Texas Rangers new left fielder called a ‘winning piece’ on good team
The idea of diversifying his options first occurred to Ian Desmond early in the off-season.
He mentioned to his agent Doug Rogalski in October that he was willing to tell potential suitors his services weren’t bound to shortstop.
Eventually, the Texas Rangers, staring at an April (and likely more) without left fielder Josh Hamilton, pounced.
I didn’t expect Ian Desmond to be available at this point. They reached out three or four days ago, and said we want to be in Texas, we understand to do that we have to play the outfield, and once that happened, it happened pretty quick.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels
The Rangers made their best sales pitch. They had one of Desmond’s heroes, Michael Young, give him a call. Manager Jeff Banister called to give Desmond a chance to hear exactly what the club expected of him.
“If I was a player, I’d sure want to know the landscape, the coaching staff, the guy that’s making decisions,” Banister said. “If there was any possibility at all of getting Ian in a Texas Rangers’ uniform, I wanted him to be able to hear my voice, ask me questions.”
Just about anyone Desmond asked, including Mark DeRosa, who played 136 games for the Rangers in 2006, the reports on playing in Texas came back glorious.
“I made the decision when the off-season began that I wanted to be part of a group of guys who stood for more than the name on the back, and I wanted to win,” Desmond said, as he stood in front of his locker in the Rangers’ clubhouse Monday morning for the first time. “It seems like an eternity coming. This off-season was extremely long.”
I did my research. Everything I heard was they’ve got an unbelievable group of guys who are all equally willing to do whatever is necessary to win. I consider myself a team-first guy.
New Rangers left field Ian Desmond
Desmond declined the Washington Nationals qualifying of $15.8 million, deciding to test free agency for the first time. He watched as teams made their moves over the winter and was still without a team as teams reported last week for spring training.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, who said the club began serious talks with Desmond less than a week prior, called it a deal “we couldn’t pass up.”
“He’s our left fielder,” Daniels said unequivocally Monday morning, before adding, “The versatility he offers in case of an injury or something unseen is a plus certainly. But he’s our left fielder going into the year ... and all year.”
Desmond’s one-year deal for $8 million, a steal for a three-time Silver Slugger and former All-Star shortstop, comes without any typical gigantic incentives, according to MLB Network’s Jon Heyman.
He’ll receive $250,000 if he wins the AL MVP award and a decreasing amount for finishing second, third and so on. He did twist the Rangers’ arm for a hotel suite on the road. That’ll come in handy for the father of three boys ages 4, 3 and 1. The deal pushes the Rangers’ 2016 payroll to about $155 million, a club record. There will be no more spending in 2016, Daniels said.
“Everyone I’ve talked to throughout the organization has been just exactly perfectly in line with how me and my family see ourselves,” Desmond said. “I think it’s going to be a great fit. There are so many positives to it. They have a great fan base. You have a chance to bring a World Series here for the first time.”
Desmond said the Rangers’ clubhouse was flush with superstars, “whether they are right now or they’re going to be.”
Hamilton and shortstop Elvis Andrus gave their blessings to the club before it was announced. Desmond said he’s not concerned about a “quarterback controversy” if and when Hamilton returns healthy and productive.
“I take [Banister]at his word. He assured me I’m going to get my ABs,” he said. “Where ever that is I’m on board. I’m late to the party. I’m just going to try to fit in and not try to create any headlines. I’m a team-first guy and I think this locker room is full of guys just like that.”
Desmond was taking fly balls Monday morning for the first time as an everyday outfielder. In fact, he’s only played outfield in the big leagues once in 2009 and once during winter ball.
Banister, who was content to start Mike Napoli, a former catcher and outfield virgin in 11 games at left in 2015, doesn’t think the transition will be rough for Desmond.
“I feel certain about his athleticism and the ability to read the ball off the bat,” said Banister, who compared Desmond’s aggressive style of play to Rougned Odor. “I don’t see this as a long or extremely tough transition for Ian Desmond to go out and play left field. This is a superior athlete, a guy that’s played the premium position of shortstop and played it well.”
I know he can hit. He has tremendous speed and tremendous power. He can definitely do some serious damage in this lineup, especially from the right side.
Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels
Desmond is so giddy with the move and being in the Rangers’ clubhouse that the idea of trying to steal some Dallas Cowboys fans over to Ranger Nation seems like a blast. He saw a similar fan base battle with the Nationals and Redskins.
“That’s fun trying to steal a football team’s fans,” he said. “Hey, a parade brings a lot of people, trust me.”
A World Series championship parade through Arlington, of course, is what the Rangers have in mind with the move.
“This is a winning piece, a winning player on a team that expects to win,” Daniels said.
Stefan Stevenson: 817-390-7760, @StevensonFWST
This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 7:55 PM with the headline "Texas Rangers new left fielder called a ‘winning piece’ on good team."