Anyone need a catcher?
According to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers are drawing some interest from teams inquiring about catching depth. Coco Crisp is the most prominent name mentioned.
Catcher is certainly a position of strength in the organization. The Rangers have Jarrod Saltalamacchia, 22, and Gerald Laird, 28, at the big league level. Saltalamacchia needs to catch as much as possible in ‘08, which moves Laird into a reserve role.
I’m not in favor of moving Salty to first base. At all. You do not move players out of middle-of-the-diamond positions, until it becomes absolutely necessary to do so. And I’m sorry, and this may offend some Rangers fans, but clearing room for Gerald Laird to play does not qualify as “absolutely necessary” to me. Laird is a reserve for the Rangers in ‘08, unless he gets traded, hence the interest.
In addition to Salty and Laird, the Rangers are very well-stocked at the catcher postion down on the farm. Taylor Teagarden will be ready sometime in ‘08 or spring training ‘09 at the latest. And I believe Teagarden is going to be a better big leaguer than Salty. No, I’m not down on our prized acquisition in the Tex deal. I just believe Teagarden is that good. I have all winter to tell you why I feel this way. Max Ramirez may be ready as early as spring training ‘09. Ramirez is a hitting machine, whose catching skills are improving. And after those two, Cristian Santana has tremendous ability, but he’s at least three years away.
This is a good situation to have. Barring a trade, either Salty or Teagarden, and possibly Ramirez, will have to change positions. Eventually. Not now. Because Salty has more value to the organization - and to the lineup - at catcher right now.
Coco Crisp, 28, hit .268/.330/.382 with Boston last season. He has some speed, and a little pop. He is not, however, the answer to our centerfield situation. But I am all for bringing Crisp on board, especially if Laird is the price. Crisp can be a productive reserve in ‘08, filling in at multiple outfield positions. Gerald Laird has little value to the team anymore. And I can’t see how the market for Laird will net any better return than Crisp. (I’ll be surprised if he nets Crisp, actually.)
And acquiring Coco Crisp, or another outfielder like him, does not in any way limit the pursuit of Torii Hunter and/or Aaron Rowand. Both of those players won Gold Gloves yesterday, by the way. It was a foregone conclusion with Hunter, of course.
Also in Grant’s article, the Rangers announced promising righthander Jason Brigham will undergo Tommy John surgery, which will knock him out for all of 2008.
T.R. Sullivan has a mailbag up on the Rangers site. Mostly ridiculous trade questions, but there are a few good ones in there.
