Some odds and ends as Sunday night winds down …
- The Rangers can afford to sign both Yu Darvish and Prince Fielder, tweets Jim Bowden of ESPN.
- The Twins had interest in signing relievers Dan Wheeler and Todd Coffey before inking Joel Zumaya, tweets Phil Mackey of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities radio. Mackey adds he'd be surprised if the Twins closed the door entirely on signing either righty.
- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said in a statement that the two club options included in Gio Gonzalez's extension were key to getting the deal done, tweets Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
- The Rockies were not interested in signing Bartolo Colon, now of the A's, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
- The Red Sox officially announced the signings of right-handers Aaron Cook and Justin Germano to minor league contracts, tweets Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal.
diesel2410
If the Twins were interested in Wheeler and Coffey, I guess they really are forfeiting the season…
MNTwins12
Wheeler had a bad season in ’11. Before that he was very good. Coffey is a workhorse who can strike out some batters with a respectful ERA. Signing either of these guys would be great for the Twins bullpen.
Onetimeaccount
Wheeler was miss-used in the 2011 season, but I dont know about being very good before. A ROOGY is a ROOGY.
zak chrzaszcz
and the twins could really use a ROOGY so that spot doesnt go to AAA filler…
Marktown
Go Rangers.
KyleB
“Rangers meeting with Fielder @ the Four Seasons Hotel went extremely well & they can afford to sign both Darvish and Fielder if they choose”
I love hearing those words, even though I already knew that was the case. I’m not endorsing getting both, it’s just nice to hear it after all the Tom Hick’s years.
Lunchbox45
I picked the rangers to sign him in the mlbtr free agent contest.. hopefully that happens so i can get above the mendoza
Rangersfan32 2
The real question is can they sign both as extend our core guys. I think they can, but the owners would have to be willing to add some payroll at least until we can get Young, Cruz, Torrealba and Lowe off the books.
Lunchbox45
players will have to sign some hometown discounts similar to some red sox contracts.. if you want to stay and be part of something special, then you take a bit less..
if you want the most money, you’re traded for younger, cheaper assets and can explore that option in free agency
Steven
Man, these past two years have been awesome after those Hicks years. Having their name in almost everything and it being possible. Trade, signings, and winning. It’s great.
Tyler Greenfield
Twins backed out on Coffey because they already have Capps and could not afford Capps’ and Coffey’s grocery bill.
Jelly bean Butera
Well yeah. Why else did they let go of Jose Mijares?
At least they learned one thing from last season.
Tyler Greenfield
Mijares was so worthless..
Houston_Astros
Bread
Skim Milk
Life cereal
Eggs
Coffee
Hamburger Helper
tapehead4
Bartolo_Colon likes this.
Jon Melton
Ponson Colon would never drink skim milk vitamin d baby.
KyleB
Maybe if you take out the skim in milk, take out the Life, and add fruit loops to the cereal, take the whites from the eggs, add 5 teaspoons of sugar to the coffee, and take out the helper after hamburger.
melonis_rex
Make the coffee a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks. Those things are pure sugar with espresso added.
Encarnacion's Parrot
Ahh, Todd Coffey..
KyleB
When did you take an arrow to the knee?
Tyler Greenfield
When he tried to steal food from Todd Coffey.
Encarnacion's Parrot
I would have beat Todd Coffey in a race to the mound from the bullpen, until I took an arrow to the knee.
KyleB
There are almost no excuses for not beating Coffey in a race. However, that may be one of them.
Onetimeaccount
I can see the Rangers signing both Darvish and Fielder after losing in the World Series back-to-back years.
Jimmy Lam
Wow, if the Rangers sign both of them and lose WS again this year, they might as well give up, trade everyone and save some $$
KyleB
An A’s fan telling another team they should just give up? Priceless.
Madman2TX
Because reaching the World Series every year–win or lose–is totally undesirable? Your team watching it on tv every year is better?
Jimmy Lam
Yea, I enjoyed WS game 6 on TV this year
Rangersfan32 2
Well you can get used to watching the playoffs on tv, cause the A’s are going nowhere.
Jimmy Lam
I also enjoyed Game 5 2010 as a Bays fan.
how are the Astros doing btw?
oz10 2
Most Ranger’s fans don’t like the astros so if that was supposed to be a dig, you lose. The Astros also got the owner that couldn’t win the rights to the Ranger’s so we are all still laughing at them. You will enjoy their presence in the AL West so that you have another team to fight for last with.
NathanielFaunce
If Texas gets Darvish, Fielder, and Oswalt, they might as well spare us all the drama and give them the AL Championship trophy on Opening Day.
mmiller54
Ya and a world series loss.
Madman2TX
Matt must be short for Doormatt, huh?
PushDown
LOL doormat not doormatt, and that joke made no sense…
Rangersfan32 2
Well since his name is Matt, not Mat…
TXHC
Third time’s a charm
Onetimeaccount
People had the same idea last season with the Red Sox.
KyleB
Why do people say these things? I hope you were being sarcastic. I’m a die-hard Rangers fan, but nothing is just given to you…ask the Phillies and Sox.
Rangersfan32 2
Yeah, no thanks to Oswalt. Getting Darvish will give us 7 potential starters on the 25 man roster. Oswalt causes an unnecessary logjam.
TXHC
There can never be enough depth. Especially in the grind of a 162 game baseball season. Somebody is going to go on the DL and you’re going to need somebody that can step in. The more options you can give yourself the better.
PushDown
Oh shoot, I guess I missed the memo that said games are now won in the offseason…
Jon Melton
Rangers fan but all Rangers fans should know dont count your rings before their made.
Rangersfan32 2
Name one Rangers fan counting rings. I’ll wait.
Jon Melton
But I do see plenty or arrogance from two world series losses. Until we have one and I believe we will within the next 3 years, we should remain calm.
Rangersfan32 2
I haven’t seen much of this arrogance you’re talking about. Pride and anxiousness, yes. Most fans are excited to finally have a team and organization to be proud of.
oaklandfan22
wow if the rangers get yu and fielder
thekoshow
I feel extremely accomplished because I asked Troy Renck that question….
thebigbangdito
As an angel fan, i hope the rangers dont get darvish and fielder
As a baseball fan, i hope the rangers get darvish and fielder (makes the west just as good to withstand the powerhouse east teams)
Although, I do not really think they will get fielder with the upcoming negotiation for hamilton, etc…unless the darvish deal falls through
Dick Armada
It would make it really difficult for ESPN to ignore west coast baseball anymore
Disgustedfan
Isn’t that the truth. I get tired of Espn talking about the red sox phillies yankees all the time. If you didnt know any better you would think those were the only teams in the mlb.
KyleB
This, we can all agree on.
Devon Henry
Hopefully Pujols will help change this.
Rangersfan32 2
One hitter won’t change that much..
NingMa
I think we can afford Prince and Yu. Its matter of picking between Hamilton or Prince.
KyleB
Keeping Josh wouldn’t be completely out of the question. It just depends on what all sides can agree to. I’m sure Fielder will come cheaper than the Rangers (and everyone else) initially thought. So you never know. Personally, I love Josh, but if it gets in the way of locking up Kinsler and Napoli, I say it’s been great and good luck.
Natsfan89
I don’t understand Rangers fan attitude towards Hamilton. He’s who the majority of the public thinks of when they think of the Texas Rangers. I understand the injury concerns but damn. It’s not like he cant DH.
Rangersfan32 2
You aren’t completely understanding the situation. Hamilton will most likely require a hefty raise in his next contract (I don’t blame him), but Texas is going to have Napoli, Adams, Lewis, Lowe, Cruz, Kinsler and Andrus coming up for contract talks soon and if it’s a choice between Hamilton and those guys, the young core is the way to go. But i personally think we could swallow his new contract once Torrealba, Lowe and Cruz come off the books. Young comes off the books soon as well, so signing Darvish, Fielder, Hamilton and a select group (Napoli, Kinsler and Andrus) of the core isn’t as impossible as most think.
Jon Melton
Andrus needs to cut down on his errors and increase his offensive production as he has Profar in the wings. But he is still very young and capable of doing both but time will tell.
KyleB
Jamey Newburg wrote out a scenario where Elvis is part of a trade after next season for Clayton Kershaw…with Profar taking over at SS.
phishtank
I can’t think of a player on the roster I wouldn’t trade to have Clayton Kershaw on the bump 35 times a year.
Natsfan89
Boras used the Nationals to drive up the cost of Tex a few years ago. Wouldn’t be surprised if he used them again.
I’d love to have Fielder for a 5-6 year deal, but if the Rangers want to give him the deal Boras wants then they can have him.
Shane Files
I think Fielder’s price has gone down. Nationals said they wouldn’t pay the money Prince (Boras) was asking, Mariners are out, none of the big east teams are in on him, so I would say his choices are dwindling. And the Rangers can promise Prince he will play for a team that will contend for the WS year after year with a core of young, talented players. The Rangers are looking at this as a chance to get a premium player at discounted rate over a shorter contract.
cards2WS
The Prince and the jet stream… his season would be a fairy tale.
melonis_rex
Albatross time.
sdsny
That would be a fearsome lineup. You’re talking about a 3-4-5-6-7 of Hamilton, Prince, Nelson Cruz, Adrian Beltre, and Mike Napoli. Not necessarily in that order. That not only rivals the offense in the AL East, it probably surpasses it. If the Rangers do sign both Darvish and Prince, I still give the edge to the Angels in the pitching department. But there’s no way, even with Pujols, that their lineup even comes close to the Rangers. That’d be a great race in the AL West.
KyleB
Even if the Rangers didn’t sign Fielder, they still have the edge in hitting.
thebigbangdito
ok.. i was one of those angels fans who was kinda pissed when they traded napoli… but thats mostly because they originally kept mathis who couldnt even hit his weight.
now that u (the rangers) will have him an entire season you will see that he is not the player that everyone hyped him up to be. Do not get me wrong, he is good, but he is nothing “special” in terms of making someones lineup great… he is replaceable on anyones lineup. (unless ur the angels last season and decide to keep mathis in his place.. stupid move lol)
KyleB
Someone’s mad. Napoli was a top 3 catcher last season. Maybe even the best overall, and you say he’s easily replaceable……………….
It’s early in 2012, but this may qualify as the most asinine comment, while trying to be serious, of the new year. Congratulations.
phishtank
Perhaps Napoli is not the player that the Angels hoped he would be (a Mike Scioscia defensive specialist) – but he sure fit nicely in Arlington. Perhaps the problem in Anaheim is that they treated him like a failure.
TXHC
Exactly. So he’s not Pudge behind the plate. Not many are. He’s still passable defensively. Hell, Mike Piazza made a whole career out of being an average defensive catcher with a big bat. Scioscia is an idiot. Johnny Benches don’t come along every day.
TXHC
Dude, face it. Scioscia misevaluated him bigtime. He’s always had the potential to hit like that, he’s just never really been given the chance.