Wednesday Newsletter time: Texas Rangers have multiple contingencies for delayed start to spring as lockout drags on
One thing that fits into every backup plan is the ability to spring into action within 24-48 hours of a new CBA
Spring training is supposed to start next week, but that clearly isn’t going to be happening amid the on-going labor strife that has baseball stuck in a lockout.
The 30 MLB team owners are meeting this week in Florida for their regularly scheduled quarterly meetings. Commissioner Rob Manfred, who has only solidified his place as the sport’s most hated figure during this debacle, is expected to speak Thursday.
With any hope the owners will send the players a new proposal, a serious proposal. If Manfred thought the request for a mediator would be a winning P.R. move, he was wrong.
The Texas Rangers, meanwhile, as is surely the case with the other 29 teams, have been coming up with contingency plans based on the potential length of spring training.
They are prepared to spring into action within 48 hours of the owners and players reaching a new collective bargaining agreement. The consensus is that the deal needs to be in place by the end of the month to avoid delaying the start of the regular season.
The Rangers are scheduled to open the 2022 campaign March 31 against the Yankees at Globe Life Field.
More roster plans
The Rangers added Joe McCarthy to the spring roster Monday, signing him to a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league camp. There have been a few other signings like that, including right-hander Nick Tropeano.
But there aren’t going to be many more.
The Rangers are planning to use internal invitees to fill out most spots that normally go to players on minor-league deals. The Rangers have more upper-level depth in the minors than they have had the past few seasons, and they want those players to continue developing and to begin to get a feel for the big-league environment.
The Rangers had 16 internal invites last year, but it was a unique camp in that minor-league camp was not running at the same time because of COVID-19 protocols. A similarly sized group could be headed to camp this year but because enough players are close to the majors.
Third baseman Josh Jung, right-hander Cole Winn, second baseman Justin Foscue and left-hander Jake Latz were among the 2021 invitees.
The invites usually have gone out by this time in a typical offseason. They won’t go out this year until there is an official start date for big-league camp.
Mr. Popularity
The hope here, for his sake, is that Manfred did not seem his name trending Sunday on Twitter and think it was a good thing.
It was an entertaining thing but not a good thing for Manfred.
Baseball fans were expressing their opinions on the commissioner, saying that he’s the kind of guy who _______. One example: Rob Manfred is the kind of guy who kicks dogs when no one is looking.
Here are the ones I liked the best.
Doggy video!
Our dog Lily does pretty much the exact same thing. Enjoy. See you Thursday.
Jeff, is a Startlegram staffer editing your writing?
Thanks, Jeff, the Manfred hate is welcomed. I actually laughed out loud in my office. But, seriously, I love baseball and this shit is getting old. I've spent good money going to spring training, buying MLB TV, going to games when it costs a fortune, but if this thing isn't resolved soon, I think I'm done. I hate to say it. If the players and owners can do without a season, I can do without MLB. It would be like giving up drinking, but I can do it. I was really looking forward to a trip to AZ.