Rangers Bailout Bill | Lone Star Brevity

That's right. It may take an act of Congress to bail the Rangers out of their current situation. For some reason a lot of fans out there think that just because Major League Baseball does not institute a salary cap that that means the Rangers can just go out there and throw any amount of money they see fit to land some real bonafide pitching talent here. Unfortunately, for the Rangers, there are other circumstances that prevent a large payroll from being granted to one of Baseball's biggest markets. That circumstance of course being Tom Hicks, the owner.

So what is on every Rangers' fan mind right now? Pitching, of course! And good pitching at that! No more 2-3 year promises! We got the 2-3 promise 3 years ago and now we are being sold the 2-3 promise again. My question to management is ... when WILL it be the right time to contend?

I know that the Rangers have "expressed interest" in the likes of Ben Sheeets and the "Big Unit" and I think it is great. However, given the cut payroll that Hicks has dealt for us again this year, it doesn't look very likely that we'll get any kind of help on that level. I completely support the rumors of us shedding the fat contracts of Kevin Millwood (gotta love him though in a weird way) and Vicente Padilla. Those guys are sucking up too much payroll and have been here for a lot of bad baseball. There have been a couple of teams expressing interest in Millwood and Padilla to add him to their rotation. I see no reason to NOT pull the trigger if we could get some young pitching in here which is all we would get for them since we don't need position players.

A lot of Rangers fans have expressed the level of heartache it would bring you to see Michael Young in something other than a Ranger uniform. While i can definitely empathize, Young is one of my favorite players EVER, I think trading him would be one of the smarter things to do for this organization if we could get some MAJOR help for the rotation in return. We have plenty of hot prospects nipping at Youngs heels and freeing up his salary would do wonders for quest for more pitching. Hell, Young DESERVES to play for a different team at this point; one that has a shot of letting him see some October action. I love Young but would be willing to part with him for the greater good. Now, trusting Ranger management to make a worthwhile trade is another story.

Eddie Guardado and the Big Unit. Today I read about how the Rangers are expressing interest in both of these pitchers. I know the gripe that a lot of you feel ... they are old and could cost us but what the hell? It definitely would depend on price but I am all for Guardado coming back to the back of the bullpen. He was solid for us last year up until we traded him and he was a GREAT clubhouse presence that a lot of the younger pitchers looked up to. Worth the money in my opinion and I don't think it would take much to get him here. DO IT.

The Big Unit. This one really depends on the asking price for me. I know he is getting old and his performance has started to taper off in the past couple of years but, come on, this is RJ we are talking about. This man has FORGOTTEN more things about pitching than our entire pitching staff has learned. Not to mention he does still know how to go out there and chew up innings, strike people out and win a few games. I definitely wouldn't mind playing "Let's Make A Deal" with RJ. He would be a great clubhouse presence and rotation guy with a potentialy low price. (I haven't heard of any other teams talking with him).

One day the Rangers management won't depress me so much and the payroll will match the market. I know well enough that just going out and throwing money at a big time free agent isn't going to bring a championship to North Texas. Hasn't worked for the Yankees in this millenium!! HA! You have to be smart about it, which, the Rangers have not been since I've been a fan. Chan Ho Park anyone?

When we do decide to open the pocket book it is on the wrong people. When we decided to home grow our talent (which we can do) we trade it away for nothing.

We'll see what else the Hot Stove has for me this winter....but I don't know how long I can wait for this pot to boil!