Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his contract with the Yankees, saving the Rangers $21.3 million over the next three years. (link, link) Thanks Alex Rodriguez. That’s quite helpful.

What will we turn that money into? Could get a decent pitcher for that, although the market is thin. What do we spend that on? Hopefully it’s converted into the roster, and not to Hicks’ pocket.

We’re still on the hook I would imagine for the deferred money from 2001-2007, which according to my Arod Roster page, is this:

2016: $5 million at 1.75% interest (2001)
2017: $4 million at 1.75% interest (2002)
2018: $3 million at 1.75% interest (2003)
2019: $3 million at 1.75% interest (2004)
2020: $4 million at 1.75% interest (2005)
2021: $4 million at 1.75% interest (2006)
2022: $4 million at 1.75% interest (2007)

These were the deferred terms at the time of the trade from the Rangers to the Yankees. I was never clear what the interest on the deferred money was referring to. Was it 1.75% interest from the year it came from? If not, interest from what? Original contract time? Never found a good answer for that. The Yankees also owe deferred money from 2001-2007, but it’s only $1 million a year for them.

So we’re still on the hook for money, but Arod opting out saves us $21 million in salary from 2008-2010, and $9 million more in deferred money from 2023-2025. I hope we do something good with this money. What do you think we should do? Comment below.

Saw something last night on another fan forum about that team’s interleague schedule. What makes it interesting is one of their road opponents is Texas. Since Interleague started in 1997, I’ve wanted to see this matchup, and it appears I’ll finally get it in 2008.

The Phillies are coming to Arlington!

According to the preliminary schedule I saw for the Phillies for next year, they’re going to be here from Friday June 27th through the 29th. Now I spoke with someone at the Rangers today, and mentioned that this is indeed on the preliminary schedule, but there were some objections by the Rangers to some of the dates, so bits will have to be reworked. The commissioner’s office was behind on schedule making this year (due to a failed attempt at a new way of doing it apparently), so that’s why they don’t have it out by now, which they usually do. Anyway, I hope they bring the Phanatic. One of the true icons of mascot-dom. :)

Here’s some other stuff from the preliminary schedule:

Home: Houston, Philadelphia, Atlanta
Road: Houston, Washington, Unknown

Interesting that Tex might come home in 2008, assuming Atlanta keeps him for 08 (which I think is likely). The other road one is unknown, but if they’re all in the east, I’ll say it’s the Mets. We played in Florida twice in a row a few years ago, so that’s probably not happening again.

Washington would be cool if it’s true, as they’re opening up their new stadium in 2008, so that will be nice to see, although for nostalgia’s sake it would have been cool to play them in RFK too, given this franchise’s origins.

The folks I spoke with were careful to say it’s all preliminary, but I’m certainly looking forward to my hometown Phillies being here in 2008. Bring on the Phanatic!

Got this in email a little while ago. Thought I’d pass it on for those who are interested.

Hi Joe! Saw your website and wanted to let you and your readers know that Texas Rangers star Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be signing autographs at American Icons on Saturday, September 22, 2007 12:00pm – 1:00pm. In Frisco. Their website is: http://www.aitexas.com. Autographs are $20 each | $30 to sign Baseball Bats or Jerseys

I am personally not a fan of “pay for autographs”, but I know some people are into that, so I thought I’d pass on the appearance info.

This just in.
Vicente Padilla suspended seven games for throwing at Nick Swisher.
Nobody really surprised by that.
Hopefully he doesn’t do anything stupid like appeal. Serve it now. Get it over with. Don’t want that to carry over into 2008. Edit: TR says he’s appealing and pitching Wednesday. Stupid. Get it over with now.

Brandon McCarthy was placed on the DL with a stress fracture in his shoulder blade. Ugh.
Vicente Padilla was activated from the DL to take his place on the roster. UGH!
Ugh!

As the game gets underway this evening, I made a few changes to some uniform numbers I saw mentioned in the pre-game on TV. Here’s a list of the changes:

• Ron Washington takes back 38 (he was wearing 37). When first signed, Wash was going to wear 38, but gave it up for Eric Gagne’s arrival. Now that Gagne is gone, Wash has gone back to 38.
• Jarrod Saltamacchia moves from 16 to 25. 16 is now vacant.
• Jerry Hairston Jr moved from 25 to 3. 3 was previously being worn by Joaquin Arias during spring training, but was otherwise unoccupied since Arod wore it in the majors for us a few years ago.

Sounds like Salty did one of those clubhouse deals to get Hairston to move his number. :) If you didn’t know about it, check out the uniform number history section of my website. It chronicles who wore what from 1972-2007 for the Rangers.

Bet most people figured that when Botts was here, Sammy was not. That’s not the case. The Rangers made a few moves today, one of which surprised me. The list is:

• Botts called up
• Wes Littleton called up
• Scott Feldman optioned to AAA
• Travis Metcalf optioned to AAA

I thought Metcalf was playing decently. His stick wasn’t the greatest, but then some others here aren’t exactly lighting up the charts, either. Additionally, Desi Relaford cleared waivers (no shock there), and was assigned to AAA.

A lot of moves on the 25 man roster today, not all of which have come down yet. Here’s my summary of what happened:
Taken off the 25:
1B Mark Teixeira
P Ron Mahay
P Eric Gagne
Put on the 25:
1B/C Jarrod Saltamacchia (according to the Rangers press notes, he’s wearing uniform number 16)
But that leaves two open spots. We’re at 23 by my count, since they haven’t said who else is coming up. If I had to guess, one of them is Jason Gabbard. No idea about the other.
Of course what happens to Adam Melhuse? In what I could hear from the press conference, Daniels said they planed on splitting time at catcher between Salt & Laird. Where’s that leave Melhuse? Unless we’re sending him to the minors, or just DFA’ing him. Don’t know how it will work out at catcher.
Daniels did say that Sosa wasn’t going anywhere.
UPDATE @ 5:45PM: Ron Washington said on the pre-game show that Jason Gabbard will go into our rotation when he arrives tomorrow, although in what position is not known yet. My guess is he doesn’t actually get added to the 25 man roster until tomorrow.
Further moves were posted on the Rangers site a few minutes ago. Here are the further transactions:

• Activated Ian Kinsler from the DL
• Recalled AJ Murray from AAA
• Designated Desi Relaford for assignment.

The word is out on Eric Gagne going to Boston. Apparently Gagne waived his no trade clause to go there and will be a setup man. Additionally, the $2.5m in performance bonuses were guaranteed by the Red Sox with Texas paying $400,000 of that, Boston the other 2.1 Mil.
The three names coming back are P Kason Gabbard, OF David Murphy, & OF Engle Beltre. Here is a news story on the Rangers site about this.
With Otsuka on the DL, I wonder who is our closer now? Not only that how the 25 man roster will shake out for tonight’s game in Cleveland.