The Sunday Read: The Rangers, the Pirates and the idea of untouchable prospects
(Frogs Today contributor/Davidson Wang)
A trade could do the Rangers wonders.
Finding the right left fielder could solidify what is regarded as the only open spot in the lineup. The right package could free up some needed room on the 40-man roster, though at the expense of highly regarded young players.
The Rangers don’t feel as if they need to make a trade, but are willing to do so. There are two currencies in baseball — cash and prospects — and the budget might be stretched as far as ownership is willing to let it go.
They are flush with prospects.
No one with the Rangers wants to trade any of the prospects, and there are some they really, really don’t want to trade.
But is there such a thing as an untouchable prospect? The Rangers usually believe no.
The current hot trade negotiations might be testing that.
*It’s David Bednar. Will Bednar doesn’t exist.
The Rangers did believe Profar was untouchable. Instead of getting Greinke+, Hanels+, Justin Upton+, or even Carlos Gonzalez, they ended up with nothing and somehow managed to steal Brock Burke away for him, though this was long after he lost his prospect status. He do have untouchables.
Will Bednar does exist, but he’s a Giants prospect
I am easily confused. Will Bednar was a damn good college pitcher. First-rounder I think. Thanks for keeping me honest.
In any event, David B makes the deal much more tantalizing as a win-now-and-later affordable cost-controlled impact bullpen arm. It really is a nice package. But holding Carter is overall a better play. I’d do that deal for Leiter or White + Foscue + Acuna … but I’m holding Carter and not including more than one of our top pitching prospects. Not sure that gets it done.
See how the original deal proposed by Jeff Wilson was way too light? I do think it was just a little less than fair value, but Pitt wants a king’s ransom. They are delusional, so they will just lose 90+ games 3 or 4 more years and end up wasting Reynolds or end up with a much worse haul later on.