While the Rangers and Marlins were working out the trade that sent Jorge Cantu to Texas, the Rangers also took a chance to "reach for the sky" and inquired on the availability of Josh Johnson. According to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro, the Rangers were willing to offer their top three prospects, but were told the Marlins' ace is "unmovable."
Johnson, 26, signed a four-year extension worth $39MM with Florida in January, virtually eliminating him as a possible trade chip for the near future. Given his performance this year, which includes a 1.72 ERA over 141.1 IP, Johnson figures to be even more untouchable now than he was at the time of the extension.
Ferrariman
well this calls for a big fat “DUH”
mrlyngreen
Maybe the Rangers will call Mo and ask for Adam Wainwright. LOL
Ferrariman
lol i wouldn’t doubt it. just due diligence. but the chances of him being moved…well..better chance of me winning the lottery.
just for kix and giggles….
wainwright for….
sheppers
perez
kinsler
who hangs up first?
mrlyngreen
Why not throw Albert in there and get Daniels a gig on Letterman? ROFL!
Tony
trying to add Kinsler in there gets you a dial tone prettaaay quickon the top 50 Trade Value column by FanGraphs, Kinsler is #30, Wainwright is #18 … the difference between is MUCH smaller than Perez plus ScheppersIf the Cards REALLY made that offer (and I were the Rangers’ GM), I’d counter with the same offer, minus Kinsler
Ferrariman
i’d do minus sheppers. that sort of evens it out. sort of.
i didn’t know how long kinsler was locked up till i google’d his contract. damn he is cheap.
Tony
I think maybe Kinsler + Scheppers is fair in terms of value for value
Neither team would actually pull the trigger on that one, though!
P W
It was still worth a try…not like they lose anything by asking. But wow that would be an insane 1-2 with Lee and Johnson, in a short playoff series with the type of offense the rangers have I’m not sure how anyone beats them.
Sniderlover
Lol, nice try Rangers.
syphercx
Who can blame them. The guy is a stud! I had the pleasure to meet him this off season.
Mikey Mike
I like the big brass ones the Rangers are showing off. In a perfect world they would have gotten him and been a SERIOUS contender. Johnson and Lee at the top of rotation? My goodness. Too bad…I would have enjoyed to see that happen.
HighHeat
Can’t blame them for trying.
Thomas McCabe
Sure, MLB is fronting all the money for their 50 deadline acquisitions. Why not?
Art Wilson
Doesn’t hurt to ask. I like their aggressiveness this past month.
renegade
Tanner Scheppers, Martin Perez and Neftali Feliz (not a prospect anymore I know) would been a heck of a haul.
rovert22044
Tried to get Johnson!? LOL! Might as well traded the whole team for him!
42214221
I first misread the headline as Rangers aquire Josh Johnson
moonraker45
The marlins probably arent even allowed to trade him for prospects, their payroll would be 2.4 million
P W
Probably why baseball needs a salary floor and ceiling…too bad it wont happen
moonraker45
precisely
04Forever
i must admit, it takes a sizable set of jewels to call the Marlin organization and ask that…
Matt
“Hey Braves, how’s Heyward’s availability these days?”
Ahahhahaa. Nice try boys, nice try.
Kevin
Doesn’t hurt to ask… unless FLA would’ve been so insulted that they decided to nix the Cantu deal.
Really, TEX has enough young pitching, with Hunter, Wilson, and Lewis. As they are, I think they may be good enough, pitching-wise, to win a playoff series against NYY or TB. They don’t have the big names like the Yankees, but as an Angels fan, I’ve been watching these guys a lot.
Tommy Hunter is 8-0 with a 2.31 ERA. Lewis and Wilson are putting up good numbers also. Their only bad pitcher is Feldman, who in the playoffs, would almost certainly be in the bullpen. They don’t need Johnson (and they’d have to give up a whole lot for a pitcher under team control as long as he is, anyway).
j6takish
CJ Wilson and Tommy Hunter are having surprisingly awesome seasons. Harden over Feldman definitely….I don’t even see where he would go in the bullpen.
Matt
Eh, that’s note really true.
EVERYONE needs Josh Johnson.
Texas is so young they can get away with it.
johnsilver
They might have some good young pitching, but not one of them has proven to be a JJ and under team control as a stud #1 for 3 1/2 more years.
johnsilver
They might have some good young pitching, but not one of them has proven to be a JJ and under team control as a stud #1 for 3 1/2 more years.
j6takish
Can’t blame them for trying, If any team was going to part with an ace with a team friendly contract the Fish would be the ones to do it. I don’t think Jon Daniels thought this had any chance of working, probably just keeping tabs on all of the clubs.
dirtydez
Josh for Josh……
moonraker45
Why is everyone so shocked? It’s the marlins, they trade everyone.
woadude
Unless your last name is Johnson or your first name is Hanley
fishfan4life
I got a kick outta this
fishfan4life
And even if they were serious, they would have offered proven major league talent.
Tony
I don’t see why this is surprising or ‘funny’ — the Rangers have some of the best high-end prospects/young players, particularly pitchers, in the game and they wanted to see if the Marlins would bite — which they’ve been known to do!Holland + Perez + Scheppers would be a looot of cheap talent for the frugal Fish to turn down — why not cast out the line and see wha…ok no more fish puns
Karman
There is no way in hell I’d trade those three prospects in any deal (within reason). Those 3 are pretty much guaranteed major leaguers. Perez and Scheppers have super-ace potential, and Holland is just a notch below them. He’s already pitched in the majors, with varying success, so his floor is very good as well. I think Florida would take that deal, I don’t think Texas would do it
penpaper
I don’t think you realize just how valuable and good JJ is.
penpaper
I don’t think you realize just how valuable and good JJ is.
JonL
Ain’t no such thing as a guaranteed mlber
Matt
I guess they’d have the most value with Andrus, who, unfortunately, doesn’t have much value as a SS with the Marlins.
JASONH
Ir would have been Perez, Scheppers, and Engel Beltre.
coolstorybro222
Hey, Texas. Quit being the phillies.
RBomb2844
You mean, quit trying to improve your team? I would do the same thing. Besides, the Phillys will have an easier time getting to the World Series than the Rangers, so why not get whoever you can now?
coolstorybro222
yeah, and depleting your farm system in the process for two month rentals? YEAH THAT’S WHAT I WOULD DO AS A GM.
HerbertAnchovy
Why? They might as well ask, especially since no one has really been untouchable in the past for the right price.
quintjs
Until the Marlins stop trading their top talent, GM’s should be fired if the DON’T ask questions like this.
fishfan4life
It’s been 3 years since they have traded away top talent…and it was a terrible trade. I think they finally learned their lesson.
fishfan4life
It’s been 3 years since they have traded away top talent…and it was a terrible trade. I think they finally learned their lesson.
Johnny
maybe someone can answer this for me…how can a team who is going through bankruptcy still take on money by adding player
Matt
They don’t.
They get the team trading him to take on his full salary.
Texas would send more/better minor leaguers to make up for the extra cash the marlins would toss in.
gammaraze
after picking up Lee, but before Cantu and Guzman, the Rangers had announced at court that they were $5million under budget, meaning they still had $5M they could spend, that has already been approved by MLB before the season even started. Jon Daniels is doing a great job with the little room he has been given
Johnny
maybe someone can answer this for me…how can a team who is going through bankruptcy still take on money by adding player