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First Roster Move of Season

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  • C Chris Gimenez designated for assignment
  • P Daniel McCutchen purchased from AAA
  • P Michael Kirkman clears waivers, outrighted to AAA [ Link ]

NOTES: That didn’t take long.  The third catcher (Chris Gimenez) has been DFA’ed to bring up some bullpen help in the form of Daniel McCutchen.  McCutchen played with Pittsburgh the last few years, and had decent numbers there, so hopefully he can do well here.  Kirkman, who seems to have run out of steam with Texas cleared waivers and went to AAA.   Gimenez probably will end up at AAA, I’d wager.

Opening Day Roster Set

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Well, here it is.  The big bomb of moves made to bring the roster to 25 for opening day.

  • IF Josh Wilson purchased from AAA
  • IF Adam Rosales designated for assignment
  • P Yu Darvish placed on 15 day DL, retro to Mar 21
  • IF Jurickson Profar placed on 15 day DL, retro to Mar 23
  • P Matt Harrison placed on 15 day DL, retro to Mar 29
  • C Geovany Soto placed on 60 day DL [ Link ]

This makes the opening day 25:

  • PITCHERS (11): Neal Cotts, Pedro Figueroa, Jason Frasor, Alexi Ogando, Martin Perez, Seth Rosin, Robbie Ross, Jr., Joe Saunders, Tanner Scheppers, Joakim Soria, Shawn Tolleson.
  • CATCHERS (3): J.P. Arencibia, Robinson Chirinos, Chris Gimenez.
  • INFIELDERS (5): Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Prince Fielder, Donnie Murphy, Josh Wilson.
  • OUTFIELDERS (6): Jim Adduci, Michael Choice, Shin-Soo Choo, Leonys Martin, Mitch Moreland, Alex Rios.

Some of these guys won’t be here long, as Darvish will likely miss just one start.   Donnie Murphy & Josh Wilson were both pickups the last week of spring, so it’s not a huge surprise they’re here, although I wonder how much of an impact they’ll make long term.   Chris Gimenez is a bit of a surprise, and I figure might be the first on the chopping block when it’s time to make a roster move.

Pitchers:  Joe Saunders..  I hear Darth Vader screaming “Nooooooooooooooooo” somewhere.  Shawn Tolleson & Seth Rosin, as well as Pedro Figueroa are unknowns to me – especially at this level.   The rest of the guys we know about, although I wonder how Scheppers will handle opening day.

Feels like a wobbly roster given how hurt we’ve been, but I’ve rooted for worse teams than this in the past.  I’ll give it a shot to see how it goes.

Siri and 2014 Season

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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.

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Shin-Soo Choo

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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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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.