TODAY: The Rangers have announced the signing. Dahl will earn $2.7MM in guaranteed money, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets, with another $300K available in salary incentives.
DECEMBER 11: The Rangers and free-agent outfielder David Dahl have agreed to a one-year deal worth approximately $3MM, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports.
Texas will be the second major league franchise for the 26-year-old Dahl, who spent the first several seasons of his professional career as a member of the Colorado organization. Dahl is a former No. 10 overall pick and top 100 prospect who was a successful hitter with the Rockies for most of his time there (which spanned from 2016-20), but after he recorded woeful production last season, the Rockies moved on at the non-tender deadline a week ago. Instead of paying Dahl a projected $2.5MM to $2.7MM for 2021, Colorado cut him loose.
Dahl was just a .183/.222/.247 hitter without a single home run in 99 plate appearances last year, though he entered the campaign with a far more respectable .297/.346/.521 line with 38 HRs over 921 PA. Dahl even earned an All-Star nod in 2019. Of course, there were plenty of health issues that helped stop Dahl from making an even greater impact in Colorado. Rib, foot, ankle and back injuries have limited Dahl to a mere 264 games to this point, including just 24 in 2020, and he has only appeared in at least 100 contests in one season.
While Dahl does come with question marks, this still looks like an interesting buy-low signing on the part of the Rangers. If it works out, they’ll be able to control Dahl via arbitration through 2023. In 2021, Dahl – who has experience at all three outfield positions – should get ample chances to revive his career. Aside from Joey Gallo and Willie Calhoun, who endured their own significant drop-offs in 2020, the Rangers’ 40-man roster is sorely lacking outfielders who have experienced any real major league success.
The Dahl addition makes for the third noteworthy move the Rangers have made since they hired Chris Young as their new general manager on Dec. 4. Young and president of baseball operations Jon Daniels traded right-hander Lance Lynn to the White Sox and acquired first baseman Nate Lowe from the Rays earlier this week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
how does SF miss out on Dahl?
Gonna miss him
Not really. In addition to famously never being healthy, Dahl is the opposite of what most clubs are looking for these days. He’s hyper aggressive, has loads of really bad AB’s, and swings at pitches he shouldn’t all the time. The league figured that out after that first half that got him his All-Star nod a couple years ago. He’ll hit some HR’s that will open your mouth in awe, but it’s generally not worth it. Also a mediocre outfielder — oddly, because he’s ultra careful and never goes for hard catches — despite being a good athlete. He’s a 4th OF type.
This scouting report grades out as a 40.
I’ve been watching him since his debut. I doubt very many other folks on here can say that (just because there aren’t that many Rockies fans).
Or Detroit?
He was cheap enough for Detroit, and I’m getting tired of Cristen Stewart.
Me too. She only has one facial expression…
Good signing
This is a really good signing as long as he can stay healthy.
There it is! Now they just need to sign Kim, Castro, Shaw (if Andrus/Odor leaves) and Archer or Descalfani
That’s it?
Travis Shaw?
Why would you want him?
I prefer Franco but I’d settle for Shaw as a backup CIF behind the starting 3B (hopefully Kim) and Lowe
Archer? Who would want him? He’s garbage
Damn talk about low risk high reward. I really like the start Young has had in Texas.
Agreed… I feel like getting young upside guys like Lowe and Dahl for very little could have a huge payoff
This is a low risk signing by CY.
JD is still making the decisions.
And he’s under control for 2 additional seasons? For the 2021 cost of a 4th OF? Amazing.
Are you sure about that? I’m not sure how that works.
Yes he’s under control until through 2023. Read the article dude
Man dude, you don’t have to be rude. Do you read every word of every article where you make a post?
If not, then you are a hypocrite for writing such a post.
Hahaha ok dude
You do know the definition of hypocrite…right? Do you read every word of every article where you make a post?
Telling someone to read the article is not rude when the information is in the article that you are questioning. Stop being rude and wasting people’s time and commenting on these you haven’t read. Apology accepted your welcome.
In his defense, in the original article, the arbitration years were not mentioned. It meerly mentioned the fact that the Rangers had signed Dahl for $3m over the 2021 season.
Pointing out that the information is in the article is not rude. Telling someone to read the article is.
Do you read every word of every article where you make a post? I know when this has happened, I point out it’s in the article.
Yes, most articles have “more to come”.
Well…actually I – personally – do.
I do, why would you post on an article if you have not read the whole thing or even read it?
Pretty much the reason I post on so few articles.
Lol…I sorta always thought that I “had to”.
At least he got a little raise by being non-tendered.
In baseball terms, three million is nothing.
It’s a good move by the Rangers, I hope he stays healthy and plays well against every team other than the Angels.
it will be interesting to see how his body now reacts to when he does get hurt in how it heals. It has been a known fact that it is hindered by Colorado sea level
The guy, while talented, is a chandelier. For the price though, it’s a good move.
You should have used a period instead of a comma. Pointing out your poor copy isn’t rude.
How did Seattle pass this up? 3mill for a team with no payroll? Unless he just didn’t want to come up here.
This offseason is going to be nasty. RIP the 2022 season.
What kind of Horse Schiff is this?
Was Elias of the Orioles taking a snooze ?
Oh well Elias did bring in the scout who signed JBJ, so there is hope
Why? O’s don’t need Dahl. Like we need another Reimold? The scout that signed JBJ? He is a glorified 4th of.
I don’t by either explanation, Irv!!!
Good pickup for the Rangers. Dahl in LF, Taveras in CF, Gallo in RF, solid OF.
Gallo won’t be there, but 2/3 aint bad.
No chance the Rangers trade Gallo.
They’re rebuilding, aren’t they?
With all the moves that have happened recently… maybe expect a Gallo extension soon…
But that probably wouldn’t happen this winter with Boras as his agent. Just expect him to stick around.
Honest question: Do you really think Gallo is a core player and will be a part of the next contending Texas team?
Yes, but that may also be because I think we can conceivably contend in 2022. He’d leave the biggest hole on our team if he got traded, and his defense and arm is stellar. Yes, his bat took a huge hit last season (no pun intended), but it was because he was intimidated by the new park. He’ll be more conformable next season and I honestly think he’ll be great again.
Yeah he is definitely a core player. Gallo needs help and hitters around him so that pitchers have to challenge him more often. I am of the opinion that this was the main reason for his drop off. Todd Frasier even talked about it at one point during the season.
Gallo should NEVER be intimidated- that sounds like a comment from down the street in the neighbors stadium.
Gallo doesn’t like the stadium and has said so. Only 2 years of Gallo left – trade him now!!!
These comments read like Rangers fans who do not want Gallo to be traded, which is different to reality, where he most likely very much will be traded.
I’m sorry, get ready for heartbreak. Don’t tell us you didn’t see it coming though, because we told you.
He had a monster 2019, so 2021 will be huge for both him and Texas. Their approach this offseason looks good so far. I think a lot has to go right to contend in 2022, but they’re doing exactly what they should be doing, so it will be fun to see how it plays out.
^
I am skeptical that the Rangers will be contenders in 2022, but I don’t think the team’s view on their chances is why they are unlikely to trade Gallo now. Rather they don’t want to sell low on him after his sub-par 2020, and there is no reason for them to not give him a chance to do better in 2021 and then trade him next year (or at the deadline) for what will hopefully be a much better return than they would get now.
Joey is the key player for this team. I have a feeling he’s going to have a monster year.
Gallo is Chris Davis 2.0. The Rangers should trade him while others still think he has value.
Solid move for the Rangers if he can stay on the field
Now that is his problem.
But he is a good player, when he’s healthy
I still don’t understand why Colorado non-tendered him given his low expected arbitration salary.
Probably tired of him being hurt every other minute.
If you can figure out why Colorado does anything you are better than me, Colorado is the worst run front office in MLB.
I’m not better than you for sure bc I haven’t understood the Rockies for a long time. Let’s say that they did offer arb and sign Dahl for $2.7M which MLBTR projects on the high end. Based on $3M the Rangers signed him for, there is a $300k salary disparity. If the Rockies did their proper due diligence, they could’ve shipped him off to a team for a prospect worth that ballpark amount or slightly less. Another Rockies fail here.
Rangers are just as much of a fail here. Could have offered the Rockies a minor league with minimal upside and not have had to pay Dahl as much $.
I don’t understand it from the Rox perspective at all. Push for a lotto ticket trade and there you go. Gone. And I don’t care if we signed him for more than what he is being owed, it’s a minuscule amount anyways. This is a great move imo.
Trading a prospect with little if any upside and paying Dahl less money would have been an even better move. The Rockies non-tendered Dahl so it’s not like they would have held out for something decent in the trade.
With the Rangers’ luck, I wouldn’t do that.
Think of it this way: 300k has no chance at being better than 300k. Though a lotto ticket has a chance to hit big. A small chance, but a chance nonetheless. The only thing 300k is, is 300k.
They got eyes on Matt Kemp
Perfect addition for the Rangers. Wanted the Rangers to sign him the moment he was non-tendered.
Dang, was really hoping for St. Louis to pick him up
Rangers are making some interesting moves. Seems liked they want to reset and avoid a full rebuild.
Or they are hoping for a rebound so they can deal him at the break.
With their starting rotation that is unlikely… but i do think they want to put together a competitive team that their fans can be excited about going to watch.. they have a brand new stadium to fill you know.
I CALLED IT!!!!!!!
Actually I didn’t, but I just wanted to see what it felt like when somebody types that.
I don’t feel any different, and nothing cool has happened to me since declaring that.
Who would have thought the Texas Rangers would be the most active team this week? Young is making some very intriguing moves.
On the insider radio station in town they are saying that JD is still making the sections right now.
Dunning and Dahl are nice pickups. congrats
Dont forget about Nate Lowe.
Wow. Was hoping the Angels might get him to start in RF and give Adell some time, then rotate between LF and RF and pinch hit.
They should trade Adell for SP. Marsh is the real star IMO
Great signing by Texas! I was hoping he’d land in Boston but he’ll probably get more playing time in Arlington so he made the right choice. For a team claiming they were trying to reduce payroll, Texas has been pretty active, albeit on the low end of the market.
If you take into consideration that Choo is now off the books. They’ve definetely cut back on the payroll.
Yea where’s Boston?
Right next to Cambridge
42.361145, -71.057083.
Man his Offensive numbers at first glance look solid…then you look at his WAR which is heavily weighed down by putrid D and massive home/away split difference. Career .722 OPS away 1.0 career WAR in 4 years…..
1/$3M is literally nothing, he doesn’t have to do anything, its a lottery type deal but most betting people would bet on him being an offensive force if he stays healthy, which could lead to prospects in a trade. It’s the move rebuilding teams have to make.
One thing you have to take into account with road stats for Rockies hitters is that they are set up for large splits. The vast majority of their road stats get skewed in three division rivals parks, while Arizona is the only real hitter friendly one. Every other team in their division has their road stats aided by 9-10 games in Coors.
What that works out to, I don’t know? But maybe if they play 30 more road games in more neutral or hitter friendly parks, the ops turns from .720 to .760.
Great low risk move. Didn’t think it made sense for the Rockies to let him go.
I wonder what the vegas line is for baseball executive of the year is for 2021.
Fanfran gm faidi or clevland gm chernoff will win.easy money
Faidi? hahhah yea ok..
Derek Jeter/Kim Ng is the bet I’m taking.
Heck if the Chris Young and Jon Daniels duo keeps doing what they’re doing, then… he he.
Nice pickup for the Rangers. If he can even perform at a 1 WAR level it will be a good move.
As a Cardinals fan I just gotta say we better get Joc
If the Cards haven’t ponied up for one 10MM + option season for Yadi yet, I don’t think they’re gonna go after Joc.
Who would want Joc? He’s terrible
Joc should change his name to Jaba.
St Louis, I dought it but Peterson will hit a lot of home run off right hander. He would do well in Texas also.
Good signing! Dahl is a very good player
I have to assume this means Solak moves to 2b (which I really don’t like too much… don’t like the defense). Move Dahl to LF, Taveras in CF, Gallo in RF. I was quick to say that this might mean we’re out on Kim, but he can play 3b too… That would be a fairly sexy team. Think about this:
Taveras
Lowe
Gallo
Solak
Dahl
IKF
Calhoun
Kim
Trevino
That is a sexy lineup for this “retool”. I might love this move. Of course, I’d rather have Solak in LF, but this still might mean we can sign Kim. Only downside, Jung is coming up soon. If we sign Kim it would be for multiple years, so we’d have to work around that.
I am starting to love CY and JD together. This is progress.
Still doesn’t compete, even in the AL West. Maybe not even with the Giants…
That is definitely progress. I will take that lineup all day. Lot’s of young guys and lots of upside.
You used sexy a lot!
They’re one Bartolo from a best selling calendar.
Solak at 2nd or have Odor starting – which one ya want????
Coming from a Rangers fan, if Solak is our clean-up hitter we have a problem. Solak is a line-drive hitter and would prefer him to be batting 5th or 6th.
Although Leody might eventually be a good lead off hitter, probably better pencil him into the nine hole to relieve pressure. Shouldn’t Dahl lead off? I am thinking he did just that in the 2020 opening series.
Kim is the 3B give Solak 2b which the Rangers already said they were doing when they made the move from Elvis to IKF they said Solak would be given a shot at ST… his to lose. until we get Kim though i have Lowe at 3B which is scary bad defensivly…
I’m not ready to “banish” Calhoun to DH just yet. I’m wondering if the Dahl signing doesn’t signal that they are ready to move Gallo…
Calhoun is a liability. he gets terrible jumps on the ball and has as much speed as Prince Fielder. We shall banish him.
Woo, good thing he didn’t sign with DET. We might’ve locked ourselves up for the #2 overall behind PITT! 26 year old, 286/.334/.494 $3m and 3 years of team control, yikes! We sure don’t need that kind of insurance. Yupp, no way he’s out playing Derek Hill, Travis Demmerite, and Christin Stewart!
Hello darkness my old friend…
First, you don’t know what Avila is planning. He could be shooting for better than Dahl. Second, Dahl’s splits are very mediocre away from Coors field and honestly, probably not worth $3M the Rangers paid.
I hope you’re right! google.com/amp/s/www.mlive.com/tigers/2020/12/al-a…
He gets released AND a raise. Only in professional sports…
Good for Rangers’ fans, though. At least your ownership is trying.
Dahl’s wife is an agent who represents Patrick Mahomes, among others; they’re probably not worrying about affording dinner any time soon.
He’s also got an option remaining, so for a decently-heeled team like the Rangers, he’s a good get. Nice upside, minimal risk.
Astros dropped the ball here, IMO.
at least it wasn’t a trash can lid… Yankees fans would feel out again
The Rangers are stocking up on left-handed bats with Nate Lowe and now Dahl. On top of Gallo and Calhoun. Not sure if Odor counts as a bat.
Shrewd move for TEX.
Really solid signing for TEX… he has AS-caliber ability… not saying he will definitely be an all-star (again) but there are very few guys as young as he is with the potential to be as impactful in a lineup as he could be. Especially not for just $3M — and on top of that… if he does wind up staying healthy and being productive they can control him for 2 more years. Really solid pickup for a rebuilding club finding potential value like this on the free agent market isn’t an easy thing to do for a team in the midst of a rebuild. He offers potential immediate production and longer-term potential. I think the fit was/is perfect for both sides.
For Colorado to let him go and the Rangers to get him that cheap something has to be up with his medical records.
This reminds me when/how CLE picked up Cesar Hernandez last year… only way way better.
Rangers are having a great offseason and I am actually excited to see what this team can do.
Texas and florida have the best state tax for players and canada the worst, so that 3 mil per season is equal to about 4 with most teams and 5 if he signed with the jays. So the jays would have had to pay 7-10
Not to mention you’re that much further north! As a DET fan, I feel like we’ll always be behind the eight ball. 1 who wants to live in Det Mi? 2 who wants to play in that weather? 3 it’s literally the most dangerous city (in US and CAN), do you really want to bring your family there? Teams like TOR and DET shouldn’t be penalized for going over the luxury tas… (relax, I’m kidding)
Tax*.. but, honestly unless you grew up a DET fan or lived in MI, you can almost certainly expect to outbid the other 29..
It’s a cool stadium. Rough city, bad hitter park, crap baseball weather, and a state ran by a hypocritical moron. Other than that played would be lining up..
A lot of comments are gonna say “I wish [insert team here] had signed him” but the Indians REALLY should have been in on him.
They desperately need an outfielder with legitimate upside; Mercado could turn it around but he’s a huge question mark at this point, and they missed a huge chance to get Daniel Johnson some at bats last year.
For the same price they’re projected to pay Hedges to be the backup catcher, they could have gotten an outfielder that (while obviously needing to rebuild his value) could have more than enough upside to be a long-term starter in an outfield that badly needs one.
I’m sure Cleveland checked in on him but if he was projected to make in the mid $2M’s through arbitration, there’s little chance that the frugal Indians would have offered him more than his estimated arbitration salary like Texas did. While $3M is not a big number for baseball salaries, it is quite rare for a team to sign a non-tendered arbitration eligible player for more money than he was expected to earn in arbitration. That was probably the difference maker for Dahl, along with the opportunity to play every day. Let’s hope the kid can finally stay healthy. If he does, he’ll be well worth the investment.
It’s actually not quite as uncommon as you might think. After the 2016 season, the Diamondbacks non-tendered Welington Castillo. The Orioles then picked him up on a one-year deal for about the same as he was projected to get in arb or slightly more AND they gave him a player option for about the same AAV. You’d think that not having to give him a player option would have been worth giving up a fringe prospect and you’d think a fringe prospect is better than the nothing Arizona got for him in OTL right?
“Rib, foot, ankle and back injuries have limited Dahl to a mere 264 games to this point, including just 24 in 2020, and he has only appeared in at least 100 contests in one season.”
I’ll be floored if this doesn’t end the way we assume it will. Nice job scoring the $3 million guarantee though.
Agree with @Dorothy_Mantooth.
Great nickname by the way, you are a saint !
Although Leody might eventually be a good lead off hitter, probably better pencil him into the nine hole to relieve pressure. Shouldn’t Dahl lead off? I am thinking he did just that in the 2020 opening series.
Weird. Isn’t that more money than he was projected to get in arb? Why didn’t Texas just trade a lottery ticket for him? That would have worked out for both sides. Rockies get SOMETHING for Dahl. Rangers save some money.
Headline: “Rangers Agree to Deal With David Dahl”
Me: “It’s about #&**$€!! time somebody dealt with David Dahl!! This situation has gone on for too long!!”
You: “You have issues, Ketch”
I am upset that #DahlToDetroit did not happen.
I’ll be honest, I was so hoping that Anthopolus would pull the trigger on bringing Dahl in for the Atlanta Braves. Dahl is a perfect buy low/prove it to me Contract that absolutely could have replaced Duvall. Not to mention he is an Alabama boy who absolutely no doubt grew up a Braves fan. I think Atlanta missed on a nice OF addition.
Way better deal than the White Sox signing Eaton.
RANGERS WS LINE UP AND BULLPEN ARE READY NOW ONLY WAITING TO ADD MORE STARTING PITCHING…
1. DUNNING
2. CODY
3. ???
4. GIBSON
5. ALLARD
BULLPEN
CL JOSE LECLERC
SU JONATHAN HERNANDEZ
SU DEMARCUS EVANS
SU RAFAEL MONTERO
.BRETT DE GEUS
JOE GATTO
BRETT MARTIN
ART WARREN
LR JOE PALUMBO
LINEUP
C JOSE TREVINO .260 8 HR 4 SB
1B RONALD GUZMAN .260 23 HR 2 SB
2B NICK SOLAK .290 25 HR 15 SB
SS INSAIAH KINER FALEFA .310 15 HR 24 SB
3B NATE LOWE .285 32 HR 3 SB
LF DAVID DAHL .290 25 HR 42 SB
CF LEODY TAVARAS 12 HR 112 SB
RF JOEY GALLO .260 60 HR 20 SB
DH WILLIE CALHOUN .308 28 HR 2 1/2 SB
JORDAN LYLES
How about get rid of Odor and Guzman, sign Kim and Walker and then be left with this:
JOSE LECLERC
JON HERNANDEZ
RAFAEL MONTERO
DEMARCUS EVANS
JOE GATTO
BRETT MARTIN
JOELY RODRIGUEZ
JOE BARLOW
JOE PALUMBO
TAVERAS
DAHL
SOLAK
GALLO
IKF
CALHOUN
KIM
LOWE
TREVINO
WALKER
DUNNING – HEARN (PIGGYBACK)
CODY – ALLARD (PIGGYBACK)
GIBSON
LYLES
THAT’S GREAT
I don’t like Lyles in the rotation. I think he is really good out of the pen and the Rangers should just let another young guys get experience.
Except put Lyles in the pen let Allard start
I dont get it… it’s supposed to be a down year for contracts, yet Dahl gets more than projected arbitration. Why couldnt the rockies have traded him then?
Rangers could have save a couple hundred grand by trading anything to the rockies… rockies would have gained… “anything”.
The projected arbitration $ kinda goes out the window once he’s a free agent though right? At that point it just becomes who’s offering the most money to entice him to sign with them.
The Rockies definitely shouldn’t have non-tendered him though, what they did makes no sense unless you’re just blindly shedding salary.
Minor and Lynn signings seemed like over pays at the time and look how they worked out? These are the kind of signings that can pay off handsomely.
This is certainly not an overpay.
Given his still relative youth, I would have though Dahl could have gotten more than a one-year deal for $3 million. That’s chump change in baseball today.
Would have liked to have seen my Phillies sign him. We need a CF and Dahl’s left-handed bat would be a plus for our all-too-right handed lineup now that Didi is gone.
he is still arb eligible through 2023
Dahl’s one of those good bets to make in baseball. There is still some meat on that bone.
Nope. 29 teams are not wrong.
I love this signing
This will be the next poor decision to haunt the Rockies. It made no sense letting Dahl walk for what they were paying him, and he wouldn’t have been a FA until 2024. Bring him back and if he produces, trade him at the deadline for a prospect or two. Instead, they get nothing and are still overpaying the likes of Desmond. If the Rockies are beginning a rebuild, they are off to a horrible start. I hate watching franchises destroy themselves. Good job by the Rangers, though. Young is off to an excellent start.
Dahl is mediocre at best and can’t stay on the field. Look at his peripherals. His two good (partial) years were driven almost entirely by good batted ball luck. HIs exit velocity, despite good power, is bottom half of the league, which is always a bad sign. And he’s an awful defender.
No one else wanted him (which we know because his price was exactly what his arb salary would have been). There’s a reason for that. It’s a touch unlikely that the Rangers (of all teams) have the only smart FO in baseball!
you and the commenter John jaso should get together some time…
Fantastic signing for the Rangers. Rockies, you’re dumb. Extremely dumb.
Well done, Texas! Can’t go wrong for $3M for a young All-Star caliber OF. I hope he stays healthy and lights it up this year. Such a bad decision by Colorado to non-tender him at that price point.
If he stays healthy, he’s very underrated. Rangers struck a gold mine.