Hopefully the smartest and loudest man in the room ****
The New York Yankees are going to seven years for Cliff Lee. If I'm the Rangers, I offer my five years, the proximity to Arkansas and the fact that we don't spit on wives and leave to Lee. When and if he goes to New York, I regroup and move on.
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What do the Rangers say when they publicly come out to say they aren't shopping Michael Young, but then credible baseball writers are saying they are? There's been apparent talks with the California Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies.
This, as everyone is agreeing, is a money thing. Freeing up Young's contract would give them more leeway to turn to free agent options.
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The Rule 5 Draft was held. No Rangers prospects were taken, although I think many of the candidates (Tanner Roark, Blake Beavan, Evan Reed, Tim Smith, etc.) had been used in trades the last two years.
The Rangers did grab three names, which I believe must be put on the 40-man roster or they go back to the original team. Or something like that.
The last high-profile Rule 5 pick for the Rangers was Warner Madrigal two years ago.
Mason Tobin - RHP
The 6-4, 220-pounder is 23 years old and hasn't pitched above High A. He sat out 2010 with Tommy John surgery. He hasn't thrown more than 40 professional innings since he was 19. He'll apparently get a shot at a relief spot.
Jessie Fausto Mier - C
He'll be 26 before the season starts. He'll provide some catching depth in the organization, which is sort of in flux right now.
Starling De La Rosa - LHP
Skinny (6-5, 159) Dominican entering just his third professional season in the states. He jumped from the Rookie League to High A last season. Struggled as of late, but showed some high strikeout rates before. Joins the Rangers' growing cadre of "De La Rosas" along with Miguel, Leonel and Ovispo.
