Texas Rangers Hot Stove Thread

[Drbio]

Originally Posted by Dooby

Here is a great quote from our new pitcher, Mr. Eaton:

"It's not conducive to my style of pitching; I'm a fly-ball pitcher," [Eaton] said. "If I was to stay there, it'd have to be for crazy money."

To be fair at least state WHEN that was done. He said this after rumors began to swirl about him being traded.......over a month ago.

[Drbio]

jthig- I've been trying to say what Newberg says below about this trade. I may not necessarily like it but I understand it. I've been struggling with that because I like Young, but this is a pretty good read. Enjoy.


THE NEWBERG REPORT

It's December 21. There is less daylight today than any other day on the
calendar. I'm not sure I can help.

The news of yesterday's trade between Texas and San Diego stunned me.
There'd been persistent rumors for weeks about the possibility of
righthander Adam Eaton coming to Texas, perhaps for Adrian Gonzalez and
Gerald Laird. But more recently the story was that the Padres were backing
off of the idea of trading Eaton altogether.

And then this, yesterday:

Eaton, Akinori Otsuka, and Billy Killian to Texas.

OK. I can get behind that.

Chris Young, Gonzalez, and Terrmel Sledge to San Diego.

Whoa.

It feels like I had a hundred conversations and a thousand e-mail exchanges
weaved into my day of practicing law on Tuesday, but one stood out. A
friend who knows a lot about baseball said: "It's not that I don't like the
deal. Instead, I don't understand it."

I replied: "I sorta guess I'm the opposite -- it's not that I like it, I
just understand it."

So that's where I am, right now. Things could change. I've actually never
seen Otsuka pitch, and I've only seen Eaton a couple times. Once I see them
pitch as Rangers, I may get a better vibe for that part of the deal (cf.,
Frankie Francisco). Or a worse one (cf., Rob Bell). I don't know whether
Killian's first two seasons are more indicative of what he is than the
projections he had entering the 2004 draft were. And on top of it all, this
trade could set Jon Daniels up to do something else.

But for now, my frame of mind boils down to this: I'm not sure I like it.
But I do understand it.

Most of you who wrote me or posted on the Newberg Report message board
yesterday thought Texas made a bad trade. The funny thing is that I heard
from three or four Padres fans during the day -- and all but one thought
their team was the one that made the bad deal. Reminds me of what happens
in most mediations; the mediator tells everyone, and we reiterate to our
clients, that for a settlement to happen, everyone is going to walk away at
least a little disappointed.

Right now, the person whose level of disappointment I'm most concerned about
is Eaton.

Here's what the 28-year-old said two weeks ago to Tom Krasovic of the San
Diego Union-Tribune about pitching in Arlington, when rumors were swirling
during the Winter Meetings that he might be traded to Texas: "It's not
conducive to my style of pitching; I'm a fly-ball pitcher. If I was to stay
there, it'd have to be for crazy money. Granted, that is an offense that's
going to put up some runs. You could take a Coors Field approach to the
game."

Eaton will eclipse six years of big league service during the 2006 season
and thus will be eligible for free agency for the first time next winter.
One school of thought says that getting him in here a year early, to get a
feel for his teammates and life in the Metroplex, could give the Rangers a
much better chance to sign him to a long-term deal than they would have if
they were trying to attract him as a free agent. Another school of thought
suggests that a year of having his numbers inflated by Ameriquest Field
might chase him away for good. I'm eager to hear what he tells reporters
now, and if it's any different from what he told Krasovic earlier this
month. I hope he's not as down on the idea of pitching here as he was
before.

The inescapable way to measure this trade is to compare Eaton to Young,
particularly since it means Texas hasn't added to its rotation in the deal,
but instead just changed it. Eaton is 47-41, 4.35 in his six big league
seasons, with 7.0 strikeouts, 3.2 walks, and 1.1 home runs per nine innings.
Young is 15-9, 4.34 in his season and a half in the majors, with 7.3
strikeouts, 2.5 walks, and 1.2 homers per nine. Across the board, Young has
been a tick better statistically -- despite pitching in the American League
and in a hitters' park, while Eaton has been in the National League and
based in a pitchers' park (though, to be fair, he has been about the same
pitcher at home as on the road the last two years).

Obviously, the Rangers must believe that Young is what he is -- a solid,
middle-of-the-rotation starter whose stamina (both in any given start and
over a full season) may always remain a question mark -- and that Eaton can
be more than what's he been, and if nothing else more than what Young can
be.

I do believe this: Texas was selling high on Young, and buying low on Eaton.


Two months into his 2005 season, Eaton was among the best pitchers in
baseball. Through his first 13 starts, he was 9-1, 3.18, with 61 strikeouts
and 23 walks in 79.1 innings of work. He then strained a flexor tendon in
the middle finger of his pitching hand in his 14th start, sat out for seven
weeks, and returned to pitch 10 more times, going 2-3, 5.74 in that span (37
strikeouts and 19 walks in 47 frames). He apparently had difficulty
regaining the grip on his plus curve, which emasculated his mid-90s
fastball.

Eaton is one of those guys generally described as a potential 18-game winner
and potential number two starter, but he hasn't done it yet. He had Tommy
John surgery in 2001 but, other than the strained finger last year, has been
relatively healthy since the elbow operation. He told the Union-Tribune
yesterday that "the finger is a non-issue" now and that he's "healthy as can
be."

While Eaton isn't a severe flyball pitcher like Young is (despite his
statement to Krasovic), he's not a consistent groundball pitcher, either.
He's had two very good groundball-to-flyball seasons, two mediocre ones, and
two ugly ones. Like Young, Eaton throws too many pitches, but there's this:
despite having to hit, he consistently pitched deeper in games. Young
logged at least six innings 10 times in his 31 starts in 2005. Eaton went
at least six in 15 of his 22 starts. Eaton stands to be less taxing on the
Rangers' middle relief crew, which of course impacts not only the nights he
pitches but the two or three nights thereafter as well.

Young is under contract for about half a million dollars in both 2006 and
2007, then he'll be under team control for another three years after that.
As for Eaton, he made $3.325 million last year and will make more than that
in 2006, maybe closer to $5 million, by virtue of his final year of standard
arbitration. After that, it will take considerably more to lock Eaton up,
assuming he's even willing to stay. I suspect that if things are going
well, Texas will approach Eaton during the season with a long-term extension
proposal. (San Diego had reportedly offered Eaton a three-year, $17 million
extension this winter, while he sought a three-year, $25-27 million deal.)

What if Eaton wants to test free agency a year from now? Then Texas
undoubtedly offers him arbitration, and will a get a first- or second-round
pick in 2007 plus another pick between rounds one and two (if he ranks as a
Type A) or just the first- or second-rounder (if he's a Type B). (Same
situation with Vicente Padilla.) And maybe the idea is that if Eaton and/or
Padilla departs, maybe Edison Volquez or John Danks or Thomas Diamond will
be just about ready to step in, anyway.

But that's not what Texas wants here. Daniels didn't bring Eaton here for
just one year, though that risk is certainly present. But it's risk with a
silver lining: I do like the idea of having Eaton and Padilla both pitching
in "contract years," both a year away from their first free agent deals.

And though nobody wants to think along these lines right now, but if the
2006 season goes badly, Eaton (and possibly Padilla) would probably fetch a
good bit in July. It might come down to whether Texas would want the 2007
draft picks or whatever is being offered near the trade deadline.

One other thing I do like is the timing of the deal, from this standpoint:
Texas had righthander Kevin Millwood in for a visit yesterday (that,
according to Kathleen O'Brien of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, included
dinner at Tom Hicks's house). Adding Eaton when the Rangers did takes away
whatever "You need Millwood" leverage agent Scott Boras imagined he had. A
rotation fronted by Millwood on a multi-year deal, Eaton and Padilla in
their contract years, and Kameron Loe and Juan Dominguez (with Josh Rupe and
C.J. Wilson and R.A. Dickey and Volquez and Danks and Diamond behind them)
would be pretty interesting.

Again, as far as Eaton and Young are concerned, I'm not sure I like the
exchange, mainly from the standpoint of dollars and control over the player,
but I do understand it. Young is unquestionably one of the greatest
scouting and development successes this organization has had, and he's a
spectacular person. But if Texas got the better pitcher in return -- and
that's certainly no lock -- then its chances in 2006 just got better, and
the challenge becomes whether the team can get a deal done with Eaton over
the next 12 months to remain a Ranger over the next several years.

For now, regardless of who has the more effective 2006 season between the
two righthanders, it's likely that Eaton will put less pressure on his
relievers than Young would have, and less bullpen usage can only help, no
matter how much stronger the pen is on paper.

And that's where Otsuka comes in. Texas brings in a proven set-up man over
whom it has control for the next four seasons (though, granted, he will be
37 in that fourth year).

In 2004, Otsuka arrived in major leagues from Japan, where he'd been a top
closer, and was ridiculous. He went 7-2, 1.75 for San Diego that season,
scattering 56 hits (.199 opponents' average) and 26 walks in 77.1 innings
while punching out 87 with a funky two-part delivery that dirtied his
fastball-slider combination. Setting up Trevor Hoffman (without whose
return to San Diego this winter Otsuka surely wouldn't have been available),
he led the National League in holds and was two behind Yankee righthander
Tom Gordon for the major league lead. He finished extremely strong, posting
an ERA of 0.98 over the final two months (with 32 strikeouts and nine walks
in 27.2 frames) and allowing no runs over his final 14.2 innings, spanning
13 appearances.

After pitching better on the road (1.36 ERA, .189 opponents' average) than
at home (2.15, .209) in 2004, Otsuka had miserable problems on the road in
2005. Posting a 1.23 ERA at home (.157 opponents' average, 39 strikeouts
and 15 walks in 36.2 innings), he went 0-8, 6.92 away from Petco Park (.324,
21 strikeouts and 19 walks in 26 frames) -- though that includes three
outings in Arizona in which he permitted nine runs and got a total of one
out. All told, his ERA after the All-Star Break (4.62) was considerably
worse than it was beforehand (2.89), giving rise to some thought that the
league was figuring him out.

But from that standpoint, a move to the American League could rejuvenate
Otsuka. The AL has seen him for only 14 innings (four runs [2.57 ERA] on 10
hits [.189 opponents' average] and seven walks, with 17 punchouts).

Giving Otsuka the eighth inning, which means Joaquin Benoit shouldn't be
overutilized and Frankie Francisco doesn't need to be rushed back, could
significantly change the nature of the final three innings in 2006.

Otsuka will make $1.75 million in 2006 and head into his three arbitration
seasons a year from now. I doubt the Rangers have thoughts of flipping him,
but if they wanted to, they could probably do pretty well. Considering his
salary level and control status, overlaid against the crazy contracts given
to middle relievers this winter, you might imagine that Otsuka has greater
trade value than any of the other five players in this deal.

Even more than Gonzalez, evidently. I suppose it's possible that Texas was
getting lowballed on offers for the 23-year-old since teams knew the Rangers
had no place in the lineup for him, but whatever the reason was, he
apparently wasn't drawing the trade interest that you (and I) might have
expected.

I've seen a couple stories suggesting that this trade really boils down to
Young for Otsuka -- given their pre-arbitration status and inexpensive
effectiveness -- and that Gonzalez was really the price for Eaton. I think
that's overstating Gonzalez's place in the deal (though Evan Grant of the
Dallas Morning News suggests that the Rangers' interest in Otsuka was what
forced them to agree to include Young), but clearly the Padres weren't going
to make this trade without getting the first baseman. While Young leaves
his hometown in this deal, Gonzalez returns to his. Once he replaces Ryan
Klesko, Gonzalez might man first base in San Diego for a long, long time.
(Or, says Bill Center of the Union-Tribune, he could be shopped to Boston as
part of a package [maybe with Dave Roberts?] for lefthander David Wells and
catcher Kelly Shoppach.)

Gonzalez had a career year in 2005, hitting .338/.399/.561 with 18 home runs
and 65 RBI in just 328 at-bats for Oklahoma, and as a result it's likely
that his trade value was as high as it will ever be. He has one option
remaining, which the Rangers surely would have exercised had they not traded
him, and from that standpoint it might have been tougher to trade him a year
from now -- especially if he were to fare no better as a big league hitter
in whatever 2006 opportunities he got than he did his first two seasons in
Texas. In 192 big league at-bats, Gonzalez has hit .229/.272/.401; while I
don't believe that's indicative of what he's going to be, another season
with similarly punchless Ranger numbers might have convinced other teams
that he's a lot closer to Carlos Pena than to Travis Hafner offensively, and
he might not have been able to help key a trade in 2006 like he did
yesterday.

I've been on record as supporting the idea of trading Gonzalez this winter.
He can't do any more in AAA than he's done, and he probably wasn't going to
get a significant opportunity in Texas in 2006 to show that he was big
league-ready. Now was the time to trade him, and that has nothing to do
with what I think he'll become. It has to do with timing. Without a real
likelihood of being showcased in 2006, Gonzalez's value could only have gone
down.

Just like with Young, I think we probably traded Gonzalez at the peak of his
value -- at least as a Ranger. The key is whether, on top of timing it
right, Daniels traded Gonzalez in the right deal, as opposed to what John
Hart did with Hafner three years ago, when he was at a similar level of
development.

Killian? Pretty interesting addition to what's becoming a deep cache of
catchers on the Ranger farm (a very good thing not only from a depth
standpoint but also for future trades). He hasn't done anything as a pro
yet (.218 with no power in 179 minor league at-bats), but the 19-year-old
was widely praised going into the 2004 draft as an athletic,
left-handed-hitting catcher with plus makeup. San Diego used its
third-round pick on Killian in that draft, nine spots before Texas popped
righthander Michael Schlact.

It would make sense that Rangers special assistant Charley Kerfeld played a
role in identifying Killian as a target, coming off a year in San Diego's
scouting department.

Sledge? Probably never even set foot in Arlington. Acquired two weeks ago
from Washington in the Alfonso Soriano deal, the outfielder was basically
depth here in the event of a trade of Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix, or Gary
Matthews Jr. After a big rookie season in 2004 (.269/.336/.462, 15 homers
and 62 RBI in 398 at-bats), the 28-year-old missed most of the 2005 season
with a hamstring injury that led to surgery.

The Killian/Sledge aspect of the trade is one that could end up helping
neither team, or both.

The deal won't be official until physicals are administered, and that could
take a few days because Otsuka is currently in Japan.

Texas tendered contracts yesterday to all of its arbitration-eligibles --
Padilla, Benoit, Mench, Matthews, Mark Teixeira, Brad Wilkerson, and Rod
Barajas -- and (since the Padres trade isn't yet official) San Diego
tendered a contract to Eaton to prevent him from becoming a free agent. The
Rangers also non-tendered righthander Nick Regilio, even though he's
pre-arbitration, but the club may still sign him to a non-roster deal.

The removal of Regilio, and the trade of three roster players for two,
reduces the Rangers' 40-man roster to 37 players.

Among the other players non-tendered around baseball yesterday were Boston
righthanders Wade Miller and Chad Bradford, Pittsburgh righthander Josh
Fogg, San Diego righthander Dewon Brazelton and catcher Miguel Olivo,
Baltimore outfielder Eric Byrnes, Milwaukee righthanders Danny Kolb and Jeff
Bennett, Seattle righthander Ryan Franklin, Tampa Bay righthanders Lance
Carter and Joe Borowski and lefthander Trever Miller, Atlanta righthander
Jim Brower, Cincinnati righthander Ramon Ortiz, White Sox righthander Felix
Diaz and infielder Willie Harris, and Washington second baseman Junior
Spivey. Some of them probably agreed beforehand to re-sign with their 2005
clubs, but others will be on the hunt for jobs starting today.

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Cardinals have
agreed to terms on a one-year deal with righthander Sidney Ponson, which I
know is good news to lots of Ranger fans.

The Yankees appear set to sign Octavio Dotel. (Fine. I'd rather have
Otsuka.)

Righthander Rudy Seanez signed with Boston.

There's speculation that the Red Sox could step up on Millwood now that they
have lost Johnny Damon to the Yankees.

Soriano has indicated to Washington, at least through the press, that he
won't move from second base to a new position, and that he plans to return
to the American League when he becomes a free agent a year from now. Nice.

I've got to get this in, since nine of you took the time to let me know:
catcher-turned-pitcher Chris Jaile, a minor league free agent, has signed
with Seattle.

Here's what I think: the Padres trade makes Texas better in 2006 than it was
before the trade. I'm not sure that Eaton will have more sustained success
over the season than Young would have had, but I'm sure Otsuka will have a
far bigger impact than Gonzalez would have had.

Let me assure you of this: I'm not trying to convince you to approve of the
trade if you don't already. I do understand the deal, even if I'm not sure
I like it. Liking it would require one of two things: a feeling that this
trade makes us a favorite to win a playoff spot in 2006, which I don't think
it does without more moves, or confidence that Texas will be able to lock
Eaton up so that he's under Ranger control for multiple years. I do think
Texas traded Gonzalez at the right time, and if the organization believes
Young is as good now as he'll ever be, then it was the right time to trade
him, too.

The one thing you can always count on, on December 21, is that you start to
get more and more daylight from here on out. I'm placing my trust in Jon
Daniels.

[jthig32]

I read it already. And I don't see where you think Newberg is saying what you said. Newberg is very iffy on whether Eaton is a better pitcher than Young. He thinks the only clear upgrade is getting Otsuka and losing Gonzalez.

Jamey said that if this improves us at all, it improves us for 2006, but doesn't make us good enough to make the playoffs, and after 2006, all bets are off.

How is that agreeing with you? No offense to Jamey, but when he's this iffey on a trade, it's a bad trade. He readily admits to wearing rose colored glasses.

BTW, those Adam Eaton comments were from two weeks ago.

[Drbio]

Why do you insist on making this an Eaton-Young thing. I am pretty sure I know how I feel about the ENTIRE trade even though Eaton-Young is what we've dicussed mostly. Newberg EXACTLY is saying what I have felt. Upgraded the team, but I hate to lose Young. Period.

[Drbio]

No offense to Jamey, but when he's this iffey on a trade, it's a bad trade.

Complete opinion. Nothing else. It works both ways.

[jthig32]

The inescapable way to measure this trade is to compare Eaton to Young, particularly since it means Texas hasn't added to its rotation in the deal,
but instead just changed it.

You said several times that Eaton is a better pitcher than Young. That's what I was referring to.

Also, Jamey it said it makes up better this year, but he went on to say it certainly doesn't make us good enough to claim a playoff spot, which was one of my points. Even if it makes us marginally better this year, there's a HUGE risk that is makes us severely worse after this year.

[jayC]

According to some Clemens second choice is Texas. Padilla was a steal for Riccardo.

[Drbio]

You know jthig I think we are essentially agreeing on most issues....we both like Young, we both worry about resigning Eaton (I think you do anyways), etc. I guess the difference is that I (and Newberg) think that Eaton is a better pitcher at this point, while you (and certainly many others) disagree. That's fine. When the fans from both sides think they got screwed, it has been my observation in the past that the trade was pretty fair. We aren't going to get that "we screwed you guys" feeling on every trade. The hope is that we get better with each trade and I think that happened here not only in the Eaton-Young comparison but overall as well. I haven't see the japanaese kid pitch yet but I like what I am hearing about him. The minor league catcher is a potential chip and other than that I have no opinion on the kid. Anyways....I am not ecstatic about the trade but I do think that the Rangers are better today than they were last week. But it does grate on me (in the sense that I am disappointed) that we lost control of a local kid in Young who we had signed, sealed and delivered for several years.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Drbio

You know jthig I think we are essentially agreeing on most issues....we both like Young, we both worry about resigning Eaton (I think you do anyways), etc. I guess the difference is that I (and Newberg) think that Eaton is a better pitcher at this point, while you (and certainly many others) disagree. That's fine. When the fans from both sides think they got screwed, it has been my observation in the past that the trade was pretty fair. We aren't going to get that "we screwed you guys" feeling on every trade. The hope is that we get better with each trade and I think that happened here not only in the Eaton-Young comparison but overall as well. I haven't see the japanaese kid pitch yet but I like what I am hearing about him. The minor league catcher is a potential chip and other than that I have no opinion on the kid. Anyways....I am not ecstatic about the trade but I do think that the Rangers are better today than they were last week. But it does grate on me (in the sense that I am disappointed) that we lost control of a local kid in Young who we had signed, sealed and delivered for several years.

Fair enough.

.
.
.
.
.

.......Newberg never said Eaton was better....sorry....couldn't resist.

[Drbio]

He certainly implies it....

"I do believe this: Texas was selling high on Young, and buying low on Eaton."

[Drbio]

This is an encouraging Eaton quote huh?

North County
Times, courtesy of writer Brian Hiro: "I'm looking forward to the challenge
of something new. I expect good things to happen. . . . I'd like to think
(San Diego GM Kevin Towers) already regrets it. My biased opinion is that
the Padres lost out when they traded me.""






And by the way....the Rangers were reported to be a front runner by Gammons for Millwood. Think that Johnny Damon going to NY changes that? The Sox are reeling and could easily overpay for Millwood now. Thoughs?

[dalmations202]

If Millwood signs, I will be satisfied with the off-season.

Millwood, Padilla, Eaton are a pretty descent core - especailly with the young talent below.

The offense hasn't been gutted, and if Ian Kinsler can play 2nd, they could be much better than last year.

If just Millwood is signed:

Outfield of Mench, Delucci, Matthews, Nix, and Wilkerson -- not bad
Infield of Hank, Tex, Young, Kinsler and Derosa -- not bad
Catch -- Barosa and Laird
SP -- Core is good, although they could probably use 1 more. Clemens anyone?
Bullpen -- looking pretty good.
Closer -- Coco is pretty solid.

I like what I see from this team............if they can sign Millwood. (and hopefully the Rocket for the stretch run) Heck give the Rocket a vacation till the All-Star break full pay, just so he will be ready for the playoffs.

[Drbio]

The Rocket rumor persists and the encouraging thing is that they are emanating out of NY.

[sike]

so far I like what young Daniels has done....finally someone going after the pitchers...

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by Drbio

And by the way....the Rangers were reported to be a front runner by Gammons for Millwood. Think that Johnny Damon going to NY changes that? The Sox are reeling and could easily overpay for Millwood now. Thoughs?

I read that in Jamey's report too, but Boston sure does have a lot of pitchers already.

Beckett
Schilling
Clement
Arroyo
Wells
Wakefield
Papelbon

Even if they trade Clement or Arroyo for a CF, I dunno if they need a SP enough to pay Millwood's price.

[sike]

Originally Posted by jthig32

I read that in Jamey's report too, but Boston sure does have a lot of pitchers already.

Beckett
Schilling
Clement
Arroyo
Wells
Wakefield
Papelbon

Even if they trade Clement or Arroyo for a CF, I dunno if they need a SP enough to pay Millwood's price.

the more the marrier....

[Drbio]

You can never have enough pitchers of quality.

[capitalcity]

I say we get some sort of grassroots effort going to bring the Rocket farewell tour to arlington.

Full-page newspaper ad?, Stupid live-on-a-billboard stunt?, E-mail campaign? Lets make it happen people.

[ames7]

I will say this, no matter what I think of the moves, at least JD is MAKING moves. Remember the grumbling in the clubhouse this past season about the lack of help from management. At least they're out there trying stuff now.

If the Rangers' offer to Millwood tops out at 3 for 30 as it is now, we can kiss him goodbye. C'mon Hicks, quit being such a cheap fool. I want to see a serious effort to get this done.

[sike]

C'mon Hicks, quit being such a cheap fool. I want to see a serious effort to get this done.

well said!

[Drbio]

I find it hard to blame Hicks for not offering five years after the Chan Ho debacle.

I do wish he would go 4/40 to Millwood.

[jthig32]

Depending on which source you believe, they have offered the 4th year. The DMN news is reporting they have two Rangers sources, one saying 3/$30 so far, one saying they've gone to 4/$40.

[Drbio]

I heard 4/45 earlier today from a pretty reliable source. My brother in law is a financial manager for some players.

There was no word on whether he was going to actually accept though. I wish I could afford to turn down 4 years at 45 mil. wow.

[sike]

any news today on millwood?

[Five-ofan]

I am very iffy on this trade but I think Young could end up being nothing and eaton great or vice versa. Its not terrible but its not the slam dunk i would like either.

[chumdawg]

Rangers got Millwood!

[sike]

Originally Posted by chumdawg

Rangers got Millwood!

huh...nothing saying this the ranger site or DMN....where did you hear it?

if true....I really like it.

[jthig32]

From Newberg:

I want to take this opportunity to say Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and a vesting option for 2010.

Kevin Millwood has agreed to terms with the Texas Rangers.

So says T.R. Sullivan of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Jamey

[sike]

good stuff....this means our starting rotation looks like???

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by sike

good stuff....this means our starting rotation looks like???

One would assume it's Millwood, Eaton, Padilla, Loe, Dominguez....but Dominguez in particular is probably on a pretty short leash, although he shouldn't be. Let him start a whole year, and see where he's at.

[sike]

Originally Posted by jthig32

One would assume it's Millwood, Eaton, Padilla, Loe, Dominguez....but Dominguez in particular is probably on a pretty short leash, although he shouldn't be. Let him start a whole year, and see where he's at.

thanks thiggy.

I like what Daniels has done thus far....wha if any other moves could he make?...does the acquisition of Millwood mean Blaylock is safe.....or could he still be moved???

[Drbio]

Now we are one Rocket away from some serious hardware.


Excellent signing by the Rangers. Abso-friggin-lutely excellent. The free agent pitching curse is broken.

Millwood
Eaton (in a contract year)
Padilla (in a contract year)
Kameron Loe
Juan Dominguez

Stack Roger Clemens on top of that rotation and send Dominguez to long relief and how happy does it make you?

I love what ohn Daniels is doing so far......looking good huh?

[Murphy3]

I'll be honest, I had kinda come over to the side of the pro Eaton/Young side of the trade in the past couple of days and now the signing of Millwood... It's almost like I knew what was coming when I purchased my season tickets just a few days back.

Anyways, I'm also absolutely thrilled with the possibility of Loe and Dominguez on this staff... They'd be the #4 and 5 guys both with stuff that is better than their place in the rotation. Dominguez has unlimited stuff legitimately capable of being a #1. I don't expect that he ever will, but his stuff is that good. Loe easily has #3 starter stuff as is but could be better because he has a top of the line sinker... just needs consistent second and third pitches.

Damn, I love the Rangers.

[jthig32]

Originally Posted by sike

thanks thiggy.

I like what Daniels has done thus far....wha if any other moves could he make?...does the acquisition of Millwood mean Blaylock is safe.....or could he still be moved???

I'm pretty sure we're done with any moves of significance, unless something very unexpected comes along. Our bullpen is basically locked down, our rotation is set, and our OF has been addressed. Well, it's set according to the Rangers. I'm not thrilled with GMJ/Nix playing everyday in CF, but GMJ might keep playing above his head, and Nix might finally realize his potential.

[Murphy3]

Hicks just said that they're through with the major free agent market with the exception of Roger Clemens if he decides to return....great news with that..

[#1MavsFan]

Wow!!! Can't believe the Rangers got it done . Can anyone say WS favorites if Clemens comes here? When was the last time you mentioned the WS with the Rangers?

[ames7]

I can't BELIEVE they actually got it done! Am beginning to believe that the Jon Daniels era really is a new beginning. I don't even care that they overpaid. Goodness, I'm actually excited about our offseason. Thrilled, even. I can't get over it. They actually got it done!

[Drbio]

4 yrs 48 million with a trigger for a 5th year up to 60 million. wow.

[capitalcity]

How much does Clemens cost?

[Lwin]

Interesting in that our rotation is all right handed.