Rangers Notes: Young, Adams, Guzman
The Rangers will look to extend their seven-game lead against the Angels tonight, when they ask Colby Lewis to defeat Cy Young candidate Jered Weaver. In the meantime, here's the latest on the 72-52 Rangers…
- Though Michael Young doesn't seek the spotlight, he has become essential to the Rangers and may be their most critical player, Tim Brown of Yahoo Sports writes.
- Mike Adams, Koji Uehara and the Rangers' improved bullpen sets Texas apart from the second-place Angels in the AL West, Scott Miller of CBSSports.com argues.
- Ronald Guzman hasn't turned 17 yet, but the 6'5" Rangers prospect is already showing ample promise at the plate, Jamey Newberg writes at MLB.com.
- Lastly, here’s my conversation with GM candidate and Rangers executive Thad Levine from yesterday.
NL West Notes: Colletti, Ethier, Beltran, Young
Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, former Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday and former Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez will all take part in tonight's Home Run Derby. Here’s the latest from the NL West as we await tonight’s power display…
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti has the support of owner Frank McCourt, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. Colletti's contract expires after next year.
- Andre Ethier told Shaikin that he and Kemp expect to be with the Dodgers “for the long run” (Twitter link). Both are on track to hit free agency after the 2012 season.
- Kemp told Lyle Spencer of MLB.com that he hopes to stay with the Dodgers long-term.
- Carlos Beltran wouldn't be shocked if the Giants trade for him, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The Giants will consider adding rental players and Beltran has said that he would waive his no-trade clause under the right circumstances.
- Michael Young told Troy Renck of the Denver Post that at one point he thought he was going to be traded to Colorado and wanted to join the Rockies (Twitter link). Young was the subject of near-constant trade rumors earlier in the year, after he requested a trade and the Rockies had interest in acquiring him.
Quick Hits: Skaggs, Maholm, Red Sox, Lamb
On this date last year, Armando Galarraga came within one out of a perfect game before a blown call prevented him from making history. Here are Thursday’s links, including reaction to the Galarraga game:
- Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports weighed in on the anniversary of Galarraga’s near-miss.
- The Rangers' asking price of the Diamondbacks for Michael Young in Spring Training was lefty prospect Tyler Skaggs, tweets Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. At the time, Skaggs was regarded as roughly the 80th best prospect in baseball.
- Joe Starkey of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review suggests it'd be a good idea for the Pirates to offer Paul Maholm $25MM or so on a three-year extension. Maholm is having a nice year (3.18 ERA, 70 2/3 IP, 6.1 K/9, 3.2 BB/9) but $25MM sounds excessive to me.
- Listen in as MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes joins Midwest Sports Fans on their MLB Trivia Challenge Podcast.
- Alex Speier of WEEI.com explores the options for the Red Sox, who will lose Daisuke Matsuzaka to Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.
- The Royals announced that top prospect John Lamb will undergo Tommy John surgery tomorrow. Baseball America ranked the lefty 18th among all MLB prospects before the season.
Quick Hits: D’Backs, Young, Astros
Links for Wednesday night after a pair of vintage performances from two former Cy Young Award winners who are on the way back from injuries: Bartolo Colon and Jake Peavy…
- D'Backs manager Kirk Gibson told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that the organization is considering internal and external candidates to start Saturday (Twitter link). Piecoro suggests the D'Backs could cut Josh Wilson to create roster space.
- As Piecoro notes, former Padres GM Kevin Towers has infused the D'Backs' bench with lots of San Diego flavor. Wilson, Sean Burroughs, Xavier Nady, Henry Blanco and Russell Branyan have all played for the Padres (Twitter link).
- Michael Young told Jim Rome that he was pleased to pick up ten and five rights because the rights reflect extended MLB service (video at ESPNDallas.com). Young, the subject of many an offseason trade rumor, says he isn't worried about deals. That makes sense, since he now has the power to veto any move the Rangers propose.
- Astros GM Ed Wade told Stephen Goff of the Houston Astros Examiner that he's encouraged by the organization's minor league prospects, though some are "still on the far horizon." Wade says he doesn't anticipate that the team’s upcoming ownership transfer will affect his staff’s approach to the upcoming draft.
Heyman On Young, Emaus, Rays, Wilson, Melky
The Rangers were close to sending Michael Young to the Rockies for two young players before the season, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. The deal didn’t go through, but the Rangers appear to have assured the Rockies that they’ll have the first chance to acquire Young if he becomes available once again. Here are the rest of Heyman’s rumors:
- One GM told Heyman that Mets Rule 5 selection Brad Emaus looks like a Quadruple A player.
- The Rays could have interest in adding a hitter now that Manny Ramirez isn’t around and Heyman suggests Chris Davis would be a fit. I wrote last month that the Rays are one team that could have interest in the first baseman if the Rangers make him available.
- C.J. Wilson could ask for $82.5MM on his next contract, as Heyman points out. The left-hander hits free agency after the season and could compare himself to A.J. Burnett and John Lackey in negotiations with the Rangers and/or other clubs.
- Alex Rodriguez worked out with Melky Cabrera this offseason and “begged” the Yankees to sign the outfielder to no avail.
- The Orioles are “very high” on Jake Arrieta, the 25-year-old who made 18 starts as a rookie in 2010 and remains in Baltimore’s rotation.
Rangers Notes: Young, Martin, Profar
The Rangers top WEEI.com's power rankings for the second consecutive week, despite Josh Hamilton's injury. Here's the latest on the defending AL Champions…
- The Rangers haven't had conversations with other teams about Michael Young since near the end of Spring Training, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney. It doesn't appear that the Rangers will make a deal before his ten and five rights kick in this May.
- Leonys Martin, the Cuban outfielder who is about to sign with the Rangers, has speed and a good arm, but limited power, various talent evaluators tell Olney. Despite his defensive tools, he isn't yet a Michael Bourn-type defender and may never become elite on defense, according to one evaluator.
- As Jamey Newberg writes at MLB.com, shortstop prospect Jurickson Profar is bound to appear in future trade rumors, since the switch-hitting 18-year-old has impressed since signing with Texas two summers ago.
Heyman On Hamilton, Young, Felix, Royals
Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton is out for six to eight weeks after enduring a non-displaced fracture of his right shoulder and, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com, some people in Cincinnati may not be completely surprised. After the 2007 season, Reds medical people strongly suggested that the front office should trade Hamilton because of his health reports. Here’s the latest on the Rangers and other notes from around the league:
- The Rangers were “extremely close” to sending Michael Young to Colorado about a month before Spring Training, according to Heyman. The Rockies loved Young and he would have welcomed a trade to Denver or to either L.A. team. The infielder has since reconciled himself to his role in Texas.
- A rival GM says he’d trade Felix Hernandez to the Yankees for Ivan Nova, Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos and Jesus Montero if he were running the Mariners.
- One GM says Royals GM Dayton Moore did a good job of ‘bottom feeding’ this winter to come up with left-handers Bruce Chen and Jeff Francis on affordable deals.
- Andres Torres suffered an Achilles injury, so the Giants need outfield depth and are unlikely to release Aaron Rowand soon. Rowand has a .923 OPS so far including two hits yesterday.
Michael Young Not Seeking Trade
Rangers infielder Michael Young appeared on ESPN's Mike & Mike show today, and he's backed off from his February trade request:
"At this point now, my thoughts are completely on the Texas Rangers. That's the way it should be. I'm not going to sit here and say I want to leave a team that's 9-1, a team that went to the World Series last year. Right now a trade is the furthest thing from my mind. Once the season rolls around, it's time to play baseball. I'm not going to concern myself with things I can't control."
So far this year, Young has played seven games at DH, two at second base, and one at first base for the Rangers.
The Dodgers, who lost shortstop Rafael Furcal to a broken thumb last night, "recently checked back" with the Rangers on Young according to Yahoo's Tim Brown (Twitter link). However, Brown says the price hasn't dropped and the Dodgers passed.
Heyman On Orioles, Young, Thome, Red Sox
Orioles president Andy MacPhail told Jon Heyman of SI.com that Baltimore can contend if their young rotation continues pitching well. "If our starting pitchers pitch the way they did the last two months [of 2010] and the first four games [of 2011], of course we'll be a contender.'' The O’s are eyeing back-of-the-rotation help, just in case. Here are the rest of Heyman’s rumors:
- The Rangers may have enough hitting to be able to afford trading Michael Young for a starting pitcher. With three starters on the DL, the Rangers may already have some of the pitching they need. Rangers GM Jon Daniels said this week that the club is not discussing possible deals involving Young or anyone else.
- The Marlins will likely need a third baseman, as Donnie Murphy has not proven he’s more than a part-time player.
- Jim Thome does not assume that he’ll retire after 2011. "Why not keep going as long as you can do it?'' Thome asked.
- The Red Sox say they aren’t concerned about Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Heyman hears that the catcher has until June to prove he belongs in Boston.
Daniels On Feliz, Ogando, Young
Rangers GM Jon Daniels told Jim Bowden and Casey Stern that he expects the development of the Rangers’ young starters to have a major say in the organization’s 2011 success. Here are the other highlights from Daniels’ conversation on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM:
- The Rangers definitely believe Neftali Feliz, the team’s current closer, has the stuff to start in the Major Leagues. Daniels points out that the industry values starters more than relievers, since starters log more innings and can shut down the opposition for an entire game. The Rangers remain open to inserting Feliz into the rotation in 2012.
- Alexi Ogando “really wanted” to start and the Rangers are happy to have a free look at him in the rotation while other, more experienced starters like Tommy Hunter, Scott Feldman and Brandon Webb recover from injuries.
- The Rangers aren't discussing Michael Young trades and don't have any plans to reignite talks. “It’s really not even a topic of conversation as far as we’re concerned right now,” Daniels said. “We have no conversations going about trading any of our players right now, Michael included, and I don't see any coming up.”