Rangers 1974-1975 Offseason Report
Posted 07-06-2011 at 01:17 AM by neugey
The Texas Rangers, coming off their humbling ALCS loss to the Yankees, sought to improve their team this offseason and put themselves in a better position to content against AL powerhouses like New York.
The first order of business was the draft. With their first round pick, the Rangers chose top lefty reliever Ron Guidry. The young college graduate from Louisiana-Lafayette has ability that is off the charts. Presuming he does not falter greatly during spring training, he will start his career in the majors.
After Guidry, the Rangers chose a group of young, solid lefty corner infielders in Tommy Bianco and Dan Briggs. And for their final pick, they took lefty setup man Craig Mitchell. All of these picks figure to get seasoning in the Rangers minor league system for the '75 season.
Several Rangers then negotiated deals through the arbitration process ...
CF Don Baylor received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $190,400.
C Joe Nolan received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $210,000.
2B Tim Foli received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $51,500.
1B Dave Kingman received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $53,000.
SP Doyle Alexander received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $58,000.
MR Steve Kline received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $50,500.
SS Ted Martinez received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $45,354.
CF Johnny Grubb received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $150,000.
C Dick Billings received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $60,472.
MR Mike Jackson received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $45,354.
The Rangers also let these players go via free agency, rule 5 and waivers ...
MR Milt Pappas becomes a free-agent.
CL Jim Brewer becomes a free-agent.
2B Jay Johnstone becomes a free-agent.
LF Tom Hutton becomes a free-agent.
C Andy Etchebarren becomes a free-agent.
RF Ollie Brown becomes a free-agent.
C Bob Barton becomes a free-agent.
MR John Morris becomes a free-agent.
Lost 1B Jim Gosger in the Rule 5 Draft to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Lost SS Ted Martinez in the Rule 5 Draft to the Cleveland Indians.
3B Joe Lovitto was claimed off waivers by Kansas City.
3B Garry Jestadt was claimed off waivers by Chicago.
During the Rule 5 draft, the Rangers drafted CL Gene Garber in the 1974 Rule 5 Draft (Round 1, Pick 17, 17th overall Pick), from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Texas is hoping the young righty Garber will solidfy their bullpen.
In free agency, the Rangers picked up a former player 1B Don Mincher at a more affordable rate - a 2-year contract worth a total of $178,000. The Rangers love his plate presence, leadership and ability to get on base and hope he retires a Ranger.
Also in free agency, the Rangers add 2B/SS John Donaldson to shore up their middle infield and Donaldson will likely platoon at 2B with incumbent Tim Foli. The Rangers also added reliever Tug McGraw, known for his guts and big-game experience with the Mets.
The following players also signed extensions w/ Texas - SS Mark Belanger, 1B Dave Kingman, 3B Toby Harrah and C Joe Nolan.
Last, but certainly not least, the Rangers engineered the following trades. The major addition that has the fans buzzing is the addition of Nolan Ryan. Although Ryan has said he will test free agency after this season, the Rangers hope Ryan will have a productive year and consider continuing his career in Texas ...
Traded 31-year-old minor league second baseman Davey Johnson, 27-year-old reliever Buzz Capra and 26-year-old minor league center fielder Johnny Grubb to the Los Angeles Dodgers, getting 27-year-old starting pitcher Nolan Ryan, 22-year-old minor league center fielder Jerry White, 26-year-old catcher Steve Yeager and 27-year-old third baseman Matt Alexander in return.
Traded 30-year-old minor league starting pitcher Jim Bibby to the California Angels, getting 22-year-old center fielder Bruce Boisclair and 26-year-old minor league reliever Rick Henninger in return.
Traded 25-year-old minor league left fielder Don Castle to the San Diego Padres, getting 27-year-old third baseman Garry Jestadt and 27-year-old minor league reliever Jim Todd in return.
Executive manager had the following to say about the Rangers offseason, "The addition of Nolan Ryan signals that we're looking beyond being a thrifty small-market team. We can break the bank for a big-time pitcher. We will acquire pitchers that give us a chance to win and put a defense behind them that allows them to be successful. We're continuing to increase the caliber of our bullpen. We'll also make earnest attempts to resign the position players that are instrumental to our success and versatility. We're in good financial shape and can to continue to offer quality extensions to some of our great young talent and slowly expand our budget along the way."
"With some of these new pieces, we're hoping to find good chemistry and rhythm in the spring training games. There are a few position battles, especially in the outfield spots. We like the options we have in field and we also have high-school phenom OF Claudell Washington who tore up the minors for us last year and may get a look as the year ensues."
The first order of business was the draft. With their first round pick, the Rangers chose top lefty reliever Ron Guidry. The young college graduate from Louisiana-Lafayette has ability that is off the charts. Presuming he does not falter greatly during spring training, he will start his career in the majors.
After Guidry, the Rangers chose a group of young, solid lefty corner infielders in Tommy Bianco and Dan Briggs. And for their final pick, they took lefty setup man Craig Mitchell. All of these picks figure to get seasoning in the Rangers minor league system for the '75 season.
Several Rangers then negotiated deals through the arbitration process ...
CF Don Baylor received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $190,400.
C Joe Nolan received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $210,000.
2B Tim Foli received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $51,500.
1B Dave Kingman received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $53,000.
SP Doyle Alexander received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $58,000.
MR Steve Kline received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $50,500.
SS Ted Martinez received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $45,354.
CF Johnny Grubb received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $150,000.
C Dick Billings received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $60,472.
MR Mike Jackson received a 1-year contract through arbitration worth a total of $45,354.
The Rangers also let these players go via free agency, rule 5 and waivers ...
MR Milt Pappas becomes a free-agent.
CL Jim Brewer becomes a free-agent.
2B Jay Johnstone becomes a free-agent.
LF Tom Hutton becomes a free-agent.
C Andy Etchebarren becomes a free-agent.
RF Ollie Brown becomes a free-agent.
C Bob Barton becomes a free-agent.
MR John Morris becomes a free-agent.
Lost 1B Jim Gosger in the Rule 5 Draft to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Lost SS Ted Martinez in the Rule 5 Draft to the Cleveland Indians.
3B Joe Lovitto was claimed off waivers by Kansas City.
3B Garry Jestadt was claimed off waivers by Chicago.
During the Rule 5 draft, the Rangers drafted CL Gene Garber in the 1974 Rule 5 Draft (Round 1, Pick 17, 17th overall Pick), from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Texas is hoping the young righty Garber will solidfy their bullpen.
In free agency, the Rangers picked up a former player 1B Don Mincher at a more affordable rate - a 2-year contract worth a total of $178,000. The Rangers love his plate presence, leadership and ability to get on base and hope he retires a Ranger.
Also in free agency, the Rangers add 2B/SS John Donaldson to shore up their middle infield and Donaldson will likely platoon at 2B with incumbent Tim Foli. The Rangers also added reliever Tug McGraw, known for his guts and big-game experience with the Mets.
The following players also signed extensions w/ Texas - SS Mark Belanger, 1B Dave Kingman, 3B Toby Harrah and C Joe Nolan.
Last, but certainly not least, the Rangers engineered the following trades. The major addition that has the fans buzzing is the addition of Nolan Ryan. Although Ryan has said he will test free agency after this season, the Rangers hope Ryan will have a productive year and consider continuing his career in Texas ...
Traded 31-year-old minor league second baseman Davey Johnson, 27-year-old reliever Buzz Capra and 26-year-old minor league center fielder Johnny Grubb to the Los Angeles Dodgers, getting 27-year-old starting pitcher Nolan Ryan, 22-year-old minor league center fielder Jerry White, 26-year-old catcher Steve Yeager and 27-year-old third baseman Matt Alexander in return.
Traded 30-year-old minor league starting pitcher Jim Bibby to the California Angels, getting 22-year-old center fielder Bruce Boisclair and 26-year-old minor league reliever Rick Henninger in return.
Traded 25-year-old minor league left fielder Don Castle to the San Diego Padres, getting 27-year-old third baseman Garry Jestadt and 27-year-old minor league reliever Jim Todd in return.
Executive manager had the following to say about the Rangers offseason, "The addition of Nolan Ryan signals that we're looking beyond being a thrifty small-market team. We can break the bank for a big-time pitcher. We will acquire pitchers that give us a chance to win and put a defense behind them that allows them to be successful. We're continuing to increase the caliber of our bullpen. We'll also make earnest attempts to resign the position players that are instrumental to our success and versatility. We're in good financial shape and can to continue to offer quality extensions to some of our great young talent and slowly expand our budget along the way."
"With some of these new pieces, we're hoping to find good chemistry and rhythm in the spring training games. There are a few position battles, especially in the outfield spots. We like the options we have in field and we also have high-school phenom OF Claudell Washington who tore up the minors for us last year and may get a look as the year ensues."
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