• OF Craig Gentry & P Josh Lindblom traded to Oakland A’s for OF Michael Choice & 2B Chris Bostick.

NOTES: Lindblom was most known as the guy traded for Michael Young’s departure from Texas.  His departure FROM Texas is no big deal, as he was a bust here.  Craig Gentry however was a bit of a surprise.  He was clearly the fastest guy on our team, and speed is not something you can coach.  While Michael Choice has some upside (and he’s a local boy, from Arlington), it is a bit of an eyebrow raiser.   I really liked Gentry, some I have to hope that Choice steps up and is incredibly good.   Here’s hoping.

• SS Jose Contreras (not THAT one) signed to a minor league contract (Nov 26)
• C Melvin Novoa signed to a minor league contract (Nov 26)
• CF Rafael Ortega claimed off waivers from Colorado Rockies (Nov 27)
• P Yonelvy Pichardo signed to a minor league contract (Nov 27)

NOTES: Uh, OK.

• 2B Ian Kinsler traded to Detroit Tigers for 1B Prince Fielder & $
• P Shawn Tolleson claimed off waivers from Los Angeles Dodgers
• SS Luis Sardinas & P Lisalverto Bonilla were “selected” from AA Frisco
• P Ben Rowen was “selected” from AAA Round Rock
• P Edwar Cabrera was outrighted to AAA

NOTES: Obviously the big deal here is the trade of Ian Kinsler to Detroit.  Despite my calling him Capt Uppercut for several years now, and his horrible tendency to want to hit EVERY ball over the left field fence, he was here for a long time.  I’ll miss the presence in the lineup.  Next April it will feel weird having someone else (likely Profar) out there at second base.

Having said that, what you get back is Prince Fielder.  He’s a guy I’ve always wanted to have on my team, and I never quite thought I would.  He has one of those swings that our Home Run porch was made for.   We’ll have him through the 2020 season if the contract stays the same.  We’re getting $30 million from the Tigers to help pay for his contract.  That $30M will come here through the 2016-2020 seasons.

His stick is quite exciting to think about.  His defense, not as much.  I suspect if Mitch Moreland had figured out how to hit the ball before now, we wouldn’t have made this move.  But I’m quite excited to see what Prince Fielder can do in our Ballpark.  :)

Here’s a collection of minor moves in November 2013:

• P Ross Wolf signed, assigned to AAA (Nov 4)
• C Geovany Soto elected free agency (Nov 4)
• P Travis Blackley elected free agency (Nov 4)
• P Matt Harrison activated from 60 day DL (Nov 4)
• P Edwar Cabrera roster status changed (Nov 4 – what the heck does that MEAN)
• P Colby Lewis elected free agency (Nov 5)
• C Geovany Soto signed to a 1 year contract (Nov 5)
• SS Franklin Rollin signed to a minor league contract (Nov 9)
• OF Angelo Santana signed to a minor league contract (Nov 11)
• P Zach Russell signed to a minor league contract (Nov 11)
• OF Brad Snyder signed to a minor league contract w/invite to spring (Nov 14)
• OF Kalian Sams signed to a minor league contract (Nov 15)
• OF Jake Smolinski signed to a minor league contract (Nov 18)

NOTES: This is another batch of guys whose names I am probably never writing again on here.   However, Geovany Soto was signed back after a procedural move through free agency.   When he was signed, it was said he would be “the man”, the #1 catcher.  I have never had a problem with his catching.  His hitting however, is more of a problem.   I agree we probably need him, but I’d feel better with someone stronger as the #1 catcher, though – just from an offensive standpoint.

Colby Lewis was technically granted free agency, but both sides have said they wanted to work something out, so he’ll be back.

• P Joe Nathan elected free agency
• P Chaz Roe claimed off waivers from Arizona Diamondbacks

NOTES: I was a bit sad, but not completely surprised we didn’t keep Joe Nathan.  When we first signed him, I wasn’t sure how that would play out – coming back from an injury and all. But he was great when he was here.  I hope we can pull something together without him, as I doubt we’d bring in another FA closer, we would have just kept Nathan in that case.

There were a boatload of minor league signings and small procedural moves in October.  Other than making a single entry for all of them, I’m gonna list them together here, and date them.  Figure that’s a better move than creating individual entries for each.

• P Matt West activated from 60 day DL (Oct 9)
• OF Jeff Baker designated for assignment (Oct 9) – elected free agency (Oct 14)
• P Edward Cabrera claimed off waivers from Colorado Rockies (Oct 16)
• P Kyle Lotzkar signed to minor league contract (Oct 19)
• P Aaron Poreda signed to minor league contract w/invite to spring (Oct 23)
• P Eddy Morrobel signed to minor league contract (Oct 26)
• OF Cristian Encarnacion signed to minor league contract (Oct 29)
• P Colby Lewis activated from 60 day DL (Oct 31)
• DH Lance Berkman elected free agency (Oct 31)

NOTES: Most of these are minor league signings, the bulk of which I wonder if I’ll ever write their names on this site again.  Jeff Baker’s DFA was a bit of a surprise, he was a decent off the bench cog, I thought.

Lance Berkman’s taking free agency is no big surprise here.   The bigger surprise will be if he does NOT retire after this move.  I don’t dislike the guy, but he didn’t really do much here save for the earliest part of the 2013 season.

• OF Joey Butler claimed on waivers by St. Louis Cardinals

NOTE: Well, I didn’t hate the guy, but he wasn’t one of those moves that makes you go “Noooooooooo” when he’s gone.  Hope he does well in STL

• 1B Chris McGuiness activated
• P Wilmer Font activated
• P Roman Mendez activated
• P Josh Lindblom had his roster status changed

NOTE: Now that the season is over, various procedural moves were made today. That last one was odd.  “had his roster status changed”.  Huh?  What’s that all about.  Overall comment..  zzzzzzzz

• OF Nelson Cruz activated from suspended restricted list.
• OF Joey Butler designated for assignment [ Link ]

NOTES:  Since we get to play a Game 163, it means Nelson Cruz is eligible to come off the restricted list to play.   To make room on the 40 man roster for that, we had to designate Joey Butler.   Now I’m writing this a couple of days after this actually happened, so I know what happened. We lost that game.

It has to suck for Joey Butler, I suppose, losing one’s 40 man spot to make room for Nelson Cruz’ return from a steroids suspension when Cruz goes 0-4 with a strikeout, and we lose the game and the season is over.