Monday newsletter time: Good news, and a new position, for a former Rangers fan favorite
(AP photo/Duane Burleson)
SURPRISE, Ariz. — News trickled out Sunday afternoon that the Chicago White Sox have a new second baseman: former Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus.
Huh?
It’s true. Andrus will be moving to the other side of the diamond and playing a new position for the first time in his MLB career, but he will be an everyday player as he embarks on his 15th season on a one-year, $3 million contract.
He was a decent player last season as he split 2022 with Oakland and the White Sox, hitting 17 home runs and posting a .707 OPS. He quickly signed with Chicago after the A’s released him and played well at shortstop while replacing the injured Tim Anderson.
Anderson is healthy and one of the American League’s best hitters, so second base it is for Andrus.
The White Sox hold spring training just south of the Rangers in Glendale. If it weren’t for the fighter jets doing training runs from Luke Air Force Base, there’s a chance we could hear Andrus’ music and laughter all the way on the back fields in Rangers camp.
Andrus, by the way, is three hits shy of No. 2,000, and he’s still only 34 years old.
Here’s hoping this move allows him to extend his career.
What’s in a name?
Clint Frazier clarified Sunday that he is no longer Jackson Frazier and is back to being Clint Frazier.
He even explained what that was all about.
A former top prospect with the Yankees, Frazier flamed out in New York as his swing mechanics went south. As that was happening on baseball’s biggest stage, he realized he needed to get away.
He ended up with the Cubs, not exactly a small baseball stage, and it was there that his teammates started to call him Jackson, his first name, or Jack. Jackson, Frazier said, is kind of like his alter ego as opposed to the no-holds-barred Clint. What started as a joke stuck, as he tried to put his time in New York further in the rear-view mirror.
Alas, Clint is back, and Frazier believes his A swing is back, too, thanks to help from Rangers hitting coach Tim Hyers. The Georgia residents have known each other since Frazier was in his teens and they worked together during the offseason before the Rangers signed Frazier to a minor-league deal.
He will have to hit a ton to make the Opening Day roster after the Rangers signed Robbie Grossman to be the right-handed half of the platoon in left field.
By the way, Frazier said his mother wanted to call him Jackson but dad won out with Clint, after Clint Eastwood.
ICYMI …
I’m not really sure where to begin here. Rangers Today really is trying to pace itself, but if something needs to be written, it’s going to get written. As such, this newsletter is probably the first of two stories coming today, and two feels like the sweet spot. We don’t want to overwhelm with emails, but we also don’t want anyone missing anything. If you want to get stories emailed to you in full, become a paid subscriber here. It’s super cheap. Now, here’s our latest content in case you missed it.
The Sunday Read: Return to spring normalcy
Friday on the Farm: Cole Winn makes changes
Rangers notes: Jacob deGrom latest
Rangers Today Baseball Podcast: Links to new Jack Leiter episode
Doggy video!
This feels like something that would happen on a Monday. Enjoy.
"I have everything under control, Barbara" pic.twitter.com/tMJiP4T5n8
— Paul Bronks (@SlenderSherbet) February 19, 2023
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
I certainly wouldn’t consider Andrus to be a fan favorite. In addition to being greatly overpaid, he single-handedly cost the Rangers a playoff game against Toronto, and possibly even the whole series. He made several errors and misplays in the same inning on essentially the same ground ball. His refusal to take things seriously made me glad he was dumped for Jonah Heim. At least the Tex trade still lives on.
He was a fan favorite. Michael Young was a team player and was one of the most respected players in the game. His disagreements with position changes had more to do with the way they were handled, not having to switch.