TODAY: The Rangers have announced the signing. Dahl will earn $2.7MM in guaranteed money, MLB Network’s Jon Heyman tweets, with another $300K available in salary incentives.
DECEMBER 11: The Rangers and free-agent outfielder David Dahl have agreed to a one-year deal worth approximately $3MM, Jeff Passan of ESPN reports.
Texas will be the second major league franchise for the 26-year-old Dahl, who spent the first several seasons of his professional career as a member of the Colorado organization. Dahl is a former No. 10 overall pick and top 100 prospect who was a successful hitter with the Rockies for most of his time there (which spanned from 2016-20), but after he recorded woeful production last season, the Rockies moved on at the non-tender deadline a week ago. Instead of paying Dahl a projected $2.5MM to $2.7MM for 2021, Colorado cut him loose.
Dahl was just a .183/.222/.247 hitter without a single home run in 99 plate appearances last year, though he entered the campaign with a far more respectable .297/.346/.521 line with 38 HRs over 921 PA. Dahl even earned an All-Star nod in 2019. Of course, there were plenty of health issues that helped stop Dahl from making an even greater impact in Colorado. Rib, foot, ankle and back injuries have limited Dahl to a mere 264 games to this point, including just 24 in 2020, and he has only appeared in at least 100 contests in one season.
While Dahl does come with question marks, this still looks like an interesting buy-low signing on the part of the Rangers. If it works out, they’ll be able to control Dahl via arbitration through 2023. In 2021, Dahl – who has experience at all three outfield positions – should get ample chances to revive his career. Aside from Joey Gallo and Willie Calhoun, who endured their own significant drop-offs in 2020, the Rangers’ 40-man roster is sorely lacking outfielders who have experienced any real major league success.
The Dahl addition makes for the third noteworthy move the Rangers have made since they hired Chris Young as their new general manager on Dec. 4. Young and president of baseball operations Jon Daniels traded right-hander Lance Lynn to the White Sox and acquired first baseman Nate Lowe from the Rays earlier this week.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
SFBay314
how does SF miss out on Dahl?
jdgoat
Could you not make this comment for 28 other teams aha? SF sounds like a nightmare for a LHH trying to re-establish himself anyways.
MetsFan22
Not the Mets lol. Some teams are good in OF
Goose
He’s too young for the Mets. He hasn’t died yet.
wright1970
Metsfan22, uh yes the Mets couldve used him especially that cheap and controllable until 2023. Mets havent changed a bit still stupid moves
giantsphan12
Two points @SF and @JD, we have an over-crowded outfield, defensively (even tho Dickerson will likely get hurt at some point). I think Dahl’s price was either too low/ too high for FZ. In other words, the Giants may need to drop some $ to get the SP we need. Thus, for his LH batter, Zaidi is either going to go cheap (ie. Dahl being too expensive) or, try to get a proven impact bat (ie. Dahl was too cheap). Dahl was right in between. Lastly @ JD, right field at Oracle is a VERY different animal than years before, this past season with the archways closed. The wind was no long pushing against LH hits or right handed oppo-bombs. We saw left-handed pop-ups turn into HRs last season and quite a few opposite field HRs from RH hitters over the 22’ wall. The park, with the new bullpens just beyond the CF wall and archways closed is no longer so pitcher-friendly.
pustule bosey
I don’t think it has anything to do with money tbh. I hitter looking to rebuild is going to have a lot more success in texas than SF – I think you are overrating the offensive boost from the park as well – yes it plays better but it is still a pitchers park just not as extreme a pitcher’s park, you need to give it up to the new coaching staff tbh otherwise he team would have more extreme home road splits and you would see other teams teeing off when they get into SF.
Boe Jiden
But there is no indication if the archways will be closed permanently or not. No LH hitter can bank on that when making their decision.
Also, Dahl’s wife is runs a sports marketing company representing such athletes as Patrick Mahomes, so I’m sure they made a very calculated decision on how David can best set up the next stage of his career.
User 1104686089
I don’t think the Ranger’s new stadium is a hitter’s park anymore actually, it plays pretty big.
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
@Wolf Chan
Hitters are asking to come to SF now. This year, the Giants were hitters thanks to some minor changes around the Ballpark
Chev Chelios
Dahl owns the first ever hit at the new GLP.
giantsphan12
@wolf,
I agree about the money. Just a theory I threw out there. And, I agree that our new hitting staff may be a boon to the 2020 production, which is great going forward. But the park did play a lot smaller last year in right field. I agree the center field bullpens only help a little, but RF changed a lot. As a poster writes below, no guarantee that the archways will remain closed going forward, which is true. However, the giants inability to attract hitters in years past in FA (Stanton, Harper- so glad we didn’t get them personally- as examples) would make me think the giants are pretty motivated to keep the park as hitter friendly as possible going
forward.
dpsmith22
They better figure out what’s best for HER. Mr
Glass is running out of chances
justinkm19
You do realize that Texas has a new park, right? It’s no lover hitter friendly.
justinkm19
*longer
larry48
Dahl is out of Colorado I expect him to really hit and not get hurt. He is a good outfielder who can play all three. I think Texas got steal the way the altitude affects how a baseball moves or doesn’t and you really have to drink a lot of water.
LordD99
Unknown how it will play over a 162-game schedule.
ayrbhoy
Good point Chris- I believe you’re right, I think their new park becomes less of a hitters park when the roof is closed. I say this because I watched my team (Seattle) play a 3 game series in that new stadium.
The M’s had 15 Hits w 3 HR’s (inc a G Slam) in the 1st game where the Roof was open. They crushed TX in that game 10-2. The ball def seemed to be traveling farther in that hot air.
Next 2 days- TX closed the roof which dropped the temp about 20* Over games 2 and 3 Seattle had 12 Hits combined. Did closing the roof cause Seattle to lose those 2 games? Of course not! It was our BP Haha
DrDan75
@JDGoat
Alex Dickerson handled it quite nicely.
paddyo furnichuh
Rangers’ home park isn’t all that friendly for lefty power hitters either, unless they have great opposite field power.
kc38
You guys act like the player doesn’t get to pick where he signs. Maybe SF did make an offer and he turned it down? This isn’t MLB 2k where the highest offer always wins. This is human life
Dumpster Divin Theo
Human life? As opposed to what, animal life?
IACub
plant life?
ayrbhoy
Late Fastball life?
OK PLAY3R
Lol
dandan
What is this, a life for ants?
BobSacamano
The building has to be at least three times bigger than this!!!
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
MLB 2K?
Marty McRae
With Slater and Yaz, why do the Giants need Dahl?
JohnJasoJingleHeimerSchmidt
Left-handed hotting outfielders are going to be a target for Zaidi.
It wouldn’t surprise me if Dahl preferred a location where he’d be a starter and not a platoon option.
Marty McRae
Joc Pederson is a lefty LF out there AND is from Palo Alto, the Giants are probably going to get him instead – he’s way, way better than Dahl too.
scottn59c
Slater has no real track record to speak of. His injury history is not good – worse than Dahl’s, actually.
Francys01
This is a terrific signing by the Rangers. Great job.
Tim_Buck-Two
If he can stay healthy it will be a terrific signing. I was surprised to see them dole out 300k over his max figured arbitration numbers given his problem with injuries. Hopefully he can stay healthy, its always sad to see a highly touted prospect have there career derailed to injury. This hampers there developmental stages.
scottn59c
I agree that he would have been a good pickup for SF.
debubba
I was thinking the exact same thing with the Indians.
worthington
They already have a poor defensively LHH OF in Dickerson who has had trouble staying healthy.
Chrome
A lot of people have come up with a few good reasons — many factors fall in to this decision.
But they missed one.
Calif top tax bracket with the millionaire’s tax is 13.3% which is about $200k ( a SF Giants player pays taxes on the games at home and at LA and SD and Oakland. As well as Angels if they are part of the interleague play ).
Top tax bracket for Texas is 0%
$200k is a lot of beans when you are only making $3M and have just a one year contract
Prospectnvstr
It’s called FREE AGENCY for a reason. SF might’ve wanted Dahl but Dahl didn’t want SF.
dabrewcrew
Gonna miss him
seamaholic 2
Not really. In addition to famously never being healthy, Dahl is the opposite of what most clubs are looking for these days. He’s hyper aggressive, has loads of really bad AB’s, and swings at pitches he shouldn’t all the time. The league figured that out after that first half that got him his All-Star nod a couple years ago. He’ll hit some HR’s that will open your mouth in awe, but it’s generally not worth it. Also a mediocre outfielder — oddly, because he’s ultra careful and never goes for hard catches — despite being a good athlete. He’s a 4th OF type.
Down with OBP
This scouting report grades out as a 40.
seamaholic 2
I’ve been watching him since his debut. I doubt very many other folks on here can say that (just because there aren’t that many Rockies fans).
sdsuphilip
Or Detroit?
stymeedone
He was cheap enough for Detroit, and I’m getting tired of Cristen Stewart.
Rsox
Me too. She only has one facial expression…
AdleyMVP2022
Good signing
dan55
This is a really good signing as long as he can stay healthy.
Chev Chelios
There it is! Now they just need to sign Kim, Castro, Shaw (if Andrus/Odor leaves) and Archer or Descalfani
UnknownPoster
That’s it?
TheRickestRick
Travis Shaw?
Why would you want him?
Chev Chelios
I prefer Franco but I’d settle for Shaw as a backup CIF behind the starting 3B (hopefully Kim) and Lowe
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
Archer? Who would want him? He’s garbage
jdgoat
Damn talk about low risk high reward. I really like the start Young has had in Texas.
Ma4170
Agreed… I feel like getting young upside guys like Lowe and Dahl for very little could have a huge payoff
FWsportsman
This is a low risk signing by CY.
justinkm19
JD is still making the decisions.
i like al conin
And he’s under control for 2 additional seasons? For the 2021 cost of a 4th OF? Amazing.
Halo11Fan
Are you sure about that? I’m not sure how that works.
Chev Chelios
Yes he’s under control until through 2023. Read the article dude
Halo11Fan
Man dude, you don’t have to be rude. Do you read every word of every article where you make a post?
If not, then you are a hypocrite for writing such a post.
Chev Chelios
Hahaha ok dude
Halo11Fan
You do know the definition of hypocrite…right? Do you read every word of every article where you make a post?
iverbure
Telling someone to read the article is not rude when the information is in the article that you are questioning. Stop being rude and wasting people’s time and commenting on these you haven’t read. Apology accepted your welcome.
thatdudetg
In his defense, in the original article, the arbitration years were not mentioned. It meerly mentioned the fact that the Rangers had signed Dahl for $3m over the 2021 season.
Halo11Fan
Pointing out that the information is in the article is not rude. Telling someone to read the article is.
Do you read every word of every article where you make a post? I know when this has happened, I point out it’s in the article.
Halo11Fan
Yes, most articles have “more to come”.
Ducky Buckin Fent
Well…actually I – personally – do.
jimdevinmoriah
I do, why would you post on an article if you have not read the whole thing or even read it?
Ducky Buckin Fent
Pretty much the reason I post on so few articles.
Lol…I sorta always thought that I “had to”.
Oddvark
At least he got a little raise by being non-tendered.
Halo11Fan
In baseball terms, three million is nothing.
It’s a good move by the Rangers, I hope he stays healthy and plays well against every team other than the Angels.
stubby66
it will be interesting to see how his body now reacts to when he does get hurt in how it heals. It has been a known fact that it is hindered by Colorado sea level
dpsmith22
The guy, while talented, is a chandelier. For the price though, it’s a good move.
lolzmets
You should have used a period instead of a comma. Pointing out your poor copy isn’t rude.
bob9988 2
How did Seattle pass this up? 3mill for a team with no payroll? Unless he just didn’t want to come up here.
swinging wood
This offseason is going to be nasty. RIP the 2022 season.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
What kind of Horse Schiff is this?
Was Elias of the Orioles taking a snooze ?
Oh well Elias did bring in the scout who signed JBJ, so there is hope
dpsmith22
Why? O’s don’t need Dahl. Like we need another Reimold? The scout that signed JBJ? He is a glorified 4th of.
Lefty_Orioles_Fan
I don’t by either explanation, Irv!!!
Rsox
Good pickup for the Rangers. Dahl in LF, Taveras in CF, Gallo in RF, solid OF.
Marty McRae
Gallo won’t be there, but 2/3 aint bad.
thatdudetg
No chance the Rangers trade Gallo.
Marty McRae
They’re rebuilding, aren’t they?
Rangers29
With all the moves that have happened recently… maybe expect a Gallo extension soon…
But that probably wouldn’t happen this winter with Boras as his agent. Just expect him to stick around.
Stevil
Honest question: Do you really think Gallo is a core player and will be a part of the next contending Texas team?
Rangers29
Yes, but that may also be because I think we can conceivably contend in 2022. He’d leave the biggest hole on our team if he got traded, and his defense and arm is stellar. Yes, his bat took a huge hit last season (no pun intended), but it was because he was intimidated by the new park. He’ll be more conformable next season and I honestly think he’ll be great again.
User 1104686089
Yeah he is definitely a core player. Gallo needs help and hitters around him so that pitchers have to challenge him more often. I am of the opinion that this was the main reason for his drop off. Todd Frasier even talked about it at one point during the season.
dudeman40
Gallo should NEVER be intimidated- that sounds like a comment from down the street in the neighbors stadium.
Gallo doesn’t like the stadium and has said so. Only 2 years of Gallo left – trade him now!!!
Marty McRae
These comments read like Rangers fans who do not want Gallo to be traded, which is different to reality, where he most likely very much will be traded.
I’m sorry, get ready for heartbreak. Don’t tell us you didn’t see it coming though, because we told you.
Stevil
He had a monster 2019, so 2021 will be huge for both him and Texas. Their approach this offseason looks good so far. I think a lot has to go right to contend in 2022, but they’re doing exactly what they should be doing, so it will be fun to see how it plays out.
Rangers29
^
Oddvark
I am skeptical that the Rangers will be contenders in 2022, but I don’t think the team’s view on their chances is why they are unlikely to trade Gallo now. Rather they don’t want to sell low on him after his sub-par 2020, and there is no reason for them to not give him a chance to do better in 2021 and then trade him next year (or at the deadline) for what will hopefully be a much better return than they would get now.
FWsportsman
Joey is the key player for this team. I have a feeling he’s going to have a monster year.
etex211
Gallo is Chris Davis 2.0. The Rangers should trade him while others still think he has value.
DTDATL
Solid move for the Rangers if he can stay on the field
TheRickestRick
Now that is his problem.
But he is a good player, when he’s healthy
Oddvark
I still don’t understand why Colorado non-tendered him given his low expected arbitration salary.
Wadz
Probably tired of him being hurt every other minute.
larry48
If you can figure out why Colorado does anything you are better than me, Colorado is the worst run front office in MLB.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I’m not better than you for sure bc I haven’t understood the Rockies for a long time. Let’s say that they did offer arb and sign Dahl for $2.7M which MLBTR projects on the high end. Based on $3M the Rangers signed him for, there is a $300k salary disparity. If the Rockies did their proper due diligence, they could’ve shipped him off to a team for a prospect worth that ballpark amount or slightly less. Another Rockies fail here.
Deleted Userrr
Rangers are just as much of a fail here. Could have offered the Rockies a minor league with minimal upside and not have had to pay Dahl as much $.
Rangers29
I don’t understand it from the Rox perspective at all. Push for a lotto ticket trade and there you go. Gone. And I don’t care if we signed him for more than what he is being owed, it’s a minuscule amount anyways. This is a great move imo.
Deleted Userrr
Trading a prospect with little if any upside and paying Dahl less money would have been an even better move. The Rockies non-tendered Dahl so it’s not like they would have held out for something decent in the trade.
Rangers29
With the Rangers’ luck, I wouldn’t do that.
Think of it this way: 300k has no chance at being better than 300k. Though a lotto ticket has a chance to hit big. A small chance, but a chance nonetheless. The only thing 300k is, is 300k.
filthyrich
They got eyes on Matt Kemp
iang2424
Perfect addition for the Rangers. Wanted the Rangers to sign him the moment he was non-tendered.
stan lee the manly
Dang, was really hoping for St. Louis to pick him up
cheeese
Rangers are making some interesting moves. Seems liked they want to reset and avoid a full rebuild.
dpsmith22
Or they are hoping for a rebound so they can deal him at the break.
Dalton1017
With their starting rotation that is unlikely… but i do think they want to put together a competitive team that their fans can be excited about going to watch.. they have a brand new stadium to fill you know.
Superstar Car Wash
I CALLED IT!!!!!!!
Actually I didn’t, but I just wanted to see what it felt like when somebody types that.
I don’t feel any different, and nothing cool has happened to me since declaring that.
thatdudetg
Who would have thought the Texas Rangers would be the most active team this week? Young is making some very intriguing moves.
justinkm19
On the insider radio station in town they are saying that JD is still making the sections right now.
dazedatnoon
Dunning and Dahl are nice pickups. congrats
etex211
Dont forget about Nate Lowe.
HalosHeavenJJ
Wow. Was hoping the Angels might get him to start in RF and give Adell some time, then rotate between LF and RF and pinch hit.
Chev Chelios
They should trade Adell for SP. Marsh is the real star IMO
Dorothy_Mantooth
Great signing by Texas! I was hoping he’d land in Boston but he’ll probably get more playing time in Arlington so he made the right choice. For a team claiming they were trying to reduce payroll, Texas has been pretty active, albeit on the low end of the market.
thatdudetg
If you take into consideration that Choo is now off the books. They’ve definetely cut back on the payroll.
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
Yea where’s Boston?
Dorothy_Mantooth
Right next to Cambridge
LordD99
42.361145, -71.057083.
DocBB
Man his Offensive numbers at first glance look solid…then you look at his WAR which is heavily weighed down by putrid D and massive home/away split difference. Career .722 OPS away 1.0 career WAR in 4 years…..
Marty McRae
1/$3M is literally nothing, he doesn’t have to do anything, its a lottery type deal but most betting people would bet on him being an offensive force if he stays healthy, which could lead to prospects in a trade. It’s the move rebuilding teams have to make.
jdgoat
One thing you have to take into account with road stats for Rockies hitters is that they are set up for large splits. The vast majority of their road stats get skewed in three division rivals parks, while Arizona is the only real hitter friendly one. Every other team in their division has their road stats aided by 9-10 games in Coors.
What that works out to, I don’t know? But maybe if they play 30 more road games in more neutral or hitter friendly parks, the ops turns from .720 to .760.
mlb9229
Great low risk move. Didn’t think it made sense for the Rockies to let him go.
Get rid of the softball players
I wonder what the vegas line is for baseball executive of the year is for 2021.
Fanfran gm faidi or clevland gm chernoff will win.easy money
dpsmith22
Faidi? hahhah yea ok..
YankeesBleacherCreature
Derek Jeter/Kim Ng is the bet I’m taking.
Rangers29
Heck if the Chris Young and Jon Daniels duo keeps doing what they’re doing, then… he he.
BlueJaysMania
Nice pickup for the Rangers. If he can even perform at a 1 WAR level it will be a good move.
a username
As a Cardinals fan I just gotta say we better get Joc
giantsphan12
If the Cards haven’t ponied up for one 10MM + option season for Yadi yet, I don’t think they’re gonna go after Joc.
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
Who would want Joc? He’s terrible
Dorothy_Mantooth
Joc should change his name to Jaba.
larry48
St Louis, I dought it but Peterson will hit a lot of home run off right hander. He would do well in Texas also.
joeyrocafella
Good signing! Dahl is a very good player
Rangers29
I have to assume this means Solak moves to 2b (which I really don’t like too much… don’t like the defense). Move Dahl to LF, Taveras in CF, Gallo in RF. I was quick to say that this might mean we’re out on Kim, but he can play 3b too… That would be a fairly sexy team. Think about this:
Taveras
Lowe
Gallo
Solak
Dahl
IKF
Calhoun
Kim
Trevino
That is a sexy lineup for this “retool”. I might love this move. Of course, I’d rather have Solak in LF, but this still might mean we can sign Kim. Only downside, Jung is coming up soon. If we sign Kim it would be for multiple years, so we’d have to work around that.
I am starting to love CY and JD together. This is progress.
PutPeteRoseInTheHall
Still doesn’t compete, even in the AL West. Maybe not even with the Giants…
User 1104686089
That is definitely progress. I will take that lineup all day. Lot’s of young guys and lots of upside.
hurricanewar23
You used sexy a lot!
filthyrich
They’re one Bartolo from a best selling calendar.
dudeman40
Solak at 2nd or have Odor starting – which one ya want????
justinkm19
Coming from a Rangers fan, if Solak is our clean-up hitter we have a problem. Solak is a line-drive hitter and would prefer him to be batting 5th or 6th.
Roper
Although Leody might eventually be a good lead off hitter, probably better pencil him into the nine hole to relieve pressure. Shouldn’t Dahl lead off? I am thinking he did just that in the 2020 opening series.
Dalton1017
Kim is the 3B give Solak 2b which the Rangers already said they were doing when they made the move from Elvis to IKF they said Solak would be given a shot at ST… his to lose. until we get Kim though i have Lowe at 3B which is scary bad defensivly…
etex211
I’m not ready to “banish” Calhoun to DH just yet. I’m wondering if the Dahl signing doesn’t signal that they are ready to move Gallo…
Dalton1017
Calhoun is a liability. he gets terrible jumps on the ball and has as much speed as Prince Fielder. We shall banish him.
BobSacamano
Woo, good thing he didn’t sign with DET. We might’ve locked ourselves up for the #2 overall behind PITT! 26 year old, 286/.334/.494 $3m and 3 years of team control, yikes! We sure don’t need that kind of insurance. Yupp, no way he’s out playing Derek Hill, Travis Demmerite, and Christin Stewart!
Rangers29
Hello darkness my old friend…
tigerdoc616
First, you don’t know what Avila is planning. He could be shooting for better than Dahl. Second, Dahl’s splits are very mediocre away from Coors field and honestly, probably not worth $3M the Rangers paid.
BobSacamano
I hope you’re right! google.com/amp/s/www.mlive.com/tigers/2020/12/al-a…
jim stem
He gets released AND a raise. Only in professional sports…
Good for Rangers’ fans, though. At least your ownership is trying.
bobtillman
Dahl’s wife is an agent who represents Patrick Mahomes, among others; they’re probably not worrying about affording dinner any time soon.
He’s also got an option remaining, so for a decently-heeled team like the Rangers, he’s a good get. Nice upside, minimal risk.
Mr_KLC
Astros dropped the ball here, IMO.
Dalton1017
at least it wasn’t a trash can lid… Yankees fans would feel out again
Oddvark
The Rangers are stocking up on left-handed bats with Nate Lowe and now Dahl. On top of Gallo and Calhoun. Not sure if Odor counts as a bat.
angt222
Shrewd move for TEX.
Jeff Zanghi
Really solid signing for TEX… he has AS-caliber ability… not saying he will definitely be an all-star (again) but there are very few guys as young as he is with the potential to be as impactful in a lineup as he could be. Especially not for just $3M — and on top of that… if he does wind up staying healthy and being productive they can control him for 2 more years. Really solid pickup for a rebuilding club finding potential value like this on the free agent market isn’t an easy thing to do for a team in the midst of a rebuild. He offers potential immediate production and longer-term potential. I think the fit was/is perfect for both sides.
Goose
For Colorado to let him go and the Rangers to get him that cheap something has to be up with his medical records.
BobSacamano
This reminds me when/how CLE picked up Cesar Hernandez last year… only way way better.
hurricanewar23
Rangers are having a great offseason and I am actually excited to see what this team can do.
Murphy NFLD
Texas and florida have the best state tax for players and canada the worst, so that 3 mil per season is equal to about 4 with most teams and 5 if he signed with the jays. So the jays would have had to pay 7-10
BobSacamano
Not to mention you’re that much further north! As a DET fan, I feel like we’ll always be behind the eight ball. 1 who wants to live in Det Mi? 2 who wants to play in that weather? 3 it’s literally the most dangerous city (in US and CAN), do you really want to bring your family there? Teams like TOR and DET shouldn’t be penalized for going over the luxury tas… (relax, I’m kidding)
BobSacamano
Tax*.. but, honestly unless you grew up a DET fan or lived in MI, you can almost certainly expect to outbid the other 29..
bush1
It’s a cool stadium. Rough city, bad hitter park, crap baseball weather, and a state ran by a hypocritical moron. Other than that played would be lining up..
Michael Chaney
A lot of comments are gonna say “I wish [insert team here] had signed him” but the Indians REALLY should have been in on him.
They desperately need an outfielder with legitimate upside; Mercado could turn it around but he’s a huge question mark at this point, and they missed a huge chance to get Daniel Johnson some at bats last year.
For the same price they’re projected to pay Hedges to be the backup catcher, they could have gotten an outfielder that (while obviously needing to rebuild his value) could have more than enough upside to be a long-term starter in an outfield that badly needs one.
Dorothy_Mantooth
I’m sure Cleveland checked in on him but if he was projected to make in the mid $2M’s through arbitration, there’s little chance that the frugal Indians would have offered him more than his estimated arbitration salary like Texas did. While $3M is not a big number for baseball salaries, it is quite rare for a team to sign a non-tendered arbitration eligible player for more money than he was expected to earn in arbitration. That was probably the difference maker for Dahl, along with the opportunity to play every day. Let’s hope the kid can finally stay healthy. If he does, he’ll be well worth the investment.
Deleted_User
It’s actually not quite as uncommon as you might think. After the 2016 season, the Diamondbacks non-tendered Welington Castillo. The Orioles then picked him up on a one-year deal for about the same as he was projected to get in arb or slightly more AND they gave him a player option for about the same AAV. You’d think that not having to give him a player option would have been worth giving up a fringe prospect and you’d think a fringe prospect is better than the nothing Arizona got for him in OTL right?
CalcetinesBlancos
“Rib, foot, ankle and back injuries have limited Dahl to a mere 264 games to this point, including just 24 in 2020, and he has only appeared in at least 100 contests in one season.”
I’ll be floored if this doesn’t end the way we assume it will. Nice job scoring the $3 million guarantee though.
wu tang killa beez
Agree with @Dorothy_Mantooth.
Great nickname by the way, you are a saint !
Roper
Although Leody might eventually be a good lead off hitter, probably better pencil him into the nine hole to relieve pressure. Shouldn’t Dahl lead off? I am thinking he did just that in the 2020 opening series.
Deleted Userrr
Weird. Isn’t that more money than he was projected to get in arb? Why didn’t Texas just trade a lottery ticket for him? That would have worked out for both sides. Rockies get SOMETHING for Dahl. Rangers save some money.
Ketch
Headline: “Rangers Agree to Deal With David Dahl”
Me: “It’s about #&**$€!! time somebody dealt with David Dahl!! This situation has gone on for too long!!”
You: “You have issues, Ketch”
silentbob2001
I am upset that #DahlToDetroit did not happen.
braves4life1
I’ll be honest, I was so hoping that Anthopolus would pull the trigger on bringing Dahl in for the Atlanta Braves. Dahl is a perfect buy low/prove it to me Contract that absolutely could have replaced Duvall. Not to mention he is an Alabama boy who absolutely no doubt grew up a Braves fan. I think Atlanta missed on a nice OF addition.
LordD99
Way better deal than the White Sox signing Eaton.
Dalton1017
RANGERS WS LINE UP AND BULLPEN ARE READY NOW ONLY WAITING TO ADD MORE STARTING PITCHING…
1. DUNNING
2. CODY
3. ???
4. GIBSON
5. ALLARD
BULLPEN
CL JOSE LECLERC
SU JONATHAN HERNANDEZ
SU DEMARCUS EVANS
SU RAFAEL MONTERO
.BRETT DE GEUS
JOE GATTO
BRETT MARTIN
ART WARREN
LR JOE PALUMBO
LINEUP
C JOSE TREVINO .260 8 HR 4 SB
1B RONALD GUZMAN .260 23 HR 2 SB
2B NICK SOLAK .290 25 HR 15 SB
SS INSAIAH KINER FALEFA .310 15 HR 24 SB
3B NATE LOWE .285 32 HR 3 SB
LF DAVID DAHL .290 25 HR 42 SB
CF LEODY TAVARAS 12 HR 112 SB
RF JOEY GALLO .260 60 HR 20 SB
DH WILLIE CALHOUN .308 28 HR 2 1/2 SB
JORDAN LYLES
Rangers29
How about get rid of Odor and Guzman, sign Kim and Walker and then be left with this:
JOSE LECLERC
JON HERNANDEZ
RAFAEL MONTERO
DEMARCUS EVANS
JOE GATTO
BRETT MARTIN
JOELY RODRIGUEZ
JOE BARLOW
JOE PALUMBO
TAVERAS
DAHL
SOLAK
GALLO
IKF
CALHOUN
KIM
LOWE
TREVINO
WALKER
DUNNING – HEARN (PIGGYBACK)
CODY – ALLARD (PIGGYBACK)
GIBSON
LYLES
THAT’S GREAT
Dalton1017
I don’t like Lyles in the rotation. I think he is really good out of the pen and the Rangers should just let another young guys get experience.
rangerfan4ever
Except put Lyles in the pen let Allard start
BobGibsonFan
I dont get it… it’s supposed to be a down year for contracts, yet Dahl gets more than projected arbitration. Why couldnt the rockies have traded him then?
Rangers could have save a couple hundred grand by trading anything to the rockies… rockies would have gained… “anything”.
CNichols
The projected arbitration $ kinda goes out the window once he’s a free agent though right? At that point it just becomes who’s offering the most money to entice him to sign with them.
The Rockies definitely shouldn’t have non-tendered him though, what they did makes no sense unless you’re just blindly shedding salary.
Rob66
Minor and Lynn signings seemed like over pays at the time and look how they worked out? These are the kind of signings that can pay off handsomely.
LordD99
This is certainly not an overpay.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
Given his still relative youth, I would have though Dahl could have gotten more than a one-year deal for $3 million. That’s chump change in baseball today.
Would have liked to have seen my Phillies sign him. We need a CF and Dahl’s left-handed bat would be a plus for our all-too-right handed lineup now that Didi is gone.
Dalton1017
he is still arb eligible through 2023
mikemcsaudi
Dahl’s one of those good bets to make in baseball. There is still some meat on that bone.
seamaholic 2
Nope. 29 teams are not wrong.
rangerfan4ever
I love this signing
Orel Saxhiser
This will be the next poor decision to haunt the Rockies. It made no sense letting Dahl walk for what they were paying him, and he wouldn’t have been a FA until 2024. Bring him back and if he produces, trade him at the deadline for a prospect or two. Instead, they get nothing and are still overpaying the likes of Desmond. If the Rockies are beginning a rebuild, they are off to a horrible start. I hate watching franchises destroy themselves. Good job by the Rangers, though. Young is off to an excellent start.
seamaholic 2
Dahl is mediocre at best and can’t stay on the field. Look at his peripherals. His two good (partial) years were driven almost entirely by good batted ball luck. HIs exit velocity, despite good power, is bottom half of the league, which is always a bad sign. And he’s an awful defender.
No one else wanted him (which we know because his price was exactly what his arb salary would have been). There’s a reason for that. It’s a touch unlikely that the Rangers (of all teams) have the only smart FO in baseball!
Dalton1017
you and the commenter John jaso should get together some time…
Mario93
Fantastic signing for the Rangers. Rockies, you’re dumb. Extremely dumb.
Dorothy_Mantooth
Well done, Texas! Can’t go wrong for $3M for a young All-Star caliber OF. I hope he stays healthy and lights it up this year. Such a bad decision by Colorado to non-tender him at that price point.
Angry Disgruntled Sox Fan
If he stays healthy, he’s very underrated. Rangers struck a gold mine.