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West Notes: Mariners, Dodgers, Helton, Rangers

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Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com weighed in with five likes and dislikes for the 2013 Mariners today. Heyman is a fan of the M's improved offense thanks in particular to the additions of Mike Morse and Kendrys Morales.  On top of that, less-heralded pickups like Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, and Kelly Shoppach could also help Seattle put more runs on the board this season.  Here's more out of the AL and NL West..

  • Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says that Jerry Hairston Jr. might have a future as a coach or a manager, writes Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com.  However, the 36-year-old first has to decide when he's going to retire.  Hairston will serve as the backup in left field, right field, and third base this year and assess his future after the season.
  • Todd Helton's teammates say that the veteran can be a significant contributor in what will likely be his final season, writes Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post.  Even Helton, who will earn $5MM in the final year of his deal, acknowledges that this is likely the end of the road.
  • If Rangers execs Nolan Ryan and Jon Daniels can't coexist, then Ryan should be the one to go, opines Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News.  Ryan is reportedly unhappy with the idea of ceding power to the newly promoted GM.

Rangers Notes: Lohse, Ryan, Daniels

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Last night, we learned that the Rangers made an inquiry on Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello.  Texas was one of several teams who had scouts in attendance for Porcello's Monday against the Astros where he recorded six strikeouts and no walks across four scoreless innings.  Here's the latest out of Arlington..

  • In this week's inbox, a reader asked MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan if the Rangers will sign Kyle Lohse given the question marks surrounding their arms.  Sources tell Sullivan that a deal is still not likely to happen and they are still determined to find a fifth starter between Robbie Ross, Nicholas Tepesch, and Randy Wells.  The Rangers are also confident that Colby Lewis could be back in the rotation by the end of May.
  • Despite talk that Nolan Ryan may part ways with the Rangers over Jon Daniels' promotion, Daniels says that their relationship has become stronger over the years, writes Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram.  Second baseman Ian Kinsler, who signed a multi-year extension in April, says that Ryan has helped attract key free agents to join the team.  “I would love to have him around for as long as I’m here and as long as he’d like to be here,” Kinsler said.
  • The reason the Rangers gave Daniels a new title has more to do with assistant GM Thad Levine than it does with Ryan, writes Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd).  Texas wants to hold together the group that works under Daniels and giving him the title of president of baseball operations gives them space to someday promote Levine someday to GM.

Rangers, Derek Lowe Nearing Deal

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4:42pm: The Rangers view Lowe as a candidate for the bullpen, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports. Presumably this deal won't affect the Rangers' interest in Lohse.

2:41pm: The Rangers are on the verge of signing right-hander Derek Lowe to a minor league deal, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News (on Twitter).  Lowe, 39, is represented by Scott Boras.

Lowe spent 2012 with the Indians and Yankees, making 21 starts in Cleveland and 17 appearances out of the pen for New York.  In total, Lowe posted a 5.11 ERA with 3.5 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 across 142 2/3 innings of work.  The veteran could provide Texas with pitching depth in the wake of Martin Perez's forearm injury.

Recently, we learned that the Rangers are still talking with Boras about another one of his prominent clients, Kyle Lohse.  However, that pairing doesn't appear to be imminent at the moment and the Rangers may have decided on a less costly support option in Lowe.

Lowe had interest elsewhere and received a minor league offer from the Rockies more than a month ago.

Rangers Called Tigers About Porcello

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Given the injury to Martin Perez and a pair of poor outings from right-hander Justin Grimm, the Rangers made an inquiry on Rick Porcello earlier today, a source told ESPN's Adam Rubin.

The 24-year-old Porcello remains a popular name among trade rumors, given Detroit's enviable rotation depth. The former first-round pick pitched to a 4.59 ERA in 176 1/3 innings last season for the AL Central champs. Porcello's 52.3 percent ground-ball rate figures to be attractive to the Rangers, who pitch in the homer-friendly confines of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Porcello is under team control through 2016 and will earn $5.1MM this season after avoiding arbitration with the Tigers in mid-January. Earlier today it was reported that the Rangers were one of several teams who had scouts in attendance for Porcello's start against the Astros. Porcello whiffed six hitters in four scoreless innings, walking none and allowing three hits.

The Rangers have also reportedly increased their interest in free agent Kyle Lohse, though they, like most other clubs, are still hesitant to sign the right-hander for a number of reasons.

AL West Notes: Ryan, Robertson, Athletics

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The Rangers appear to have increased their interest in free agent right-hander Kyle Lohse, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reported earlier today. With Martin Perez headed for the disabled list, the Rangers’ rotation isn’t as deep as it once was. Here are some links from the rest of the AL West…

  • The Rangers aren't trying to 'freeze out' CEO Nolan Ryan, Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News writes. The club could lose the Hall of Famer following the decision to reduce Ryan's role in day to day decision making. Ryan perceives that he's nothing more than a figurehead now, Sherrington writes. Rangers co-chairman Bob Simpson told Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he wants Ryan to remain with the team long-term.
  • Former Tigers left-hander Nate Robertson hopes to return to the MLB level now that his elbow troubles are behind him, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. Robertson, who's now pitching from a lower arm slot, signed a minor league deal with the Rangers this offseason. He hopes to make the team as a lefty reliever.
  • Athletics manager Bob Melvin turned out to be an ideal fit in Oakland, Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com writes. After stints in Seattle and Arizona, Melvin was equipped to lead the A's with what outfielder Seth Smith describes as "a quiet intensity."

Rangers Haven’t Ruled Out Kyle Lohse

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MONDAY: The Rangers appear to have increased their interest in Lohse following Perez's injury, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported today that the Scott Boras client seeks a three-year deal with a high annual salary.

SUNDAY, 7:11 pm: The Rangers announced via press release that lefthanded starting pitcher Martin Perez suffered a fractured ulna in his left forearm when he was struck by a liner in today's game.  The press release states that Perez is "not expected to resume a throwing program for approximately four weeks while the fracture heals." 

While it is still unclear whether Perez's injury will have any impact on Texas's interest in Lohse, several commentators have raised that possibility, including CBSSports.com's Jon Heyman, Bill Shaikin of The Los Angeles Times (on Twitter), and Buster Olney of ESPN.com (also on Twitter).  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports says that, despite the drawbacks to a Lohse signing from the Rangers' perspective, "discussions are almost certain to grow more serious" after the injury to Perez.

While Perez will likely miss a minimum of two months while he recovers and rehabs, T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that Texas still seems disinclined to look outside of the organization to fill its fifth-starter role.  GM Jon Daniels said that the team would "look around at external options, but I expect to go internally at this point."  He added that, "knock on wood," the Rangers "hope to get both Colby [Lewis] and Martin back a month into the season, give or take."

10:54 am: The Rangers have remained in contact with agent Scott Boras about the possibility of signing Kyle Lohse, according to Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram.  Unsurprisingly, Texas is hesitating in part because of the draft pick compensation tied to the pitcher.

Some in the Rangers organization don’t want to surrender the No. 24 pick or the money that comes with it, even though they received the No. 31 overall pick after losing Josh Hamilton.  However, others in the front office say the need to win now is worth sacrificing the draft choice.  Ultimately, Wilson sees the pairing as unlikely but still possible at some point in spring training.

Earlier this week, we learned that the Indians and Yankees are not in on the right-hander.

Rosenthal On Rangers, Lohse, Porcello

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The Rangers have a number of reservations about signing Kyle Lohse, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote last night. The free agent right-hander would require a multiyear contract, and the Rangers would have to surrender a draft pick to complete a deal. They'd also have limited time to get him ready for the season with Spring Training already underway. Here's more from Rosenthal, starting with some additional information on Lohse…

  • One of the teams in touch regarding Lohse says agent Scott Boras seeks a three-year deal with a “big” annual salary for the 34-year-old, Rosenthal reports (on Twitter). Boras doesn’t give teams specific numbers in negotiations.
  • A ton of scouts are in Lakeland to watch trade candidate Rick Porcello face the Astros today, Rosenthal reports (Twitter links). The Angels, Rangers, Diamondbacks, Twins, Braves, Yankees, Red Sox, Athletics and Mariners are among the many teams with scouts at the game, though some of those scouts are presumably there on regular assignments.

Rangers Hope To Keep Nolan Ryan

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There’s a chance that Nolan Ryan will leave the Rangers following leadership changes in Texas, but the club hopes to keep its Hall of Fame CEO in place, Randy Galloway of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. It’s possible Ryan will leave the Rangers by the end of Spring Training, Galloway reports. However, Rangers co-chairman Bob Simpson said he wants Ryan to remain with the team forever.

“Nolan Ryan leaving the Rangers would be a tragedy, and something we don’t want to happen,” Simpson said. “We absolutely do not want Nolan to leave.”

The Rangers recently announced promotions for Jon Daniels, now the team’s president of baseball operations and general manager, and Rick George, now the team’s president of business operations. Daniels now has autonomy on all baseball decisions and George has the final say on business decisions, which seems to leave Ryan with reduced power. 

Simpson said Ryan will still make “significant decisions” even if he’s less involved in the club’s day to day moves. The Astros loom as a team with possible interest in Ryan, and it’s a possibility Simpson has considered. “Nolan isn’t going anywhere, not as far as I’m concerned,” Simpson said.

2014 Vesting Options

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Recently, I crunched the numbers on vesting options from the last three years and found that just over 29% of them were triggered.  Which players can lock in their 2014 options based on their performance this season?  Let's take a look..

  • Kurt Suzuki, Nationals: $9.25MM option vests with 113 starts in 2013.
  • Jamey Carroll, Twins: $2MM option vests with 401 plate appearances.
  • Wilson Betemit, Orioles: $3.2MM option vests with 324 plate appearances (combined 700 between 2012 and 2013).
  • Lance Berkman, Rangers: $13MM option vests with 550 plate appearances.
  • Roy Halladay, Phillies: $20MM option vests with 259 innings pitched (combined 415 innings pitched between '12 and '13).
  • Barry Zito, Giants: $18MM option vests with 200 innings pitched.
  • Johan Santana, Mets: $25MM option vests with 215 innings pitched or winning the 2013 Cy Young Award.

It's also worth noting that Francisco Liriano has a $8MM club option for 2014 with the Pirates, but it can vest at any of three levels, $5MM, $6MM, or $8MM, based on the number of days he is not on the DL this year with a recurrence of his right arm injury.

AL West Notes: Trout, Rangers, Felix

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One American League executive told Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com that he'd be talking to Mike Trout about a "crazy-long deal" if he were running the Angels. Castrovince considers some possible comparables for extension talks, concluding that it probably makes sense for the Angels to wait before extending Trout. His leverage is high right now, even though he's arguably the best bargain in MLB.

Here are some more notes from the AL West…

  • The Rangers announced that Jon Daniels has been promoted to president of baseball operations/general manager. Daniels, who became the club's GM in 2005, will still report to CEO Nolan Ryan.
  • Daniels told Scott Miller of CBSSports.com that he's intent on being more than "the team that used to be good.” The Rangers lost Mike Napoli, Josh Hamilton and Ryan Dempster to free agency, but Daniels isn't worried about the transition. “You've got to keep moving forward and not be afraid of change,” Daniels said. The GM explained the importance of depth and noted that being the best team on paper doesn’t guarantee success.
  • The Rangers are among the teams still interested in free agent infielder Ryan Theriot, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter). However, Theriot continues looking for more playing time.
  • Mariners right-hander Felix Hernandez recently established a new record for starting pitchers, signing a seven-year, $175MM contract. Hernandez told Heyman that he expects Clayton Kershaw will be the one to break the record because "he's a little younger" than other top pitchers. Hernandez suggested that Justin Verlander "might get the money, but less years.'' The Mariners ace said he helped other pitchers a bit, adding that he won't mind when another pitcher breaks his record.
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