Thursday Newsletter time: Could Texas Rangers add to payroll by dealing from minor leagues?
Baseball has two currencies, money and prospects, and the Rangers have both as they look to spend this offseason.
For all of the talk out there about the Texas Rangers spending big this offseason, most of the speculation has been on free agents.
There are plenty of good ones out there, especially at shortstop. The Rangers have needs everywhere, as general manager Chris Young said last week.
But there are two kinds of currency in baseball — money and prospects — and the Rangers are at a point where they could trade from their minor-league depth to acquire a player with a hefty contract.
Jon Daniels, the president of baseball operations, said on the inaugural episode of the Texas Rangers Baseball Podcast that the team’s preference would be to hold onto the prospects and young MLB players.
However, the Rangers also have a long list of players who are eligible for the Rule 5 draft. They can’t all be protected, so some could end up being traded, and players currently on the 40-man roster could be moved to open spots for Rule 5-eligible players.
Which big-name big-leaguers could be had via trade? The Rangers might have an idea based on discussions they had at the trade deadline, and club officials will meet next week to, among other things, identify potential trade targets.
Would the Cincinnati Reds be willing to move veteran right-hander Sonny Gray? What about the New York Yankees and first baseman Luke Voit? Would the cash-strapped Oakland A’s, whose farm system has been depleted, be willing to trade first baseman Matt Olson?
The Rangers uncovered Nathaniel Lowe last offseason on the cheap, believing he could grow into an everyday first baseman after working in a platoon in Tampa Bay. Don’t be surprised if a deal like that comes together.
Fall League opens play
Three of the seven Rangers selected to play in the Arizona Fall League partook in the Surprise Saguaro’s season-opening win Wednesday, 5-0 over the Mesa Solar Sox.
Second baseman Justin Foscue went 1 for 3 with two walks, and his single in the third inning, compounded by a Solar Sox error, brought in the game’s first run.
Sam Huff started at first base, going 0 for 4, and 6-foot-10 right-hander Spencer Mraz tossed a scoreless ninth inning on only seven pitches.
Infielder Ezequiel Duran and right-handers Owen White, Tim Brennan and Eurdys Manon are the other four Rangers spending the fall in Surprise.
White and Brennan both missed significant time because of early-season broken bones and are trying to catch up on innings.
ICYMI …
We keep on trucking here at the Texas Rangers Newsletter. Coming next week: A trip to the instructional league. For now, here’s our latest stuff in case you missed it.
John Moore nerds on out 2022 roster.
The Sunday Read: No quick fix is coming.
Friday on the Farm: How Dustin Harris blossomed.
Another funky rotation in 2022?
Adolis Garcia and others who took steps forward.
Doggy video!
Everyone looks perfectly happy with what’s happening in this video. Enjoy. See you Friday.
I sure hope JD & Company don't fail to realize that there is at least one more year left in this rebuilding plan if they want to do it right.