Well, Siri on my iPhone finally knows about the 2014 season. I asked it tonight what the next Rangers game was, and it said this.
Shin-Soo Choo
Hopefully this South Korean signing goes better than the last one we had. That guy wore #61, though.
We officially announced Choo yesterday, and I’ve always liked him. Was one of those guys I always said “I’d love to that THAT guy”, but never figured we would. Much in the same way I always wanted Vlad Guerrero. Player I enjoyed watching playing for others.
We are paying for him, of that there’s no doubt. But the new TV contract money kicks in after the 2014 season. You always figured we’d do stuff like this what that extra TV contract money. This, and Prince Fielder are players that I think we have due to the influx of new cash from the TV contract.
Choo’s salary:
2014: $14M
2015: $14M
2016: $20M
2017: $20M
2018: $20M
2019: $21M
2020: $21M
Apparently the first couple of years have some dollars moved off until later. I’ve read where it was to create “team flexibility” early on. I think it’s to offload it for the new TV money. He does get a partial no trade clause, although in what capacity, I’m not sure.
One thing I’ll say I’m hopeful for. When Chan Ho Park first came to Texas, the first couple of months before he started stinking up the joint, he’d come out, and the Koreans would be all over his games. When Park would get a strikeout, they’d all start dancing and hootin’ and hollerin, blowing their horns and all that. Was a very fun atmosphere. I hope Choo brings that back, as I really missed that once Park started being bad.
I’ve been getting an itch to write again, so I probably will have more to say soon. Don’t think I’ll return to daily updates again, but I have wanted to say more.
JP Arencebia signed
- C J.P. Arencebia signed to 1 year contract
NOTES: Well, I would have rather kept AJ Pierzynski, but JP can catch. He’s another one of those guys much like Soto. Great catcher. Not a great hitter. JP has some pop – can hit a few home runs, but not terribly much else. Strikes out a lot. Had 148 of them in 2013.
So basically, we’ll have Soto & Arencebia splitting the catching duties in 2014. They say Soto will be the #1 guy with JP backing up, but my gut says it will be a lot closer to 50/50 than that statement.
Minor League Signings
- P Jose Contreras (yes, that one) signed to minor league contract w/ invite to spring training.
- LF Bryan Petersen signed to minor league contract w/ invite to spring training.
- P Nate Adcock signed to minor league contract w/ invite to spring training.
NOTES: Jose Contreras? Seriously?!? Why don’t we just bring back Mark Clark while you’re at it?
Gentry Traded
- 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.
November Moves 2
- 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.
Prince Fielder arrives
- 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. :)
November Moves 1
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.
Nathan Gone
- 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.
October Moves
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.
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