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Discussion: What Should The Rangers Do?

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We're only a quarter the way through the season but with an improved defense and their usual offensive attack the Texas Rangers are 8 games over .500 for the first time since June 2005. At 22-14, they are leading the AL West, 3.5 games ahead of the Angels. They're currently on a 6 game win streak without the relief of Frank Francisco. And they've accomplished this without much help from Josh Hamilton.

Can they sustain this? What can they do to improve their chances? Should they wait it out and assess their needs at the deadline? Or go for broke and make whatever moves necessary to widen the gap with the Angels? What would you do in G.M. Jon Daniels' shoes?

  • Sign Ben Sheets? Rangers pitchers are 17th in the majors with a 4.66 team ERA. Sheets has been sighted at The Ballpark in Arlington with Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux as recently as May 15. The Rangers are considered the favorites to land the ace who had flexor tendon elbow surgery on February 13th and hopes to begin a throwing program soon. Could he provide a valuable late season boost?
  • Sign Pedro Martinez? Or stay with internal options such as Derek Holland or Neftali Feliz?
  • Shop Kevin Millwood, who is in a contract year and needs 180 innings for a $12MM guaranteed salary for next season? Millwood is currently third in innings pitched with 58.1, behind only Roy Halladay and Zack Greinke. He's sporting a 2.93 ERA, their only starter with an ERA below 4.
  • Shop Marlon Byrd? In 64 AB, Andruw Jones has a 1.035 OPS giving the Rangers four everyday outfielders. Byrd is in a contract year making $3.06MM this season. Could he be a valuable trade chip?

Are the Rangers legit? What should Jon Daniels do?

Damon Doesn’t Expect To Be Back

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With the future in his sights, Johnny Damon is on pace for a big contract year. Columnist Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News says Damon, who has spent time on four different clubs despite years of consistent production, is not sure he'll be brought back in pinstripes next year. Harrington provides Damon's quote:

"I don't think it will be too much of a surprise if they don't bring me back," Damon said. "I would love to be able to say I'll be back. This would definitely be the best place for me. I feel like this could be my last chance to be on a winner. I understand the free agent game, how it is. I know they have a bunch of young outfielders coming up."

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com says Damon's aiming to play for 5 more seasons and retire at 40. He has played in at least 140 games in 13 straight seasons. He could join Paul Molitor, Rickey Henderson, and Craig Biggio as the only players to have 200 homeruns, 400 stolen bases, 1,000 RBI, 1,500 runs and 3,000 hits.

Signing Sano Risky For Pirates

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We've been keeping a watch on Dominican top prospect Miguel Angel Sano recently. The 16 year-old is reportedly coveted by all 30 teams and expected to land a signing bonus over $3MM when the international signing period begins July 2. The Pirates are reported as having the inside track but Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says the signing is "fraught with risk."

According to Kovacevic, dealings between Major League Baseball and Latin American systems are done "mostly through unwritten, unspoken agreements" and the Pirates would be throwing out an established pay scale. Further, the Pirates have never committed anything close to $4MM in a bonus for a Dominican player, and to do so for a 16 year-old carries obvious risk. Lastly, Kovacevic notes the Pirates spent $9.8MM on last year's draft. If they continue to spend more, they'll risk damaging their draft class.

On the other hand, not signing Sano could result in dispirited talent evaluators "effusive in their praise of Sano's potential," as well as a loss of participation in "special tryouts" in the D.R. should the Pirates come off as unserious buyers.

Red Sox Call Up Daniel Bard, DFA Lopez

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4:39pm: The Boston Herald reports that in order to make room for Bard, the Red Sox have designated Javier Lopez for assignment. Lopez had posted a 9.26 ERA through 11.2 innings this season.

11:19am: Joe McDonald of the Providence Journal reports the Red Sox will call up Daniel Bard in time for tonight's game. Writes McDonald:

"The 23-year-old right-hander was original selected as the Sox' second pick of the first round (28th overall) in the 2006 draft. This highly-touted prospect has been outstanding for the PawSox this season. He's 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA and 6 saves in 11 games. He has struck out 29 batters in 16 innings and can easily reach 100 MPH on the radar gun. He's been the closer for Pawtucket."

McDonald notes the Sox will have to take someone off the 25-man roster and make a move to put Bard on the 40-man.

Contreras Sent To Minors

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2:54pm: Scot Gregor informs us that White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said on the radio this morning that Contreras will be sent to the Triple-A Charlotte in order to regain his rhythm.

Contreras will have to clear waivers, but has accepted his demotion.

Gregor cites one Major League scout saying:

"I wouldn't say his career is over. His stuff looked fine to me. But you could tell he had no feel at all for his split-finger pitch."

Clayton Richard will replace Contreras in the Chicago rotation, and make the start Wednesday against Cleveland.

9:41am: The White Sox are expected to make a decision on what to do with Jose Contreras, says Chris De Luca of the Chicago Sun Times. Contreras, whose command has faltered, is 0-5 with a 8.19 ERA in six starts.

"The Sox could put Contreras, who is earning $10 million this season, in the bullpen to work on his problems, send him to the minor leagues — though he first would have to accept the demotion and pass through waivers — or find a reason to put him on the disabled list. If they decide to demote him — and Contreras says he will do whatever the team asks — it's unlikely any team would claim him because of his salary."

Contreras had a speedy recovery from a ruptured Achilles this offseason but has begun the season in ugly fashion, walking 16 and allowing 40 hits in 29.2 IP while striking out a mere 17. While strikeouts have not been a large part of Contreras' game since his years with the Yankees, control has. He was pulled from the rotation after Friday's loss to the Rangers.

A decision is expected following a bullpen session with Contreras this morning.

Odds & Ends: Isringhausen, Sturtze, Molina

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Some Sunday morning Odds & Ends:

  • So, whatever happened to Tanyon Sturtze? Sturtze never caught on with the Dodgers and was granted his release on May Day last week. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe says he is now considering retirement to spend time with his kids.
  • In the same piece, Cafardo reports Giants catching prospect Buster Posey has busted five homeruns and notched 22 RBI already in Single A San Jose, putting him on "a fast track to the big leagues." With Bengie Molina entering free agency, the Giants will not feel forced to re-sign him. According to Cafardo, the team would love to retain Molina to act as a mentor for Posey but for the fact that "Molina isn't ready for the mentoring role." Molina told reporters he'll seek a starting job. Finding one should be no trouble whatsoever.
  • Also in that same piece, former player Troy O'Leary is developing a baseball reality TV show…
  • According to Marc Lancaster, Jason Isringhausen is healthy. His rehab assignment is up May 19 but the Rays seem hesitant to call him up until then. With 10 days to determine what to do with him, it's expected Izzy will slot into the bullpen for Triple-A Durham until the Rays have to make a decision.
  • Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com says Luis Vizcaino will join the Indians bullpen this week rather than go through a minor league stint in Triple-A Columbus. Vizcaino hasn't pitched in a game since April 21, right before the Cubs designated him for assignment and released him. Who gets sent down instead? Jensen Lewis or Tony Sipp both have options. Masa Kobayashi is a candidate to be released altogether, says Castrovince.

Morales To Rejoin Rockies

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Franklin Morales will rejoin the Rockies on Monday and is scheduled to start on Tuesday, according to Tracy Ringolsby.

"The question is who will go to make room for Morales. The likely candidate would be Matt Belisle, who was added to the roster on April 8, when Morales was sent to Triple-A… Belisle, a non-roster invitee to spring training, is believed to have signed a 45-day clause when he was placed on the big-league roster, meaning the Rockies could send him out anytime in the first 45 days after he joined the team, and they would be responsible for only a pro-rated portion of his big-league salary, not the full amount, and he would accept a minor-league assignment if he clears waivers."

Morales was Colorado's most consistent starter in  spring training and carried over that success into his first April start where he threw six innings of one-run ball against the Diamondbacks, striking out six. He followed that start with five scoreless ones for Triple-A Colorado Springs.

The lefty was a prized prospect whose control, command and velocity problems set him back in 2008. Morales has been working on his consistency and still has front of the rotation upside. Ringolsby says "the Rockies feel they need to recall him to keep Morales moving forward."

Pedro In No Rush

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The Boston Herald's Michael Silverman reports Pedro Martinez is in no rush to sign as he continues to work out and wait for teams to develop interest. His agent, Fernando Cuza, won't talk price, but it's believed Martinez is still seeking a $5MM contract to pitch in 2009.

A number of teams have expressed interest, including the Dodgers, Indians, Phillies, Brewers, Pirates, Diamondbacks and Mets.

Cafardo’s Latest: Peavy, Mulder

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Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe has a couple notes in his Sunday column:

  • Should he be dealt this season, the Red Sox appeal to Jake Peavy, who hit it off with Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia in the World Baseball Classic. Padres GM Kevin Towers is hopeful his clubs success will continue and trading Peavy won't have to come up. Only twelve games into the season and the Pads are tied with the Dodgers at 9-3.
  • The Nationals, A's, and Dodgers are all interested in Mark Mulder who believes he "could be ready two weeks after signing."

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