How Recent Action Around the League Affects the Rangers, 12/4/2010

While the Rangers transaction wire has been rather quiet, there has been plenty of movement in free agent signings and trades around the league.  In this article I'll break down how this activity influences what happens with the Rangers, even if just in indirect ways.  (I can see this becoming a series, that's why you see the date in the post title.)

• Yankees re-sign SS Derek Jeter and RHP Mariano Rivera

We all knew that they would both be coming back, but the questions were for how long and for how much?  Jeter gets a three-year deal worth about $17 million a year (from the last report I saw on MLB Trade Rumors), and reports are that Rivera will get $30 million over the next two years.  Other teams, including Boston, offered Rivera three years to leave the Yankees, but he wouldn't bite.

Many people believe the Yankees payroll has no limit, so adding $32 million a year for at least the next two years might not change their pursuit of Cliff Lee.  Consider that those two players won't be getting huge raises over the contracts that just ended, and that Yankees are pretty much sitting where they were at the end of last year, payroll-wise.  Andy Pettitte's salary is about the only one off the books, but he may choose to return instead of retire.  Can the Yankees really afford to give Lee $20 million a season or more since they already have so much tied up in Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Curtis Granderson, Robinson Cano, Jeter, and Rivera?  Apparently yes, since they will give it a try.

• Cardinals sign 1B/OF Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman was reportedly on the Rangers radar as an option for their vacant designated hitter position, and he was also a player of interest to the Oakland A's.  Berkman was not ready to concede that he is a DH at this point in his career, so he took a one-year contract to play the outfield for St. Louis.  Perhaps you've heard they have a good first baseman there, so his action will be limited to left or right field.  Berkman has not been an everyday outfielder in at least a couple of years, so the Cardinals are taking a moderate risk that he can still perform adequately out there.  If he's not capable, he'll be limited to backing up Pujols and pinch hitting duties.

The Rangers won't shed a tear for not signing Berkman, he's just another option to cross off the list.  With each DH-type player that signs for other teams, the chances Texas re-signs Vladimir Guerrero go up.

• Padres trade 1B Adrian Gonzalez to the Red Sox

As I write this, the deal is agreed upon, but the Red Sox are trying to work out an extension with Gonzalez to finalize the trade.  This move, if it indeed goes down, affects the Rangers in multiple ways.

First, it means the Red Sox will need to move Kevin Youkilis back over to third base so Gonzalez can play first.  That will erase Boston's interest in re-signing third baseman Adrian Beltre, who has already received a substantial offer from the Oakland A's.  With the A's strong pitching staff, adding an offensive threat (and defensive monster) like Beltre would make them more dangerous in the A.L. West.

Second, when the Red Sox make major moves, usually the Yankees feel they have to react quickly to respond.  Now that they have Jeter and Rivera re-signed, the obvious move for their over-reaction would be to give Cliff Lee a blank check and get him signed, no matter what.  The Rangers don't have 'blank check' resources like the Yankees, so if New York makes him an over the top offer, Texas could be left looking to replace Lee.

• White Sox sign 1B/OF/DH Adam Dunn

This was brought up in the previous post, but it's worth noting again.  Adam Dunn will either DH or play first base for the White Sox since their corner outfield spots are taken by Juan Pierre and Carlos Quentin.  The Sox plan to make a run at re-signing Paul Konerko to tag team with Dunn, but they might be hesitant to tie up that much money in two guys that just play first and DH.  Offensively they are worth it.

Dunn, a Texan, could have done some major damage at the Ballpark, but his career .250 batting average might have concerned the Rangers since they put so much emphasis last year on getting on base and putting the ball in play to be productive. 

The real story with this one remains Texas and Chicago's interest in Paul Konerko.