During the past two days, OF Jake Smolinski and RHPs Phil Irwin and Roman Mendez became the 999th, 1,000th and 1,001st players to perform for the Washington Senators II/Texas Rangers.
The count won't stop there.
Even with the influx of new talent?, Rangers pitchers gave up 20 runs and 29 hits in two losses against the Astros. Another defeat Wednesday night could drop Texas to the worst winning percentage in the major leagues.
The Rangers were at .500 until their current 3-17 superslump. Injuries finally caught up to them.
They have 15 players on the disabled list, five of whom -- starters Matt Harrison and Martin Perez, reliever Pedro Figueroa, 1B Prince Fielder and 1B/DH Mitch Moreland -- will not play again this season.
Those absences have led to 15 players who otherwise wouldn't be in the majors making up 60% of the active roster. That necessarily has meant a decline in the talent level. For example, the bottom three hitters in Tuesday's lineup were 1B Carlos Pena, who was out of baseball early this season, and Smolinski and 2B Rougned Odor, who both began the season at Double-A Frisco.
With some questionable talent already on the roster and pretty obviously nowhere to go over the final 70 or so games of the season, there's plenty of flexibility to move players on and off the 40-man roster.
For example, Smolinski was a minor league free agent who already had spent six seasons in the Nationals and Marlins organization. Mendez is on the 40-man roster, and would be out of options next season.
And it's actually a 45-man roster, because there are also five players on the 60-day DL that don't count against the limit.
So what we'll see from the Rangers from now until September will be essentially an open tryout camp. Texas can answer questions about potential players to keep on the 40-man off-season roster. Can this guy make it in the majors? I don't know, let's put him on the 40-man and bring him up from Round Rock or Frisco.
And once this guy shows what he might be lacking, the organization can do the same thing with that guy -- until they eventually run out of guys. If the Rangers find even one keeper that way, it would be worth the mounting losses in a lost season.
* * *
The Red Sox aren't in quite such a precarious position in the standings, but they too are throwing open to rookies the doors of their lineup.
In addition to giving 3B Xander Bogaerts and OF Jackie Bradley futile major league at-bats when they still should be refining their batting skills in the minors, the Red Sox have designated 37-year-old C A.J. Pierzynski for assignment and elevated rookie C Christian Vazquez to the big leagues.
Expect more rookies, especially pitchers, during what's left of a lost season in Boston.
Showing posts with label Mitch Moreland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mitch Moreland. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Bye-bye, Westbrook, Dempster and Mulder
This weekend's biggest news could be pitchers who won't throw in the major leagues in 2014.
The Cardinals confirmed that RHP Jake Westbrook is retiring after 13 major league seasons. He was supplanted by younger pitchers last season, when he was 7-8 with a 4.63 ERA for the National League champions.
A 16-year veteran, RHP Ryan Dempster, told the Red Sox that he won't pitch this season. He said he was concerned about a neck injury and about spending more time with his family. Dempster is forfeiting an otherwise guaranteed salary of $13.25 million.
LHP Mark Mulder's attempted comeback with the Angels has been short-circuited by a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 36-year-old's comments seemed to indicate a realization that he won't pitch in the majors again.
-- When the season opens, Reds RHP Mat Latos may not be ready to pitch. He underwent surgery Friday to repair torn meniscus in his left knee. He isn't expected to resume throwing until Feb. 24.
-- Giants RHP Santiago Casilla will be throwing in the Dominican Republic for a while, until his visa problem is solved and he can return to the U.S. Also caught in the annual "visa problem" trap is Giants LHP Jose De Paula.
-- The most important player to avoid arbitration by agreeing to a contract was RHP Craig Kimbrel, who will receive $42 million guaranteed for the next four years, with the possibility of earning $59 million for five years. Atlanta is paying big bucks for pitchers, with also a new 6-year, $3.24-million contract with RHP Julio Teheran. There's also a visionary option for 2020.
Also avoiding arbitration:
Mariners 1B Justin Smoak, who signed a one-year deal for $2.63 million, with a team option at $3.65 million for 2015 if he has 525 plate appearances this season.
Smoak's virtual twin, Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland, agreed for this season at $2.6 million.
Athletics OF Josh Reddick, for $2.7 million this year.
Red Sox LHP Andrew Miller, with a 1-year contract.
-- The Indians won their arbitration case with RHP Josh Tomlin, who will receive $800,00 this season.
-- Texas also announced its 1-year contract with free-agent RHP Tommy Hanson, who would receive $1.2 million plus expenses if he could make the major league roster.
-- The Indians signed RHP Aaron Harang, who could work his way into their rotation, to a minor league contract. Also getting a minor league deal was RHP Josh Roenicke with the Nationals.
-- 2B/OF Emilio Bonifacio's strong winter league season earned him a contract with the Cubs. They plan to use him s a utility man. He played seven positions in 2013.
-- The Orioles claimed OF/2B Jimmy Paredes on waivers from the Marlins. RHP Suk-min Yoon doesn't officially have a contract, but he is in their spring training camp in Sarasota, Fla., and supposedly will have a 3-year contract once he passes a physical exam.
-- Second base seems to be a problem position for a number of teams. The Dodgers are hoping Cuban SS Alex Guerrero could be their starter. There are plenty of other options, with varying degrees of desirability: Chone Figgins, Dee Gordon, Justin Turner and Brendan Harris among them.
* * *
Other sports:
The NBA remains off until Tuesday. You still have time to make player moves, even trades while the league and its stats are standing still.
You have more time with your fantasy hockey teams. NHL play resumes Wednesday, Feb. 26. You can be great if you don't procrastinate.
The Cardinals confirmed that RHP Jake Westbrook is retiring after 13 major league seasons. He was supplanted by younger pitchers last season, when he was 7-8 with a 4.63 ERA for the National League champions.
A 16-year veteran, RHP Ryan Dempster, told the Red Sox that he won't pitch this season. He said he was concerned about a neck injury and about spending more time with his family. Dempster is forfeiting an otherwise guaranteed salary of $13.25 million.
LHP Mark Mulder's attempted comeback with the Angels has been short-circuited by a ruptured Achilles tendon. The 36-year-old's comments seemed to indicate a realization that he won't pitch in the majors again.
-- When the season opens, Reds RHP Mat Latos may not be ready to pitch. He underwent surgery Friday to repair torn meniscus in his left knee. He isn't expected to resume throwing until Feb. 24.
-- Giants RHP Santiago Casilla will be throwing in the Dominican Republic for a while, until his visa problem is solved and he can return to the U.S. Also caught in the annual "visa problem" trap is Giants LHP Jose De Paula.
-- The most important player to avoid arbitration by agreeing to a contract was RHP Craig Kimbrel, who will receive $42 million guaranteed for the next four years, with the possibility of earning $59 million for five years. Atlanta is paying big bucks for pitchers, with also a new 6-year, $3.24-million contract with RHP Julio Teheran. There's also a visionary option for 2020.
Also avoiding arbitration:
Mariners 1B Justin Smoak, who signed a one-year deal for $2.63 million, with a team option at $3.65 million for 2015 if he has 525 plate appearances this season.
Smoak's virtual twin, Rangers 1B Mitch Moreland, agreed for this season at $2.6 million.
Athletics OF Josh Reddick, for $2.7 million this year.
Red Sox LHP Andrew Miller, with a 1-year contract.
-- The Indians won their arbitration case with RHP Josh Tomlin, who will receive $800,00 this season.
-- Texas also announced its 1-year contract with free-agent RHP Tommy Hanson, who would receive $1.2 million plus expenses if he could make the major league roster.
-- The Indians signed RHP Aaron Harang, who could work his way into their rotation, to a minor league contract. Also getting a minor league deal was RHP Josh Roenicke with the Nationals.
-- 2B/OF Emilio Bonifacio's strong winter league season earned him a contract with the Cubs. They plan to use him s a utility man. He played seven positions in 2013.
-- The Orioles claimed OF/2B Jimmy Paredes on waivers from the Marlins. RHP Suk-min Yoon doesn't officially have a contract, but he is in their spring training camp in Sarasota, Fla., and supposedly will have a 3-year contract once he passes a physical exam.
-- Second base seems to be a problem position for a number of teams. The Dodgers are hoping Cuban SS Alex Guerrero could be their starter. There are plenty of other options, with varying degrees of desirability: Chone Figgins, Dee Gordon, Justin Turner and Brendan Harris among them.
* * *
Other sports:
The NBA remains off until Tuesday. You still have time to make player moves, even trades while the league and its stats are standing still.
You have more time with your fantasy hockey teams. NHL play resumes Wednesday, Feb. 26. You can be great if you don't procrastinate.
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