Photo credit: Fantasyknucleheads.com

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.

Evin Thayer Photography, Houston, Texas
EvinThayer.com

Lance Berkman the prodical son returns to Texas after signing a one year/$10M deal with the Rangers. The deal includes a vesting option for the 2014 season that kicks in at 550 plate appearances as well as a $1M buyout. Berkman gives Texas a designated hitter after Michael Young was dealt to the Phillies. Berkman because of his knees, should see VERY limited time at first base, if any.

Berkman made just 97 plate appearances last season as he battled a recurring knee issue that required two surgeries. He was going to retire, but the promise on another lucrative contract was enough to entice him back into playing in 2013. In 2011, he was fantastic, hitting .301/.412/.547 in 587 plate appearances for the Cardinals. A return to the American League could help the 36 year old slugger stay healthy as he can play DH regularly.

The addition of Berkman helps replace the offense the Rangers have lost this off-season. Josh Hamilton left Texas for the rival Angels earlier this winter and Mike Napoli appears Boston bound, though contract negotiations have stalled as a result of medical issues.

I think the addition now of catcher A.J. Pierzynski, a full season of top prospects, Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar and now Berkman almost, if not, make up for the offense lost with Hamilton, Napoli, and Young. Of course I still think the Rangers make a move, possibly including Olt in a deal for another bat before spring training or in July before the trade deadline.

The Rangers have acquired catcher Eli Whiteside on waivers from Toronto. They have also signed Brandon Snyder to a Minor League contract. Whiteside, 33, has now been claimed on waivers by three different clubs this offseason. He had been acquired by Toronto in a waiver claim from the Yankees. The Yankees acquired him in a waiver claim from the Giants. Whiteside had been arbitration-eligible for 2013, but signed a contract with the Yankees in November, which makes him a signed player for next season

Notes from around twitter and other places:

- Jim Bowden (ESPN/XM) says that the Phillies, desperate for outfield help, are “out” on Josh Hamilton because ownership is unwilling to go to the level it would take to sign him.  Jayson Stark (ESPN) describes Philadelphia’s interest as “wary.”  T.R. Sullivan (MLB.com) hears the Phillies are out as well, and adds the Orioles and Mariners to the list of clubs who have folded.

- Gerry Fraley (Dallas Morning News) reports that “[o]fficials with two clubs said there are rumblings of Hamilton having a five-year offer on the table.” 

- Bowden considers the Rangers, Red Sox, and Yankees “realistic landing spots” for Hamilton, and Jeff Wilson (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) believes Texas is “willing to pay big over a short term, say three years and $75 million with a vesting option.”

- Rob Bradford (WEEI) hears that Boston is actually among four or five teams in on Hamilton, but only on a short-term basis.  One source suggests to Bradford that “teams are waiting to see if there is anybody willing to go as many as four years on the outfielder.”

- According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi (Fox Sports), Seattle met with Hamilton on Sunday, but Texas “currently is working the hardest to sign him” – even though, according to local reports, the Rangers and Hamilton haven’t yet met and aren’t scheduled to meet.

- Dan Plesac (MLB Network) says that the Angels “may be on the outside looking in on Zack Greinke,” as it “seems [the] Rangers and Dodgers have scared them off.”  Plesac adds that the “[w]ord around here . . . is that the Rangers [are] very much in on Hamilton AND Greinke

- Casey Stern (MLB Network Radio) spitballs this idea: Upton to Texas, Mike Olt and Martin Perez to Cleveland, Asdrubal Cabrera and a second-tier Rangers prospect to Arizona. 

 - According to Bowden, if the Rangers had managed to move Olt to Atlanta for shortstop Andrelton Simmons to facilitate a trade for Upton last month, as was rumored, they would have kept Simmons and traded Elvis Andrus to the Diamondbacks.  Bowden says that Arizona believes Texas “will blink” and eventually part with Andrus, which is one key reason Upton hasn’t been moved elsewhere.

 - Sullivan reports that “the Rangers are getting many inquiries” about Olt but are not motivated to trade him.

 - Morosi believes Tampa Bay will trade James Shields or Jeremy Hellickson and said to “keep an eye on the nexus between Texas and Arizona as it affects” the two Rays righthanders.

 - Evan Grant (Dallas Morning News) reports, “[o]fficials with two clubs on Monday said the Rangers had already spoken with them this winter about offering Young in a deal.”  The Yankees weren’t one of the clubs, Grant adds.

- Susan Slusser (San Francisco Chronicle) reports that the Diamondbacks, Cubs, Royals, Red Sox, White Sox, and Twins have met with Brandon McCarthy, who would consider a one-year deal, “and the Angels and Rangers are expected to join the fray.”

- According to Fraley, Koji Uehara’s preference is to return to the Orioles, but he’d consider staying with the Rangers if they make the best offer.  Fraley suggests the Angels can’t be ruled out on Uehara.

- Ken Rosenthal, Sources: Rangers, Hamilton making progress. Deal, if reached, likely would be 4 yrs. But still possible another team could beat TEX offer.

 - According to local reports, Dr. Keith Meister confirmed that Jurickson Profar is only dealing with mild elbow inflammation.

The Rangers have traded for 25 year old right-handed pitcher Cory Burns from the Padres for a player to be named later.

Burns had an awesome minor league K/BB and OBA numbers. He was drafted by the Indians and traded to the Padres. He got lit up in his 2-month look with Padres last summer. He pitched in 17 games, and had a 5.50 ERA, in only 18 innings. He spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he pitched to a 3.14 ERA with 10.6 K/9 and 2.3 BB/9 in 66 innings of relief.

His minor league career he had a 11.2 K/9 in his minor league career against a 2.2 BB/9. Also, 2.36 ERA and 0.98 WHIP. Deception pitcher. Via Baseball America he was Best Reliever/Carolina League 2010, Best Reliever/Eastern League 2011, Best Reliever/Pacific Coast League 2012.

News and Notes

Texas re-signed infielder Guilder Rodriguez, 2B/OF Alejandro Selen (a potential six-year minor-league free agent), and RHP Daniel Lopez.

Full-Season Position Players of the Year

1. 3B Mike Olt (Age 24, AA, .288/.398/.579, 46 XBH, 14% BB rate, 4 SB)

Olt led Texas’s minor leaguers with 28 homers in only 95 games, drew a lot of walks, and played excellent defense at third.  He had a brief MLB campaign hampered by plantar fasciitis, Olt barely played down the stretch. But when he played he didn’t hit much. Despite the disappointing conclusion, Olt confirmed his status among baseball’s best prospects during the course of the season.  He’s going to be a solid Major Leaguer. In what should be a busy offseason, Olt’s status is as undefined as anyone in the organization.  In recent years, Texas hasn’t used Spring Training as a tryout camp except for role players, so Olt will probably know his short-term future no later than March 1st. He could be in Texas, Round Rock, or traded to another franchise.

2. SS Jurickson Profar (Age 19, AA, .281/.368/.452, 47 XBH, 12% BB rate, 16 SB) 

Fantastic. Elite. Will be with Rangers in 2013. 

3. CF Leonys Martin (Age 24, AAA, .359/.422/.610, 32 XBH, 9% BB rate, 10 SB)

Statistically, Martin pummeled the opposition.  He only played in 55 games, Martin missed six weeks with a thumb injury after an ill-advised head-first slide but hit as well as ever when he returned. Martin did not affirm his status as Texas’s 2013 CF.  His use of plus running and defensive tools felt short at times.  Like Olt, circumstances and lack of instant production hurt him. Additional AAA seasoning doesn’t serve much purpose. Is a Martin/Gentry platoon in center what the Rangers go with in 2013? 

4. 3B Drew Robinson (Age 20, low-A, .273/.409/.444, 40 XBH, 17% BB rate, 10 SB)

After a highly disappointing 2011 in Spokane, the left-handed Robinson again started slowly then hit 13 homers and spent a fair amount of time at 2B.  His platoon split was huge. Robinson was drafted in 2010 as an uncommonly polished high-school hitter.  The year matched the results. Myrtle Beach, then Frisco in 2013.

5. RF Joey Butler (Age 26, AAA, .290/.392/.473, 49 XBH, 14% BB rate, 6 SB)

Butler in 2012 he improved his walk rate, struck out less and smacked a career-high 20 homers. He’s a corner outfielder who will be 27 next season.  In a lesser organization, or with the Rangers during the early part of the previous decade, he would have already stepped onto a Major League field. Round Rock or another organization in 2013. 

6. 1B Chris McGuiness (Age 24, AA, .268/.366/.474, 48 XBH, 13% BB rate, 0 SB)

After an injury-plagued 2011, McGuiness showed why Texas wanted him in the Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade.  He ranked fourth in the Texas League in homers (23) and walks (69). McGuiness was in the Arizona Fall League’s Rising Stars game, but he doesn’t hit for average, wasn’t young for the level and plays a position that demands hefty offense.  He has to keep producing.  Round Rock in 2013.

7. 2B Leury Garcia (Age 21, AA, .292/.337/.398, 25 XBH, 5% BB rate, 31 SB)

2012: After an impressive AFL, Garcia made incremental gains offensively and eliminated much of the inconsistency from his dazzling defense at second and short. Slowly, steadily, Garcia has improved. Turns 22 in March, will be at Round Rock in 2013.

8. 2B Odubel Herrera (Age 20, high-A, .284/.335/.382, 33 XBH, 6% BB rate, 27 SB)

Steady, solid. Mixed.  Herrera handled the level and will reach AA as a 21-year-old.  On the downside, another tryout at shortstop proceeded poorly.  Assuming he’s done there, his future depends more heavily on his bat. Frisco in 2013.

9. SS Hanser Alberto (Age 19, low-A and high-A, .299/.327/.410, 39 XBH, 4% BB rate, 24 SB)

Contact-oriented shortstop improved greatly from 2011 at Spokane.  Was in Carolina League while still a teenager and was the youngest hitter with at least 200 plate appearances in the league .  At mid-season, he simply stopped taking pitches, drawing only two walks in his last 78 games. Status is up.  Alberto showed fans what Texas sees in him. Frisco in 2013.  But don’t view a repeat of the Carolina League as a setback.

10. CF Engel Beltre (Age 22, AA, .261/.307/.420, 47 XBH, 4% BB rate, 36 SB)

Beltre hit for power and had his best year in stolen bases. He’s a top-notch defender in center. The power surge is nice, and the statistics, Beltre’s plate approach hasn’t changed.  His percentages of pitches taken, swings-and-misses and other categories were unchanged. Including playoffs, Beltre has played 317 Double-A games. Wow. Round Rock in 2013, if he’s still with the organization.

Playoff Picks:
Wild cards: Orioles over Rangers, Braves over Cardinals
ALDS: Yankees over Orioles, A’s over Tigers
NLDS: Giants over Reds, Nationals over Braves
ALCS: A’s over Yankees
NLCS: Nationals over Reds
World Series: Nationals over A’s

How Come?
Wild Card games: Braves pen will be the difference and Buck will run tactical circles around Washington if the game is close late. But you can’t predict baseball, it’s too random. The baseball gods are the most cruel of all gods and they’re back behind the curtain pulling the levers and switches. I also crunched the numbers, looked at baseball reference, fangraphs, consulted with the ghost of Kenesaw Mountain Landis and then just guessed that Gene Tenace throwing out the ceremonial first pitch will guide the A’s to the World Series but the team from Washington will win.

Eight Ball Storyline:
A title for the O’s, A’s or Nats would be an amazing story. Can the Rangers redeem themselves after the last two Octobers? Can youth overcome experience?

Back Of The Bullpen Prediction
Bryce Harper gets game winning hit and wins World Series MVP.

Rangers announced they have signed another former Cub, 33 year-old Koyie Hill, this time to a minor league deal. He will be assigned to Triple-A Round Rock.  Hill has played in only 11 games and had only 39 plate appearances this season. For his nine year career, his slash line is .210/ .271/ .565.

This really is nothing more than organizational depth, and hey it’s another Cub.

(Photo by Sean Winters)

It’s been another mesmerizing baseball season so far with no-hitters, perfect games and Aaron Hill hitting for the cycle twice within a few days of each other.

And the Rangers still having the best run differential in all of baseball despite losing by scores of 21-8 and 19-2 over the 1st half.

It’s time for my Midseason Awards…

NL MVP OF THE HALF-YEAR

» Continue reading “Futility Exercise: Mid Season Awards”

The Rangers offense lost 2 – 0 to the Oakland A’s and Bartolo Colon. F!

<photo courtesy of Keith Allison>