2K24: Texas Rangers

[revo]

Jeff Banister canned, Don Wakamatsu named interim manager.

[madducks]

Jeff Banister canned, Don Wakamatsu named interim manager.

Banister goes from AL manager of the year in 2015 to fired in 2018. That's the life of a major league baseball manager.

[Ken]

Banister goes from AL manager of the year in 2015 to fired in 2018. That's the life of a major league baseball coach.

Had little to do with their record as well.

Reports of problems communicating with players. Players would regularly be told they are getting a day off and then show up in the lineup with no notice (and the inverse). Pitchers were unaware of when they would next start, etc. Article came out yesterday saying Banny had a 50/50 shot of being back next year and I suspect that tipped their hand leading to the early firing.

[madducks]

The Rangers acquire Drew Smyly from the Cubs for whatever the Rangers feel like giving them.

[Ken]

The Rangers acquire Drew Smyly from the Cubs for whatever the Rangers feel like giving them.

There's actually some very interesting strategy behind this trade.

As part of the Hamels trade last year, Texas picks up Hamels' $6mm buyout. But that only happens if he gets bought out. If the Cubs pick up the final year option for $20mm, then Texas owes nothing.

So the Cubs go to the Rangers and say we like Hamels but we don't have much room in our budget for $20mm. We'll pick up the option and you won't owe us $6mm, IF you take the Smyly contract off our hands.

The Rangers have only Mike Minor in their rotation, and they need to gather some arms just to field a team next year. Smyly's contract is for $7mm next year, so the net cost to Texas is just $1mm since by making this deal they will not have to buy out Hamels.

Winners all around.

[chancellor]

Winners all around.

Especially batters who will hit against Smyly in Texas.

But I'm not bitter.

[madducks]

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Rangers have hired Dodgers' third base coach Chris Woodward to be their next manager.

[onejayhawk]

Blue Moon

[Gregg]

There's actually some very interesting strategy behind this trade.

As part of the Hamels trade last year, Texas picks up Hamels' $6mm buyout. But that only happens if he gets bought out. If the Cubs pick up the final year option for $20mm, then Texas owes nothing.

So the Cubs go to the Rangers and say we like Hamels but we don't have much room in our budget for $20mm. We'll pick up the option and you won't owe us $6mm, IF you take the Smyly contract off our hands.

The Rangers have only Mike Minor in their rotation, and they need to gather some arms just to field a team next year. Smyly's contract is for $7mm next year, so the net cost to Texas is just $1mm since by making this deal they will not have to buy out Hamels.

Winners all around.

Good analysis.

[onejayhawk]

Smyly is an innings horse.

J

[Kevin Seitzer]

Smyly is an innings horse.

J

Neigh

[onejayhawk]

Neigh

No one said they would be good innings.

J

[onejayhawk]

No one said they would be good innings.

J

I also did not think he would be the staff ace. Yikes. The rotation:

• Mike Minor - Returned to SP after tearing the labrum in his pitching shoulder. He may actually be the ace such as they have one.
• Drew Smyly (see previous posts) - returned in '18 from TJ surgery
• Shelby Miller - Another '17 TJ. He managed 16 IP with a 10.69 ERA in '18
• Edinson Volquez - Completes the 2017 TJ trifecta. In addition to being 35 years old, EV never pitched in '18
• Lance Lynn - His TJ was a year earlier, so he just sucks

This is the semi official rotation. if not for the Angels last season...

Is there anything in this rotation worth even a sniff?

J

[Gregg]

I also did not think he would be the staff ace. Yikes. The rotation:

• Mike Minor - Returned to SP after tearing the labrum in his pitching shoulder. He may actually be the ace such as they have one.
• Drew Smyly (see previous posts) - returned in '18 from TJ surgery
• Shelby Miller - Another '17 TJ. He managed 16 IP with a 10.69 ERA in '18
• Edinson Volquez - Completes the 2017 TJ trifecta. In addition to being 35 years old, EV never pitched in '18
• Lance Lynn - His TJ was a year earlier, so he just sucks

This is the semi official rotation. if not for the Angels last season...

Is there anything in this rotation worth even a sniff?

J

In only leagues I would roster Minor.

I have him for $8 he may make my last spot (11 keepers). If I had 12 I would keep him.

[onejayhawk]

Shelby Miller too. As Paul Sporer would say, throw a buck at him.

Still, that's ugly.

J