In the last month or so, the Texas Rangers have seen Andruw Jones (to the White Sox), Ivan Rodriguez (Nationals) and Marlon Byrd (Cubs) fly the coop (see what I did there?) and are preparing themselves for Hank Blalock to do the same.
So how do you replace a combined 63 home runs and 211 RBI and the Mets already snatched up 2004 National League Rookie of the Year Jason Bay?
Go out and sign 2004 National League Rookie of the Year runner up Khalil Greene…that’s how!
Seriously, with the addition of Greene, the Rangers are hoping to find themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
What? It could happen.
All joking aside (and yes, while I am serious about Greene heading to the Lone Star State…this is more important), the Rangers struck gold with a one-year deal with hitting machine Vladimir Guerrero.
At five million next season, “The Impaler” looks to build on his legend while locking down the designated hitter spot for the Rangers.
As it is, he is one of six players (immortals Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Lou Gehrig and Stan Musial are the others) to carry a .320 career batting average and more than 400 career home runs.
Guerrero’s new teammate, CJ Wilson is excited to have the futue Hall of Famer in the fold.
“He’s the premium DH bat available on the market and we landed him for our price,” the reliever told me, “seems like a great job and an awesome addition to the team.”
Last season, in just 100 games with the Angels, Guerrero hit career lows with a .295 batting average, 15 home runs and 50 RBI…but something tells me that being a lineup alongside Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz might help iron out those wrinkles.
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