The Rangers announced another rotation addition, signing Nathan Eovaldi to a two-year deal with a vesting/player option for the 2025 campaign. The ACES client will be paid a $2MM signing bonus followed by $16MM salaries in each of the next two seasons. The option — which is valued at $20MM — would kick in as a player option if Eovaldi throws 300 combined innings from 2023-24. It’d also be triggered if the righty finishes in the top five in Cy Young voting in 2024 or finishes in the top seven that year and qualifies for the All-Star team. Eovaldi also has limited no-trade protection and innings-based incentives that could allow him to make as much as $63MM over the next three seasons.
Eovaldi has spent the past four-plus seasons with the Red Sox. Boston first acquired the righty from the Rays at the 2018 trade deadline, adding the impending free agent for their playoff push. Eovaldi was excellent in 12 regular season appearances, then added 22 1/3 innings of 1.61 ERA ball in the postseason. At year’s end, Boston rewarded him for his finish with a four-year, $68MM free agent deal.
That contract looked shaky in year one, as Eovaldi posted an ERA just south of 6.00 in 2019 — a season in which he missed a notable chunk of action due to loose bodies in his throwing elbow. He righted the ship in the second season, though, posting a 3.72 ERA through nine outings during the shortened 2020 campaign.
Eovaldi followed up with maybe the best full season of his career in 2021. He made all 32 starts and posted a 3.75 ERA through 182 1/3 innings, striking out 25.5% of opponents against a 4.6% walk rate. That showing earned him his first career All-Star selection, as well as a fourth place finish in AL Cy Young balloting.
Unfortunately, injury issues cropped back up in 2022. Eovaldi missed chunks of what proved to be his final season in Boston due to a pair of injured list stints. He lost time between June and July with lower back inflammation and missed most of August and September thanks to inflammation in his throwing shoulder. The pair of injuries kept him to 20 starts and 109 1/3 frames, although his production on a rate basis was around his career norms.
Eovaldi managed a 3.87 ERA, striking out a slightly above-average 22.4% of batters faced. He walked a minuscule 4.3% of opponents while inducing grounders on 47% of batted balls he surrendered. Eovaldi isn’t the ace his 2021 fourth-place Cy Young finish might suggest, but he’s an above-average mid-rotation arm when healthy.
That production doesn’t come the way one might expect given Eovaldi’s power arsenal. He’s one of the game’s hardest throwers, averaging north of 97 MPH for much of his career. However, he’s never posted the elite strikeout rates typically associated with that velocity. Eovaldi’s best trait is instead his ability to pound the strike zone. He’s walked fewer than 5% of opponents in each of the past three years; his cumulative 4.4% walk percentage since the start of 2020 is second-lowest among the 120 pitchers with 200+ frames over that stretch (trailing only the 4.3% mark of Clayton Kershaw).
Eovaldi’s willingness to attack the zone has led to home run issues at times. He’s allowed homers at a higher than average clip in three of the last four years, including an elevated 1.73 homers per nine innings this past season. That’s the only red flag in Eovaldi’s recent performance track record but his health and age presumably gave some teams pause. He’ll be 33 in February, making him one of the older options in a deep class of mid-rotation starters available in free agency.
In addition to this year’s shoulder and back concerns, he has a history of elbow problems. Eovaldi underwent Tommy John surgery in high school, then missed the 2017 campaign after undergoing the procedure a second time in August 2016. He hasn’t required any IL stints due to elbow concerns since the aforementioned 2019 loose bodies. The back and shoulder injuries of this past season might be more acute problems, as Eovaldi’s average fastball velocity dipped from its customary 96-97 MPH range early in the season to roughly 94 MPH after his first IL stint.
Those injuries seemed to depress Eovaldi’s market. Chris Bassitt landed a three-year, $63MM deal headed into his age-34 campaign, while players like Jameson Taillon and Taijuan Walker secured strong four-year pacts despite less consistent performance track records than Eovaldi’s. Many of the free agent starters this offseason landed stronger than expected deals, but Eovaldi’s guarantee exactly matches MLBTR’s prediction from the outset of the offseason.
Eovaldi’s camp was also working against the qualifying offer. He turned down a QO from Boston at the start of the winter, tying any signing team to draft compensation. That was also the case for Bassitt but didn’t come into play for Walker and Taillon.
Texas hasn’t shown much concern about losing draft choices to add quality talent via free agency. They surrendered two picks to sign Corey Seager and Marcus Semien last winter, and they’ll do so again this offseason. The Rangers already forfeited a draft choice to sign Jacob deGrom to a five-year deal. That lessens the price they’ll have to pay in Eovaldi’s case. Texas surrendered their second-highest draft choice in 2023 and $500K in international signing bonus space to add deGrom. They’ll be docked another $500K in signing bonus room and their third-highest pick for Eovaldi.
After the Seager and Semien splashes to bolster the lineup last offseason, the Rangers have thoroughly overhauled their starting staff this winter. Texas acquired Jake Odorizzi from the Braves within the first few days. Left-hander Martín Pérez soon after accepted a qualifying offer, but that didn’t slow down Texas GM Chris Young or his front office. Since free agency opened, they’ve nabbed deGrom on the largest pitching contract of the offseason and brought in Andrew Heaney and Eovaldi on two-year guarantees.
Eovaldi adds another mid-rotation caliber starter to what now looks like a potentially fearsome Rangers rotation. deGrom headlines the staff, backed up by Jon Gray, Eovaldi, Pérez and Heaney. Odorizzi and Dane Dunning seem as if they’ll be pushed into depth roles, though there’s enough injury uncertainty with most of the top five it’s understandable Texas wouldn’t take its foot off the gas in pursuing outside help.
Owner Ray Davis and the front office haven’t shown many qualms about spending. Tacking on Eovaldi’s $16MM salary to next year’s books brings their projected payroll around $196MM, per Roster Resource. That’ll be a franchise record, easily topping the organization’s previous Opening Day high-water mark of $165MM. The deal’s $17MM average annual value brings their competitive balance tax number around $220MM, per Roster Resource, leaving them $13MM shy of next year’s $233MM base tax threshold.
The rotation hefty lifting looks to be complete, but Texas is known to be seeking ways to upgrade in the corner outfield. There’s room for a mid-tier free agent pickup there if the team prefers to stay under the CBT marker, though it’s also possible Davis is comfortable pushing past that threshold. The franchise’s boldness this winter has backed up their claims they plan to compete for a playoff spot in 2023, as both the Rangers and Angels have worked to try to close the gap with the Astros and Mariners in the AL West.
It’s another free agent departure for the Red Sox, who have seen a few notable players head elsewhere. Eovaldi and Xander Bogaerts each left after declining a qualifying offer. Boston receives draft compensation for both, though that’s a rather minimal benefit in their case. The Red Sox narrowly exceeded the CBT threshold in 2022, a decision that didn’t pay off when the club stumbled to a last-place finish down the stretch. They only receive bonus selections after the fourth round in next year’s draft as a result.
Robert Murray of FanSided first reported the Rangers and Eovaldi were in agreement. Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News was first to report it was a two-year deal with an option, as well as the specific financial breakdown. Jeff Passan of ESPN was first with the $34MM guarantee and the third-year option being a vesting/player provision, as well as the option specifics. Jon Heyman of the New York Post first reported the no-trade protection and potential to vest the option based on Cy Young voting.
Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
What???? They are pulling the same thing at next year’s draft? Man… they needed a left fielder, not another starter. DeGrom to left field when he isn’t pitching now
ArmChairGM-
Now they can trade someone for an OF.
like Dunning for Santander
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I would love Santander. However, all the stats guys will obsess over his defensive WAR. Idk if that is enough to bring down his value, but Dunning has 4 years vs 2 for Santander
C Yards Jeff
Wonder if there is a no trade clause? Could this turn in to a possible sign and trade with someone like the Orioles? Odd and corny on my part, I know, but Santander and a prospect for Nathan? Local media here in Baltimore is still chirping about the need for SP pitching help. 2 years at 17 per with an option yr; realistic for Baltimore FO?
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
You can’t sign and trade without waiting a few months. Trust me, I have tried that before on video games. The Mets would just be signing and trading guys and would effectively be buying prospects like that. Unless something changed in the latest offseason, this should hold.
DogDays2
I’m not a Ranger fan but I like what they’re doing.
Notice when a team signs good players, people here rush to injuries. They are pitchers , of course there’s a risk. Should they have stood pat from 2020 and run guys out with 5+ ERA’s?
I don’t look at guys like Perez and Eovaldi as 4-5 slot types. We can agree to disagree.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Perez sucks. Eovaldi is in a different league. Look at ballparks, ERA+, FIP, and K/BB ratio. Other than that, yeah. Players need to man up and play through injury. I played for 7 seasons in casual baseball. The only game I missed due to injury was when some 70 mph pitch tore off skin from my arm. I got hit like 12 times that season and was fine all the other games. I don’t get all these injuries. Maybe playing at a higher level changes things, but they also have strength and conditioning folks.
Rangerfan11
There is no big LF to sign. So upgrade where you can. This pitching staff (obviously when healthy) will be so much better than last year). Actually have depth there now.
Thompson will be a good LF. But if they can trade or sign someone else for that middle of the lineup bat that would be nice. Not sure who is available….
Sign Duvall, Pollack?
Trade for Kepler? Not sure who else
DogDays2
Perez had a pretty good year for a guy that sucks.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
No to uphold about nothing. is to hold about nothing
Brew’88
70 mph pitch?
Mikenmn
You can’t trade a signed Free Agent until June, if I recall
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
But Perez was so bad in Boston he basically lost his job and got run out. Let’s see how he does this year. He had a completely good year out of nowhere, which could easily have been an anomoly.
I would think Perez would slot in as a capable #5 pitcher but nothing more.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Yeah. This is little league or whatever you call it. I played 7 years, and there were 2 seasons each year, so it was like 30 or so each year. I don’t understand the injuries at all. I mean, if it were my job, I would definitely play through injuries. This attitude of babying everyone is so lame. Many times, guys will say they are fine and doctors don’t even let them play.
Fever Pitch Guy
DeG – Congrats on a great pickup, if Nate stays healthy he will get Cy votes for sure.
Funny, earlier today when Hill got $8M I wrote that Nate would get double … and that’s exactly what happened! Double the salary and double the years.
DogDays2
Now you’re making it sound as if Eovaldi is Rich Hill.
I mean cmon.
DogDays2
Fever, I wasn’t responding to you.
Just a funny coincidence.
DogDays2
Pwn, you’re right— my bad. I thought you were talking about Eovaldi for some reason.
I’m not saying you can depend on Perez to be that good again, but maybe he figured something out.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
I agree Eovaldi is an above average pitcher who has had a few recognizable Cy Young caliber seasons, but I am doubtful that he is a continuous ace or that he should be expected to be one. I slot him in as a #3, maybe a #2 at his best.
That being said, this is a decent price over 2 years. Not an overpay but not a steal either.
thatdudetg
You sound like a sad boy.
rondon
Degrom… Maybe playing at a higher level changes things? Seriously? Did you “man up” when that nasty 70 mph tore skin off your arm? A mid nineties fastball woulda put you in the hospital. I think what you’d notice is there’s no maybe about it. There is no comparison.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I am pretty biased. I will admit that. Hearing scouts say he is the second coming of Johan Santana made me think he would be at least half as valuable in terms of run prevention (a 3.75 ERA instead of a 3 ERA when the league average was 4.5). I do hate him for being a failure as a prospect and for being so bad in his first time around. I really look at K/BB ratios since you can’t rely on double plays all the time. I mean, if Perez has a 3.75 ERA this season, that’s great, but still not worth 20 million when a superior guy like Evoladi is only 16 million with 1 million each year “deferred” and maybe not even paid if the option is picked up. I feel the same way about Profar for being a consensus number 1 prospect and then being well below average most of the time.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
@Fever
Not that I want to point fingers (but I guess I am), I find it ironic how you praise an injury prone Eovaldi who hasn’t eclipsed more than 190 innings per year but are so harsh on the injury prone Chris Sale who was clearly an ace when on.
I do realize Sale was more injured the past two seasons than Eovaldi was but still… is it because Sale is on the Red Sox that you treat him harshly? I’m perplexed and a bit amazed that you acknowledge Sale so harshly.
Tigers3232
Not just Santander but a prospect as well?? If The Os were that interested in Evoldai they’d have signed him. Another season or 2 on the deal would ve likely did it.
Tigers3232
These players are 162 games a season, not including spring training and any post season games. They also train all off season. Anyone who even works out on a regular basis knows that injuries happen over time. It is part of pushing ones body to the limit.
Fever Pitch Guy
Dog – Thanks, no worries.
I wasn’t sure if you were or not, that’s why I didn’t respond. It is hard to follow conversations when a bunch of posts are all lined up together.
Would be great if these boards had a common feature where a quote would appear whenever Reply is clicked.
Tigers3232
Most of these teams are not even going to give them the option of playing through injuries like you had in Little League. In college the choice was not on us players if we wanted to play through injury. I am fairly certain these pro teams with the amount they have invested are not going to give the players the option. And it is easy to say one would play through an injury when healthy. When you pull a hamstring and can’t bend your leg or twist an ankle and can not put weight on it, it is a quite different story….
slimray
i think the rangers would have to give up more than dunning for santander.although it sounds good the orioles have more sense then that.
User 1413108128
Tigers3232 is spot on. If you wanted to play in college with a injury then you better make sure nobody knows you’re hurt and then don’t hurt the team while covering up a injury. Come to think of it the same applied to high school legion ball to. Especially when it’s a pitcher. It has been a while since I last played so It may be different now but somehow I doubt it.
justinkm19
Check out the year Perez had last year. He’s not a 4 and neither is Jon Gray or Eovaldi..
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
@Justinkm19 You are right. Perez is a 5, Eovaldi is a 2, and Gray is a 3.
BleedingBlue162232
@DeGrom
The reason professional athletes get hurt is often due to the fact they are pushing the limits of what is humanly possible….you playing casual baseball are not, lol.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
@BleedingBlue I understand that for sure. However, let’s say these guys are superior at catching fly balls, throwing, pitching for velocity, pitching command, hitting for power, and hitting for contact. Why wouldn’t they be equally superior at durability with all the conditioning guys?
Pickle_Britches
Santana threw harder then 90 lol and had a deadly change up. No mediocre pitches like perez
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I know. Perez was a trashy and overrated prospect. I am not comparing them. I am just pointing to professionals whose career is to evaluate talent who said this. I thought it was an absurd attempt at attention. However, I’m no scout. I have also heard nonsense like Darvish is the next Pedro Martinez (I think Pedro himself made that comp to get attention), Correa is the next Arod, etc.
bwmiller
Perez doesnt give up too many long balls, keeps the ball on the ground, and did most of his work on the road last season.
Jaysfansince92
Or even just shows who you are replying to. A lot of sites would say for example replying to Fever Pitch Guy at the top of my post.
Daniel Youngblood
A trade for Jake McCarthy or Alek Thomas would be my preference at this point. We have a surplus of starting pitching and minor league middle infield depth. Given all of the free agent signings we’ve made the past two years, I think it makes sense to try to turn that into a talented, young, cost-controlled outfielder, if possible.
Daniel Youngblood
The Rangers don’t need him to be an ace. That’s the great thing about this rotation now. You’ve got DeGrom at the top, when healthy, allowing Eovaldi, Gray, Perez and Heaney to settle into more natural roles as mid-rotation or good back-of-the-rotation guys.
And if injuries become an issue, you’ve got Odorizzi, Dunning and Otto ready to step in and give you competent major league innings.
This rotation has the talent and depth to be very good.
MLB-1971
Doubt Eovaldi pitches more than 110 innings, with multiple DL/IL trips, and 25+ HRs allowed…..good luck…..repeat of 2022…..
I would prefer someone who will produce 150-180 innings.
MLB-1971
I muted Fever long ago…not worth wasting your time.
Tigers3232
Most of these athletes are far superior than the average person as far as durability. They are physical exerting themselves on a daily basis though, injuries are inevitable. Conditioning and stretching doesn’t make anyone immortal.
Tigers3232
The DBacks are not gonna be trading any of those young talented OFs for the likes of Perez, Gray, or Odorizzi
Daniel Youngblood
Who suggested they would? The Rangers would be trading prospects to get any of those guys, presumably with Dane Dunning or Glenn Otto as part of a package.
Fever Pitch Guy
pedey – You ALWAYS like to point fingers at me. LOL
Funny that you would say I’m unfairly criticizing Bloom, but I’ve noticed the past month you’ve been criticizing him even more than me!
As for Sale, I’m not harsh at all. It was an awful extension that Dombrowski gave him, that’s not Sale’s fault … that’s Dombrowski’s fault.
Have I been harsh about Sale’s anger issues? No, because it’s well-deserved. He has had way too many flukey injuries (not counting the broken finger) to rule out temper tantrums as a possible cause.
That’s the big difference with Nate, his injuries are not mysterious.
PulledaBloom
Fever – Sorry but the Sale extension made perfect sense. A top 5 SP who struggled playing for a horrible manager in 2018 after thriving under Ferrell is being paid peanuts while winning Boston a Ring and Dombrowski extends him before the whole Spring Training screw-up by Cora.
Think about the impact of the screw-up. Eovaldi got hurt in Spring Training, Sale under performed in April which led to Cora trying to fix his mechanics which led to Tommy John Surgery.
How bad was the 2019 Spring Training mistake by Cora to not give the starters adequate time to prepare for the season? Lets see.
In Seattle, Sale, Porcello and EROD took losses while Eovaldi got replaced by Johnson who was the only winner in that series. Price, Sale and EROD then took 3 losses in Oak while Barnes got a win in relief of Johnson. Porcello and Price lost in Arizona and the one win was a 1-0 win over Merritt Kelly on a Moreland solo homer with 5 below league average pitchers combining for the win.
On the 9th of April they got back to Boston 3-8 due to the unprepared pitching staff and loss to Toronto on another bad start by Sale making them 3-9. With Nate already out due to injury, Johnson being the only somewhat effective pitcher the future of the 2019 season was set by April 10th thanks to Cora. Cora told the press after Sale’s start that his mechanics were off and he and the coaches were going to fix them. Lots of tweaks in the mechanics led to a strain in the elbow that blossomed into TJ Surgery.
Should Dombrowski not have signed a perennial all-star who started the all-star game two years in a row and finished 2nd and 4th in they Cy Young voting when he only had one year left on his contract? Isn’t that the mistake Boston made with Mookie and Bogaerts and now you are arguing the opposite stance for Sale who was every bit as outstanding as a pitcher as Mookie is as a hitter/fielder? You can’t have it both ways.
The 2018 campaign for Sale was ruined by Cora over resting him with the huge lead in late July. The arm fatigue had occurred nearly every season in Chicago and it impacted performance after the all-star break but by year end he always bounced back and his annual numbers were elite. That could have been 2018 too if Cora did what Farrell did. Cora needed to let Sale be Sale and to put his ego aside and not try to fix him or help him because he didn’t need it as he had proven for nearly a decade.
In the end Cora has impacted the pitching since he arrived. Price went from elite under Farrell to injury prone under Cora. Sale went from elite under Farrell to injury prone under Cora, Nate finished 2018 under Cora without injury then spent 2019 injured, E-Rod spent many healthy years in Boston and got hurt under Cora. That’s the four best starting pitchers under Cora. They all have one thing in common, they went from not injury prone to injury prone except for Nate. He was injury prone, got injured but stayed on the field much better than expected for the last two years of his contract.
All four pitchers were outstanding pitchers impacted by Cora. Only Nate survived the Cora years with some level of success so naturally Bloom gets rid of him to bring in a guy like Paxton.
Nate was under-rated in Boston. Price and Sale took severe nose-dives under Cora and even a fading Porcello faded faster under Cora.
But hey, the man is bilingual and baby sat little Enrique Hernandez as a child so you can’t really say anything bad about him!!! hahaha
C Yards Jeff
@DeG; thanks for the intel on the no trade time window.
In regards to injuries and playing through them, I believe often it’s out of the player’s control as to when he can return. There often seems to be some manipulation going on? Maybe initiated by the team or the guy with vested interest in the player; his agent.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Actually, Fever, it’s about half and half. I praise you but I don’t always agree either. I think it’s just how you convey yourself, being biased toward certain players one way or another.
I think we both criticize Bloom enough, because we’ll, let’s admit it. Before I criticized him he didn’t have a bad off-season. Now, well, apparently itlooks like he hasn’t done much. Still giving him the benefit of doubt but it looks like he isn’t doing great. But you’re critical of him, then pass the blame to Cora, John Hemry, etc. You find ways to weasel the blame elsewhere but still approach the Sox with a half empty glass.
And you do use logic, no doubt, but you frame it how you want it. Mysterious injuries? No offense, but that’s the stupidest excuse I’ve ever heard, almost as bad as approaching anger from using a bat versus your hands. Injuries are injuries and Sale has been the far better pitcher than Eovaldi.
And when I brought up Ortiz as having anger issues (a guy I liked a lot by the way), based on one incident (Sale was only that one incident as well), you used an excuse that Sale was more guilty because he used his hands and not a bat to smash a phone. No offense but that is easily the most illogical argument I’ve ever heard and makes you sound biased.
Please, define mysterious for me, I’d love to hear the logic behind that one.
And honestly, if the Sale deal was so bad, who do you want them to sign to such a big contract? You mention they haven’t spent enough and now spending it on a top 5 pitcher was too much? Again, you’re biased to what YOU want. At the time, that deal for Sale was pricey but made sense (I’m aware it’s under Dumbrowski, but still….). You can’t have it both ways being critical for too cheap and spending too much.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
@Fever there’s a difference between criticizing Bloom and criticizing Bloom by inferring we will fail in the future, criticizing John Hebry, Chris Sale, etc. It’s the way you say it, man.
I might critize Bloom but I stop there. You criticize the whole operation and essentially make it sound like the Sox are hopeless and going nowhere. It gets old pretty fast. Again, you may not exactly say it but you’re good at looking at it with a half empty glass.
I used to be like that too, it’s not worth it to be a pessimist all the time toward your team.
I really don’t think you actually care that the Sox do well under Bloom. I do, I don’t know how they’ll end up and his decisions are bleak but I’m not going to talk exclusively like a hopeless critical fan. That got me nowhere before and wasn’t worth it.
Dogbone
@bleedinblue. Not all MLB players go all out. Have you watched Yoan Moncada and Yasmani Grandal play recently?
Salvi
PulledaDD:
“Sorry but the Sale extension made perfect sense.”
Are you in the Official DD Fanclub or something?
Why it was a terrible extension in 2018-2019 Offseason:
1) In 2018, Sale only pitched 25 innings from July 28 through the end of the season and was on the IR much of that time.
2) His velocity was way, way down at the end of 2018:
“His 90.2 mph average four-seamer in his most recent start on September 26 2018 was a career low, and his 94.7 mph max velocity in that outing was his lowest since the spring of 2014.”
3) He was being hit hard at the end of 2018w 2018:
Sept/Oct 2018: 34.9%
Reference: theringer.com/mlb/2018/10/5/17939542/alds-red-sox-…
4) He wanted and got multiple out-clauses. Meaning ‘if it turns out Im healthy, I can leave and get a big payday somewhere else. If Im hurt, I stay and collect the dough’. It is a common in FA contracts to get an out-clause, but with his injury history and the above mentioned velocity loss and that fact that he wanted more than one, the out-clauses shouldve sent up huge red flags.
You DD guys are truly becoming sycophants. Your logic and comments dont make sense.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
@Huntington He was a top 6 Cy Young finisher 7 straight years before that, and he got MVP votes the last 4. That deal was rather good at the time. You can’t expect this at that time.
Salvi
DegroomTX:
Are you saying Sale is a great pitcher? Absolutely he is. Are you saying based on what he did in previous years you should ignore whether or not he’s currently injured? Because thats what your doing. You dont mention Sale’s health issues at all in your post.
Based on your logic Eovaldi who led the league in starts and FIP in 2021, and has had a few good years, he should be good for 4 year deal. You know, since health issues dont factor in.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I am not a groomer. My name is deGrom. Health wasn’t really a concern for Sale then. It is now. One couldn’t have predicted that he would become this injury-prone.
Salvi
“Health wasn’t really a concern for Sale then.”
Did you read my first post DeGroomer? Did you click on the link I provided?
Im from Boston, it was A WELL KNOWN FACT he was injured. But, the logic at the time was Dombrowski must know something about his health we dont. The logic was wrong.
Clearly, youre playing too many baseball videogames and are out of touch with real baseball.
Tigers3232
@Huntington, at this point I’d say it’s Sale was a great pitcher. He will b pitching at age 34 this season and hasn’t been elite since 2018. At this point he has to prove himself again, he has lost benefit of doubt.
Salvi
Tiger3232:
Are you upset I used “is” instead of “was”? Sure, whatever.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Child groomers don’t like in Florida. They gk to New York and California. Stop being a baby.
Salvi
Lol you were the one that brought it up. I misspelled DeGrom and you took it that I was a calling you a ‘Groomer’. You hiding something?
Tigers3232
@Huntington, LMAO why would I be mad? The difference between “is” and “was” is quite significant. And at this point in Sale’s career him pitching at even at an above average level has to be proven, it is anything but a given. I hope he is able to regain his old form, but at age 34 and hasn’t picked at an elite level since age 29, odds seem to be against him.
justinkm19
Since when does a sub 3 ETA suck?
justinkm19
Since when does a sub 3 ERA suck?
Tigers3232
@ Justin, that sub 3 ERA came in 2018 when he was 29. The lone season he’s started more than 10 games since that year he had a 4.40 ERA. At age 34 and 5 seasons removed from that sub 3 ERA odds seem against him getting back to that level of pitching
pasha2k
Horrible
PulledaBloom
HuntingtonGrounds – You DD haters are the ones not making sense.
Hindsight is 20/20 is the saying and that’s how you are basing decisions and without the knowledge of why things happened.
1 – 2018 was an outstanding season for Sale disrupted by Cora (without Cora he wins the odds on favorite for the Cy Young) thinking he was being clever by saving Sale for later in the year by faking an injury and putting him on the IL to rest him. There was no injury, it was his annual dead arm period which he experienced nearly every year in Chicago. Don’t suggest there were problems with Sale that didn’t exist. It was Cora being Cora. An over protective first year manager out of his element.
2 – Velocity falling off late in the year was normal for Sale. He still finished high in the CY YOUNG voting despite the annual velocity issue in the last two months of the year. Why? Because he was still effective with less velocity because he’s a pitcher not a thrower. Perfect example of what’s wrong with modern metrics evaluated in a vacuum!!
3 – You took facts from the linked article out of context. If you consider what I wrote in the last answer you’ll understand why his second half was a forced swoon by Cora. Cora forced him to take off nearly a month and when he came back he had 12 Ks through 5 IP (a no hitter if Devers muff was fairly recorded) and Cora pulled him despite him wanting to finish the game since he felt great. 3 days after that outing Sale had “a bit of stiffness” and Cora put him back on the IL to save him for the play-offs since they were ahead by more than 10 games at that point.
4 – You simply don’t understand contracts based on your 4th point. If he had out clauses they would have put him on the market to make more than $31MM a year. Based on your comments, nobody in their right mind would have paid that so the out clauses were meaningless. I believe out=clauses were a big part of contract negotiations during that time period so his agent had some added which would have only happened if Sale felt Cora was too interfering in his pitching process which had been the case prior to him signing the contract.
sycophants must have been your word of the day. Too bad you used it improperly. NOBODY who writes positive things about Dombrowski is gaining anything from the compliments.or behaving in a forced subservient manner to Dombrowski.
They are fact providers that must exist since there are many Dombrowski haters that troll the pages of this website. Trolls are always shutdown by facts (this is a perfect example) because their inaccuracies are replaced with the facts that tell a completely different story.
The Sale trade at the time it occurred was an outstanding move to extend the dynasty in Boston. The Cora impact could not have been foreseen by any reasonable/knowledgeable GM. Cora destroyed Price, Sale and has mismanaged the pitching staff since he’s been here but hey he speaks two languages and that’s all that matters!!
PulledaBloom
HuntingtonGrounds – Still no proof in your comments based on the link. That is YOUR opinion only. Stop trying to rewrite the past.
Salvi
The extension was in early 2019. Here is an article from 10/5/2018.
theringer.com/mlb/2018/10/5/17939542/alds-red-sox-…
My points
1) 25 innings pitched from July 28th on in 2018. Look up Chris Sale ESPN game log
2) Taken straight from the chart in the link
3) Taken straight from the chart in the link
4) My opinion, but not a far reach based on points 1, 2 and 3.
Are you lazy and cant be bothered to look this up? Or just in denial
Salvi
Heres a quote from that 10/5/2018 articles, you cant be bothered to look thru:
“Unfortunately for the Sox, there’s even more reason to stress about Sale this season than usual. The lefty was sidelined in the second half of the schedule for a total of almost 40 days by two DL stints for shoulder inflammation, and he made only five starts after the trade deadline and four after August 12. When he was on the mound, the Sox handled him carefully, and he lasted no longer than 4 2/3 innings in any of his September outings; he hasn’t seen the sixth since July 27. Granted, Sale still struck out 18 men in his 12 September innings, versus only one walk, but amid his shoulder woes, his fastball speed sank precipitously. His 90.2 mph average four-seamer in his most recent start on September 26 was a career low, and his 94.7 mph max velocity in that outing was his lowest since the spring of 2014.”
Dombrowski 5 months later: ‘Nothing wrong with Chris Sale . Lets give him a 5 year contract with 2 out-clauses.’
Im done. Now you give me something that says he was healthy at the end of 2018. FYI: You won’t find any.
Huntington drops the mike.
deGromTexasRanger
naw
Baseball_dude
That would be such an awful lopsided trade for Baltimore, Santander is a 30 HR guy, Dunning is a pitcher with a career ERA of 4:50. Baltimore can get those same stats from somebody that’s already in their farm system
DogDays2
That’s just not the mindset on how trades are made.
slimray
for the rangers this is a good deal.degrom will be on il half the year for sure so this gives them insurance,which youll need with degrom.mark my words.my question is why do you insult the orioles with a trade of dunning for santander.the os got a bunch of guys in aaa just like dunning.why would they give up santander for him?
J leathal86
Hahaha we have 6 other pitchers better than dunning
HeedFrodo
When he isn’t pitching and not on the DL
Rking
Another sweet 4th round pick for Bloom to work with. 2 extra now with him and Bogey gone. Building the future dynasty
dirty617water
Could have gotten better talent and more than 4 draft picks if Bloom traded Eovaldi and Bogey at the deadline
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
The Rangers traded Darvish for what should have been a great haul, with AJ Alexy, Willie Calhoun (top 100 prospect that year), and a throw-in. That trade was supposed to be worth more than a draft pick, but look how that turned out. It’s not always that obvious they would get more for those guys. Also, trading low may set a bad reputation that teams can just offer nothing and pressure you into selling for cheap. I was pissed the Rangers didn’t trade Perez or Moore since they were free agents. However, it may be better than coming off as a weak front office with no will power to negotiate.
Horace Fury
AT the trade deadline, Eovaldi was sitting on the bench with his back injury, not to pitch for a long time to come. He had, at that moment, zero trade value.
Fever Pitch Guy
dirty – He is being facetious of course, mocking the fact that Bloom going just slightly over the CBT threshold cost the team much better draft picks.
It was a blunder of monumental proportions to go just a tiny bit over.
Holden Bases
Not entirely true. Teams have flipped injured players at the deadline. Royals sent an injured Danny Duffy two seasons ago to LAD. Totally didn’t work out, but it’s been done.
kingken67
Eovaldi had just gotten back from over a month on the IL at the deadline, and didn’t pitch particularly well in the 3 starts he had in late July right before the trade deadline, compiling an 11.08 ERA in those 3 starts. It’s doubtful the Sox would have gotten much in a trade for him.
all in the suit that you wear
Ken: Exactly.
PulledaBloom
Horace – You are right about the very specific point in time mentioned but I’m certain Boston could have traded him any time when he was doing really well. Yes, it would have angered the fans but nobody really cares about that anymore. Yes, that would have been perceived as throwing in the towel because guys like JoeBrady think Boston has a shot to win every year when reality says 5th place in the division. Those folks would have been upset but once again nobody cares.
Bloom has botched every trade since he arrived starting with the Mookie deal. The timing was wrong and cost the team a lot of future value. Same with not trading Nate, JD, Bogey and Devers. If they had no plans for Schwarber or Renfroe in 2022 they should have gotten value for them in 2021 because they had no real chance to win the division or the world series that year. But it’s not about winning for Bloom, it’s about the hope of winning. He puts that carrot out there every year for gullible fans and it makes many think Boston has a chance, which they don’t as proven by 3 straight underwhelming seasons by Bloom.
Yes, Nate was hurt at the deadline but he was available for trade when his performance was excellent earlier in the year. His VALUE was greatest at that time which is when he would have brought the greatest return.
Tigers3232
@Pulled, well Eovaldi’s value might have been higher earlier due to performance. His trade value was not. The deadline is a leverage point used by both buyers and sellers. It’s also a point where teams wait to see if they have a realistic shot at contending. It’s easy to say his valuebwas high based off performance, but in reality most teams are not paying a premium that early in the season and are still evaluating where they stand.
PulledaBloom
Tiger3232 – Good points but value is circumstantial. At the deadline having a shot matters. In mid season, a key injury can drive demand up. Nate did well during a time period where injuries could have driven his value up if he was presented by Bloom for trade. I’ve read nothing that suggests Bloom did that. This a significant weakness of Bloom. He knows he’s not keeping specific resources yet doesn’t try to maximize value in the ever changing world of circumstances that raise and lower the value of the non keepers.
just_thinkin
Gonna be a bunch of sad Angels and Orioles fans. The Rangers are so weird man. Go ahead Rangers.
kellin
I have this feeling it was the extra year, otherwise he’d probably be an Angel. I dont think they wanted him for more than one year, it seems to be mostly how they’re rolling lately.
Johnny Bravo
Not really I’m an angel fan I mean if the price was right yes but when he’s healthy, he’s good but the most games he’s won in one season, 14 game winner
BStrowman
Odorizzi could be moved. They got him basically for free. Especially after seeing this FA market. Dunning could be a potential chip for an OF actually. Surprising move though.
Wilmer the Thrillmer
You can never have too much starting pitching. Besides you are not getting 30 starts from de Grom or Eovaldi. 20-25 each if you’re lucky. But they’ll be very good starts.
I’m stoked for Bruce Bochy. He’s going to manage a good team next year.
Leftfielders? It’s either going to be Duvall, Dickerson, Gamel, McCutchen, Peralta, Pollock or Profar. Or a trade.
Ranger fans should be rejoicing not bummed that they didn’t sign a mediocre leftfielder!
54scooterb
Could we see a Profar reunion?
Daniel Youngblood
I hope not. Jurickson Profar is mediocrity personified.
Wilmer the Thrillmer
Actually Mancini might be a good fit.
Fever Pitch Guy
Wilmer – Just last year Nate led the league with 32 starts.
Your prediction of 20-25 starts is without merit.
Wilmer the Thrillmer
Without merit? Dude, what are you smokin? I want some.
rct
Eovaldi has just one season of more than 21 starts in the last six years. It’s completely meritorious to say that they’re lucky if he gets 20-25 starts.
Poster formerly known as . . .
The Rangers were 22nd in ERA in 2022 and only seven teams allowed more runs. Rangers hitters were 12th in runs.
Pitching has been a weakness of the Rangers for years.
Nobody ever said, “Left fielders win championships.”
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I agree with this. However, think about it like this: a person is starved and dying of thirst. He needs water in the next few days or he will die. He needs food in the next few weeks, or he will die. After getting a gallon of water, he eventually needs to eat. He can’t just drink water the next month and expect to survive. That’s the situation here. They needed pitching and probably every team still could use help, but left field is much bigger an issue here I think. They had already resigned Perez and added 3 guys. Adding another one only makes sense if they trade one for a bat.
Poster formerly known as . . .
Left field is not a bigger issue. It’s not as big an issue. Besides, it’s December. The Red Sox didn’t sign Trevor Story until March 20, 2022. Adding a pitcher who’s in demand while he’s still available doesn’t prevent the Rangers from adding a left fielder later. Starting pitchers are a harder commodity to come by than outfielders.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I understand that. I am just thinking in terms of budget and draft picks. They gave up their 2nd round pick and now their 3rd rounder. If they are spending 17 million (currently around 160 +17 = 177 million or so given -10 million from ATL for Odorizzi and deGrom’s 30 salary this year), why not spend it on a few bullpen guys and trade for a cheaper outfielder instead? I just think this money could be more efficiently spent. If they are willing to spend 200 million, then this is great. I just don’t see that high a budget increase this year. deGrom adds 30 million, Perez’s raise + arb raises and the dead money coming off for Odor and Andrus’s contracts will likely cancel out, and so it’s 30 + 12.5 for Heaney and 17 for Eovaldi, which is around a 60 million increase.
slimray
i will say the rangers era. will most likely get better this year.and thats a step forword.however i would not start selling playoff tickets.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I agree. There is still a chance they miss if they don’t trade for an outfielder and/or some relievers. Fangraphs (for what it is worth) ranks the Rangers as having the 2nd best projected rotation in baseball, the 2nd worst left fielder in baseball, and the 7th worst bullpen in baseball. I would put them in the mid 80s, but there is always variation and other teams could outperform. I just see lots of reasons for optimism.
Francys01
This is an excellent signing by the Rangers.
phenomenalajs
No, but deGrom was a shortstop in college. Seager to LF? LOL
sfes
The Rangers are a lot better on paper than most here seem to give them credit for. Their offense wasn’t awful last year and they just bought a rotation. The big if is deGrom (who was a healthy man year after year until he bumped that velocity up to triple digits even into the 7th). They may be in the hunt for a 2nd WC but there’s a long way to go before you can jump the Astros.
I noticed you mentioning how negative weve been. For the record I don’t hate Jake or the Rangers for what he did. There’s a bit of bitterness, yes, but it’s clear he wanted to move south and retire there with his family, and as human beings we have to respect that. Our Fandom isnt their lives… the way it was handled can be up for debate. But in the end family always comes first. I hope my fellow Mets fans can see reason and wish he and the Rangers well (as long as its not against us) and look forward to his HoF ceremony in a blue & orange cap.
jeff51488
Wow
10centBeerNight
Texas making BIG STATE moves.
deGromTexasRanger
You can never have enough pitching! Crazy how they just bought a team over two off seasons. Still think they are going to be trash!
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
So some people whine about teams buying championships and other complain about not spending enough. People like you will never be happy. I don’t get how Mets fans and Astros fans still can’t get over the fact that the Rangers are improving. Get over yourself.
slimray
im not a mets or astro fan.
sfes
@degrom Texas ranger see my response to your first post for clarity
Chemo850
Dude calm dude. He’s not wrong. They signed two starters who are always injured to lead their rotation. And the Mets still suck so I dont think their throwing shade at anybody
DogDays2
No, he’s definitely wrong.
Michael Macaulay-Birks
Jeez
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Like the Yankees rotation, it will be boom or bust. They could roll a Yahtzee and nobody will have any major injuries and the rotation will prove to be the strength of the team. OR they could throw a couple gutter balls, have some sub-average performances mix-in, and suddenly the rotation sinks the entire vessel and deployed lifeboats can’t even haul the smoking vestiges back to port.
DogDays2
I could literally say that about every MLB pitching staff.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Yes it was a Captain Obvious take most definitely, fully own it
nickatl
At least they’re not the Red Sox. Most expensive ballpark to visit and the product on the field is going to suuuuuuuuuuck
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
They really love 5+ K/BB ratio guys. DeGrom, Heaney, and him. Two of those have consistently been above 5.
candymaldonado
That dogfight with the Angels for 3rd place is gonna be something to watch.
bkbk
astros got worse and the mariners are bound to regress. This division is going to be a violent brawl from 1-4.
candymaldonado
Astros got worse. Rangers got better. Nothing happened that comes close to closing a 38 game gap.
Rocker49
You 2 have to be kidding right??? Astros got worse if you don’t follow the offseason moves lol. HUGE upgrade at 1B with Abreu over Gurriel. And they’re replacing a 40 year old Verlander who will NOT replicate his Cy Young season like this one ever again with a 24 year old ace who was the Minor League Pitcher of the Year who only went 2-0 with an 0.89 ERA in 7 games and has better stuff than Verlander. Pretty ignorant comment from both of you newbies.
DogDays2
Rocker, unless your boy wonder matches Verlander’s 2022 production, and he won’t, that’s called a regression.
DogDays2
A guy makes 2 starts and we have no right to question whether he will match JV’s 18-4/1.75 era year.
Lol I love baseball.
realisticnyyfan
Whoa look at me mob boss
candymaldonado
Astros homers are wild. A different breed entirely.
DogDays2
Candy, I agree. It’s not enough to say they are the best team and the favorites. You have to open up discussions about them going undefeated too.
nickatl
They lost a CY Young player, I don’t care if he can’t do it again, that’s a huge step back in the rotation.
Rocker49
Verlander won’t even match his 2022 output this season lol so there’s that smart one.
Rocker49
Replacing him with another CY Young pitcher, so yeah there’s that as well.
Tigers3232
@Rocker, Brown would have to come in and have the best rookie season ever by a pitcher to replace Verlander’s production. And what Verlander will do this season is irrelevant as his production from last season is the void that needs to b filled. Yes Abreu strengthens lineup, but overall Astros have taken a slight step back. However they are still easily the favorites in their division and no other team is remotely close
steven st croix
Astros got worse? The lost JV but had SEVEN starters. I think if Brantley is healthy and Abreu, they got better. When they roll out Framber, Javier, LMJ, Hunter Brown, Garcia, Urquidy, good luck. They also have the best pen in the game and they are all coming back. Houston is any going anywhere
bkbk
They lost the Cy Young. Dont be a homer. Its a clear statement of fact.
candymaldonado
If a loss is concrete (a Cy young winner), and the gains are hypothetical (health), the paper analysis is that they are worse, yes. Marginally so, but worse all the same. Still a 100+ win team.
Ma4170
And I can’t think there’s a lot of confidence in Urquidy after last year, and seems they lost a little faith in Garcia by the playoffs too. LMJ so rarely stays healthy for more than a few months, so can’t see feeling good about having him for a full season. Javier and Framber are rock solid. Brown is nothing more than a high potential young arm right now.
C Yards Jeff
@Ma4170: to your point. Lost confidence in Uriuqidy. Just maybe. In the WS, only saw mop up action in that blow out loss. Hmmm.
Ma4170
@Jeff – yeah, I went by a friend of mine who’s an Astro fan. I hadn’t followed Urquidy specifically, but saw his numbers were down from prior years.
nickatl
The Astros 1000% got worse.
slimray
i heard that last year when they lost correa.
Hammerin' Hank
Hunter Brown is going to be excellent.
Tigers3232
@Hammerin, yes Brown likely will b an excellent MLB player. However in order to replace the void(Verlander’s 2022 production). He’d need to have best season of all time by a rookie SP. It’s just likely not happening.
Salvi
Where did Hammerin say he was going to be excellent in his “rookie” season?
Tippin 44s
How the the hell did Astros get worse? Lost JV? I love JV but Hunter Brown will fill in flawlessly & the Astros OTHER pitchers carried JV to his 2nd ring. They also improved 1B DRAMATICALLY (their biggest weakness) & theoretically get Brantley for a whole season worth of LF & DH instead of Mancini. The Astros slightly improved a 106 win team buddy.
Ma4170
I’ll take the bet and say they’re under 106.
DogDays2
Lol that’s ridiculous.
I’m not saying the Astros don’t have the arms to replace JV but there’s a big difference not having a guy like that you can depend on. Saying a kid is flawlessly going to replace a HOFer is a pipe dream.
Ma4170
Exactly
Plugnplay
The Astros won’t even win 100, look for around 96 wins but still get 1st place thou. With there slight regression, and the west getting better. It’s a virtual lock, they won’t win 106 again.
candymaldonado
Astros fans just demanding deference to the idea that a HoF Cy Young winner is going to be seamlessly offset by an unknown quantity at SP, is just wild. You guys are the most sensitive fans in all of baseball. No one said they’re bad, you babies. We just said banking on more than 106 wins while losing a Cy Young pitcher is a lot. Calm your precious selves.
candymaldonado
Nevermind that the entire division minus the A’s is improved, making your own divisional matchups harder to pile up wins against.
Samuel
candymaldonado;
The Astros have a history of losing veteran players at the top of the heap, bringing in a youngster to perform near the bottom of the heap, and asking the other players to do a bit better. The cumulative effect is that they field a strong team – sometimes stronger than the one the year before.
This happened last season when they let Correa walk, and Pena played SS. He didn’t have Correa’s numbers, but he played a steady SS and got big hits – including being the MVP in both the ALCS and WS. No one saw that coming.
Constantly moving out older veterans and bringing in youngsters is why the Astros will be contending in 2023 for the 9th year in a row.
DogDays2
Thanks Samuel for that take, though obvious.
But there’s a big difference between replacing a SS and a #1 SP.
BStrowman
Except the Astros replaced G Cole and won a WS.
Remember when they lost a #1 SP?
Or when Verlander didn’t pitch in 2020 or 2021.
The Astros will be fine because they develop SP. Hunter Brown will be the next development.
Valdez was their postseason ace by far. Wasn’t JV.
candymaldonado
Samuel: No one said they won’t contend. Literally no one. No one said they won’t be good. Literally no one. No one said they aren’t division favorites. Literally no one.
We said they’re worse without a Cy Young pitcher than they are with one. That 106 wins isn’t a likely guarantee without it. Even at 105 wins, they’re still worse.
Stop being the softest fans in all of sports Jesus Christ.
candymaldonado
Someone says the Astros aren’t likely to win 106 games again next year and I’ve got a full meltdown of Astros fans crying foul. Softer than Charmin I swear to God. You guys are worse than Yankee fans.
DogDays2
Cole? That was like 4 years ago.
I’m not saying the Astros aren’t run well or don’t have the ability to replace JV.
I’m simply saying it’s a huge hole. Now the pressure will be on Valdez to be a #1. Let’s see how it goes.
BStrowman
@candyman
You forgot that they don’t play their division opponents as much this year. We’re on a balanced schedule now. Just so you know.
BStrowman
JV might take a step back this year too. Hard to say when an elite pitcher starts regressing but after 40 there’s no way to know.
Adding Abreu might be just as impactful as the loss of JV. They had no 1B replacement and got very little from that slot last year. They have arms and keep pumping them out.
We’ll see when the games are played but I don’t considered that team to be much worse at all. It’s tough ito build on 106 wins even if they kept JV and added Degrom or something.
candymaldonado
No I didn’t forget, skippy. They still play division opponents 12 times. It’s *more balanced* but it’s not balanced.
And even then, you’re making my point for me, that they won’t get as many games against 3 different 90 loss teams as they did last year.
candymaldonado
If you think Jose Abreu offsets Justin Verlander, you’re simply too far gone down the homer rabbit hole to objectively weigh in on this conversation. Why is it so hard to ask you to be 5% reasonable? Why is “Losing a Cy young candidate makes it more likely than not that 106 wins won’t be reached again” so appalling to you weirdos that you can’t accept it? Step off the cross, Stros fans.
BStrowman
I’m not really arguing. I was just mentioning that point you overlooked.
I don’t know that they’ll win 106 games. A lot of things go right to win that many games. Their team is of the same quality and their organization is stellar.
Without 40MM a year on Verlander—they could have some payroll space for a deadline add. They were able to keep Montero, Brantley, and add Abreu with the money it would’ve cost to just keep JV. So we’ll see how it all shakes out.
DogDays2
JV probably will take a step back but that has nothing to do with this discussion .
It’s 2023 Astros vs 2022 Astros, on which Verlander was awesome.
nickatl
And what happened last year is rare not the “norm”.
Samuel
candymaldonado;
I’m soft and he’s Skippy?
Stick it where the sun don’t shine….and don’t be soft about what
I wrote.
What’s with this board tonight?
My mute list is gong up more then than the number of millions of dollars Carlos Correa got.
DogDays2
Samuel actually gave us just as much insight on baseball in this reply as he usually does…. And he didn’t mention baseball.
BStrowman
They are better with Verlander on paper, sure. Nobody can argue that.
But you add Abreu and improve around the edges and you may not even feel the hit. Who the heck knows. They could end up winning 107. This team was a juggernaut and simply the best ran.
I don’t root for the Astros at all but would come as no surprise to me when I see 100+ wins.
DogDays2
Samuel is amazed that someone called him soft….while bragging about his extensive mute list on a baseball chat site.
It’s just too easy.
Ma4170
Not a Hou fan either, but I could see mid-90s. I think TX and LA will be better, and Seattle is strong.
candymaldonado
I didn’t overlook any point. Teams still play their divisions more than they play other opponents, just not to the same degree more.
candymaldonado
Yup, DogDays, Astros fans stay softest in baseball. And Samuel is their Boy King.
slimray
i will say the chances are against the stros winning 106.but a virtual lock against it, means youd bet your house or home against it.ive worked 25 years to pay my house off so i wouldnt bet.
slimray
we could debate on verlander being the mets #1
slimray
while we are on the subject cole is not a #1 either hes a good 2 or 3 man.
Poster formerly known as . . .
fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=sta&…
Hammerin' Hank
We get it moronado, you’re jealous of the Astros’ great success over the past few years.
candymaldonado
There’s literally nothing in here to suggest jealousy, Hank, unless you’re illiterate. Saying a team is a favorite to win, but unlikely to win 106 isn’t even a slight against them, unless you’re a sensitive baby.
Jaysfansince92
The balanced schedule will make the Astros winning more than 106 games very difficult as they were able to beat up on a bad Texas Rangers team as well as the Angels and Oakland both being less than .500 teams. They won’t have that advantage next year.
The bottom 3 teams in the AL west went a combined 84 games below .500 in 2022. Easiest division in mlb for an elite team to rack up wins with the previous unbalanced schedule. I will happily take the under on 106 wins for 2023.
Screamer22
Are we arguing better record here or better team? You could argue the 2023 Astros are better than the 2022 Astros (improving a middle of the road offense with Abreu/Brantley and relying on growth from the young pitching studs over aging Verlander), but will still have a worse record because of the increased competition.
Jaysfansince92
A lot of people were mentioning whether or not they would top 106 wins next year or even match it so it felt revelant.
DogDays2
“Aging” Verlander is better than unproven “pitching studs”.
None of those guys in 2023 will match JV’s 2022 production.
slimray
its a dog fight for 3rd place in al west and it wont matter because all the wild cards are mariners and two from al east,jays, orioles or rays .
DogDays2
I think Texas has a fighting chance.
Joeypower
Rangers making moves!!!
30 Parks
That’s a good fit for Eovaldi – good luck.
Saint Nick
Rangers a solid 2nd place team now.
Jerry Cantrell
Even with all of these additions, can the Rangers really compete with the Astors?
thickiedon
No
Richard Alicea
No, because other than Perez, there is no true ACE who can pitch beyond 6 innings.
DogDays2
Alicea, time to move on to a different sport bud.
YourDreamGM
Heck no. At best they can compete with Seattle. Probably only competing with LA. When they should have been ready to compete they will now been hampered with bad contracts.
Poster formerly known as . . .
“Even with all of these additions, can the Rangers really compete with the Astors?”
Maybe not the Astors, but maybe the Vanderbilts.
Milwaukee-2208
How long until degrom and Eovaldi are on the IL with significant time missed?
Richard Alicea
That’s a guarantee that Degrom will find a way on the IL, my guess would be before May comes around.
kscheer
You’re so butt hurt about this. Go cry about it elsewhere.
slimray
he will never even make it to may lol.degrom has spent half his career in a wheel chair watching games from home.
Ma4170
What a bad lie
DogDays2
Has Milwaukee ever said anything positive on here, ever?
Milwaukee-2208
@Dogdays
Your mom was terrific last night. There’s something positive
DogDays2
There ya go.
The original momma joke. Your trailer trash sense of humor still back in the 80’s like your team and city.
slimray
can you give me her # milwaukee lol. that was a good comeback.
rct
He’s from Milwaukee, what do you expect?
DogDays2
First time Slim would ever get a woman’s number.
iH8PaperStraws
How long until Verlander is on the IL. He missed half the season last year.
ruff kuntry
A lot of injury prone starters in that rotation.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
See how this is 100 times more civilized than half the stuff people are saying? I wish people could be more mature and decent about sports. This isn’t even politics or religion. Sports shouldn’t cause this much hate or division.
Brew’88
After all, it’s okay to be immature and indecent in politics and religion but not sports.
slimray
wheres the hate?just because someone says texas rangers are not is good as you think, does not they hate.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
It’s like “this team sucks” and “all this to miss the playoffs lol” and “wasting money on a poor team.” I mean people are deliberately trying to ruin this for every Rangers fan. I get being realistic; however, these sound more like childish rants about how the grape were sour anyways than realism. It’s obvious people want to bring down others. I know that is what the internet is, but I would expect maybe 1 or 2 guys like that, not several guys just lurking around like this. It isn’t just what people say; it’s how they say it.
Jake Biggar
Alright really funny Bloom jokes over. Where’s our starting pitcher(s)?
The trade market asking price must be dropping soon since Bloom said he expects to add 8-9 players this off-season! Unless minor league FA’s count in his book as those additions. What a joke lol
LouWhitakerHOF
I never thought I would see the day when the Rangers were bigger spenders than the Red Sox. What happen to them? Owner who decided not to spend or what?
slimray
bloom hasnt said it.but i think they are going into a rebuild.im not sure tho.
PulledaBloom
silmray – Seriously? They took a championship team and over 3 years destroyed it and your conclusion is they might rebuild? At this point, that’s all they can do. Bloom’s 20 year rebuild plan isn’t working out well in Boston where the fans, unlike in TB, expect to win a bit more often and certainly expect to be competitive every year unless injuries derail the team.
Bloom leveled the house and has no choice but to build but his construction ideas are not normal. Typically, a strong foundation is the start. He just ripped out the old foundation made up of all-stars and he’s replacing it with slap hitting outfielders from Japan, and a bunch of cheap labor who have relatively bad skill sets.
Vazquez to yuk
Moreland to two rookies
Pedroia to a washed up 3B from SF
Bogaerts to Story
Devers to Turner once Devers is traded
Benny to a slap hitting high OBP no glove and no speed outfielder
JBJ to a 10 year journeyman who Cora baby sat 25 years ago and hits .240
Betts to an over-rated prospect who is league average not an all-star
JD to the best OTHER player on the roster
Doesn’t the above qualify as a tear down not a rebuild? And it only took 3 years!!! How many years will the rebuild take and what big market team transitions from a championship team to a sustained winning program during an entire decade? This is madness not a rebuild.
GASoxFan
At least bloom is banking cash for Henry to add more ventures to the FSG umbrella
This one belongs to the Reds
He’s trying to fund “No, No, Nanette”
Player to be named in the future 2
Nice!
YankeesBleacherCreature
Spring training is going to get pretty crowded for the RS.
GASoxFan
Team may set a new high for roster transactions as well. Things look like it’s going to be a revolving door at many positions
PulledaBloom
GASoxFan – Other than Story and a few others, I say don’t assign numbers. Nobody will care who the players are. Nobody will be impressed by their skills. Nobody will want to know how many days they were on the team. Nobody will care where they go to next.
Basically, nobody will care much about any player they can’t identify with as a Red Sox player rather than a transient. I would love to see the grounds keepers at spring training talking about the team. It’s visions of Major League all over again!!
Dbacks44
if healthy they got a great staff.
bluejays92
My pick in yesterday’s poll was correct. This qualifies me to be the next GM of a team, right?
Michael Macaulay-Birks
Yes, if you’d like to GM position in Boston, you’re welcome to it
PulledaBloom
Blue – If you got one thing right…. you are over-qualified for the GM spot based on the last 3 years!!!
TDR
Over/ under on IP for Eovaldi, DeGrom and Heaney? I’m guessing 300
Gwynning
I always hope every player can go all season without an IL trip, so I’ll root for and take the Over. Nice signing Texas!
Richard Alicea
You’ll get less than 50 from Degrom, so no, don’t see it happening.
DogDays2
I’ll take the Over
rct
deGrom has never pitched less than 50 innings, even with all of his injuries.
PulledaBloom
TDR – I’m guessing 480. deGrom should be good for 200, Nate for 180 and Heaney 100. deGrom is elite and will be healthy. Nate is excellent and will provide a normal number of innings for a healthy season and Heaney is a long-shot with talent but seems by far the least likely to succeed at eating innings for the Rangers.
davidrocholl
Pending the #$ and years, this could be a very good signing!!
ArmChairGM-
Great! Nice move
Now they can trade Otto or Dunning for an Outfielder. Like Reynolds, Santander or the likes.
acoss13
Had him going to the Padres, got this one wrong. Is the Rangers’ ballpark more of a hitter’s park or a pitcher’s park? Just curious since I know they have a new stadium but I still picture in my head their old stadium that leaned more hitter-friendly. Appreciate the info Rangers fans and hopefully he’s a solid performer for your team!
Gwynning
Rates more as a Pitcher’s park now, if only just mildly.
baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/statcast-park-f…
Anecdotally, based off the 5 or 6 games I’ve watched there, it seems like it should be much “lower” than 19. Maybe Rangers fans have more input though!
acoss13
Ah okay I’ll have to watch some games this season just so I can have eye test of how the park leans. Appreciate the info!
LouWhitakerHOF
Dodgers Stadium is a hitters park? And Wrigley is a pitchers park? Am I reading that right?
Gwynning
Besides triples and walks… and makes sense when you factor their lineup mashes and their pitchers are unhittable. Haha
acoss13
Wrigley Field I can attest to as a pitcher’s park, I’ve seen enough games to know that to be true. Strange, I always thought Dodger Stadium leaned more pitcher’s ballpark though I could be wrong.
Gwynning
I also had that cued up as a rolling 3 year window; for ’22 alone Wrigley was 14th of 30.
BLIN7Y
Dodger Park I believe had some changes made awhile back that made ita little easier for Home Runs. Wrigley while Balls can fly during the Summer alsohas Balls heled in when Windy and Cold. The RF Wall is short down the line but fairly quickly changes toward RC. Why Rizzo never hit 40 HR there
VincentChase
In 2005, yes. A lot less foul ground than before. Along with other renovations, they moved the dugouts about 8 feet closer to the mound to accommodate more seats behind the dugout.
dale123
Pitchers when roof is closed which is most of summer
99socalfrc
Rangers have spent a lot of money, Still feels to me like they are lacking real star power though? There is no Mookie Betts, Bryce Harper or Manny Machado on that team. Feels like after all the $$$ they spent it’s sort of an empty cupboard still???
MLB-1971
IMO, I would rather see what Whitlock, Bello, Houck have this year (as most likely non-contenders), and have the Red Sox get younger than re-sign Eovaldi and his 109 innings and 21 HRs allowed for big money. The Red Sox need to see what they have.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
For a small market team, I understand the value to doing a complete rebuild. For teams in bigger markets like Cubs and Red Sox, a complete rebuild should not be necessary.
GASoxFan
A few years back now the Yankees did a mid-season re-tool when they still had a theoretical chance at the deadline to push for a wildcard. Cashman stripped down the near FAs and traded them to retool.
Say what you will about them not getting over the hump, but, they’ve been competitive. Bloom seems content to build non-contenders every year as if he’s trying to learn how you build a roster on the fly.
And every year the bloom shill apologists shift the goal posts. First we kept hearing wait till ’22, and we will see the fruits of the reset. Then it was ’23. Now they say ’24 or ’25. Let’s give them the time they need. Bloom will be ready to compete by 2061.
MLB-1971
Manny – big market or small market… team still need to turn over the roster.
bwmiller
I like the Red Sox approach to the season, pass on the big dollar high value contract and develop the players in house at the big league level, two steps forward, one step back kind of approach – their prospects may not be the most exciting group but I’d say that having a chance to play and being in a system that keeps the line moving so to say is in a way inspiring and motivating, and should benefit the entire system.
YankeesBleacherCreature
Seager? Semien? You’re talking about marquee players and there are only a very limited amount of those around in the game.
DUDDUS
Semien and Seager? Top 5 in their positions? And now deGrom??? That’s star power bro
99socalfrc
Semien and Seager are two dudes with an OPS south of .772 last year. They are good players, but let’s not get carried away here.
Semien is 32 years old and been an All-Star once?
I think the last time Seager got MVP votes was 2016. That’s not how a $32.5m AAV guy is supposed to perform.
1 Gold Glove between them.
Mookie Betts has made 6 straight All Star games, he is a .292 lifetime hitter. Bryce Harper has two seasons in excess of 1.050 OPS multiple MVP awards and both of them have a lower AAV than Seager’s contract. I’m sorry but Seager doesn’t belong in their pay grade.
YourDreamGM
I don’t think of them as stars. DeGrom is though but not the same a position player.
Ma4170
Seager is a top 5 ss offensively. Even his off year last year transitioning to a new league w ridiculously low babip and it was still a decent year. He’ll be back to the 876 ops, 131 WRC+ hitter he was the three years before that (I’m willing to bet even better). For him it’s about staying healthy.
And he also got mvp votes in 2017 (17th) and 2020 (9th).
DUDDUS
They are stars hate to break it to you. Or better yet, glad to inform you.
Richard Alicea
Unfortunately Degrom is going to come up lame again so that depth is seriously needed, plus if he starts getting hammered may have to put him in a relief role; 185mil for a relief pitcher, yikes!!!!
DogDays2
You can be concerned about Degroms health , but where is his history of getting hammered?
steelerbravenation
Rangers should be able to make a nice offer for Reynolds I would think
YourDreamGM
Definitely could
TrillionaireTeamOperator
Man, Texas has one of the highest upside pitching staffs right now- with as much volatility and possible implosion as possible across the league.
MasterCal
Dont like this move. Outfield and bullpen help is needed more. Guess we’ll have to settle for a hopeful bounceback year from an Adam Duvall type
acoss13
Texas will probably be able to get another bat at the deadlne, especially once a few teams see themselves out of contention.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I agree. They should have signed someone else like Kluber or Wacha so they don’t have to give up a pick. Now, who plays left field? They have an elite infield and a very good catcher who is inconsistent and injured often, a center fielder, and a good rotation. They need to fill at least the hole in the outfield. Leody should be at AA imo.
Mike 97
I’m tired of people still dissing the Rangers after each signing we make. Why can’t we be allowed to be happy?
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I know. People need to stop making everyone else miserable because they are. There is no need to share your misery with others on the internet. Seriously, this isn’t even a controversial topic, and I noticed that 50% of comments on big signings are either “Good luck finishing x place” or “my team won’t spend money because they are cheap.” I’m just not reading comments anymore. I have lost faith in humanity.
acoss13
I think it’s a great move, Eovaldi has been pretty good, and when healthy which he looks like a good possibility, can be dominant not just in the regular season but in the postseason too.
GaryWarriorsRedSox
Guys remember that most critiques are veiled jealousy. That’s all there is to it.
If you think about the facts, a very good starting pitcher signs with your team for less than 20 mill a season, that’s a great signing. Injury history besides the point.
Who doesn’t have an injury history by the way? Anyone can go down at any time.
Fact of the matter is fans were hoping they would sign this guy to their own team. Don’t worry about it, it’s just jealousy.
As a Red Sox fan I’m pretty pissed off. All our free agents have walked, we should have at least traded them at the deadline last year and received something.
acell10
Everyone might have an injury history but dismissing it outright is foolish. In Eovaldi’s case he had one healthy season in the four he pitched for the Red Sox and over his entire career has made 32 starts twice. That’s concerning especially for a pitcher entering his age 33 season.. Also even though he’s been “pretty good” (which is a bit of stretch) when the healthy parts have been few and far between.
Ma4170
It’s ridiculous. Texas will be noticeably better if the stars stays healthy. Seager will have a big year, I’m feeling that for sure. I could see them over 500, but getting that 2nd wild card will be tough – lots of strong competition there. They need an OF, and if they could trade for Reynolds, that could make an impact.
mt in baltimore
Don’t ever let someone else steal your happiness. You be you. It will all come out in the wash. It is what it is… like I told you before.. No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care…remember these things.
barryb0ndage
I want you to be happy as can be
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I love the username. I love Barry Bonds and think he should be in the hall of fame.
Mike 97
Thanks!
DTD/ATL1313
Well, their pitching has to be top 10…on paper anyways. If the offense improves, they should be a wild card contender.
acoss13
With the expanded playoffs format, Rangers can sneak in easily.
Mike 97
We need a LF ASAP.
acoss13
If they can get Reynolds from Pittsburgh, maybe it’ll take another team to get involved, that would give you guys a guy that can play the outfield, steal some bases and hit for a decent to good average.
Ma4170
Would they even need a third team? Pitt wants SP, so if TX is willing to part w/ White, Leiter, or maybe Rocker to headline a package, that would prob get the conversation started. Of course, there’s no guarantee they’d part w/ any of them.
YourDreamGM
Rangers have more than enough for Reynolds.
Tacoshells
: o
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
So all the Mets fans who are offended they lost DeGrom are on this thread… Let me put this out there: they had a 77-85 expected win loss last year, they added 4 new pitchers (they will not all get injured at the same time), and they added Bochy/Maddux/Dayton Moore. They cannot possibly win less than 85 games, yet Mets fans can’t get over it.
Gwynning
Hey, anything can happen, that’s why they play the games. Pay no mind to the haters, you guys are making moves and I’m excited to see how it all plays out. You can win the West, or you could miss the Playoffs. That’s how this thing goes… all in all, great back-to-back great offseasons for y’all, so take it and run! Good luck TXR
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Thanks!
YourDreamGM
Mets fans should be thrilled they didn’t give out that high risk contract.
DUDDUS
Also not to mention a positive run differential. If not for the unlucky mess of one run games they would’ve been a much better team.
bryan c
Hmm. As a Mets fan I was not at all upset by deGrom leaving. The team replaced him well and is set for another run. I don’t wish Jake any ill will and hope he can find some health and consistency because baseball is better with him at full strength. I really don’t think the negative deGrom comments are all from us Met fans. The smart ones know it sucks that he left but also feel very comfortable with Verlander on a short deal. Great pitcher. Lots of trolls that either say things because it’s the in thing to do or ride a bandwagon of hate. Also plenty that see through rose colored glasses instead of realty. Cmon man, how many times have we all seen LOL mets. The good news is when people start directing hate it’s often because you are actually improving
And I absolutely support the Ranger moves. They needed starters and they got two good ones. They are improved.
rct
I agree with all of that, but I think this poster is being a tad sensitive. I don’t really see many jealous Mets fans mocking the Rangers. I think even with losing deGrom, most Mets fans are happy with this offseason. I certainly am.
But it is hilarious to see this dude say something like “they had a 77-85 expected win loss last year” (in reality, they ended up winning just 68 games) and “They cannot possibly win less than 85 games, yet Mets fans can’t get over it”. Winning 85 games is tough and the Texas Rangers are certainly no lock to do it.
Brew’88
Consider the hate a compliment or equivalent to soiled pants
SFBay314
Really Wanted him good for Boch
padam
More TJS added to that rotation. So much for any kids hitting the rotation.
notherhalo
the race for 3rd place is scalding hot
Rumors2godsears
Will be interesting to see for how much and how many years, I truly will eat crow because I thought he messed up not taking the QO.
YankeesBleacherCreature
2/$34M with performance bonuses plus third year vesting option according to Passan.
Rumors2godsears
Then he missed out by not accepting the QO making almost 20 for one year, he then could of topped 15 million with no QO attached to him.
YankeesBleacherCreature
The guy is 32, native Texan and Houston resident with a family, and hasn’t exactly been a beacon of health. Take the most guaranteed money you can.
spareman7 2
Another great Red Sox move.
all in the suit that you wear
Yes, I think so.
Yanks2
On paper, the Rangers actually have put together a really decent team. I just can’t see them actually advancing in any regard lol
MLB Top 100 Commenter
AL playoff teams in order of likelihood
1.) One team from AL Central
2) Houston
3) New York
4) Toronto
5t) Seattle
5t) Texas
This acquisition impacts teams like Seattle, Tampa Bay, and Chicago the most
acoss13
If the White Sox don’t have another lethargic season they could win the AL Central, but I’d say either the Guardians or White Sox win it.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
I agree. I would give the Guardians the best chance of winning the division (maybe 42%) but the White Sox just slightly less so (maybe 38%). Only about 20% for Twins, Tigers and Royals combined.
acoss13
Honestly that is a fair assessment of the AL Central, and yes I agree with your percentages on which team could win.
bwmiller
The Twins will be better than most expect if Buxton plays 140 games and the starters stay healthy.
slider32
I like Yanks , Seattle, Houston, Texas, Toronto, and White Sox!
YourDreamGM
Tampa still looks better than Texas.
Kemajic
Another big righthander from Alvin, TX. A popular move for the Rangers.
TrillionaireTeamOperator
I am guessing it’ll be very similar to the deal the Rangers gave Andrew Heaney with a slight premium.
2 years/$40M w/ an opt out.
solaris602
My initial reaction was that this makes Odorizzi expendable…..or at least bumps him to the pen. With most of the rotation injury prone to varying degrees it does make sense to stock up on as many SPs as possible. Now time to work on LF and the bullpen, and there are a number of quality arms still out there.
vinc3nt3
I predict 3/$55.
spareman7 2
is there any place lower than last place the Red Sucks can go.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Spareman
Memo to file:
See Oakland A’s
TrillionaireTeamOperator
Well it’s a bit less but it maintains his AAV from the Red Sox deal. Making $17M a year for six years off of multiple separate deals is a nice salary quote to maintain.
vinc3nt3
I predict 3/$55m
MLB Top 100 Commenter
DeGrom (16 starts), Eovaldi (20 starts) and Heaney (11 starts) combined for 37 started last year, that is like one full season plus a post season. Maybe they can time-share the same locker? For around a quarter of a BILLION dollars.
#LCDad
The dude is from Texas, can’t knock him but was hoping to see him with Anaheim.
whyhayzee
Bulldog mentality. Good for Texas. May be missed in Boston. Who knows?
Tacoshells
Dang that hella low
NineChampionships
Hope they all stay healthy. If they do it’s going to be fun watching y’all take out the Houston trash!
Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman
With the current ridiculous contracts Eovaldi at 2 years and 34 seems like a steal. Rangers going for it. Wowsers!
TheGreatBaseballMind
A few of us ( Not me 🙁 ) mentioned the Rangers in the earlier Eovaldi MLBTR article from yesterday. Rangers finished 7th in the poll with 4% of those voting selecting them.
TheGreatBaseballMind
ArmChairGM with a thumbs up and why not? They were one of the few suggesting the Rangers in the comments. Nice job, ArmChairGM!
Old York
Time to book that championship parade. Rangers sweep the Mets in 2023.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Even as a big Rangers’ fan, that is a bit of a stretch. Even 100 win teams don’t always win the world series (see the Mets).
GaryWarriorsRedSox
If the Red Sox we’re just going to let ALL these guys walk and not keep ANY of them, they should have traded ALL these guys at the deadline.
These guys could have been very valuable as deadline pieces last year. Wow Red Sox are going to suck.
acoss13
Would the Red Sox really trade Devers at the deadline if things aren’t looking good by June?
GaryWarriorsRedSox
Well obviously not. They watch them walk in the off season.
acoss13
Red Sox should do what the Cubs did for trade deadline in 2021, just pump out trades, restock that farm and they have a fantastic trade chip in Devers. It’ll suck for a year or two, but it’s better than what Bloom has done I think.
GASoxFan
Not sure what is worse… Bloom making another BUST of a trade with Devers and adding more trash that will never pan out like all his trades have trended thus far, or, watching him walk for nothing but a 4th round pick in FA after bloom makes another boneheaded trade for a dead contract with low grade lottery pick prospects attached to go above the CBT…
YankeesBleacherCreature
Not rubbing salt but Bloom can toss a lowball extension offer (again) to Devers. Now that he has seen how things have played out with Bogey and Mookie, he can simply ask out by summer.
GASoxFan
The wound became numb quite a while ago, a Lil salt cant hurt anything.
We’ve got bad-take joebrady hanging around that thinks Bloom is still a mastermind championship caliber GM. A couple weeks ago I said at that point based on the current roster BOS only had about a 70 win team. He still tries to ridicule it, showing how little he knows. Since then they’ve added to the BP, added turner at dh, and signed a questionable npb player.
ESPN released rankings of the offseason including simulations they ran and averaged together to project team wins for 2023… BOS at a whopping 76 wins now according to them even after all that.
It’s a punted season, but, hopefully further declines in NESN viewership, and, further tanking attendance will show chaim the door.
Maybe, just maybe, bos is waiting for him to take the heat on jettisoning Devers then they kick him out after.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I spend a fair amount of time in Boston and NE and know that their fans are loyal and rabid. They’ve ranked top 5 in attendance in MLB for the past 20 years. Boston is also HCOL and ranks #2 in average rental cost behind NYC. I don’t really understand the sudden shift to frugality when the fanbase can support a top 5 payroll team.
GASoxFan
Really, it tends to follow how much expansion the fenway sports group tries to make into other areas.
2019 began the NHL expansion, and we saw chaim come to town to help cut costs leading up to their post covid pit penguins closing about 14 months later. Now there’s appetite to pursue the was nfl team, and, maybe the LV NBA expansions although with LeBron as a part owner in FSG I can’t see how they waive that conflict of interest when he’s signed for 100m in 24/25 with the Lakers.
But, certainly seems to be a pattern of boom/bust investment surrounding when they bought into Liverpool and Pittsburgh. I don’t recall and am too lazy to look at what happened around the roush purchase in Nascar.
But, for all that, Boston HAS had some larger payroll mixed in, it’s really a problem with a toxic culture around bloom and guys not wanting to sign with him. He has shown prospect accumulation (and not quality at that) is more important than winning. What FA at his peak with few years to chase a ring wants to buy into that system? Then you have poor morale, guys figuring chaim will just flip them because he’s not trying to win… revolving cycle.
PulledaBloom
GASoxFan – The Bloom contract extension has set back the future of the Red Sox by at least 2 years if not more. The hiring of him cost them at least 5 so far so things are dismal.
You are spot on with respect to letting Bloom deal ANYTHING. If new owners are considering buying the club they should do it asap and then immediately fire Bloom, Cora and all the carryover staff brought by Bloom.
Clean the slate and let an experienced GM deal with the Devers situation. If the rumors are true about how much he wants then he needs to be traded asap. The market was set for him by Yordan Alvarez at $21MM per year. If he wants 10 years then $210MM not $300MM. If he wants 15 years then $300MM is ok as long as he promises to accept the DH role for the entirety of the contract.
If you look at the current team with the idea of trading Devers you have to ask yourself what do they need. Unfortunately, that has now changed dramatically since Bloom let go all the all-stars. What does Boston need for Devers? A young all-star quality player who can play any of the following positions:
C, 1B, 3B, LF, CF, RF or SP.
I would approach the free spending Texas Rangers and offer them Devers for Josh Jung and Jonah Heim. You get an excellent future C and 3B for Devers. Add Mayer, Yorke, Casas and that infield is good in several years. Then you have to fix the broken outfield. First, move Yoshida to DH and the lead off spot. Then go get a LF, CF and find a deal for Verdugo that brings back a legit corner outfielder that is young. Worst case you get a guy who is younger and is league average like Verdugo. Losing Betts for 5 years of Verdugo turned out to be a waste. The team won’t have won anything during his tenure in Boston but who knew Bloom was going to take 3 years to tear down the roster. It makes no sense. If Bloom knew his changeover was going to take half a decade why go for a Verdugo? All the players should have been Low A players with high potential otherwise all their controlled years would be wasted like Verdugo’s.
AL34
Not at the prices they are charging to pay for this mediocrity Bloom has thrown together. Great Job Mr Frugality!
butch779988
If they are thinking that they should move him now . Teams would get a full season out of him and the return should be greater.
JayRyder
Nice ! Good for them. I wish Bochy Luck down There !
Gwynning
This saves the Padres some picks, which is a-ok in my book. Love Eovaldi and all, but signing Cueto makes so much more sense for my Pads. Get it done, AJ!
acoss13
If San Diego gets Cueto, that’d be a great pickup. Watching him in 22 with the White Sox, he did great, not a lot of strikeouts but he induced a lot of week contact and was able to go 6+ innings often enough.
Gwynning
Sign me up for a repeat of that, yes please! Cheers bud
spitball
You have to figure that if Sox gave him the QO, then they would have offered something in the same range as 2/34! I think this is another case of quality players wanting to get as far away from Boston as fast as possible.
GASoxFan
There have been a number of stories lately saying it takes an ultra premium to get talented guys to even consider boston these days because of how bloom runs the show.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
There was also a millionaire tax they recently passed. It isn’t everything, but 4th is a decent amount.
Yanks4life22
Disappointed the Yanks didn’t sign him. They really needed a pitcher with moxie like him. Shallow Hal and Mr. Magoo twiddle their thumbs once again.
YankeesBleacherCreature
They had their eyes on the prize in Rodon and got him. Taillon signed with the Cubs for 4/$68M and they never attempted to resign him. It’s fair to say that Eovaldi wasn’t even on their radar.
Yanks4life22
I think you’re right which makes it a head scratcher, especially if this was his price range. Evo isn’t an ace but he seems to have another gear he engages in the playoffs. He led the Sox to a World Series with his pitching performances and grit. It’s exactly what the Yankees are lacking in their rotation (can’t say I can comment much on Rodon bc I really haven’t seen him pitch).
Ma4170
Well, I thought Angels or Rangers, as he seemed like a solid fit for both. Texas looks to have a decent rotation now if healthy.
RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame
Very solid pickup by CY..That rotation actually looks ok now, and if they sneak into the playoffs and people are healthy, they could actually be dangerous..
HalosHeavenJJ
Rangers rotation has both great upside and huge injury risk.
Hardest team to forecast in the West.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I took this approach to investing in stocks. Let’s just say: I’m glad that I’m not retiring this year.
Rounders
3rd or 4th
Degrom, Heaney, Eovaldi 52 starts in 2022
Fangraphs projects 83 starts in 2023
I’ll take the under on 83 starts
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I mean 70-75 would still be great. deGrom goes deep into games, and Bochy seems like the type who would let them. In this regard, it’s more like 75-80 in terms of innings. If deGrom makes 30 starts with a sub 2 ERA, the other two can make 25 combined starts and I wouldn’t care tbh.
fba0017
Bloom took Christmas week off. Probably next week too!
❤️ MuteButton
Fortunately for the Astros, the Rangers are not known for fixing pitchers.
Samuel
❤️ MuteButton;
This year Mike Maddox is the pitching coach and Bruce Bochy is the manager.
Both have a long track record of working with and handling pitchers well.
❤️ MuteButton
Bochy, hmmm. That could be considered cause for concern. Of course I’m speaking from an Astro fan point of view.
BStrowman
I see this all the time but the RangerS DID have a track record for improving vet pitchers.
Remember Kyle Gibson, Mike Minor, Lance Lynn, and Martin Perez?
Jon Gray was fine last year too. They simply can’t develop one of their own but had done a pretty decent job with experienced arms.
New staff this year so that all goes away but wasn’t one of the many glaring issues this org had.
rct
Kyle Gibson had half a season (2021; he was terrible in 2020) of success with the Rangers, one where his BABIP against (.267) was nearly 40 points below his career average (.306) despite his rate stats being right in line with his career averages. He had just as much success in 2018 for the Twins.
Same story for Minor in 2018. Low, unsustainable BABIP despite similar rate stats. Pitched great in 2019, but then horribly in 2020.
Lance Lynn was a great pitcher before he ever came to Texas. Martin Perez counts, I suppose, though it remains to be seen if 2022 was a fluke or not.
I don’t know if I would hang my hat on saying that the Rangers have a track record of improving vet pitchers. Jordan Lyles, Mike Foltynewicz, and Drew Smyly are all recent examples of vets that pitched horribly for the Rangers.
BStrowman
Folty was done before he came. Lyles is a journeyman also. Smyly was all out of sorts for awhile after his injury.
I’m not saying they’re the Houston Astros but they’ve certainly had their share of positive outcomes with SP signings. The development of their own starters is beyond horrific.
The development of position players hasn’t been any better in recent years which is why this is a piss poor baseball team. You can’t buy success (for any less than NYM) but they’ve had a bit with other arms from other places.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
Glad the Red Sox didn’t overpay. That being said, who is Bloom looking to start this year? Not very good options.
JoeBrady
That’s the question. If Bloom has $36M left, where does he spend it? Segura is certainly a fit.
MafiaBass
It wouldn’t have been an overpay. It also would have fallen in line with the supposed “looking for a #2 starter” line he fed us.
I’m way more upset about Bloom’s actions not matching his words than about the actions themselves.
BSHH
The Rangers’ rotation looked complete to me, but getting Eovaldi on a short guaranteed contract for $ 17m AAV is a good signing regardless. If one considers de Grom and Heany a particularly injury-prone, getting another quality starter is even more impactful.
While I am no fan of the team, I really appreciate their approach: They want a successful team for their big market, so they sign good players. Some of them might be overpaid, but Texas is still shy of the CBT and could even add one or two corner OFs – the Achilles heal of their lineup. Trading for someone like Austin Meadows after a down season might fill a void.
With all due respect to the remaining FAs, but I think Eovaldi was the last bigger name to sign (not counting Correa, who may re-enter the market again). After he and a very good pitcher like Bassitt signed affordable contracts, I wonder to some extent what teams like the Angels or Orioles are actually waiting for.
Gruß,
BSHH
TJT88
Wow for once I got a pill right. After I voted I was shocked at how few people voted Rangers especially since the overpay for Degrom and the further need for pitching.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
deGrom doesn’t seem overpaid to me. I would agree that Jon Gray and Marcus Semien are overpaid, but IMO, deGrom would be worth 50-60 million if healthy all season. Even if you multiply by 3/4th, that is still worth the money. Given the Rangers’ desperate situation and how deGrom can save the pen from being overworked like last year (good before they wore out), I think he should be worth 40-45 million the next 3 years and then can do whatever he wants. I prefer longer deals over higher AAVs. That’s just my preference, but also consider how guys like Cole and Machado got opt-outs and deGrom didn’t. If he is great, he still stays instead of hitting the free agent market. The day he signed, I was thinking that offering him 5 year 50 million with 250 million in incentive would be worth it. 1.5 million per start up to 30 and 5 million for first place in Cy Young voting each season, with a 500k decrease with each slot he drops. I think this aligns pretty closely with that. Besides, teams are looking for ridiculous hauls in trades for aces.
orange2001
Now that Eovaldi and Rich Hill are off the market, then that leaves Kluber or Greinke for the Angels. Yay.
Rsox
Kluber probably, i think Greinke is probably leaning towards retirement as the silence on his market has been deafening
❤️ MuteButton
Don’t you think he’s at least as good as Rich Hill is?
Rsox
Greinke is probably still as good or better than Hill, however unlike Hill who made his intentions known that he wanted to play next season Greinke hasn’t and was said to be considering retirement at the end of last season.
Dirt71
These signings will help next year when Leiter and Kumar are coming up….will give the youngsters a tough mentality…love the signing(s)
David C
Al Leier will not be coming up next year (in September, whem rosters expand? Maybe…but his struggles in AA this year make even that a longshot). And Kumar Rocker struggled so much this past season and fall that I don’t see how any ETA of 2025 isn’t seen as a minimum.
Yay Sports
So the Angels won’t sign.
Rsox
When you consider the injury histories of deGrom, Heaney, and Eovaldi himself, plus Gray missed a decent chunk of last season the depth can’t possibly hurt.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Exactly.
astrosrule
Yep, keep signing pitchers that the Astros have hit well. I’m cool with that.
Dirt71
as long there is a trash can and a buzzer in the jersey lol
Samuel
Dirt71;
Living in the past doesn’t count today.
The Astros had no trash can or buzzers in 2022 and won the championship handily.
Did that one get by you?
Dirt71
hasnt been proven yet
Dirt71
once a cheater always a cheater
Dirt71
Whats crazy is the team in 17 was good enough not to do it…as was Clemens and Bonds were going to make the HOF with out juicing…blows my mind why they thought they had to do it
Samuel
Dirt71;
It hasn’t been proven that you’re a living thinking reasonable rational human being either. And your responses leave major
doubt.
Dirt71
you probably think Trump still won too. facts are they cheated, and after winnin this year, common sense has to question if they cheated….I doubt that they did….with all the eyes looking at them but history says it….just as history says deGrom will be injured like he was in NY….verdict is still out….on both
Samuel
Dirt71;
What is the world does Trump have to do with this?
Are you deranged? Have any maturity at all?
You’re one of those guys that think Barry kicked Millie in recess in the 3rd grade and has to prove every day in his adult life that he’s
not an abuser of women.
The mute button was made for kids like you.
Dirt71
Listen Sammy, I think I can call you sammy….your team cheated in 17, the verdict is still out for 22…..it was’nt until 2020 America learned about the 2017 scandal….own up to it…dont come here bashing the Rangers for trying to win the right way( ie buying players)…God knows the arm pit tanked for 4-5 years to have the they have now….just.give kudos to them and go your merry way
BStrowman
Lol
If you think the Astros cheated to win the 2022 WS—I have a nice piece of oceanfront property in Tucson that I’d like to give you a good deal on!
AL34
The Astros were doing it in 2021 with the whistle blowing, one for fastball, 2 whistles for breaking pitch. I could hear and I’m stunned MLB did not pick up on it.
baseballteam
Texas seems like a team that will never be really good.
juanwood3rd
Great insight
kwolf68
Texas is trying to win baseball games. Nothing but kudos to them and they have a great farm too. Good times on their way down there.
Dirt71
just dont give the farm away…would hate to see Leiter or kumar leave for a reynolds
slider32
At what point do people start taking the Rangers as serious contenders in the west. To me they only need one or two pieces in the outfield.
Samuel
slider32;
1. Contention is not won in the offseason.
2. I’ve not seen one article on MLBTR regarding what youngsters
will be coming up to teams in 2022 from the farm system that can have an effect on their teams, nor any articles discussing what veteran players – young and old – can be better or worse in 2023.
We won’t know those things until at least mid-June – and that’s
what determines contenders.
VincentChase
They won 68 games last year. On paper, they’ve improved, for sure. But have they improved 15-20 games? I think they’ll have to show it on the field before people start believing.
JoeBrady
At what point do people start taking the Rangers as serious contenders in the west.
=========================
They won 68 last year. Are you sure adding DeGrom, Heaney & Eovaldi will even get them to .500?
BStrowman
+ Josh Jung too.
But you’re absolutely right, Joe. Leiter and Winn could come up and help the pen later on. Or become trade chips if they’re really pushing the chips in.
Wouldn’t recommend doing so but this team has spent wildly and I certainly would have not advised that over the last 2 years.
PulledaBloom
JoeBrady – Map the starters in Texas vs Boston. You seem sure Boston will be .500. That would make Texas 100 win team!!
Garver versus McGuire
Lowe versus Casas/Dalbec
Semien versus Arroyo
Seager versus Story
Jung versus Devers (if not traded)
Thompson versus Yoshida
Taveras versus .240 hitter Hernandez
Garcia versus Verdugo
Miller versus ???? not JD
One of your comments must be delusional!!!
Texas on paper will be far superior to the Red Sox.
So how does Boston win 81 games and Texas doesn’t?
The same way any unexpected result happens, injuries and bad years.
The Red Sox lost Bogaerts, JD, Eovaldi, Vazquez, Wacha and were terrible before they lost them and added an unproven left fielder.
Texas added the best pitcher in baseball, one of the best managers in baseball, an often injured Heaney and Boston’s best SP during the last 3 years.
The Rangers signed two star players a year earlier who both had bad first years in Texas and if they return to form should win them 10 additional games without the addition of the new players.
Texas has a bright future, Boston has no future until Bloom is gone. They are in a tailspin they can’t pull out of with Bloom. They are more likely to have the first pick in the draft in 2024 than they are likely to win 81 games.
Your off hand comments that are completed void of baseball acumen just keep on coming!!
bwmiller
This will be one of those Boston seasons, when they are expected to suck but rally into AL East title contention.
TrillionaireTeamOperator
That’s an excellent deal- and par for the course this off season of premium salaries on pitchers. If it’s a bust, they didn’t over pay, if it’s a success they’ll either pay a very fair price or they’ll get a discount on his performance. It’s a win-win situation.
preauto
Moving up!
fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=SP
Don’s Ghost
I hate to have a typical “hater” response, but this truly is a lot just to come in 4th. I do appreciate the response from the AL West. The Astros are (sadly) built to win for years to come and instead of waiting on a window to open, every other non-A’s team is bulking up. That division could be a blood bath. The Astros are either dying trying to win that Division or they’re gonna be even better than the 2022 team.
Samuel
Don’s Ghost;
I’ve been writing for month now that the AL West is becoming stronger than the AL East.
Extended injuries to major players will have a lot to do with the
order the top 4 finishes in the AL West.
What I look for in the off-season is which teams rosters have
upside – not how they compare to what they did last year. Upside
to me comes not just from rookies, but from young veterans that
can grow in the coming season. And it also has to do with the manager and the coaching staffs, as they mean so much to teams
in todays MLB insofar as improving players performance.
Right now I see the order as Astros, Angels, Mariners, Rangers. Extended injuries to 2 or 3 key players on any one of those teams
drops them down.
PulledaBloom
Samuel – I agree the balance of power is tipping away from the AL East towards the AL West but the elite teams aren’t changing.
ELITE AL TEAMS – Houston, Toronto, New York
TIER 2 AL TEAMS – TB, LAA, CWS, CLE, SEA, TEX (moved up a tier)
TIER 3 AL TEAMS – BAL, MIN, DET
BAD AL TEAMS – KC, OAK, BOS (moved down a tier)
I’m not ready to say the West is better than the East but it’s closer due to the huge fall by Boston and the apparent drop in TB. If TB rebounds then the AL East should be the better division in 2023. LAA has the potential to be far better than it has been but with Rendon and Trout out all the time, it’s generous to give it a Tier 2 status. BAL has the potential to jump to Tier 2 but it also may fall back to the lowest level with Boston. The young players will define it’s tier.
The balanced schedule could also significantly change the comparison between divisions. TOR, NY should win more. HOU should lose more because they play the AL East more and the AL West less but that could be off set by playing the AL Central more. Should be fun to see the impact of the balanced schedule.
Whyme
Toronto isn’t Elite as a Jay’s fan they aren’t better then they were last year
PulledaBloom
Whyme – Elite is the statistical strength of the composite of the talents of the players. They have an elite roster. Whether they play at an elite level is up to many factors like the Manager, the Chemistry etc.
I respectfully disagree. Toronto is elite and if each player performed to his career average they will be contenders for the World Series. Houston and New York will be contending against them. Two other elite teams.
LordD99
Reasonable signing with some upside.
stroh
I think it’s a good move. I think Rangers will compete for wild card along with Mariners from AL West. Rotation has injury prone guys but they are all vets, so while healthy they should be good.
Samuel
stroh;
Don’t discount the Angels if they’re relatively healthy.
They improved the pitching substantially in 2022, and have added to it as well as to position player depth this offseason.
I saw the first few Astros-Angels series in 2022. It was like a heavyweight title match. Those teams looked like 2 of the best in MLB. Then Trout got hurt for an extended time, Rendon as well, Walsh and others. This offseason Perry Minasian has addressed the depth issue, and I doubt he’s done.
Defense and pitching is always the key to winning, as you well know as an Astros fan. The Angels are getting there. And it’s why I have questions about the Mariners and Rangers.
BStrowman
M’s have the arms to go up against anybody.
Will that young team hold it together and play sound baseball all year? I don’t know. Arms are definitely there though
stroh
Samuel, I think the Rangers will be slightly better than the Angels due to having more guys who have been in the playoffs previously- Seager, Semien, DeGrom, Eovaldi, and having Bochy and Maddux on the staff. But could be close. I’ll stick to Mariners and Rangers over Angels for wild card but agree they will all be better at least on paper. Stros will be a 100 win team, slightly weakened in rotation due to loss of JV, but better at the plate due to addition of Abreu and a full year of Brantley. I am looking forward to a full year of Hunter Brown – I think he has the potential to be an ace. The West should be more competitive.
Samuel
stroh;
Not a fan of the Rangers D at all. Seager has no range. Not sure who’s catching but the ones I saw in 2022 I wasn’t impressed with – and D starts with those 2 positions.
Daniel Youngblood
Jonah Heim is a great defensive catcher, Semien is a really good second baseman and Taveras is a plus defender in center. The only player up the middle who is not a plus defender is Seager at short, and he — while frustrating — is far from a disaster.
Poster formerly known as . . .
Only 4.36% of respondents in the MLBTR poll picked the Rangers as Eovaldi’s destination.
And I wasn’t one of them.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I picked Boston and I didn’t even want him. Given the relatively reasonable rate and how Texas can perhaps trade a starter for an outfielder, I guess this makes some sense. I’m glad of course, but I just think budgets aren’t unlimited and this money could have gone somewhere else first or a trade could have been made instead of a commitment of 17 million. The QA part hurts the most, though. I was hoping Texas would draft one of Crews/Langford/Clark next year, and I fear they will go last year’s route of getting cheap with the first round so they can do something in the 4th round.
Poster formerly known as . . .
A quarter or more of first-round picks never make it to the majors. The Astros built a dominant pitching staff by signing international free agents. I wouldn’t worry so much about losing draft picks. The Rangers lost picks by signing Seager and Semien, but they still got Rocker with the #3 pick in the first round and signed him with a $5.2 million signing bonus (hardly “getting cheap”), and they added Brock Porter for $3.7 million (again, not cheap). They got two of the best pitchers in the draft.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I’m not saying they are trying to save their own money. Rather, it’s the allocation of money I don’t like. I just hate the idea of going underslot for the top round to try to get a Hail Mary with Porter. I would give the draft a 9.5 out of 10 looking back, but that isn’t going to work most times. I really want the top talent over spreading this out. Sure, Rocker and Porter in the same draft was a heist; however, they also had to go down a little on the later rounds and didn’t sign some of them. This was kind of overpaying for Rocker to get maybe a slightly lower rate on Porter if he dropped. Rocker was in the 30s in MLB.com rankings before the draft.
LordD99
I picked the Mets since they’re signing nearly everyone.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Do notice how Senga, Nimmo, Verlander, and others except for Correa didn’t cost them a draft pick and they even let Bassitt, deGrom, and Conforto (QA last season) go. They may not be interested in giving up a draft pick for someone not of Correa’s caliber.
HALfromVA
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Rangers put together a package to get Reynolds from the Pirates, or another controllable, quality outfielder. Dunning, Cole Wynn, Ezekual Duran, and Justin Foscue might bring back a quality, controllable bat.
jbigz12
That won’t bring back Reynolds. They’re going to ask for a Jung or a Leiter to headline that deal.
Those guys you mentioned will bring something back but not Reynolds.
jbigz12
& perhaps the team would dangle Leiter.
They have other pitching prospects and a full ML rotation.. They appear to be going hard right now. Nothing would surprise me.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Great article except for this tongue-twister:
“The rotation hefty lifting”
bwmiller
the AL West is gangbusters, Mariners asleep at the wheel, A’s lying in the weeds ready to steal 2 of 3 from Anaheim, Rangers are contenders!
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
They did just extend Castillo and Rodriguez after signing Ray last year. That’s pretty good imo.
bwmiller
They need an OF/DH
Amanda17
yay! now i get to read 100 comments about ‘amazing’ he was, bye nate, watching you pitch was like watching paint dry and you will be remembered for well, basically nothing. Its fun now watching people who NEVER have seen a red sox game say how he was the ace of our staff.
ASapsFables
The Rangers keep adding quality pitchers after loading up on shortstops last offseason. Nathan Eovaldi could have been a nice mid-rotation addition for the Cubs or White Sox.
Dane Dunning might be available now!
PulledaBloom
Aaron – The new approach in Texas may be one more similar to the Dodgers than other teams that might want to move Dunning. They appear to be building an incredibly deep roster in the Majors and minors. They have very nice depth and good quality arms. Their young hitters are improving and the two all-star middle infielders with two young corner infielders that are improving and solid catching make their infield very formidable. Their pitching staff is deep with lots of live arms in the pen. They have a great manager.
Lots to like when it comes to the changing Rangers.
bwmiller
Dunning grinds out the innings, I think Ragans and Otto have as high or higher ceilings, but there is something to be said for Dunning.
I followed Dunning most of the season last season, he is a mule, is consistent and eats innings, has good control, doesn’t have a big pitch to blow hitters away but racks his K’s when he hits his spots. I imagine he is disappointed that he won’t have a spot in the rotation in Texas, he is a good fit with the Rangers.
Daniel Youngblood
If Dunning threw about 4 mph harder, he’d be a frontline major league starter. He throws strikes, knows how to pitch and battles on the mound. His only issue is he throws an 88-89 mph two-seamer.
I really like Dunning. Unfortunately, fastball velocity will likely limit his ceiling, so he’ll never be much more than a really solid No. 4 or 5.
xXTheFETTXx
If I were the Rangers, I would be calling the Tigers and see what they want for Austin Meadows. The Tigers are going nowhere next season, and Meadows seems to be an asset the Tigers would consider trading.
BloodySox
Bloom would pull the plug on his grandma for a comp pick.
williemaysfield
Went to Fenway for the first time in September. Eovaldi pitched well, in the 8th bogy singled and Martinez hit a homer right over our heads on the monster to take the lead. Unfortunately they were wearing those ugly yellow citiconnect Jerseys. enjoyed the nostalgia otherwise.
CrikesAlready
I hope Chris Young does well with the Rangers. We know that Eovaldi is healthy because AJ Preller didn’t sign him.