OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - Rebuilding the Texas Rangers

WarningTrakPower · 05-16-2021, 05:47 PM

Let's go through each position and put together a game plan for the offseason.

Catchers
Jose Trevino - Heading in to his age 29 season and still on a league minimum contract (currently projected at $2.6m for 2023).
He had a pretty good season with the bat (.741 OPS) to go along with above average defense (70 catcher ability).
I am tempted to trade him this offseason to help out our pitching staff.

Ali Sanchez - Heading in to his age 25 season with less than a full year of service time.
He also had a good season offensively with a .740 OPS (albeit a smaller sample size) and he also has 70 catcher ability.
His personality class is "captain" and should be one of our two catchers for a few seasons to come.

Sam Huff - Heading in to his age 24 season and spent all of 2021 in AAA.
He was very good offensively in AAA (.814 OPS) while having a poor morale since he figures he is ready for MLB.
I am leaning towards having him backup next season (if we find a good deal with Trevino) but I am not in love with his defensive skills.
He may be more of a DH/1B with the occasional start at catcher.

First Base
Nate Lowe - Turned 26 in July and had an excellent first season in Texas (.811 OPS that dropped from .853 on August 31).
With less than two years of service time, I can see with us for at least two more seasons.

Matt Thaiss - Turned 26 in May and tore the cover off the ball in AAA that basically forced us to bring him up as a bench bat.
He performed quite poorly in his 145 PAs (.630 OPS) but he still has two option years remaining and less than two years service time.

Sherten Apostel - Turning 23 in March and hit quite well in a full season of AAA (.830 OPS).
I am leaning towards having him as our backup 1B option next year because he is a RH batter.
He has enough defensive skills to give our 3B a day off if need be. Also, he only has one option year remaining.

Second Base
Nick Solak - Turning 27 in January and still pre arbitration eligible.
For his career (just less than 1000 PAs) he has only hit for an OPS of .727.
Even though he has an excellent personality, he isn't strong enough defensively to warrant a long term role with our team.\

Anderson Tejada - Turns 24 on May 1 and only has one option year remaining. He only played SS last year in AAA (.822 OPS) but we will start training him at 2B this spring.
This switch hitting Dominican may very well surpass Solak in the not so distant future.

Shortstop
Isiah Kiner-Falefa - Turning 27 in March and due to make roughly $3.5m in arbitration this offseason.
Althought he was a 2 WAR player last season, for his career his OPS is .685 and he is at best average defensively at SS.
Currently the plan is to find a trade partner to swap Isiah for a better (hopefully cheaper) defender at SS.

No other SS options truly ready for MLB in our system.

Third Base
Josh Jung - Turning 24 in February and looks more than ready for MLB pitching (.874 OPS in 66 games at AAA).
Although he isn't terrific defensively at 3B (long term he might slide to 1B), he will most likely be our opening day 3B (or by May 1).

Hopefully we can add a veteran 3B option via trade or free agency this offseason.
Charlie Culberson (soon to be 33) was a good fit, but the bat slowed down as the season went along.

Left Field
Steele Walker - Turned 25 in July and still has all 3 option years remaining.
He has not "earned" the everyday LF job, but could be our 4th OF (although his defensive is not good enough for CF).

Center Field
Leody Taveras - Just turned 23 in September and already has over 500 PAs in MLB (OPS of .613).
He does have almost 2 years of service time and only one option year remaining however.
He is above average defensively (70 OF Range), so he keeps the starting role unless we can add a better option).

Right Field
David Dahl - Turning 28 on April 1st and due to make over $6m in arbitration this winter. He is also a "fragile" player.
Similar to Kiner-Falefa, we will be looking to package Dahl in a trade for a younger outfielder.

Outfielders in AAA (AAAA type batters)
Jason Martin - 26 years old and had an OPS of .800 last year, but defensively not more than a LF or below average RF. Only has one option year remaining.

Julio Pablo Martinez - Turning 26 in March and had an OPS of .830 last year (no AA experience).
Better defensively than Martin with zero service time and 3 option years.

Carlos Tocci - 26 years old who is much better defensively than offensively (career AAA OPS below .600).
He has one year of service time and 2 option years remaining.

Davis Wendzel - Turns 25 in May and had a strong year split between AA & AAA (.847 OPS in 143 AAA PAs).
He was 41st overall in 2019, so quick riser through the system.
Based on his profile, he fits the super utility role by being able to play basically anywhere defensively.
The one knock on Wendzel is he has a poor personality profile (high greed, low loyalty and low adaptability).

The next post we will take a look at some pitchers of note, but that is where the real work needs to be done to help rebuild this team!

05-16-2021, 05:47 PM	#6
WarningTrakPower All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2018 Posts: 595	Offseason Plan for Hitters Let's go through each position and put together a game plan for the offseason. Catchers Jose Trevino - Heading in to his age 29 season and still on a league minimum contract (currently projected at $2.6m for 2023). He had a pretty good season with the bat (.741 OPS) to go along with above average defense (70 catcher ability). I am tempted to trade him this offseason to help out our pitching staff. Ali Sanchez - Heading in to his age 25 season with less than a full year of service time. He also had a good season offensively with a .740 OPS (albeit a smaller sample size) and he also has 70 catcher ability. His personality class is "captain" and should be one of our two catchers for a few seasons to come. Sam Huff - Heading in to his age 24 season and spent all of 2021 in AAA. He was very good offensively in AAA (.814 OPS) while having a poor morale since he figures he is ready for MLB. I am leaning towards having him backup next season (if we find a good deal with Trevino) but I am not in love with his defensive skills. He may be more of a DH/1B with the occasional start at catcher. First Base Nate Lowe - Turned 26 in July and had an excellent first season in Texas (.811 OPS that dropped from .853 on August 31). With less than two years of service time, I can see with us for at least two more seasons. Matt Thaiss - Turned 26 in May and tore the cover off the ball in AAA that basically forced us to bring him up as a bench bat. He performed quite poorly in his 145 PAs (.630 OPS) but he still has two option years remaining and less than two years service time. Sherten Apostel - Turning 23 in March and hit quite well in a full season of AAA (.830 OPS). I am leaning towards having him as our backup 1B option next year because he is a RH batter. He has enough defensive skills to give our 3B a day off if need be. Also, he only has one option year remaining. Second Base Nick Solak - Turning 27 in January and still pre arbitration eligible. For his career (just less than 1000 PAs) he has only hit for an OPS of .727. Even though he has an excellent personality, he isn't strong enough defensively to warrant a long term role with our team.\ Anderson Tejada - Turns 24 on May 1 and only has one option year remaining. He only played SS last year in AAA (.822 OPS) but we will start training him at 2B this spring. This switch hitting Dominican may very well surpass Solak in the not so distant future. Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa - Turning 27 in March and due to make roughly $3.5m in arbitration this offseason. Althought he was a 2 WAR player last season, for his career his OPS is .685 and he is at best average defensively at SS. Currently the plan is to find a trade partner to swap Isiah for a better (hopefully cheaper) defender at SS. No other SS options truly ready for MLB in our system. Third Base Josh Jung - Turning 24 in February and looks more than ready for MLB pitching (.874 OPS in 66 games at AAA). Although he isn't terrific defensively at 3B (long term he might slide to 1B), he will most likely be our opening day 3B (or by May 1). Hopefully we can add a veteran 3B option via trade or free agency this offseason. Charlie Culberson (soon to be 33) was a good fit, but the bat slowed down as the season went along. Left Field Steele Walker - Turned 25 in July and still has all 3 option years remaining. He has not "earned" the everyday LF job, but could be our 4th OF (although his defensive is not good enough for CF). Center Field Leody Taveras - Just turned 23 in September and already has over 500 PAs in MLB (OPS of .613). He does have almost 2 years of service time and only one option year remaining however. He is above average defensively (70 OF Range), so he keeps the starting role unless we can add a better option). Right Field David Dahl - Turning 28 on April 1st and due to make over $6m in arbitration this winter. He is also a "fragile" player. Similar to Kiner-Falefa, we will be looking to package Dahl in a trade for a younger outfielder. Outfielders in AAA (AAAA type batters) Jason Martin - 26 years old and had an OPS of .800 last year, but defensively not more than a LF or below average RF. Only has one option year remaining. Julio Pablo Martinez - Turning 26 in March and had an OPS of .830 last year (no AA experience). Better defensively than Martin with zero service time and 3 option years. Carlos Tocci - 26 years old who is much better defensively than offensively (career AAA OPS below .600). He has one year of service time and 2 option years remaining. Davis Wendzel - Turns 25 in May and had a strong year split between AA & AAA (.847 OPS in 143 AAA PAs). He was 41st overall in 2019, so quick riser through the system. Based on his profile, he fits the super utility role by being able to play basically anywhere defensively. The one knock on Wendzel is he has a poor personality profile (high greed, low loyalty and low adaptability). The next post we will take a look at some pitchers of note, but that is where the real work needs to be done to help rebuild this team! Last edited by WarningTrakPower; 05-16-2021 at 05:48 PM.