Rangers GM Jon Daniels offered a balanced take on his organization’s planning for the 2019 trade deadline, as Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was among those to report. There’s a full transcript available at the link, but we’ll cover a few highlights.
Daniels emphasized that the club’s pleasant surprise isn’t just good fortune. Quality play has led to a surprising 36-30 record. At the same time, the organization remains realistic about its near-term prospects and hasn’t seen anything that substantially changes its high-level strategy.
The Rangers entered the year with the viewpoint that it did not want “to place limits on the club,” Daniels says, rejecting the idea of an all-in/all-out dichotomy. It still plans to “stay true to our mind-set of trying to balance, continue to place a priority on the next few years.”
At the same time, Daniels says he’ll “be open-minded to the way the club’s played and respect that.” He will be looking for opportunities over the coming weeks, though the broader vision also certainly shapes the still-developing approach.
When asked about the possibility of shipping out prospects to improve the immediate roster, Daniels responded: “Most likely if we were to do that it would be for someone with control beyond next year.”
That’s not really a new approach, Daniels emphasized. When asked about the concept of pursuing controllable starting pitching, Daniels said that’s something the club “explored … this winter” already. Continuing to do so seems natural given that the team is performing above expectations.
So, what will drive the decisionmaking? It seems Daniels plans to serve the organization’s overarching vision rather than reacting too strongly to the in-season developments. While the Texas GM acknowledged that it’s necessary to “factor” in the likelihood of competing in the division versus only challenging for a Wild Card, that won’t drive the bus. “There’s value in giving the team an opportunity,” he explained.
Daniels says that the next month of play likely won’t substantially change the club’s approach. “Listen, overall we know which direction we’re going in,” he said. “… We have a pretty good sense of where we want to go over the next few years.”
While it’s tough to divine much from these comments, it seems fair to presume that the Rangers won’t be heavy in the rental market barring a truly stunning turn of events in the next six weeks. But the organization’s intended competitiveness in the next several seasons will certainly require outside additions, especially in the pitching department. It stands to reason that opportunities of that ilk will hold appeal — with the Rangers seeing at least some added value in boosting the 2019 outlook.
Daniels has such a huge brain not gunna lie. He signs these players like pence, forsythe, and Santana that are only a few years removed from success and they pan out well. Rangers hitting coach deserves so much credit. At this deadline pursuing someone like Matt Boyd May be costly but worth it in the long run. As long as we keep Hans Crouse I’m good
Matt Boyd only gives you 3/5 of a rotation. Outside of Lynn and Minor you have nothing in that rotation. That cost is going to be too steep to pay in a year where you’ve gotten a lot of production from non long term pieces. Pence, Choo, Forsythe etc. I wouldn’t advise giving up the prospects to get that kind of player right now. The Rangers are far better than anyone could’ve hoped for but making a move like that is one that could set them two steps back in the long run.
Someone should probably tell that to Ariel Jurado, a former top-100 prospect and current quality start machine, and Adrian Sampson, who’s looking more like a quality back-end innings eater with every start he makes.
Effective starting pitchers come in all shapes and sizes — and from all backgrounds. Just because you don’t know who these guys are doesn’t mean they can’t pitch or that the success they’re currently experiencing isn’t real.
When was Jurado a top 100 prospect? I don’t recall ever hearing his name until this year.
Jurado was No. 72 on the Baseball Prospectus list in 2017, and he has consistently been in the Rangers’ top 10-15 over the past three or four years. He’s more of a high-floor starter than high-ceiling guy, but he’s long been lauded for his pitchability and command.
You can check out his minor league track record here: baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=jur…
Exactly. All over it DiY
Jbigz……Our starter Adrian Sampson is 5-0 with a 1.99 era in his last 5 starts, Ariel Jurado held Boston to three runs last night and took the win.
I agree with some of the post, but I think we are a starter and a reliever away from staying in this hunt.
I just got a beep on my phone and thanks John Daniels for finally moving Smyly to the pen. Long overdue
We have Bush coming back soon and if he has anything he had in the past he will be a great addition to the pen.
Would I trade prospects for Matt Boyd who is controlled for a few more years, yes in a heartbeat, here’s why.
We’re moving into a new stadium this coming year, Lots more revenue with way more money suites, and actually less 6-8 thousand less capacity for fan seating. The revenue will be there to pay for more players in the next couple years, and I mean Pitching .
The farm system as much as I hate to say this was just ranked by Baseball America 29th of 30. There’s a few prospects I would like to hang onto but we just drafted about 30, Hoping the two 3 rd basemen are up soon as well as the college pitchers.
I think Texas is finally getting draft savvy about not drafting all the High-school players, one of these kids lives right by me and was signed last year and already had TJ surgery recently. We currently have about 5 out with TJ issues.
I saw we keep trying to make a run without giving up the entire farm, but letting some go to get a controllable pitcher to go in that new stadium.
Daniels keeps talking Garret Cole as a free agent to lead us next year, But then he says his pay will not be to our liking.
Texas does not have the right pieces that the Tigers would want to give Boyd up IMO.
If there was a match it would be a package like Crouse Taveras and another top ten organization prospect.
I wish the hitting coach could fix Odor!
jorge78……….for sure……Odor needs some one on one help.
Daniels is obviously a graduate of Mark Shapiro’s seminar for GMs on how to put your audience to sleep with a lot of words without actually saying anything.
I wonder where @fireJonDaniels is, because a whole lot of nothing was stated and asserted. “There’s value in giving the team an opportunity”? Many fallacies were spoken
Sandy Alderson too!
LOL.
Please no bad fat long term contracts!
So JD doesn’t want to announce definitive plans or moves or prospective trade targets. And that’s a huge shock to anybody?
If he had moved on pitching help a year ago as he claimed he was trying to do he wouldn’t still be guessing and keeping all the players guessing. No way to run a ship.
I for one would like to hear some of John Daniels definitive plans, but over the past 10 years he’s been back and forth this way.
Example….Keeps saying Garret Cole being a free agent and also eying Rendon the 3rd basemen, then on the next radio interview or article he states Cole will be out of our money range.
Also hearing rumors of his favorite ace Grienke in Arizona maybe opting out ?? I think Daniels is just throwing stuff out there. If it happens it happens.
Grienke would actually be a great fit for Texas (as well as a lot of other teams). He would only cost $$$ as Arizona would take a low lottery ticket just to save the cash. Texas could hang onto their prospects and get a huge upgrade with a TOR starting pitcher,
Arizona is still in the wild card hunt so they prolly wouldn’t trade Grienke just yet but maybe in a month if they fall behind Cardinals and Nationals in WC race.
Grienke, Minor, Lynn, Sampson, and Jurado would be a nice starting rotation.
I think Daniels new front office is the reason why he is having success. Just trust the process and enjoy watching ranger baseball!