The GM's Almanac...Election Day
Nunc hoc in marmore non est incisum...
Yes, the Rangers would love Jeremy Bonderman. No they are not going to trade Mark Teixeira straight up for Bonderman. That was made clear by club officials on Monday while they were introducing Ron Washington as their new manager.
The Rangers know they need two starting pitchers this winter and the Tigers need hitting. But trading Teixeira for Bonderman leaves a gaping hole in the middle of their batting order.
Fill it with Gary Sheffield? Not for John Danks. That's what the Yankees are looking for, one of the Rangers top level pitching prospects. The Rangers aren't interested in that, not for a guy who could be around for just one year and whose mercurial personality could cause more headaches than runs drive in.
But Sheffield can hit.
So can Luis Gonzalez, even if he did turn 39 in September. He hit .273 with 15 home runs and 73 RBI for the Diamondbacks. He could be a candidate to be the Rangers designated hitter next season after they spend what money they have on starting pitching. Either Gonzalez or David Dellucci, somebody like that.
The Rangers really want to spend their money on Daisuke Matsuzaka and are ready to bid for them. There was a gleam in owner Tom Hicks' eye on Monday and a confidence in his look, something that hasn't been seen in five years if you know what I mean.
No Rangers official was smiling when Vicente Padilla's name was brought up Monday. Not when he's apparently looking for something like four years and $36 million.
Can't hurt to ask.
The Rangers seem more interested in left-hander Ted Lilly who was with Toronto last year, but one club official said, "We're interested in anybody who can pitch."
Even Barry Zito. Yes, they talked with Washington about him.
Im getting real excited about the chance of adding Matsuzaka. For some reason Im really optimistic about our chances of signing him. Also why wouldnt the Rangers use Washington to sign Zito? He is one guy that we know will pitch great in Texas. I mean heck he has done it for years. Why not pitch for us instead of against us?
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Excellent point! I would hope having Washington with us would mean something to Zito...that and the fact that he has been outrageously successful during his career at Ameriquest Field.
I'm glad to hear the Rangers are not going to trade Danks for Sheffield. I wouldn't trade anybody for Danks, but especially Sheffield. I don't want him on the team at all. Or Luis Gonzalez. Have we not learned our lesson with signing old "has-beens" to be solely a DH? Have we forgotten Galarraga, Nevin, Caminitti, Hidalgo, Matt Stairs, Juan Gonzalez (the second time) and others?
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