Monday Newsletter time: There is Texas Rangers-related baseball news, just not in the United States
Korea and the Caribbean are hotbeds of Rangers news as the MLB lockout continues with no end in sight.
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The Texas Rangers Newsletter staff was mostly off last week, except for a few items that are linked to below, but the content shortfall wasn’t that big of a deal with baseball all but frozen by the lockout.
MLB teams can hire coaches and sign minor-league free agents and work with minor-league players. The Rangers did that earlier this month at a hitting camp in Arizona.
But there is baseball business being conducted in various parts of the world, some with implications for the Rangers.
Time to play some catch-up.
Hyeon-Jong Yang is going home. The left-hander has re-signed with the Kia Tigers of the Korea Baseball Organization after one season giving the majors a try. Yang was a star pitcher for the Tigers for 14 seasons before the 2021 season.
He returns with some memorable moments, but his experiment was mostly disappointment after going 0-3 with a 5.60 ERA in 35 1/3 innings. He started the season at the alternate camp site and twice was designated for assignment and assigned to Triple A Round Rock.The winter leagues in the Caribbean continue to play ball, though the seasons are winding down. The Dominican Winter League has entered the semifinals its season, the “Round Robin” of 18 games in 24 days between four teams. The top two teams play for the league title and entry into the Caribbean Series.
One of the four teams is Aguilas, where Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras is playing. He started all 40 regular-season games and delivered two hits and an RBI as Aguilas won a play-in game over Escogido.
Taveras finished the regular season batting .274 with 12 steals, two homers, 19 RBIs, 24 walks and only 23 strikeouts.
The Puerto Rican Winter League is closing out the regular season, and Rangers prospect Blaine Crim helped Mayaguez become the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Crim enters Monday batting .400 with 1.029 OPS in 22 games/102 at-bats.
If Dustin Harris moves permanently to the outfield, Crim would become the Rangers’ top prospect at first base.
Teams pass on Wash
Former Rangers manager Ron Washington wants to manage again before all is said and done. He has many ringing endorsements, including from in-limbo first baseman Freddie Freeman after he learned from Washington the past five seasons with the Atlanta Braves.
Alas, Washington, the Braves’ third-base coach and infield guru, will have to wait at least another offseason.
Four teams had managerial openings this offseason, and each one passed. The biggest surprise might have been the San Diego Padres not even interviewing Washington after he was one of two finalists two years ago.
One theory that was floated to me: Padres general manager A.J. Preller, the former Rangers assistant GM, wanted to distance himself some from the Rangers after the hiring of former Rangers assistant Jayce Tingler over Washington backfired. That makes some sense, and hiring Washington would have forced Preller to admit he made a mistake.
The Oakland A’s, for whom Washington has worked twice, also passed when last week they hired assistant coach Mark Kotsay. The A’s had an opening after the Padres hired Bob Melvin.
Another former Rangers manager, Buck Showalter, was just hired by the New York Mets. The St. Louis Cardinals hired Oli Marmol following the surprising dismissal of Mike Shildt.
ICYMI …
Christmas has passed, much to the disappointment of my kids. They did pretty well, but I’m pretty sure they haven’t been keeping up with the Newsletter. If you’re in the same boat, don’t worry. Here’s the latest in case you missed it.
The Sunday Read: Rangers’ 2021 a success? Yes.
The gift that keeps on giving.
Catching up with Baseball America’s rankings.
Texas Rangers Baseball Podcast: Guest Dustin Harris
T.R. Sullivan’s ballot for the Hall of Fame
Doggy video!
In honor of my nephew, Logan, who spent last week with his two cousins (my kids) following him just about everywhere. Enjoy. See you Tuesday.
Does Venezuela no longer have a winter league?