Joaquin Benoit was signed to a two year contract today for 2008 and 2009. Benoit will make $2 million next year and $3.5 million in 2009. He also gets a $500,000 signing bonus.
You know what? Good. A few years back I wouldn’t have been saying that, but he’s developed into a great pitcher out of the pen. The fact that he survived Buck Showalter as well as all the managers and regimes from when he first was called up says something. I know I said something like this during the middle of the season, but it bears repeating on this day when he signed on.
This buys out his last year of arbitration and his first year of free agency.
He’s also the longest tenured Texas Ranger, making his first appearance in August of 2001. The year of Arod, Caminiti, and Galarraga. He’s been here awhile, although he’s been in the system for far longer than that, having originally signed in May of 1996.
I’m glad. Good for Jack.
Sosa, Hairston file for free agency
Another gaggle of players filed for free agency yesterday. The first two Texas Rangers have done that as wel, those being Jerry Hairston Jr (who probably won’t be back), and Sammy Sosa (who could if all the stars align).
While I didn’t find a list of just who filed yesterday, mlb.com now has a list of all the players who have filed; that list is available here.
So the fun begins
OK, I knew I couldn’t wait all offseason to have something to say. The Arod opt out kind of kicked me into doing something. :) It’s quite weird but in the last few seasons, I’ve enjoyed all the off season business stuff just as much as the actual games. Don’t know when that happened. Maybe I could get a job for Scott Boras. I know he has some money to throw around.
Anyway, no Texas Rangers filed for free agency on the first day of eligibility, but 57 players did, including several ex Rangers, and a few players that are supposedly on the Rangers’ radar this offseason. They are:
American League:
A’s: Jeff DaVanon, Shannon Stewart
Angels: Bartolo Colon
Blue Jays: Joe Kennedy, Matt Stairs
Indians: Trot Nixon
Royals: Jason LaRue, Reggie Sanders
Tigers: Sean Casey, Todd Jones
Twins: Torii Hunter, Carlos Silva
Yankees: Doug Mientkiewicz, Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez, Mariano Rivera, Luis Vizcaino
National League:
Astros: Brad Ausmus, Mike Lamb, Mark Loretta, Trever Miller, Brian Moehler, Orlando Palmeiro
Braves: Julio Franco, Ron Mahay
Brewers: Francisco Cordero, Ray King, Corey Koskie, Scott Linebrink, Damian Miller
Cardinals: Miguel Cairo, David Eckstein, Troy Percival, Kip Wells
Cubs: Kerry Wood
Diamondbacks: Jeff Cirillo, Livan Hernandez, Bob Wickman
Giants: Barry Bonds, Pedro Feliz
Marlins: Armando Benitez
Mets: Marlon Anderson, Luis Castillo, Ramon Castro, Damion Easley, Shawn Green, Paul LoDuca
Nationals: Robert Fick
Padres: Michael Barrett, Milton Bradley
Phillies: Jon Lieber, Jose Mesa, Abraham Nunez, Aaron Rowand
Pirates: Tony Armas, Jr
Rockies: Jeremy Affeldt, Jorge Julio
If you’re reading this site, you know who the Rangers are likely to go after (Torii Hunter, Aaron Rowand are the most named). There’s some on there that I probably wouldn’t mind bringing back on a flier (Ron Mahay, Cordero, but he’d likely want too much $ and guaranteed closer). Bartolo Colon couldn’t hurt, although I wonder if he’d sign here. Kerry Wood in the bullpen, perhaps?
There’s quite a few of the oh dear God no – don’t think that on that list. :)
And is Julio Franco a formality? Isn’t he retiring?
Nick Gorneault
- OF Nick Gorneault claimed off waivers from Angels [ Link ]
What do you do with $21.3 Million? (Arod opts out)
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.
World Series 2007
Definitely am not interested in the Red Sox winning this. Go Rockies. It’ll be portrayed as a David vs. Goliath kind of thing, I’m sure, and I’ll be rooting for the Colorado team. I saw the Rockies play in their inaugural season in 1993 when they played in Mile High Stadium. I wish I still had my Rockies hat I bought that day, but it’s gotten lost over the years.
I don’t want the Red Sox to win, mostly because they’ve become the Yankees. They’re the overspending high priced expected to win team. The only difference between the Red Sox and the Yankees now are the total number of World Series rings. Besides that, I view them no differently. I used to love going to Red Sox games in Arlington, except since 04 when the Sox won their series, their fans have grown more obnoxious than Yankees fans – something I didn’t think possible.
My prediction is Red Sox in 5, although I would like the Rockies to win – don’t care how many games.
Quiroz Gone
- C Guillermo Quiroz outrighted to AAA
- C Guillermo Quiroz refused assignment, took free agency [ Link ]
Francisco Signed
- P Frank Francisco signed a one year contract, avoiding arbitration [ Link ]
Is Rudy Jaramillo out?
Rudy Jaramillo is the last remaining link to Johnny Oates’ original coaching staff from 1995. He’s the longest tenured coach, and is widely respected and loved by his hitters. It does seem however, that 2008 will be the first year he’s not here in quite some time. That will feel odd.
Tim McMahon over at the DMN Rangers blog links to a rumour post that says that Jaramillo will go to the Mets as the hitting coach. As you recall, Rudy was a runner up to current Mets manager Willie Randolph, and the GM there (Omar Minaya) goes way back with Rudy.
If this does happen, who would you want to come in here? My personal choice for a hitting coach would be Rusty Greer. I think it would be a wonderful way to get him involved again – you know a lot of fans would make a big deal out of him being back in uniform. Plus with Mike Wood not a Ranger anymore, uniform number #29 is open again. Plus I bet Zack Minasian wouldn’t give out #8 next year, either.
Seriously though. If Rudy Jaramillo is gone, who would you want as a hitting coach? Leave a comment here – would like to see some feedback. Danke.
Roster Moves a Plenty
There were a bunch of roster moves today. Mostly all procedural. The only real fallout of this is Mike Wood, who declined his assignment to AAA, and took immediate free agency. Below is a list of all the moves today. But before we get to this list, I wanted to mention this funny piece from last June with Mike Wood.
It was the video CJ Wilson made with various members of the bullpen. It’s darned funny. If you’ve seen it before take another look – it’s a funny piece. Check it out.
- IF Joaquin Arias reinstated from the 60 day DL
- P Akinori Otsuka reinstated from the 60 day DL
- P Josh Rupe reinstated from the 60 day DL
- P Willie Eyre reinstated from the 60 day DL
- P Willie Eyre signed to a 1 year minor league contract for 2008
- P Willie Eyre outrighted to AAA
- P Mike Wood outrighted to AAA; Wood took free agency
- C Chris Stewart outrighted to AAA
- OF Kevin Mahar outrighted to AAA [ Link ]
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