He's not Cliff Lee, but the Rangers reportedly signing Brandon Webb seems like a good move, based on the terms.
First, it's a one-year deal, pending a physical. No reason to offer more, based on Webb's shoulder problems. He's pitched a total of four innings the last two seasons.
Second, the contract only guarantees $3 million (per this ESPN report), plus incentives, which could bump up the total package to $8-10 million.
I like this move. Taking a chance on Webb, who won the Cy Young Award in 2006 and won 22 games in 2008, is a logical move. The free agent market for starting pitching is ridiculously thin. I'm not blown away by Carl Pavano or Jeff Francis.
Webb is more proven, and if he could recapture a bit of his pitching from 2006-2008, when he was a true ace, I'd be satisfied. During that three-year span, Webb averaged 18.7 wins, 209.3 innings, 185 strikeouts, 62.3 walks and an earned-run average of 3.14. It'd be foolish to think he could replicate those numbers. But a small step down wouldn't be bad. We're not expecting Webb to be a No. 1. There's not nearly as much pressure on him as there was last year on Rich Harden, who clearly didn't pan out.
Webb could be the No. 3 in a rotation that might look like this:
C.J. Wilson
Colby Lewis
Brandon Webb
Derek Holland
Tommy Hunter
I'm not ready to completely give up on Scott Feldman, so he could have an outside chance at a spot. Maybe management decides to move Alexi Ogando or Neftali Feliz into the rotation. Or perhaps there's a trade coming for a guy like Matt Garza or Joe Blanton.
Either way, I like the look of the rotation with Webb as a No. 3. In his prime, he was a ground-ball-inducing workhorse who kept his ERA low and relied heavily on the double play. I remembered having Webb on my fantasy team in 2008, when he went 22-7, and I put him in my lineup for every one of his starts with confidence.
With Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler defending up the middle, I feel supremely confident that if Webb can induce grounders on a regular basis again, he'll be fine. Isn't that what pitching coach Mike Maddux has been preaching — pitching to contact? Webb doesn't have to strike out 194 guys like he did in 2007. He just has to keep the ball in play.
The low risk, high reward mentality didn't work out last season for Harden. But since it was low risk (one-year contract), we're moving on without Harden and not even blinking. I look at last year's Vladimir Guerrero signing (one year, $6 million guaranteed) the same way. That worked out quite famously (.300 average, 29 homers, 115 RBIs).
Maybe the Webb signing will be just as rewarding.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
More Rangers gifts find their way to me
For some reason (no clue why), more Rangers gifts have been making their way to me. Gotta love this time of the year.
Just today, I received these two gems from my mom:
The multi-purpose gift card is awesome. I'll be able to use it in the Rangers team shop, online, for concessions, for tickets. This could get dangerous. No idea what I'm going to use it on. So many options. I think it'd be cool to use some of it on a game, up in our 300 section.
As for the patch, that was a great call. Might have to add that to my Rangers wall of fame.
Great stuff. Happy holidays to all.
Just today, I received these two gems from my mom:
The multi-purpose gift card is awesome. I'll be able to use it in the Rangers team shop, online, for concessions, for tickets. This could get dangerous. No idea what I'm going to use it on. So many options. I think it'd be cool to use some of it on a game, up in our 300 section.
As for the patch, that was a great call. Might have to add that to my Rangers wall of fame.
Great stuff. Happy holidays to all.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Early holiday gift: Rangers DVD arrives
The Rangers DVD "It's Time" arrived on my doorstep tonight. Talk about an early holiday gift.
I had off work tonight and just got done watching the season recap. Amazing stuff.
I was so excited to receive the package in the mail that I pre-ordered the thing about a month ago. I'd be lying if I said I didn't track the package online through UPS as well.
Well worth the $18.
More to come on the DVD soon.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Reaction to Cliff Lee picking Phillies, how the Rangers look ahead
Earlier this week on Wednesday, Cliff Lee did half of what I was hoping he'd do.
The good half: The lefty said thanks, but no thanks to the Yankees' big pockets and frustrating way of building a team each season.
The bad half: Lee also spurned the Rangers, and in a surprising development, signed a five-year, $120 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Initially, my reaction was natural disappointment. Lee was integral in the Rangers' magical World Series run last season. I made no secret of wanting him back so Texas had a legitimate ace for the long-term.
Turns out he didn't want to be in Texas on a five- or six-year contract.
Reports surfaced that Texas offered Lee a six-year deal. Those same reports said if the Rangers would have offered seven, Lee would have been pitching in Arlington next season. Owner Chuck Greenberg, president Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels didn't feel comfortable with a seven-year deal, though.
Lee must have really not wanted to play in New York. Yankees GM Brian Cashman offered seven years. I find that rather hilarious.
Here are my pros and cons for Lee not returning to Texas:
Pros
• We don't have to rely on Lee being a $20 million pitcher when he's nearly 40 years old. Had Lee signed a seven-year deal with Texas, he would have been 39 at the end of the contract. If he gets hurt, it would have likely been tough to spend a whole lot of additional money on other free agents.
• Texas can use some of the money it would have spent on Lee on a mixture of free agents and our own guys. Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz don't have long-term deals. I expect that to happen in the next year or two.
• In signing with the Phillies, at least Lee will pitch in the National League, where we don't have to face him on a regular basis. The sentence I mumbled most after Lee went to Philly: Hey, at least it's not the Yankees.
Cons
• Is C.J. Wilson ready to be a legitimate ace? If so, he's going to have to lower his walk total. I loved Ceej and his 204 innings last season, but 93 walks was too many. Last season, in the toughest games of the season, we turned to Lee to dominate. He did in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Not sure C.J. can do that yet.
• Texas may have to rely on unproven pitching talent to round out the rotation in 2011. As it stands, we know C.J., Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter will be penciled into the rotation. But who's 4 and 5? Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, perhaps Neftali Feliz or Alexi Ogando out of the bullpen?
• The free agent market for pitchers is extra thin after Lee. The best available remaining names are Carl Pavano and Brandon Webb. Both appear to be huge risks.
I get the sense JD and the front office aren't done this offseason in adding names to improve the rotation. The Rangers not only have money to spend, but they have the prospects to potentially trade for a guy like Kansas City's Zack Greinke or Tampa Bay's Matt Garza.
I'd caution against trading the entire farm for either guy, though. Kansas City's initial offer for all of our top prospects was insane, particularly considering Greinke will be a free agent in two years. Garza will be a free agent in three years.
Should we trade for either pitcher, I'd feel more comfortable with a longer-term deal in place. Greinke and Garza (both 27) would be younger and cheaper options than Lee as well, which is appealing.
Might be better to wait until the trade deadline like we did last year with Lee and make a move. The Angels did that last year in July with Dan Haren (trading away Joe Saunders and a minor leaguer) and it worked out awfully well. The free agent market right now is just too thin.
I'll always remember how Lee pitched for the Rangers in the second half of last season and last postseason. He led the charge in the team's first postseason series victory in Rangers history. First AL Championship Series in team history. First World Series appearance in team history. You get the idea.
My personal favorite was when he silenced the Yankees in New York in Game 3 of the ALCS to take a 2-1 series lead. Eight innings, two hits, only one walk, 13 strikeouts. Amazing, epic, dominating, inspiring. In New York. I'll never forget that. There's arguably not another pitcher in baseball who could toss a line like that in New York other than Roy Halladay. And both will be wearing the same uniform next season. Yikes.
Lee was a vital part of an unforgettable season of baseball, undoubtedly my most memorable season of following a team, regardless of the sport. He could have returned to Texas for similar money and even one more year than Philadelphia's offer. He declined.
As a Rangers fan, all I can do is move on.
The good half: The lefty said thanks, but no thanks to the Yankees' big pockets and frustrating way of building a team each season.
The bad half: Lee also spurned the Rangers, and in a surprising development, signed a five-year, $120 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Initially, my reaction was natural disappointment. Lee was integral in the Rangers' magical World Series run last season. I made no secret of wanting him back so Texas had a legitimate ace for the long-term.
Turns out he didn't want to be in Texas on a five- or six-year contract.
Reports surfaced that Texas offered Lee a six-year deal. Those same reports said if the Rangers would have offered seven, Lee would have been pitching in Arlington next season. Owner Chuck Greenberg, president Nolan Ryan and general manager Jon Daniels didn't feel comfortable with a seven-year deal, though.
Lee must have really not wanted to play in New York. Yankees GM Brian Cashman offered seven years. I find that rather hilarious.
Here are my pros and cons for Lee not returning to Texas:
Pros
• We don't have to rely on Lee being a $20 million pitcher when he's nearly 40 years old. Had Lee signed a seven-year deal with Texas, he would have been 39 at the end of the contract. If he gets hurt, it would have likely been tough to spend a whole lot of additional money on other free agents.
• Texas can use some of the money it would have spent on Lee on a mixture of free agents and our own guys. Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz don't have long-term deals. I expect that to happen in the next year or two.
• In signing with the Phillies, at least Lee will pitch in the National League, where we don't have to face him on a regular basis. The sentence I mumbled most after Lee went to Philly: Hey, at least it's not the Yankees.
Cons
• Is C.J. Wilson ready to be a legitimate ace? If so, he's going to have to lower his walk total. I loved Ceej and his 204 innings last season, but 93 walks was too many. Last season, in the toughest games of the season, we turned to Lee to dominate. He did in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Not sure C.J. can do that yet.
• Texas may have to rely on unproven pitching talent to round out the rotation in 2011. As it stands, we know C.J., Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter will be penciled into the rotation. But who's 4 and 5? Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, perhaps Neftali Feliz or Alexi Ogando out of the bullpen?
• The free agent market for pitchers is extra thin after Lee. The best available remaining names are Carl Pavano and Brandon Webb. Both appear to be huge risks.
I get the sense JD and the front office aren't done this offseason in adding names to improve the rotation. The Rangers not only have money to spend, but they have the prospects to potentially trade for a guy like Kansas City's Zack Greinke or Tampa Bay's Matt Garza.
I'd caution against trading the entire farm for either guy, though. Kansas City's initial offer for all of our top prospects was insane, particularly considering Greinke will be a free agent in two years. Garza will be a free agent in three years.
Should we trade for either pitcher, I'd feel more comfortable with a longer-term deal in place. Greinke and Garza (both 27) would be younger and cheaper options than Lee as well, which is appealing.
Might be better to wait until the trade deadline like we did last year with Lee and make a move. The Angels did that last year in July with Dan Haren (trading away Joe Saunders and a minor leaguer) and it worked out awfully well. The free agent market right now is just too thin.
I'll always remember how Lee pitched for the Rangers in the second half of last season and last postseason. He led the charge in the team's first postseason series victory in Rangers history. First AL Championship Series in team history. First World Series appearance in team history. You get the idea.
My personal favorite was when he silenced the Yankees in New York in Game 3 of the ALCS to take a 2-1 series lead. Eight innings, two hits, only one walk, 13 strikeouts. Amazing, epic, dominating, inspiring. In New York. I'll never forget that. There's arguably not another pitcher in baseball who could toss a line like that in New York other than Roy Halladay. And both will be wearing the same uniform next season. Yikes.
Lee was a vital part of an unforgettable season of baseball, undoubtedly my most memorable season of following a team, regardless of the sport. He could have returned to Texas for similar money and even one more year than Philadelphia's offer. He declined.
As a Rangers fan, all I can do is move on.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Winter meetings create speculation, nervousness, impatience
Baseball's winter meetings ended yesterday in Orlando, Fla., and the following topics were discussed in some form or fashion:
Michael Young came up in possible trade talks with the Colorado Rockies. In trading Young, the Rangers would apparently save much of his $15 million contract per season and use the money to sign free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre.
The New York Yankees initially offered Cliff Lee six years and roughly $140 million. One day later, after outfielder Carl Crawford signed a seven-year, $142 million contract with Boston, the Yankees upped their offer to Lee to seven years.
But here we are, late Friday night and early Saturday morning, without much actual news.
Young hasn't been traded. And Lee still needs to figure out where he's going to pitch.
I don't know what to make of this year's winter meetings. I kept up with the rumors because I love following baseball and because much of the meetings seemed to revolve around Lee.
The Lee saga is starting to become strenuous. I feel worn out, and I have no idea what I want the Rangers to do. Call me out for driving on the high road, but it's the truth.
On the surface, I want Lee pitching in a Rangers uniform again. Without him, we may not have made the World Series. Without him, we probably wouldn't have made Yankees hitters look lost in their own backyard.
But the price Texas will have to pay is astronomical for a guy who's 32. If the Yankees are offering seven years, that means Lee will be 39 by the end of the contract. He won't be pitching at this level when he's 39. Hell, what about when he's 35-36? Lee has the best control of any pitcher I've ever watched. But how long can he sustain it and rely on it as an elite pitcher?
And I don't know specifics, but I'd think bringing back Lee would make it tougher to retain the long-term services of guys like Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus, C.J. Wilson and Neftali Feliz.
Should Lee sign with the Yankees, the Rangers would need a backup plan. One possibility is discussing a trade with the Royals for ace Zack Greinke. He's not as proven as Lee. But he's a former Cy Young award winner, he'd be cheaper and he's five years younger (27). Living in Lawrence, I have a ton of friends who are Royals fans. Many have told me that when Greinke is on and in a groove, he's darn near untouchable.
Greinke represents another option with a different currency: prospects. If the Rangers want Greinke, they are going to have to part with top-tier prospects from the farm system. Kansas City has reportedly asked for too many high-end prospects, so nothing has been close to happening.
If I was forced to pick, I'd say sign Lee, keep the prospects and hope there's enough checks to go around to the guys who have been loyal Rangers for a few years now. With Lee, we'd be in contention for another deep playoff run for the next few years.
I just don't know if it will turn out that way.
Michael Young came up in possible trade talks with the Colorado Rockies. In trading Young, the Rangers would apparently save much of his $15 million contract per season and use the money to sign free agent third baseman Adrian Beltre.
The New York Yankees initially offered Cliff Lee six years and roughly $140 million. One day later, after outfielder Carl Crawford signed a seven-year, $142 million contract with Boston, the Yankees upped their offer to Lee to seven years.
But here we are, late Friday night and early Saturday morning, without much actual news.
Young hasn't been traded. And Lee still needs to figure out where he's going to pitch.
I don't know what to make of this year's winter meetings. I kept up with the rumors because I love following baseball and because much of the meetings seemed to revolve around Lee.
The Lee saga is starting to become strenuous. I feel worn out, and I have no idea what I want the Rangers to do. Call me out for driving on the high road, but it's the truth.
On the surface, I want Lee pitching in a Rangers uniform again. Without him, we may not have made the World Series. Without him, we probably wouldn't have made Yankees hitters look lost in their own backyard.
But the price Texas will have to pay is astronomical for a guy who's 32. If the Yankees are offering seven years, that means Lee will be 39 by the end of the contract. He won't be pitching at this level when he's 39. Hell, what about when he's 35-36? Lee has the best control of any pitcher I've ever watched. But how long can he sustain it and rely on it as an elite pitcher?
And I don't know specifics, but I'd think bringing back Lee would make it tougher to retain the long-term services of guys like Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus, C.J. Wilson and Neftali Feliz.
Should Lee sign with the Yankees, the Rangers would need a backup plan. One possibility is discussing a trade with the Royals for ace Zack Greinke. He's not as proven as Lee. But he's a former Cy Young award winner, he'd be cheaper and he's five years younger (27). Living in Lawrence, I have a ton of friends who are Royals fans. Many have told me that when Greinke is on and in a groove, he's darn near untouchable.
Greinke represents another option with a different currency: prospects. If the Rangers want Greinke, they are going to have to part with top-tier prospects from the farm system. Kansas City has reportedly asked for too many high-end prospects, so nothing has been close to happening.
If I was forced to pick, I'd say sign Lee, keep the prospects and hope there's enough checks to go around to the guys who have been loyal Rangers for a few years now. With Lee, we'd be in contention for another deep playoff run for the next few years.
I just don't know if it will turn out that way.
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