kepdawg
11-22-2007, 08:32 PM
Texas Rangers miss out on new Angels CF Hunter
10:28 AM CST on Thursday, November 22, 2007
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com
For the second consecutive year, the Los Angeles Angels have wound up with the Rangers’ desired center fielder.
Acting boldly in the 48 hours before Thanksgiving, the Angels struck a five-year deal with free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter worth approximately $90 million. Hunter’s arrival will move Gary Matthews Jr., the Rangers’ center fielder in 2006, to either right field or a bench position.
“We were totally surprised by this,” Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Thursday morning. “He told us he wanted to play in his hometown. We were going to build a youth academy together. He's a good man. … But in baseball, it’s always about the money.”
The Rangers had met twice in the past 10 days with Hunter, who is 32 and lives in Prosper. On Monday night, they extended a five-year offer worth slightly little less than $15 million per year. They also offered to help him build an academy to promote baseball in the inner city. The Rangers would likely have gone to $15 million per year or slightly above in order to match the Chicago White Sox’s standing offer.
As of Wednesday, the Rangers were still operating as if it was a two-team race between themselves and the White Sox. But when the Angels got involved, things moved quickly. Los Angeles placed a deadline on its offer. Hunter saw the combination of the offer that he wanted and the background of success that he desired. Hicks and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels declined to comment Thursday on whether they were given a chance to match or surpass the Angels’ offer.
“I watched the Angels go to work on us; they play the game the right way,” Hunter said in a conference call with Los Angeles reporters. “If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. … Maybe I can do some damage and get about three rings out of this.”
Hunter’s decision leaves the Rangers examining far less desirable options. While Daniels was disappointed to lose out on Hunter, he said the Rangers didn’t feel used by Hunter or agent Larry Reynolds. He added he gained a lot of respect for Reynolds during the process because he was up-front and honest about his desires.
“The outfield is still our top priority - we're going to look for the right fit, in terms of talent, makeup and compensation – exploring both free agents and trade targets,” Daniels said. “Torii would have been a nice fit for us, the type of player and leader that would have fit well here. That said, I'm proud of how we went about this process and the investment ownership was prepared to make. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.”
The next rung of center fielders includes free agent Andruw Jones, in whom the Rangers are only interested if he’s willing to take a one-year deal. His agent, Scott Boras, has already said that won’t happen. The club’s interest in free agent Aaron Rowand is lukewarm.
The most attractive free agent centerfielder for them might be Mike Cameron, who could probably be signed for a two- or three-year commitment at less than $10 million per year. Cameron, who will turn 35 in January, remains an excellent fielder but is very strikeout prone. He also must begin the season on a 25-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
On the trade front, the most desirable option might be Boston’s Coco Crisp. The Rangers and Red Sox have some mutual trade interests. Boston has inquired previously about the Rangers’ catching situation. Crisp, 28, hit .260 for Boston last season, but his .712 OPS ranked 72nd among 82 qualifiers. He was replaced as the starter for the drive to the World Series by rookie Jacoby Ellsbury.
Crisp is signed through 2009 for a total of $10.5 million. The contract also includes a team option for 2010 at $8 million or a $500,000 buyout.
Asked about the possibility of Crisp becoming a priority for the Rangers, Daniels declined to comment.
LINK (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/112207dnsporangnews.3966a6d.html)
10:28 AM CST on Thursday, November 22, 2007
By EVAN GRANT / The Dallas Morning News
egrant@dallasnews.com
For the second consecutive year, the Los Angeles Angels have wound up with the Rangers’ desired center fielder.
Acting boldly in the 48 hours before Thanksgiving, the Angels struck a five-year deal with free-agent center fielder Torii Hunter worth approximately $90 million. Hunter’s arrival will move Gary Matthews Jr., the Rangers’ center fielder in 2006, to either right field or a bench position.
“We were totally surprised by this,” Rangers owner Tom Hicks said Thursday morning. “He told us he wanted to play in his hometown. We were going to build a youth academy together. He's a good man. … But in baseball, it’s always about the money.”
The Rangers had met twice in the past 10 days with Hunter, who is 32 and lives in Prosper. On Monday night, they extended a five-year offer worth slightly little less than $15 million per year. They also offered to help him build an academy to promote baseball in the inner city. The Rangers would likely have gone to $15 million per year or slightly above in order to match the Chicago White Sox’s standing offer.
As of Wednesday, the Rangers were still operating as if it was a two-team race between themselves and the White Sox. But when the Angels got involved, things moved quickly. Los Angeles placed a deadline on its offer. Hunter saw the combination of the offer that he wanted and the background of success that he desired. Hicks and Rangers general manager Jon Daniels declined to comment Thursday on whether they were given a chance to match or surpass the Angels’ offer.
“I watched the Angels go to work on us; they play the game the right way,” Hunter said in a conference call with Los Angeles reporters. “If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. … Maybe I can do some damage and get about three rings out of this.”
Hunter’s decision leaves the Rangers examining far less desirable options. While Daniels was disappointed to lose out on Hunter, he said the Rangers didn’t feel used by Hunter or agent Larry Reynolds. He added he gained a lot of respect for Reynolds during the process because he was up-front and honest about his desires.
“The outfield is still our top priority - we're going to look for the right fit, in terms of talent, makeup and compensation – exploring both free agents and trade targets,” Daniels said. “Torii would have been a nice fit for us, the type of player and leader that would have fit well here. That said, I'm proud of how we went about this process and the investment ownership was prepared to make. Sometimes it just doesn't work out.”
The next rung of center fielders includes free agent Andruw Jones, in whom the Rangers are only interested if he’s willing to take a one-year deal. His agent, Scott Boras, has already said that won’t happen. The club’s interest in free agent Aaron Rowand is lukewarm.
The most attractive free agent centerfielder for them might be Mike Cameron, who could probably be signed for a two- or three-year commitment at less than $10 million per year. Cameron, who will turn 35 in January, remains an excellent fielder but is very strikeout prone. He also must begin the season on a 25-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance.
On the trade front, the most desirable option might be Boston’s Coco Crisp. The Rangers and Red Sox have some mutual trade interests. Boston has inquired previously about the Rangers’ catching situation. Crisp, 28, hit .260 for Boston last season, but his .712 OPS ranked 72nd among 82 qualifiers. He was replaced as the starter for the drive to the World Series by rookie Jacoby Ellsbury.
Crisp is signed through 2009 for a total of $10.5 million. The contract also includes a team option for 2010 at $8 million or a $500,000 buyout.
Asked about the possibility of Crisp becoming a priority for the Rangers, Daniels declined to comment.
LINK (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/112207dnsporangnews.3966a6d.html)