Texas Rangers - what is going on?

[ajk23az]

Choo definitely helps them for the next couple years but they'll be paying him until he is 38!! Ouch..

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Choo definitely helps them for the next couple years but they'll be paying him until he is 38!! Ouch..

That's the ying & yang with these types of contracts, i.e. big dollars/long term deals going to 30+ year old players. Sometimes they work out. I think Choo is going to be a decent contributor for the next 3-4 years. I'm not sure he'll meet his 2013 numbers, but I would think you could pencil him in for 20HR, an average of .280 to .290 and an OB% tickling .400

 

[TheCowboy]

Overpaid. Don't like this deal

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Overpaid. Don't like this deal

It's the nature of the business. For decent talent you're going to have to overpay.

Personally I think the Choo contract will look better in 2017 than the Fielder contract.

 

[Kristen82]

NYY is paying Ellsbury $23 million more despite the fact Ellsbury has missed 264 games over the last 4 seasons. ANA will be paying Pujols $30 million when he's 40. Think we haven't done too shabby.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

NYY is paying Ellsbury $23 million more despite the fact Ellsbury has missed 264 games over the last 4 seasons. ANA will be paying Pujols $30 million when he's 40. Think we haven't done too shabby.

Well sorta the "tallest dwarf in the circus" kind of thing ... Both the Yankees and the Angels have some pretty awful contracts. The one's for Fielder and Choo aren't to the level of some of those– but 4 seasons from now they probably won't be looked at with fond reverence either.

 

[RamziD]

Well sorta the "tallest dwarf in the circus" kind of thing ... Both the Yankees and the Angels have some pretty awful contracts. The one's for Fielder and Choo aren't to the level of some of those– but 4 seasons from now they probably won't be looked at with fond reverence either.

It's a lot of money to spend at once, but 4 seasons from now we might have a couple of WS wins, and we already know the Rangers ownership will be making tons of revenue through TV deals. You have to spend in order to consistently be in the picture. I think the Rangers will be ok as they are looking towards the future as well... we improved our minor league talent by acquiring Choice and not trading away anyone of note. Also, I think JD has a plan to lure Russell Wilson away from the NFL so that it benefits both the Cowboys and Rangers

 

[Kristen82]

I like how we upgraded while not taking away from our prospect depth. It's nice we can say we have both a top-tier team AND a top-tier farm system at the same time. Not too many organizations can say that.

 

[Bevo]

Choo gets on base....ALOT. Yes, he isn't the greatest on defense but he fills a gap in LF and gives us a solid lead off hitter. Projected line-up:

Choo
Andrus
Beltre
Fielder
Rios
Martin
Moreland
Soto
Profar

 

[TheCowboy]

Choo gets on base....ALOT. Yes, he isn't the greatest on defense but he fills a gap in LF and gives us a solid lead off hitter. Projected line-up:

Choo
Andrus
Beltre
Fielder
Rios
Martin
Moreland
Soto
Profar

I still feel like we are missing something on offense.

 

[RamziD]

I still feel like we are missing something on offense.

Mitch Moreland is the wildcard, IMO. If he can put up big numbers for us playing DH and part-time 1B (.265+ BA, 25+ HR, 80+ RBI), then we will have a very dangerous offense a la 2010.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

I still feel like we are missing something on offense.

Agreed. 1-4 are very good to excellent.

5-9... Not so much. On the positive side... some HR's. On the negative... not many walks and a whole lotta K's.

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Mitch Moreland is the wildcard, IMO. If he can put up big numbers for us playing DH and part-time 1B (.265+ BA, 25+ HR, 80+ RBI), then we will have a very dangerous offense a la 2010.

I think that pretty wishful thinking. He strikes me as a guy who's going to put up worse numbers the more he plays.

 

[Bevo]

I still feel like we are missing something on offense.

If our pitching could stay healthy we wouldn't have to worry about another piece, but I agree with you though.....

 

[Nova]

It's funny. If the Cowboys were to overhaul their roster like this, I'd be thrilled.

But I'm leery of too many moves with this Rangers club. My worry stems from how tight that clubhouse is/was. Some of the best chemistry in the league. Now we only have what... 2 bats remaining from that first World Series team? (Andrus/Moreland).

Excited for this year. But just a little worried as well.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I think that pretty wishful thinking. He strikes me as a guy who's going to put up worse numbers the more he plays.

Why exactly would he strike you that way?

 

[DFWJC]

The Rangers are having an outstanding offseason so far.

No needs for panic

 

[MichaelWinicki]

Why exactly would he strike you that way?

Good question.

All you have to do is look at his splits.

The more he plays, the more he has to face left-handers who own him.

Career avg vs. RH .258, vs. LH .236. He walks more and strikes out less vs RH. Against RH he homers ever 19 AB's. Vs. LH he homers every 45 AB's. His career OPS vs LH is a very bad .657

And think what his numbers would be like without the benefit of the park he plays in?

He shouldn't be playing vs LH's quite frankly.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Don't really disagree with any of that, except that he has been playing pretty much full time the last couple of years when he wasn't injured.

If anything they're fully aware of the splits you talk about and will find a RH bat to platoon with him. In fact, last year they'd have platooned him much more with Jeff Baker except that an undisclosed Rangers (most guess AJ) destroyed his thumb for a couple months with a way overexuberant high five.