2013 Contract Issues: Texas Rangers
The Rangers are next in MLBTR’s 2013 Contract Issues series:
Eligible For Free Agency (7)
- Josh Hamilton - Hamilton will be the best and most discussed position player available in free agency this offseason. He's a superstar when healthy, but his injury issues will deter some suitors and his past off-field troubles may scare others. Even so, Hamilton figures to sign for at least $20MM per season on a long-term deal. The Rangers will make him a qualifying offer if they don't lock him up first.
- Mike Adams - It's early, but Adams' strikeout rate, swinging strike rate and average fastball velocity are down so far in 2012. He still limits walks and generates ground balls, so he adds value out of the bullpen even when he's not striking out a batter per inning.
- Mike Napoli - Napoli appears to seek a contract in the $50-75MM range and the Rangers haven't met his asking price so far. However, they'll presumably be comfortable making him a qualifying offer after the season.
- Colby Lewis - Lewis has been an effective starter despite his league-leading 13 home runs allowed. The Rangers need someone to eat innings at the back of their rotation, and the right-hander has been up to the task these past two-plus seasons.
- Yorvit Torrealba - The Rangers are an exceptional team in many ways, but like everyone else they need a backup catcher.
- Koji Uehara - Uehara has struck out 7.56 times as many hitters as he has walked in his career, and no pitcher in MLB history can match that ratio (minimum 150 career innings per Baseball-Reference).
- Mark Lowe - Lowe is off to an excellent start in 2012. As with Adams and Uehara, it's too early to say whether he'll re-sign this offseason.
Contract Options (2)
- Scott Feldman: $9.25MM club option with a $600K buyout. Feldman has become a spot starter for the Rangers, so it's safe to assume they'll decline this option.
- Yoshinori Tateyama: club option for an unknown amount (his 2012 option was valued at $1MM). Tateyama is pitching effectively at Triple-A, and appears to be on his way up to join the big league team. He could earn a spot on the '13 team with a strong finish.
Arbitration Eligible (4)
- First time: Neftali Feliz
- Second time: Alberto Gonzalez, Matt Harrison
- Third time: David Murphy
The Rangers face a relatively small arbitration class, partly because they already extended Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz. Feliz, the converted reliever, will have an unusual arbitration case given his change in roles. Harrison and Murphy are on track for raises as second and third-time eligible players.
2013 Payroll Obligation
The Rangers have increased payroll steadily in recent years and the 2012 club will cost more than $120MM. They've already committed $84MM to next year's team, so another payroll increase could be forthcoming.
Roy Oswalt Rumors: Saturday
Free agent right-hander Roy Oswalt popped back up on the rumor radar yesterday, as he recently auditioned for the Red Sox and Phillies. He also plans to throw for two more teams and is reportedly looking to sign relatively soon so he can be back on the mound by next month. Let's keep track of the day's Oswalt rumors right here, with the latest up top…
- Oswalt threw for the Rangers yesterday, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (Twitter links). The situation is the same as it was this offseason, however. Oswalt wants to start but Texas doesn't have a spot for him with both Scott Feldman and Alexi Ogando serving as extra starters in the bullpen. Rosenthal thinks the Rangers could trade Colby Lewis to make room for Oswalt, but there's no indication they're considering it, and there's no guarantee Oswalt would be better than Lewis (Twitter).
- Oswalt's return to the Phillies is possible but not probable, explains Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com.
- The Rangers were simply doing their due diligence with Oswalt, a source told Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram (via Twitter).
Nolan Ryan Expects Hamilton To Test Free Agency
Rangers president Nolan Ryan spoke to reporters (including MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan) today, saying that he expects Josh Hamilton to test free agency after the season. Ryan said the team will “put their best foot forward” during contract talks, but he expects the situation to drag out until “either at the end of November or December.”
Hamilton, 30, currently leads the American League in batting average (.399), OBP (.452), SLG (.826), homers (18), and RBI (45). Contract talks between the two sides were a hot topic following the outfielder's four-homer game last month, but Hamilton said he would not negotiate during the season this past winter.
Quick Hits: Hamilton, Pettitte, Cardinals, Romero
Bad news for the Royals tonight as they learned that left-hander Danny Duffy is likely out for the year with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. The 23-year-old is the second Royals hurler sidelined for the year following Joakim Soria's season-ending injury. Tonight's links..
- Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports handicapped the free agent market for Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton. Passan has Texas as the heavy favorite with the Dodgers in second.
- Yankees starter Andy Pettitte will be guaranteed his full $2.5MM salary come Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
- Rangers president Nolan Ryan told ESPN Radio Dallas that he believes that Hamilton and his family are happy living in the Arlington, Texas area.
- The release of left-hander J.C. Romero will leave the Cardinals with just one southpaw in the bullpen, but manager Mike Matheny is confident that Marc Rzepczynski can handle the workload, writes B.J. Rains of FOX Sports Midwest.
- Four of the five highest-paid teams in baseball would not qualify for the playoffs, even with the expanded format, if the season ended today, writes Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Nightengale also gave his list of the five worst contracts in the sport.
Heyman On Myers, Lee, Wright, Rangers
The latest notes and rumors from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com:
- Astros people say they aren't thinking about trading their veteran players at this point, according to Heyman. One non-Astros executive likes Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers as midsummer trade candidates.
- However, the executive said it won't be easy to move Carlos Lee and his $18MM salary. Lee can block trades to 14 teams and badly wants to stay in Houston. A possible trade to the Brewers fell through months ago, Heyman reports.
- High-level Mets people such as COO Jeff Wilpon generally support David Wright, Heyman reports. The Mets won't trade Wright this summer and will try to lock him up before long, Heyman writes. It would take something "extraordinary'' for Wright to be traded this year, GM Sandy Alderson confirmed to Heyman. If the Mets were to trade Wright this summer, he would obtain the right to void a $16MM club option for 2013 and become a free agent this offseason. Mets people view Wright as a more reliable player than Jose Reyes, Heyman writes.
- Heyman also points out that Josh Hamilton's performance is going to make re-signing him that much more complex for the Rangers.
Quick Hits: Quentin, Nationals, Hamilton, Phillies
This morning, the Nationals learned that catcher Wilson Ramos will miss most, if not all, of the 2012 season. It was an unfortunate piece of news for the club, but it did create an opportunity for 23-year-old catcher Sandy Leon, who was promoted to support Jesus Flores behind the plate. When Leon found out, he called his parents to let them know that he was Washington-bound, tweets Bill Ladson of MLB.com. The catcher, who was previously with the club's Double-A affiliate, said it was the best Mother's Day gift that he could possibly give to his mom. Here are some links from around baseball..
- The San Diego Union-Tribune's Sharon Annie Heilbrunn conducted a Q&A with Carlos Quentin. The new Padres outfielder discussed what it was like to be traded to his hometown team and how he's grown through the trades he's been a part of.
- As of right now, there is no talk of the Nationals bringing Ivan Rodriguez in as the backup catcher, according to Bill Ladson of MLB.com (via Twitter). The 40-year-old announced his retirement from baseball last month.
- Some believe that the Rangers' knowledge about Hamilton's history would make them less likely to sign him than other clubs, but Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes that it makes them more likely to sign him. The Rangers know the ins-and-outs of the outfielder's past and have an idea of how to best support him.
- Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer wants to see Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro channel Pat Gillick in order to turn things around.
- Steven Cohen, hedge-fund billionaire and runner-up in the bidding for the Dodgers, is thought to be one of at least five potential buyers scoping out the Padres' financial data, writes Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. The O'Malley family is also interested in buying the club.
AL West Notes: Rangers, Hamilton, Angels, Trout
Here’s a look at the American League West and the division-leading Rangers..
- While teams are salivating over Josh Hamilton‘s impending free agency, Joel Sherman of the New York Post cautions that a long-term, monster deal could backfire on the club that signs him. Sherman also touches on Albert Pujols‘ early slump and wonders if the Angels would make the deal again knowing what they know now.
- Signing Hamilton to a big contract is a high-risk, high-reward proposition for the Rangers, writes John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. The Rangers are working to protect themselves financially in the event of more off-the-field trouble or major injuries.
- How did Angels outfielder Mike Trout fall to the No. 25 pick in the 2009 draft? There were a number of factors involved, including some anti-New Jersey bias, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Cafardo On Red Sox, Youkilis, Beckett, Nationals
In today’s column, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wonders what is at the root of the Red Sox‘s pitching woes. Some around baseball feel that the club’s hurlers are missing catcher Jason Varitek. “He did a lot for that team in terms of getting the staff ready for each team,’’ said an American League GM. “They depended on him like no team depended on a catcher anywhere in baseball, with the possible exception of St. Louis, where Yadier Molina seems to have that effect.’’ Here’s more from Cafardo..
- An AL GM told Cafardo that there could be a market for embattled Red Sox pitcher Josh Beckett, but the club would have to be willing to eat more than half of his contract. Beckett will earn $15.75MM each year through 2014.
- If Red Sox Kevin Youkilis can show he’s healthy, there’s a strong third base market out there for Boston. A National League special assignment scout told Cafardo that the Giants and Phillies are looking while the Rays could factor in, even though they say they aren’t in search of an answer at third base.
- The Nationals would like to deal left-hander John Lannan but teams appear more interested in Chien Ming-Wang. The Nationals also have a good thing going and have created competition on their staff, as Wang and Lannan could push the other five.
- One American League GM doesn’t see the Phillies parting with Cole Hamels via trade. “The [Blue] Jays are looking to do something big,” said an American League GM. “I just don’t see the Phillies bailing out on Hamels. They can still win it.“
- The Rangers probably won’t let Josh Hamilton leave in free agency, but if he does look elsewhere, the Dodgers could be a fit for him with their new-found dollars. Signing Hamilton would also allow the club to let Andre Ethier head into the market.
AL West Notes: Ross, Hamilton, Angels, League
Links from the AL West, before the Rangers and Yu Darvish host the Angels and C.J. Wilson in Arlington…
- The Rangers offered left-hander Robbie Ross to the Mets in a package of players for Carlos Beltran last summer, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter link). The Mets ultimately passed on Ross and obtained Zack Wheeler from the Giants.
- The Rangers would do well to sign Josh Hamilton to a short-term deal at a high average annual value, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports writes. A four-year $100MM deal could work, Rosenthal suggests. The MLBPA views drug and alcohol-related contract provisions as unenforceable, according to Rosenthal, who offers a short history of related disputes between teams and players.
- The Angels aren't seeking outside catching help now, Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com tweets. They'll rely on internal options such as Bobby Wilson until Chris Iannetta returns from wrist surgery one or two months from now.
- Dave Cameron of U.S.S. Mariner says the Mariners should shop Brandon League before his value drops because Seattle's bullpen could manage without him and rival teams would be interested in potential trades.
- Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak was once a top prospect, but ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden says we should adjust our expectations for him and accept that he’s not going to be a middle-of-the-order hitter.
Rangers Notes: Hamilton, Moreland
Josh Hamilton has generated lots of contract chatter this week after hitting four home runs in a single game against the Orioles. Here’s the latest on the Rangers, starting, of course, with Hamilton’s contract status:
- Agent Scott Boras doesn't represent Hamilton, but he told Bob Nightengale of USA Today that we can expect "one of the most intriguing negotiations in all of sports" leading up to the outfielder's next contract. Nightengale's sources agree that Hamilton will earn at least $20MM per season for five years or more when he signs, whether he obtains an extension from the Rangers or signs as a free agent this offseason. I recommend Nightengale’s entire piece, which includes insights from many on Hamilton’s situation.
- Jay Franklin, the agent for Ian Kinsler, now represents Mitch Moreland as well, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter link). Moreland had been a client of the Hendricks brothers. Check out MLBTR’s Agency Database for information regarding player representation.