Speaking at the Rangers’ “Peek At The Park” fan event on Saturday, GM Jon Daniels gave MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan and other reporters a seeming hint about the club’s offseason direction, stating “I would think that if we do make any significant acquisition, a trade is more likely than a free agent….just the discussions we’ve had make me feel that way.”
Daniels’ comment would seem to diminish the chances of a deal between Texas and Nicholas Castellanos, the top free agent left on the board and a player who has already emerged as a Rangers target. As MLBTR’s Steve Adams recently detailed, a few teams are speculative fit for Castellanos at this point in the offseason, though all of these clubs seem to have at least one significant obstacle — a crowded outfield, lack of payroll space, etc. — standing in a way of a signing.
Texas arguably has the least-daunting of these positional obstacles, as Castellanos could be installed at first base or in right field, thus relegating either Ronald Guzman or Danny Santana to part-time duty (and Joey Gallo into a primary center field role). It’s possible, therefore, that money could be the holdup in talks. MLBTR projected Castellanos for a four-year, $58MM deal at the beginning of the offseason, though it could be that the Rangers or other teams aren’t willing to meet such a significant multi-year price given the narrowed market for Castellanos’ services. Marcell Ozuna, often considered Castellanos’ closest peer amongst free agent corner outfielders, recently had to settle for a one-year/$18MM pact with the Braves, though Ozuna was also impacted by draft pick compensation via the qualifying offer.
If a big free agent signing isn’t happening, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Rangers are set to make a splashy trade for the likes of a Nolan Arenado. While Texas has been linked to the Rockies third baseman on the rumor mill, Daniels called it “unlikely” that a deal would be worked out. Rockies GM Jeff Bridich seemingly put the Arenado rumors to rest earlier this week, only for speculation to re-escalate once Arenado went public with what he felt was “disrespectful” treatment from Bridich in particular and the Colorado organization as a whole.
Offense continues to be the Rangers’ primary target, with Daniels saying that he has had talks with almost every team in baseball about potential lineup acquisitions. Pitching is a lesser concern, as Daniels said that is more apt to add relievers on minor league deals than on multi-year Major League contracts. This might not bode well for the Rangers’ chances of signing Pedro Strop, though Strop wouldn’t necessarily require a multi-year deal.
Texas could also add veteran starters on minor league deals, though Daniels is pretty satisfied with his team’s in-house options, saying “I’d rather go to Kolby Allard than most of the guys who are available to us.” Daniels revealed that the Rangers had interest in signing Jerad Eickhoff before the righty inked a minor league pact with the Padres earlier this month. Eickhoff is a known quantity to Daniels, as the Rangers made Eickhoff a 15th-round draft pick in 2011 before sending him to the Phillies as part of the trade package for Cole Hamels in July 2015.
Trey Mancini it is
Rangers need help with pitching and lots of help with hitting. That about wraps that up. Don’t expect much in 2020.
Have you paid attention at all? they have one of the better rotations in the west right now.
With Mike Minor and Lance Lynn
google.com/amp/s/www.mlb.com/amp/news/lance-lynn-m…
Adding Kluber, Gibson and Lyles makes a pretty decent 1-5. They also still have Allard, Burke, Palumbo, Mendez, Hernandez and Jurado..
So they have depth too
Not sure why they need more pitching?
Their bullpen isn’t bad either.. a ton of depth and upside guys..
Their offense needs some help though.. or a lot of luck..
I would prefer they make one more acquisition before the season begins.
Arrenado, Mancini, Marte.. something like that.
If they make that extra addition they could have a good chance to win a playoff spot
If they want Arenado, they should agree to eat the contracts of Desmond, Shaw, and Davis too. That would greatly diminish the prospect demand. However, the MLB insiders already know Arenado is going to theYankees for Andujar and Stanton so the Rangers are refocused on other targets.
The Rockies want Stanton’s contract? Thinking no. Stanton also has a no trade clause.
Not bad but rather have Josh Bell or Miguel Andujar. Brandon Belt perhaps in salary swap for Choo or Odor.
You guys watch The Outsider on HBO yet?
@chris44. Unless Kluber is going to return to his Cy Young form I doubt that. Minor is the ace and Lynn you never know what you’ll get, and Kyle Gibson…meh
Yeah?
Outside of his 2018 season, which finished with a solid showing in the Bronx, Lance Lynn has been among the most consistent starting pitchers in the big leagues.
In every other season in his career, he’s pitched between 175.1 and 208.1 innings with an ERA between 2.74 and 3.97.
I’ve never understood how people convinced themselves that Lance Lynn was a substandard major league starter. The guy is super durable and has a 115 career ERA+.
Finished the book last weekend and about to watch the first episode as soon as the wife finishes putting the kid to bed
what is it about?
Nice, they make plenty of changes for the show, which is normal for King adaptations as it’s tough to narrow his lengthy novels into a manageable series or film, but they really captured the essence and atmosphere of the novel. Can’t figure out why they changed it from Oklahoma to Georgia, tho.
Arenado
Would have been worthwhile to hear speculation on guys the team might trade for, sort if the point of the site. The one other-team player mentioned is one they are specifically not likely to get.
So he’s basically saying they won’t make any more moves and therefore won’t be competitive for their first year in the new stadium.
Bryant for Jung, Cody, Hernandez, and Thompson. Or Trevino, Hearns, Guzman and Martin for J Bell and Starlin Marte. Or Calhoun, Hearns, Chavez and Mathis and Bahr for D Smith and Jed Lowrie
Gallo is not going to be a primary CF. People need to stop pushing this as a possibility.
My guess is Taijuan Walker doesn’t want to take a minor league deal; which is why he remains unsigned.
Also, Castellanos seems like the perfect RH bat to balance out the middle of the order for the Rangers.
I think Walker would great depth signing and Castellanos should already be wearing Ranger Blue.
This sounds to me like posturing. Castellanos makes way too much sense for the Rangers not to be in on him.
I lived in Dallas for a couple of years and made a few games at The Ballpark in Arlington. Can anyone give some insight into the new stadium? There was a “jet stream” in that park that helped create some bigger offensive numbers there. Maybe not on Colorado’s level but there’s something to it I can assure you. How does the new stadium play into that? Is that no longer a factor? Like a lot of players that kind of thing is factored in to who’s bat would play better with that factor and who’s wouldn’t be affected.
Nobody will know until games gets played.
There was a “jet stream” until I think 2014-15 or so when there was construction to the area behind home plate. It’s around the same time when they revamped center field. Might have been a year before so I’m unsure. All I know is that reading the articles and watching the games is when I came to the conclusion that the “jet stream” had seen its last day.
I’ll let you know as soon as it’s finished.
Ready for reds to sign castellanos ! They may have just emerged as the favorite
This is 100% gamesmanship by Daniels. They obviously don’t like what Castellanos/Boras are asking for so Daniels comes out publicly and makes this statement. It’s just a matter of who blinks first, unless another team meets his price. I think the Rangers are still the favorites for him and it could end up being a one year deal if their AAV is that far apart on a multi year contract.
Very similar to what happened with JD Martinez and the Red Sox back in 2018.
Rangers need a big bat in that new stadium yet are clearly trying to play hardball.
Will Myers for 1B. He can stay healthy at 1st and by taking on that contract that saves the farm. Won’t cost much in prospects. Tons better than Guzman.
Not an awful choice, but would expect them to take Odor and include Margot or Cordero.
this is the last year of the choo and fielder contracts. that will free up 30 million next year. I know Daniel’s has something up his sleeve and is looking at something were not but castellanos would be a great fit and we would love to see him in a rangers uniform. may not be stellar as far as defense goes but his offense sure would help to give this rotation some run support.
also… trade the farm for arenado.. just do it…
You sir turbo are all over the place
That’s nuts!
Rangers may be angling for Bryant all along. Waiting for his arbitration issue to be resolved.
I’m kind of wondering about this myself. I think a ton of dominos are going to fall after his issue is resolved. Mainly because the trade market gets interesting if he really is available.
To let all the free agents sign elsewhere and bank on
one shot at Bryant, seems like a BIG shot in the dark.
JD has never show this action in any of his dealings.
.They’ve passed on great 3B men and hitting OF’rs.
Looks like “Our Kids” will Upik’m 2day rotate show..@ 1B.
Some NEW bat surprise needs to bring it in 2020.
I like our pitching staff… which scares me to admit.
I have no idea what to expect for the team in 2020,
but I “think” they’re better than Seattle and maybe Oakland.
Will be at NEW Temple on Opening Day.
Go RANGERS!
Love to see Mitch Moreland come home.