The DMN carried a story this morning that the Rangers are putting up $1B of their future FSSW money as collateral for their part of a new stadium. No issues with that as a good financial move; big issues if they start claiming poverty with no money to sign quality FA's and draft choices.
I think the Rangers will try their best to sign Desmond, with Gomez as the backup plan. I also think they will sign Colby if he'll agree to a one-year deal at reasonable terms. Unsure on Beltran, but the price may be the deciding factor, as the team will need to free up money to go for FA starting pitchers. For sure Mitch is gone.
OK - Beltran has signed with the Astros, Desmond with the Rockies, and Moreland with Boston. Rangers signed Gomez to a one-year deal, presumably to play CF. Still need (a) one or more SPs and (b) solution to 1B. Rangers can trade from bullpen strength if they can fill a need with the trade. 1B probably goes to either (a) Gallo/Rua/Profar rotation or (b) FA signing (Encarnacion?). Not sure I see any other potential trades out there - but I'm not JD, and he seems to know how and when to pull a rabbit out of the hat.
HHD, Morning News is saying R's want to sign Billy Hamilton or Lorenzo Cain to play center; put Gomez in left; Mazara in right; and DH Choo. Also add Napoli to your 1b/DH list.
Good points, Viper. Napoli would be a good addition at 1B if he's available for a reasonable rate. I'm hung up a bit about trading for Hamilton - he's a very good defender in CF and had blazing speed, but he is (IMO) not as high a priority as another SP. Sooner or later they will run very low on tradeworthy candidates to offer. Guess we'll see how JD handles it.
Agree on Hamilton HHD. The should be getting high round compensation for losing Moreland and Desmond so that those two draft picks add Gallo and Profar and get a young decent controllable SP. Also seems Colby is still in the mix if they can make the numbers work.
Good one. I can't imagine that there would be much outside interest in Colby as a FA, and certainly no team would offer him a multi-year deal - Rangers can probably wait a few weeks and sign him to a one-year deal at a reasonable price. He does fit nicely at the back end of the rotation and can eat up some innings. Side note - has there been any serious movement by any other team in signing Derek Holland? Would the Rangers sign him late in the winter if there is no other promising SP available?
I read that there was some mild interest in Holland, but it did not seem serious. The Rangers just need to move on even if he would pitch for $500 per win.
On a brighter note - Pudge going to the Hall of Fame on his first ballot! Now maybe the Rangers will go ahead and retire his number.
