The Rangers have agreed to a minor-league deal with first baseman James Loney, according to Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). The veteran will make $1MM if he can break onto the MLB roster.
Loney, 32, played an even 100 games last year for the Mets, who acquired him in May from the Padres after losing Lucas Duda for a lengthy stretch. (San Diego had added Loney over the winter on a minor-league deal.) In his 366 MLB plate appearances in 2016, Loney slashed .265/.307/.397 and hit nine home runs.
Clearly, that wasn’t quite as much production as most teams would like to see out of the first base position. It was the second straight year in which Loney had checked in with below-average overall offensive results. He was much better over the 2013-14 campaigns, however, when he provided the Rays with 1,249 plate appearances of .294/.342/.404 batting.
There are some other limitations, too. Loney has long carried rather drastic platoon splits, though perhaps that makes him a relatively appealing option as a bench bat to face righties. And though he has long been considered a quality defender at first, Loney hasn’t rated quite as well with the glove in recent years — though he still draws average metrics.
For Texas, Loney could compete with prospect Joey Gallo and perhaps also veteran Josh Hamilton for a left-handed-hitting role in the team’s first base/DH mix. Both of those players could conceivably also spend time in the outfield, though neither would likely be a preferable option there and the Rangers aren’t much in need of southpaw-swinging corner outfielders anyway.
MrMet62
Add in his plus defense and all in all James did a good job for the Mets
Davidk79
Nah he was replacer level at best.
bigkempin
8 errors in 784 innings at 1B isn’t plus defense.
davidcoonce74
Please let’s stop using errors and fielding percentage. Please? We have so much better data now.
layventsky
Right? Who needs errors and fielding percentage when you can measure the raveness of reviews drawn by the players.
Gerald_pinstripe
Just like your iq which does not receive rave reviews
gorav114
I can see discarding fielding percentage stat due to the large amount of variables but I disagree in regards to errors. I get the plays are sometimes being kept by an official scorer and their interpretation of a play could occasionally have an impact but an error can be reviewed later and changed if warranted. An error is recorded when a defensive player fails to complete a play in which he is expected too exexute
layventsky
True, but errors don’t account for plays that would’ve been made by a player with better range or more efficient routes. An error may not be charged, but a non-play by a less rangy fielder could still change the game significantly. And that’s where UZR, DRS, etc. come in.
layventsky
I’m gonna go cry in a corner now because a Yankees fan said something mean.
davidcoonce74
Errors are always recorded by the official scorer and don’t mean anything. Do you know who the single-season leader is for fewest errors at third base? Nope, not Brooks Robinson or Clete Boyer or Graig Nettles. It’s well-known defensive wizard Kevin Kouzmanoff.
Kane U.
Really? How many errors did he save?
SimplyAmazin91
All the former Mets are getting out of town today.
agentx
Wonder if any of those Mets would’ve stuck around if they knew that they could make $6,000 to $8,000 from home like spambot stay-at-home mom Kelly Richards?
El Duderino
+1
layventsky
Haha!
palehose79
Kelly must be doing some naughty stuff to make that kind of money from home. Those Mets players may not have the same talents.
mark0817
He’s a good late inning defensive option and solid veteran bench player available to relieve at 1B and should be fairly decent PH
ShaneRat
A better sign than Hamiltweeker
madmanTX
Butt hurt angels fan?
njbirdsfan
No, but it’s more than a little silly that Josh Hamilton has a “problem” while the guy on the streets will get his treatment in a for-profit prison.
lesterdnightfly
It’s interesting when ignorance exceeds the lack of compassion. Sign of the times?
njbirdsfan
I’m ignorant? Right, so then explain why there are plenty of people in this country who suggest that all “thugs” get locked up for their addiction then.
My point is why are some with those with an addiction getting serious jail time instead of rehab while a person like Josh Hamilton gets chance after chance?
I’m guessing it’s “thugs” are expendable, so why waste money on them while Josh Hamilton is a favorite of the white evangelical community.
nytimes.com/2016/02/09/opinion/when-addiction-has-…
lesterdnightfly
Perhaps I misunderstood that you advocate prison time for addicts. If so I apologize.
Lots of people with addictions go into diversion and rehab programs instead of jail or prison.. Those who want all of them locked up are indeed misguided.
To apply this to baseball, lots of ballplayers and athletes get the benefit of employer support. Rather than picking on Josh Hamilton, a better way would be to advocate such support in the greater workplace.
floridapinstripes
Moreland> Loney
Desmond> Gomez
Beltran > Napoli/carter
It’s a good thing they got Ross but he won’t be back right away.
Boomer14
Nice way to compare the Rangers moves. I didn’t see it that way until now.
RyanF6
Well… in terms of offense Napoli is better than Moreland and Beltran didn’t do anything when he came to Texas. But yeah for sure on the Desmond being better than Gomez. I’m hoping Gomez can have a Desmond like season, he’s sure capable of it.
RangerNation 2
The fact that he had a subaverage in Houston and came to Texas organization and worked on his swinging and stance in the box shows, thus showing production, shows there’s still value and promise in Gomez
TheAdrianBeltre
Gomez, like Desmond, is very streaky but comes with great all-around offensive upside. Whoever starts at first will definitely be worse defensively than Moreland, but may very well hit(I assume it won’t be Profar or Loney) better than him. As far as DH, Beltran was good but IF Choo can get even 500PAs DHing at lead-off Texas will be fine there. The Rangers lost some pieces, but a full season of Darvish and Choo could help bridge the gap. Looks to be a great division race next season.
CursedRangers
Good way at looking at the Rangers offseason, Florida Pinstripes. The Rangers are really handcuffed by the Fielder injury and the crazy amount of payroll he will be eating up for the next couple of years. You could also look at the fact that the Rangers should have Darvish for an entire year, plus Lucroy as well. But the AL West is going to be tough this year. The Astros made clear upgrades, Seattle is improving, and one can’t discount the crazy number of close games the Rangers won last year. Next year will be a key year for the Rangers. 2018 Darvish and Lucroy might not be on the team. The farm is weaker than it has been due to the number of mid-season trades, then their payroll will still be pretty high. My opinion is that the Rangers were conservative this offseason so they could hold onto payroll space for next year. I don’t see them being able to resign Darvish (I actually wouldn’t mind seeing them trade him), but I think they will make a strong push to resign Lucroy.
floridapinstripes
Napoli is DH first. Yes he will play 1b sometimes. So if you consider it that way than whomever is DH is not as good as Beltran. If Choo plays it than the RF is weaker with rua etc etc. loney was an odd move. Ask the Mets. They need two bats. Still.
I am partial but I think they should consider Gardner and make choo DH and Napoli 1b or something like that and let loney face a tough righty and be defensive replacement
white_guy_
I’m sorry but Beltran did nothing for us, regular season and playoffs, was glad we didn’t resign him, Moreland, I was hoping we’d resign honestly, he had a down season but he still managed to hit 22 bombs and give us excellent defense, Desmond has a tremendous first half, terrible 2nd half, felt like every time he came up to the plate he was going to strike out, I feel Gomez will have a .260-.280 average with 20-25 home runs and 75-80 rbis
floridapinstripes
Yes Beltran and Desmond didn’t do great the last couple of months. Gomez isn’t a guy who hits for average. He might for couple months of the season but that’s about it.
bsteady powers
Is Hamilton playing some 1b?
RyanF6
He’s going to try… my guess is that he will be the DH though.
GarryHarris
1) Not wasting any playing time on Prince Fielder.
2) Increase playing time for Joey Gallo, Delino DeShields and Jurckson Profar to gauge their future.
3) Yu Darvish, AJ Griffin, Shin-Soo Chu and/or Josh Hamilton could make a come back
cvarneski
1) No problem since he’s retired.
SFgiantsUK
TEX mucked it up with Chris Davis; they may tremendously muck it up with Gallo. LET HIM PLEASE PLAY! Yes 200 ks, but potential of 40 HR!
longgandhi
Could be more like 300+Ks. His K% in the majors is almost 50% and his contact rate on balls in the zone is 58%. The lowest in history for any non-pitcher with more than a season’s worth of PAs is Russell Branyan, who was at 72%. Gallo has to improve a lot just to have an awful contact rate.
Joshkind82
I agree. here is a link to a players who had a strikeout % of +30% in 2015. And an improved but still high 22% in 2016.
fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=15429&posi…
Joshkind82
Damn link. It’s Kris Bryant.
BrodiesHairisGreezy!
James, we’re gonna miss you (Seriously!)
Dock_Elvis
I thought that was Eric Hosmer in the photo. Couldnt figure out why anyone would want a poor mans James Loney
Wolf Hoffmann
Racism. If Loney was white he would be making Hosmer money.
BrodiesHairisGreezy!
If Loney produced like Hosmer he would be making Hosmer Money.
Dock_Elvis
Id have said the same thing until last week when I actually started looking at Hosmer….he’s borderline….defense outside of scooping is bad…he’s a meh bat. I believe he’s overated. He’s heading for Hal Morris.
Dock_Elvis
Hosmer has put up 3.2 war in his last 3 sessons. All of the positive came in 2015 when it was 3.4….he was flat 0.0 in 2014 and -0.2 in 2016. He was below replacement last season. None of this merits his status with many.
ctbronx7
Give Loney credit: he stabilized the position for the Mets when Duda broke down and contributed a steady glove.
littlefallsmets
Was a decent Mets stop gap fill in for Duda. Yes – was a virtual automatic out in most of 2nd half 2016. But his 2 run bomb in game 161 in Philadelphia essentially locked up the wild card for a completely beat up Mets team – when the Cards and Giants were keeping pace sweeping their final regular season series. That homer alone was worth price of admission for Mets. Wishing him well in Dallas.
ShaneRat
Hamilton is done!! No way he can come back and be productive. Has no recent productive playing time. He is not a dependable teammate. Move on Rangers! Please!!