Are the Texas Rangers Good Enough to Dare Get Better?

By Richie Whitt Thu., Jul. 8 2010 at 8:40 AM

Categories: Texas Rangers

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Let's don't talk too loud - might wake them up - but your Texas Rangers are suddenly 5.5 games ahead of the Anaheim Angels in the American League West. Another good start by Colby Lewis, another pivotal hit by Michael Young, another save by Neftali Feliz and, presto, a 4-3 win over the Indians and a smidge more breathing room.

With the lowly Baltimore Orioles (9-34 on the road) in town for four games, it's not unthinkable that the Rangers could push the gap another couple of games before next week's All-Star Break. Has the Rangers' schedule been relatively easy? Sure. They're now 36-11 against teams with losing records.

Nonetheless, I don't remember feeling more hopeful, more optimistic at an All-Star break in a long time.

Now, the question is, should the Rangers go for it? As in, do you trade long-term prospects for right-now help?

The Rangers are apparently intensifying talks with the Seattle Mariners about pitcher Cliff Lee. Good news: He would instantly become this team's ace. Bad news: He's a free agent after the season.

The Mariners reportedly want someone in return like pitcher Tanner Scheppers, Martin Perez or Alexi Ogando. The Rangers, meanwhile, are dangling AAA players Chris Davis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

If it's the latter two, I say done deal. You?

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Baseball, Chris Davis, Cliff Lee, Jarrod Saltalamacchia

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ben & skin want Smoak involve in ANY deal in order to promote Longview What's? Chris Davis. Galloway is on the fence. Rhyner doesn't care anymore.
This is what the Rangers need to get to the playoffs and then summarily swept out in the first round by the Sox or Yankees: -cliff lee and roy oswalt -a 15 game lead going into August -sold by 7/9 -a mass prayer grouping that can keep the wheels on this thing -replace warsh w/uncle clint
"The Rangers, meanwhile, are dangling AAA players Chris Davis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia." You couldn't get a cup of coffee for those two.
Reportedly, Seattle asked for Holland and K-ris davis so that seems realistic. If all it takes then is to add Ogando, do it. Even if Cliff Lee were to leave via FA the Rangers would get 2 high draft picks as compensation, so as long as we don't have to giveup Scheppers or Perez do it!!
"russell" - i suppose from my stance i consider anyone in the minors that hasn't had a long career in the majors a prospect. Obviously Davis has more experience than most, but i personally believe he's still young enough to get things turned around.
"scruffy" - Log jams are a good thing on a team that's unlikely to sign the vast majority of it's all star quality free agents....are guys like Harden, Feldman, Mathis, or Nippert really causing a log jam? I wouldn't lose any sleep if any one of those guys were replaced for a younger prospect. Name one guy in the rotation capable of being a legit Ace? Wilson? that's as close as you will come. Then what happens if guys like Oliver, O Day, Lewis, ect. decide to hit free agency here in the next year or two? Is there a log jam forming at catcher? are you sold smoak is the real deal (i believe he will be, but he hasn't shown it)? If we were talking about a guy who was interested in sticking around the area and wouldn't mind signing a 1 or 2 year extension after the trade i would be fully suportive of trading for Lee...he's one of the leagues elite without question, but great small market teams accomplish their longevity through patience....1 or 2 more years and this team will have the pieces and experience needed to rival anyone in the league
"scruffy" - Log jams are a good thing on a team that's unlikely to sign the vast majority of it's all star quality free agents....are guys like Harden, Feldman, Mathis, or Nippert really causing a log jam? I wouldn't lose any sleep if any one of those guys were replaced for a younger prospect. Name one guy in the rotation capable of being a legit Ace? Wilson? that's as close as you will come. Then what happens if guys like Oliver, O Day, Lewis, ect. decide to hit free agency here in the next year or two? Is there a log jam forming at catcher? are you sold smoak is the real deal (i believe he will be, but he hasn't shown it)? If we were talking about a guy who was interested in sticking around the area and wouldn't mind signing a 1 or 2 year extension after the trade i would be fully suportive of trading for Lee...he's one of the leagues elite without question, but great small market teams accomplish their longevity through patience....1 or 2 more years and this team will have the pieces and experience needed to rival anyone in the league
I agree with what you said Chris, but the problem is Davis has shown nothing but a below the Mendoza line hitter the entire time he was in the majors. Will he get it figured out....uh maybe? But calling them "prospects" at the present moment we can't because they're not marketable in any way, shape or form with their shortcomings.
"Russell" - you might try watching baseball a bit, guys go from failed prospects to solid contributers/stars all of the time....just look at cruz. I wouldn't give up on Davis because he's a gold glove caliber 1st baseman who if he ever clicks and figures out how to hit big league pitching could be an all star 1st baseman 5-6 years from now. As for salty, that's all mental....i would hate to see a guys career ruined over something as simple as being able to toss the ball back to the pitcher. "Lesbians Can Love" - Will The phillies be remembered for making it to the world series? For every team you can show me that had a solid run after trading for a big time free agent i can show you a dozen who wished they hadn't. Just ask the Braves how that texiera trade worked out. This team CANNNOT afford the big time FA's needed to compete with the likes of the Redsox or Yankees, thus the only way we will ever have a shot at having a front line starting rotation is through a deep farm system. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not oppossed to making a trade i simply wouldn't trade a group of our top prospects for a guy you know will be leaving to go pitch for one of the big boys once free agency hits
Where does the mentality that this team doesn't have pieces to spare come from? The whole idea of stocking the minors is to be able to trade some and still have a strong farm while acquiring the proven talent you do need. Unless Billy Beane cloned himself and is the only one commenting, I don't get it. If you have a million dollars, you can probably part with a hundred grand and be okay. same thing here. You can part with a couple young arms (and you realize they aren't all going to pan out, right?), and still have talent aplenty. And you all realize there's only so many rotation spots and so many bullpen roles at the major league level too, right? Does the term "logjam" mean anything to some of you? Lee is a proven big-time pitcher. His regular season numbers are better than anything that's taken the mound here in years. His playoff numbers are something this team has never come close to being able to have. The dude is legit. And you need a guy that can virtually guarantee you a damn good playoff start a couple times a series. But let's hope that 2014 looks good on paper? Why sit back and hope this scrappy rotation can do something and risk getting rolled in the ALDS? Isn't the point to win the pennant and see what happens? Put Lee on this team and is anyone worried about a team not named the Yankees? Unless Seattle is asking a king's ransom for Lee, you do it. Some of you need to get over the pipedreams that a AA or AAA pitcher is more valuable than guys who get it done in the bigs.
Lesbians - the Phils didn't give up anything resembling what the Ms are asking from us. That's the frustrating part.
First, there is a 100% chance Seattle would EVER take both of them and one other prospect. It would have to be two of the three Scheppers, Perez, and Holland. And then, maybe Salty (they do need a catcher)...and even that, might not get it. I think if you could do one of those arms and maybe Blake Beavan and Salty, I'd be interested in that. Now, @Chris...this team is undoubtably different than 04, the last team that we all thought "wow, here come the Rangers". That team was lead by David Dellucci for goodness sake...they were a team that were able to sneak up on teams, had a chip on their shoulder (ARod calling them "kids") and their best prospects were considered "good enough to start", as oppose to our "future stars" like now. This team can give up 1 or 2 A rated prospects and still be set up nicely for the future. And, the Phillies last year, they made a trade for Lee, which got them back to the World Series b/c Hamels was not as good as 08. So that does happen.
Given that the Rangers typically tank like BP stock immediately after the All-Star break, they'd do themselves a favor by waiting as long as possible before deciding to mortgage away prospects for the idea of renting Cliff Lee for half a season. I have faith (based on years of similar performances) that before the 7/31 deadline, this team will be no more than a game ahead -- at best -- of LAA.
@ Chris?? Davis and Salty as prospects?? You're crazy, where have you been? These guys aren't prospects! They're failed bits as they've already proven. Salty can't even throw the ball back to the pitcher for cryin' out loud! Prospects--lmao!
Terrible idea regardless of who you trade to get Lee. He is an amazing pitcher but more often than not teams who are trying to trade for that "final piece" aren't good enough to only be 1 player away from winning a world series. It baffles me how we go through this cycle about every 3 or 4 years where the rangers show hints of being a decent team and suddenly everyone wants to throw building for the future to the wayside in hopes of winning today when in fact it's that patient building for the future philosophy that got us to this point in the first place. The rangers don't have the money (literally) to fill holes in the offseason lost by guys with expiriing contracts so this teams future success is EXTREMELY reliant on a deep farm system...otherwise be prepared for a turn back to being a below average team. The ONLY way this trade works is if Lee agrees to a long term deal which he isn't going to do....as it stands i say use those prospects (davis and salty) as trade bait for a guy who might actually stick around for more than a few months.
The only untouchable among prospects should be Scheppers. Everyone else (including Smoak and Holland) should be fair game.
Yet again more brilliant insight from Mishon. Go update your Facebook status to brag to your 3 friends that you were first yet again. If Seattle can be semi-conned into taking Davis and Salty and we only have to give up one highly-rated arm, do that in a heartbeat. Scheppers should be considered untouchable though.
@mishon, cmon over here I got something for you..same thing I gave my last girlfriend..and that dude at the Ranger's game Tuesday night.
First!