the ultimate goal for all mlb teams and their fans. If there’s something I’m missing please….. inform us all.
Because being in the middle is the worse place you can be! A team has to go all in on a rebuild like that to accomplish anything . Just like the Cubs
and Astros did. Not all teams can do semi-rebuilds
and continue to compete like the Yankees
Lol Astros fans talking tough after winning a World Series and thinking they’re a dynasty now. As a reformed Astros fan, I can tell you it’s not and will never be. Enjoy your aberration win. It’s gonna be a long spell to the next one.
Madman is a fitting name. Very few teams develop talent like Houston has and establishes a core group of players like they have now. The last team to do so in the eyes of most MLB fans and analysts, is the Yankees in the mid 90s.
Correa, Altuve, Bregman and Springer are the best group of 4 players on any team in the mlb right now. No other team has a better top 4 than Houston.
You are clearly bitter about the way Houston tore it down and built it back up. Whatever helps you sleep.
The Astros run is just beginning.
I don’t think it’s as simple as making big moves right now. The core of the team is fairly young and the older players are not going to do much to accelerate a rebuild. My guess is he’s shooting for being a .500 team over the next few seasons until the team moves into the new ballpark and he can make some splashy signings as the position players hit their prime.
There’s just not many long term big contracts to sell off. Beltre and Hamels end after 2018 and Elvis will probably opt out. Nothing is really gained by paying Choo to go away right now.
My guess is signing Cain is either just hoping he can soften the blow of a mediocre pitching staff by covering a defensively deficient position, or to facilitate a trade of Mazara or Calhoun for additional pitching help.
True. But I think Hamels would get a decent enough return to pull the trigger, although he has a no trade that might cause issue like it did with his decision to nullify a move to Houston prior to the deal to Texas.
Just a reminder that the rangers were in the playoff hunt with a week of the season left last year.
In the hunt? Until they finished 2-8 their last 10 and were absolutely pummeled by Houston. If “being in the hunt” is what makes a successful season in Arlington, then ok….. congrats.
That was also with Darvish. Now, he is gone and Hamels is your “ace”, only he looks like a #3 or 4 starter on a majority of other mlb teams.
And all of the Rangers best minor league talent, now suits up for the Cubs, White Sox, Brewers, Yankees and Phillies…. thanks to stupid trades by daniels.
He’s going to be Choo 2.0