While it’s been a rough season for the Rangers, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports writes in this week’s AL Notes column that one source indicates to him that manager Jeff Banister is “100 percent” coming back. The third-year skipper could potentially turn in his third straight winning the season, but the Rangers’ 76 losses already guarantee that the 2017 season will be the team’s worst with Banister at the helm.
A bit more from the AL West…
- Heyman also reports that top Rangers prospect — the centerpiece of their return for Yu Darvish — has hired Scott Boras to represent him. The 22-year-old Calhoun raised his profile as one of the best offensive prospects in the minors this season, hitting a combined .300/.355/.572 with 31 homers, 27 doubles and six triples between the Triple-A affiliates for the Rangers and Dodgers. While Calhoun is obviously quite a ways from reaching arbitration, the move is of some note, given that Boras clients typically forgo early-career extensions. Calhoun’s agency switch will be noted in MLBTR’s Agency Database, which features representation info on more than 2,500 Major League and Minor League players. If you see any notable errors or omissions, you can let us know via email: mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com.
- The Mariners “are thought” to have some interest in Mitch Moreland and Lucas Duda as first base options this offseason, per Heyman. Seattle is currently deploying Yonder Alonso and Danny Valencia as its primary first basemen, though both are eligible for free agency at season’s end. Prospect Dan Vogelbach serves as an in-house option, though he comes with fewer than 40 plate appearances of experience in the Majors.
- While the Mariners have endured plenty of struggles in the rotation this season, club executives are pleased with the depth that comes with the additions of veteran Mike Leake and controllable young Marco Gonzales, writes Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune. Gonzales has struggled in the Majors thus far, but he’s had a generally solid year in Triple-A in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. Leake, meanwhile, has bounced back terrifically in Seattle following a trade from the Cardinals. General manager Jerry Dipoto explained to Dutton that Leake has been worth two or more wins above replacement on a yearly basis and hasn’t seen his skill set significantly diminish, even through a rough stretch toward the end of his Cardinals tenure. Skipper Scott Servais spoke highly of right-hander Andrew Moore as well when chatting with Dutton. Dutton notes that the trio of Leake, Gonzales and Moore will pair with Felix Hernandez, James Paxton, Erasmo Ramirez and Ariel Hernandez to once again give the club its fair share of depth next year.
- Angels lefty Andrew Heaney played catch Thursday and is still hopeful that he can start again this season, writes Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Heaney has been sidelined by a shoulder impingement recently, and with the young southpaw unable to start, the Halos will again turn to Bud Norris to start a bullpen game this weekend, per Fletcher. Norris tossed two innings the last time he did so and was one of three pitchers (joining Yusmeiro Petit and Blake Wood) to throw two innings that day.
Valencia started this season at 5.118 and has been active all year. He will also be walking this offseason
Think you mean Ariel Miranda.
I think the writer means Ariel Miranda (Mariners P not Hernandez (the Reds P).
I thought they might put more consideration into Dan Vogelbach.
Same. I thought Vogelbach would have made a very good 1B or at least DH. They haven’t even tried though. However, I’m not sure how great he truly is beyond AAA stats.
I hope they do too. Good minors numbers again, just hope he can improve defensively as to not be a liability.
For vogelbach to get serious consideration he has to tear the cover off the ball. Since coming to the M’s he’s put up wRC+ of 122 and 128 at Tacoma. For a 1B who doesn’t provide defensive value that just isn’t good enough.
He gets on base and works counts, no doubt he could probably be serviceable in the bigs.
That was still a horrible trade.
Got that off my chest again.
They talk about one of his attributes of hitting is his short arms. They say it helps him get around on pitches faster. That attribute is a detriment to his D. He can’t make the play a taller longer armed player can. His time at 1st is limited anyway. With White coming up.
I know it is a small sample size but I haven’t seen an at bat that has impressed me. Many of them he swings at the 1st pitch and pops up or grounds out. I thought he was supposed to work the count, see a couple pitches. I am cynical because I have hated this trade from day 1 can we get Montgomery back and undo the trade?
I think you meant Miranda not Hernandez.
Sorry I posted this before I could see that others had already pointed it out.
Steve must have been in a hurry tonight to get this up before a deadline. First the Miranda error, and then the first sentence about Calhoun doesn’t mention his name either: “Heyman also reports that top Rangers prospect — the centerpiece of their return for Yu Darvish — has hired Scott Boras to represent him.” Fortunately, reading on tells you that Calhoun hired Boras, but he should be listed in the first sentence. Haste makes waste.
I’ll never understand why people think they need to critique someone’s writing on a sports page. They aren’t writing novels.
No rotation option of Andrew Albers for the Mariners??? You’re missing pieces dude.