Star-Telegram.com: Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers’ GM might trade a pitcher, if need be, to upgrade roster

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:58 CST

By JEFF WILSON

CHICAGO — The biggest storyline of the Texas Rangers’ 2009 season was a pitching revolution that saw the club spend more than a month in first place and remain in contention deep into September.

As critical as Kevin Millwood and Scott Feldman, among others, were to the pitching success, the contributions of Dustin Nippert and Brandon McCarthy, among others, should not be discarded.

The Rangers found depth, quality depth, in their starting rotation, and general manager Jon Daniels is in no rush to deal away the arms that helped pave the way to an 87-75 record.

But Monday, the first day of the annual general managers’ meetings, Daniels said that a trade will be the first avenue for the Rangers to make an upgrade to the roster.

A pitcher might be the key to locking up a deal.

"Our depth played a very big role in the year we had," Daniels said. "No matter what kind of injury or problem we dealt with, we had a good internal option to go with.

"Is there an opportunity to move some of those guys? Possibly. But I’m in no hurry to eliminate that depth that’s been so important to us."

There will be a crowd at the mound in spring training with as many as 10 pitchers competing for five rotation spots. Millwood and Feldman are in. Nothing is certain after that, though Tommy Hunter and Derek Holland seem to be logical choices.

That leaves a bevy of candidates — a group that includes Neftali Feliz, Eric Hurley and possibly C.J. Wilson — vying for one spot. McCarthy, who pitched well before and after missing three months with a stress fracture in his shoulder blade, could be the most attractive from the group to other teams.

The Rangers have bullpen needs and would like to add a right-handed bat. Though the Rangers ended up spending $77 million in 2009 after the additions of Ivan Rodriguez and Jason Grilli and paying out performance bonuses, the payroll is likely to be at or marginally below $68 million at the start 2009.

Daniels said the Rangers will explore free agents but won’t be involved in anything on the upper end of that market. That leaves the trade market.

"We’re going to explore trade opportunities first," Daniels said. "I don’t expect we’ll be quick players on the free-agent market."

Interest in Bradley?

One of the home teams at these Chicago GM meetings, the Cubs, are looking to trade Milton Bradley, and one of the teams they reportedly have contacted about taking on the outfielder is the Rangers.

Bradley had the best season of his career with the Rangers in 2008, when he was an All-Star and led the American League in on-base percentage. He’s the type of patient hitter the Rangers were missing in 2009, but he’s not compensated the same.

The Cubs owe Bradley $20 million over the next two years. That’s likely more money than the Rangers are willing to take on, but there is interest in bringing Bradley back to Arlington if the Cubs will pay a hefty chunk of the contract.

Briefly

Scott Littlefield has been hired as a special assistant in baseball operations, and his duties will be concentrated on scouting, Jon Daniels said. Littlefield, the brother of former Pittsburgh GM Dave Littlefield, was the national crosschecker for San Diego.

The Rangers have been linked, though possibly as a byproduct of their recent attempts to woo Japanese players, to right-handed reliever Ryota Igarashi. He has expressed a desire to play in the United States in 2010 and is believed to be the top Japanese player available to big-league teams this off-season.

Pitchers may be on Rangers' trading block

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:28 CST

JEFF WILSON

The biggest storyline of the Texas Rangers’ 2009 season was a pitching revolution that saw the club spend more than a month in first place and remain in contention deep into September.

As critical as Kevin Millwood and Scott Feldman, among others, were to the pitching success, the contributions of Dustin Nippert and Brandon McCarthy, among others, should not be discarded.

The Rangers found depth, quality depth, in their starting rotation, and general manager Jon Daniels is in no rush to deal away the arms that helped pave the way to an 87-75 record.

But on Monday, the first day of the annual general managers’ meetings, Daniels said that a trade will be the first avenue for the Rangers to make any upgrades to the roster.

A pitcher might be the key to locking up a deal.

“Our depth played a very big role in the year we had,” Daniels said. “No matter what kind of injury or problem we dealt with, we had a good internal option to go with.

“Is there an opportunity to move some of those guys? Possibly. But I’m in no hurry to eliminate that depth that’s been so important to us.”

Daniels said the Rangers will explore free agents but won’t be involved in anything on the upper end of that market. That leaves the trade market.

“We’re going to explore trade opportunities first,” Daniels said. “I don’t expect we’ll be quick players on the free-agent market.”

At the top

The Rangers’ farm system was rated No. 1 by Baseball America last year. Though many of the top prospects are now major-leaguers, don’t expect the Rangers to slip out of the top five.

There’s plenty of talent down there. While Feliz, Holland, Julio Borbon, Justin Smoak and Martin Perez were the coveted players at the trade deadline, others received hits.

Daniels is awfully comfortable with the Rangers’ place in the minor-league pecking order. Most of the talent is in pitching at the lower levels.

“Our scouts and development guys have done a great job getting a variety of young arms in the system,” Daniels said. “We’ve graduated a lot of players [to the majors]. We still have some potential impact guys at Double A and Triple A.”

Briefly

Scott Littlefield has been hired as a special assistant in baseball operations, and his duties will be concentrated on scouting, Daniels said. Littlefield, the brother of former Pittsburgh GM Dave Littlefield, was the national crosschecker for San Diego.

Texas Rangers’ new hitting coach wants to change thinking, not swings

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:36 CST

By JEFF WILSON

Clint Hurdle might have been a man without a job, but he wasn’t a man without options only about five months removed from his job as manager of the Colorado Rockies.

The one thing he learned while out of the game for the first time in decades is that he wasn’t ready to trade the dugout for a front-office desk.

But not just any dugout. An on-field job needed to give him a challenge and a chance to win a world championship. Hurdle believes he has found that with the Texas Rangers.

He was hired Thursday as their hitting coach, replacing longtime instructor Rudy Jaramillo. Hurdle’s first task, one he said begins immediately, is to get to know the players who have known only one big-league hitting coach for most of their careers.

Hurdle, who signed a one-year deal with a club option, is eager to start building trust.

"Players don’t know how much you know until they know how much you care," said Hurdle, who was the Rockies’ manager from 2002 until he was fired May 29. "Change can bring upon controversy. I’m going to try to make this as seamless a transition as can be."

Rangers hitters, he said, don’t need to worry about seeing their swings being overhauled. But Hurdle will try to change the way the hitters think, or at least reinforce the way the Rangers want to play the game next season.

Team brass has talked about the need for situational hitting, and that’s what Hurdle will preach.

"You can really create some separation from other teams by your ability to enhance and utilize productively all 27 outs in a game," said Hurdle, who was the Rockies’ hitting coach from 1997 until replacing Buddy Bell as manager in 2002.

"We’re going to try to make everybody a little bit better, which will make the team better, and challenge each other to really understand the importance of scoring a run and driving in a run."

Hurdle, 52, emerged from a group of four candidates who interviewed Monday. General manager Jon Daniels said that Hurdle became the clear choice over Thad Bosley, Rusty Greer and Gerald Perry.

Manager Ron Washington said Hurdle will hold Rangers hitters accountable. That’s a trait Washington saw first-hand in 1992 as the third-base coach for a Triple-A Tidewater team that was managed by Hurdle.

"I think more than anything else that is an asset that Clint has had that I’ve always loved, he’s always made everyone accountable," Washington said. "I felt like we needed some presence. He brings that. We needed some experience, and I think we needed immediate impact. I think Clint brings that."

Hurdle had an opportunity to remain with Colorado in the front office and had some feelers about other jobs in baseball. But the chance to work for the Rangers, with whom he has many ties and he has learned has an enviable skill set, was too hard to pass up.

The combination of speed and power puts the Rangers in select company in the major leagues, he said. The goal is to realize that home runs and base hits aren’t the only way to produce runs.

"It’s not all about the hit," Hurdle said. "Not that any hitter thinks that way, but most often our first thought is our most important thought. We want to really ingrain to them a team-first mentality."

ONLINE: texasrangers.com

Clint Hurdle Age: 52 Resides: Denver

No. 9 overall pick in 1975 draft by Kansas City

Made big-league debut Sept. 18, 1977

Rangers hire an offensive coordinator for hitting coach

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:36 CST

GIL LeBRETON

A wise baseball man once told me that ex-managers are unanimous in one thing:

They all want one more crack at being a manager.

It doesn’t matter if they currently spend their days in a bullpen, or with a fungo bat, or seated in front of a microphone. They all think they can get to the World Series, if someone will only give them another chance.

That’s probably not a fair way to introduce you to Clint Hurdle, the Texas Rangers’ new hitting coach. Hurdle is, true, a former manager — a World Series manager, at that — but nothing he said during Thursday’s introductory teleconference sounded political or suggested an eventual coup.

Ron Washington is the Rangers’ manager, and he sounded as happy Thursday to be hiring Hurdle as anyone.

For Hurdle, the job represents a chance to get back into the dugout. The Colorado Rockies replaced him as manager on May 29, and reports suggested that the Rockies had a front office position waiting for him.

"I have an itch that still needs to be scratched," Hurdle said in explaining why he chose the job in Arlington instead.

There is nothing mutinous about that. Before he became the Colorado manager in 2002, Hurdle was the Rockies’ hitting coach for five full seasons. Hurdle is only playing to his strength.

"I was looking for an opportunity where I could fit in and help an organization in the most significant way where it could win a world championship," Hurdle said.

He said he did his homework and heard repeatedly that the Rangers are poised at the lip of something special.

"At the end of the day, I’m 52," Hurdle said, "and my hardware was looking for another challenge."

He probably wasn’t the most popular choice. Former Ranger Rusty Greer would have brought a straightforward approach to the job and would have helped galvanize the local fandom. The club would be smart to find a coaching spot for Greer at Double A or Triple A.

Hurdle, however, has the kind of instant credentials that the Rangers needed to look for in replacing someone with the reputation of Rudy Jaramillo.

His style is going to be much different from Washington’s. I’m not sure yet if that’s a positive.

Hurdle said the magic words, though, when during the job interview he emphasized a less selfish offensive approach.

"He used the term 'team-oriented approach,’ " general manager Jon Daniels said. "That really resonated with us. He said it was more about being the offensive coach than a hitting coach, more than just about the mechanics of swinging the bat."

Hurdle said his job is not to come in and change some players’ swings.

"I don’t have a 'my way or the highway’ mentality," Hurdle said. "I want to try to find a way to adapt a player’s strengths to what will work best within the team concept.

"I can work with a lot of different swings. I’ve tried to become a chameleon in learning the game, because I know that hitting can be done successfully in different ways."

He looks upon the ever-expanding gamut of hitting statistics, he said, as "another tool in the tool belt" — a good answer, since the Rangers’ run-scoring problems last season ran deeper than just on-base percentage.

Marlon Byrd, 4 other Rangers file for free agency

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:55 CST

Five Texas Rangers were among the crush of major leaguers who filed for free agency on the first day of the filing period. Teams retain exclusive rights to negotiate with their free agents until Nov. 20.

Hank Blalock, Marlon Byrd and Ivan Rodriguez were the three Rangers position players who filed, and relievers Eddie Guardado and Joaquin Benoit also submitted their paperwork.

The Rangers have expressed an interest in re-signing Byrd and Rodriguez. Benoit, who missed all of the 2009 season, could be signed to a minor-league deal, and Guardado has said that he is leaning toward retirement.

Blalock isn’t expected to return.

Seventy-nine players filed throughout baseball. Among the notable players to do so were Los Angeles Angels right-hander John Lackey, who lives in Aledo.

Former Brewer High star Aubrey Huff also filed after ending 2009 in Detroit. Others included St. Louis outfielder Matt Holliday, Boston outfielder Jason Bay, Seattle third baseman Adrian Beltre, Oakland right-hander Justin Duchscherer and Milwaukee outfielder Mike Cameron.

— Jeff Wilson

Briefly

Dodgers: Los Angeles has declined a $10 million mutual option on pitcher Jon Garland for next season, making him eligible for free agency. The right-hander gets a $2.5 million buyout. ... Jamie McCourt, the wife of Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, lost her bid to be reinstated as the team’s chief executive during a hearing in the couple’s messy divorce.

Diamondbacks: Infielder Chad Tracy’s $7 million option was declined by Arizona, which will pay the infielder a $1 million buyout.

Red Sox: Boston acquired outfielder Jeremy Hermida from the Florida Marlins for left-handers Jose Alvarez and Hunter Jones.

Giants: San Francisco star pitcher Tim Lincecum is facing misdemeanor marijuana charges following a traffic stop in his home state of Washington.

Angels: Outfielder Bobby Abreu agreed to a $19 million, two-year contract to stay with Los Angeles.

White Sox: Infielder-outfielder Mark Kotsay agreed to a $1.5 million contract.

Braves: Pitcher Tim Hudson and Atlanta are nearing a three-year contract.

World Series notables

TV ratings: The Yankees’ six-game victory over the Phillies on Fox averaged an 11.7 rating and 19 share, the highest since a 15.8/26 in 2004, when the Red Sox swept the Cardinals to end an 86-year championship drought.

Hall of Fame: Hideki Matsui’s bat and Johnny Damon’s spikes are among the items from the Yankees’ World Series title going to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Matsui drove in a record-tying six runs in Game 6 and Damon stole two bases on one pitch in Game 4.

Rangers hire Hurdle as hitting coach

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:11 CST

JEFF WILSON

The Texas Rangers have hired Clint Hurdle to replace longtime hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, and the latest addition to the coaching staff isn’t planning to waste much time getting to know his new players.

Hurdle, who was introduced Thursday via a mid-afternoon conference call, has already started gather phone numbers and video clips of Rangers hitters and is planning to make contact with players as quickly as possible.

His first task is to earn their trust and convince them that he is committed to helping them and the Rangers reach their full potential.

“I need to engage in communication with these men to know that I’m on point,” said Hurdle, who signed a one-year deal with a club option. “I’m as excited as I’ve been about anything in the game baseball about this opportunity and the challenge that comes with it.

“Change can bring upon controversy. I’m going to try to make this as seamless a transition as can be. I am going to challenge them to give me simple readouts on who they are as hitters. … Have they truly bought into a team concept as an offensive unit that we just can’t go up and grip it and rip it? I was a hitter. I know you fall into those traps.”

Hurdle emerged from a group of four candidates who interviewed Monday. He said the combination of speed and power puts the Rangers in select company in the major leagues. The goal is to realize that home runs and base hits aren’t the only way to produce runs.

“You can really create some separation from other teams by your ability to enhance and utilize productively all 27 outs in a game,” he said. “We’re going to try to make everybody a little bit better, which will make the team better, which will make the team better, and challenge each other to really understand the importance of scoring a run and driving in a run.

“It’s not all about the hit. Not that any hitter thinks that way, but most often our first thought is our most important thought. We want to really ingrain to them a team-first mentality.”

Rangers pitcher Kevin Millwood also first-rate on the links

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:16 CST

By DREW DAVISON

IRVING — It’s pretty well-known that Texas Rangers right-hander Kevin Millwood is an avid golfer. He’s a member at Dallas National and carries a 7-handicap.

Last month Millwood traveled to Las Vegas and played a couple rounds at the prestigious Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club, a 27-hole course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.

And, on Monday, Millwood joined several other celebrities at TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas for a round of golf at Vernon Wells’ charity event.

The Star-Telegram caught up with Millwood before he teed off.

How long have you been playing golf? I actually didn’t start playing until I was out of high school. I think more than anything it was just out of boredom. I was just sitting at home and my friends wanted to go out and play, so I started playing from there.

What else have you been up to since the season ended? I’ve just been traveling a lot. And coming out and doing something like this charity event is always nice.

How important is it to help another player with his charity event? It’s kind of like MLB players is a big fraternity, and we’re always trying to help fellow players out knowing that, at some point, they’re going to return the favor.

Finally, any other plans for the off-season? Not really. So far, I haven’t really done too much. I just need to relax and heal up and get ready for next season.

Texas Rangers will hire Clint Hurdle as hitting coach today

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:16 CST

With the World Series over, the Texas Rangers are ready to make some news. They will introduce Clint Hurdle as their new hitting coach today. The decision to hire Hurdle was reached Tuesday, though an offer wasn’t extended until Wednesday. The announcement was delayed as the Rangers obliged the standing request from Major League Baseball that no significant news break on World Series game days.

— Jeff Wilson

Former Yankees great Bernie Williams makes more hits in music career

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:16 CST

By DREW DAVISON

IRVING — Bernie Williams has four World Series rings, won four consecutive Gold Gloves and collected more than 2,300 hits in a 16-year baseball career with the New York Yankees.

And, after tonight, he might need to clear even more space on his mantel for a Grammy. Yes, a Grammy.

Williams’ second album, Moving Forward, has been nominated for Best Instrumental Album for tonight’s Latin Grammy Awards.

"It took me completely by surprise," Williams said. "I knew after baseball, my life would be involved with some sort of musical aspect. I never knew I would start out and get a nomination like this. It’s given me an indication that I’m on the right track."

Williams was in town earlier this week for Vernon Wells’ charity golf tournament. The Star-Telegram caught up with him before he flew to Las Vegas for the awards show.

How has the music career been? It’s different from baseball in some ways, and, in some ways, it’s the same. I think it requires the same work ethic. In baseball, you do your soft toss and hitting and throwing and batting practice. In music, it’s all about scales and arpeggios and listening to music and learning about theory. You have one opportunity to play on stage and make that great impression, just like in sports. But I think preparation is the key in both sports and music.

How is performing live? It’s that moment in time, performing live on stage in front of people, that makes it different than baseball. In baseball, I could get away with playing my game, as long as I hit the ball and caught it and threw it. I didn’t have to interact with the fans. Music is much different. You have to draw them into your little world and make sure they enjoy it as much as you are.

Is there a similar rush being nominated for a Grammy and the World Series? I think I have more control of the World Series because I was hitting and playing. With the Grammy, I have no control over that. I don’t know who picks who or anything like that. Just to be nominated is a great honor.

Speaking of the World Series, how is it watching the Yankees? I feel glad for them. I’m very happy for them because they’ve been working so hard the past couple of years. They’ve certainly spent a lot of money doing it, but I think it’s working on all cylinders right now.

Finally, have you thought about your Hall of Fame potential? Obviously, it would be a great honor. My dad used to tell me that making the Hall of Fame should be my goal. As I get older, I appreciate that I’m even considered. But, more importantly, it’s just the memories and the things I got playing from the game. It was a great part of my life. The opportunity to play for 16 years and the relationships and the great moments, those are what I really take out of it.

Sources have Clint Hurdle as Rangers' next hitting coach

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:21 CST

By JEFF WILSON

A day of off-the-record confirmations and one for-the-record denial about who will become the Texas Rangers’ hitting coach came to an end Tuesday with the club expected to add Clint Hurdle to the coaching staff later this week.

Three sources said that Hurdle, the former Colorado Rockies manager, has emerged from a group of four finalists that included Thad Bosley, Gerald Perry and Rusty Greer. Each candidate interviewed Monday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

But Hurdle declined comment Tuesday night, and general manager Jon Daniels said the Rangers haven’t settled on who will replace longtime hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo.

The Rangers have not told any of the candidates that they have been eliminated from consideration.

"We have not yet offered the job to anyone," Daniels said. "We’re finishing up our due diligence. When we’ve made a final decision, we’ll communicate first to the four candidates and then make an announcement."

That announcement is likely on hold until after the conclusion of the World Series. The Rangers are content to obey the wishes of Major League Baseball, which requests that teams avoid making news on World Series game days.

Hurdle could be introduced Thursday if New York beats Philadelphia tonight and clinches the world title. But if the Phillies force a seventh game, the Rangers’ announcement wouldn’t be made until Friday.

The Rangers have been without a hitting coach since Oct. 14, when Jaramillo turned down a one-year offer for $545,000 to remain with the club for a 16th season. He signed a three-year deal worth $2.4 million with the Chicago Cubs a week later.

Hurdle wouldn’t come to the Rangers without experience as a hitting coach. He instructed Rockies hitters from 1997 to 2002 before he was promoted to replace Buddy Bell as manager.

Hurdle guided Colorado to the World Series in 2007, but he was fired in May after a sluggish start by a team that eventually won the National League wild-card berth into the playoffs.

Hurdle said last week that while the Rockies’ manager he missed having much time to teach players. As a manager, he oversaw a coaching staff that gobbled up most of the hands-on instruction.

"As a manager, your responsibilities change," Hurdle said Thursday. "The one thing I missed was an opportunity to teach. I would find me plugging myself back in from time to time."

But Hurdle will get ample time with Rangers hitters. Club brass wants to see a team that is better at situational hitting while also making pitchers work harder.

He will inherit a group of hitters who combined to lead the American League in strikeouts while drawing the third-fewest walks.