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The Rangers and Matt Harrison have agreed to a five year, $55 million contract with an option for a sixth year. The 2018 is an option that can possibly vest.

“Harrison gets a $1 million signing bonus and annual salaries worth $5 million, $8 million, $13 million, $13 million and $13 million. The club option is $13.25 million but can escalate to $15.75 million. The club holds the option, with a $2 million buyout, but it becomes a vesting option if Harrison works 200 innings in each of the final three years of the deal.” [via Jeff Wilson, Fort Worth-Star Telegram]

The left-hander posted an ERA of 3.29 in 2012 for the Rangers, in 213.1 innings pitched over 32 starts. He has been an important part in the rotation, pitching 185.1 innings in 2011. Drafted by Atlanta he was traded to Texas as part of the Mark Teixeira-trade that sent the first baseman to the Braves.

The extension will buy out 3 years of his free agency. The Rangers now have Harrison, Darvish, Holland signed thru ’17, Holland ’18, Ogando ’16. This is what Jon Daniels and company call ”sticking to the plan.”

Last offseason the Rangers also inked Ian Kinsler to an extension thru ’17, as the club continues to identify it’s core moving forward.

Wow…I’m not panicking. Like my friend Travis said last night…we’re not going to panic just yet, right? Right. It was a little confusing for me again though.

Feldman took the mound again and threw and absolute beauty of a game leading the Rangers to a win. He pitched 8 strong innings, giving up 7 hits and no runs! He kept the ball down, mixed up his pitches and got through with the Rangers only putting 2 runs on the board.

I’m not sure who this Scott Feldman is that has graced us with his presence lately, but I like him. He can keep pitching. I was getting a little worried when Yu and Harrison (the only two consistent guys in our rotation) had tough games lately. Who can we depend on? Apparently this Scott Feldman is picking up the slack.

The Rangers got on the board in the third inning off a White Sox error and Josh Hamilton scored. After a Nelson Cruz double in the fifth and a couple of ground outs he came around to score making it 2-0 for the rest of the game.

Joe Nathan came in to close it out and with a couple of amazing grabs by Elvis and David Murphy the Rangers finally snapped their slump. We stay ahead of the A’s by 4 games (where the hell did they come from?) and the Angels by 5…Let’s keep it up boys. We can’t afford to let those guys get close!

FINAL: Rangers 2, White Sox 0

End of Game Notes

• Hamilton was back in the lineup tonight at DH but he was batting 5th. I actually think this is great. Drop him in the lineup, take some pressure off of him and let’s get him out of this slump he’s been in.
• Neftali was scratched from his minro league start today due to elbow tightness…Does that sound like he’s gonna have surgery to anyone else?
• We take on the Angels tomorrow…Oh please don’t lose.
• The trade deadline is grower nearer…Are we going to try and get someone for the starting rotation?

Dear Mr. Daniels,

Let’s put this bluntly. You are the freaking MAN. Seriously. I can’t come up with a better way to describe you. You are simply the MAN when it comes to baseball.

Ok, now that’s been said, let’s start from the beginning and I’ll explain. After a Cornell education, you started your career with the Colorado Rockies as an intern.

You came to the Texas Rangers in 2004 as an assistant director of baseball operations. When Hart left in 2005, you were promoted to general manager at the ripe old age of 28. Wait…. what?

You were, and still are the youngest GM in Major League history. There has to be something said for that. That’s amazing. I would have killed for that job at 28. Hell, I would kill for that job now.

» Continue reading “Texas Rangers: Love Letter To Jon Daniels”

So I attended my first Texas Rangers Spring Training games with the wife as part of our prebaby honeymoon (or practice honeymoon). No, that’s not all we did, but it was a part of it. Anyway, some of my thoughts and observations while attending this wonderful event are listed below. » Continue reading “Texas Rangers: The Todd’s Head To Spring Training!”

Rangers minor league prospect (AA Frisco) Engel Beltre has been suspended by the Texas League for an indefinite period.

The disciplinary action occurred after Beltre threw a trash can in the stands from the dugout during the Frisco-San Antonio game. San Antonio fans were seen throwing water bottles into the dugout before Beltre reacted.

General Manager Jon Daniels summed up the incident on ESPN:

“It is definitely not something we condone,’’ Daniels said. “It is a black eye for all involved.’’

The game was a catalyst for the incident after a go-ahead three-run home run call in the ninth inning was reversed, resulting in  Frisco manager Steve Buechele and pitching coach Jeff Andrews getting thrown out for arguing. A strikeout from the next Frisco batter ended the game, which is when the first water bottle was thrown.

What do you think? Should the League hold up their suspension of Beltre? What’s their next move?