Zack Greinke

Major League Baseball's Screwball Economics

As another season begins, MLB faces an unsustainable future -- and you’re picking up the tab.

Five Key Holes the Rangers Need to Fill This Winter, and How They Should Fill Them

Just a few days after the 2012 MLB season kicked off in Japan, one of the elite players scheduled to become a free agent in the coming offseason took himself off the market. The Giants enticed Matt Cain to stay in San Francisco, signing him to a six-year, $127.5 million contract extension -- the mos ... More >>

Why (and How) the Rangers Should Go All In as the Trade Deadline Looms

What a week for Your Texas Rangers. Nolan Ryan and Ron Washington took turns publicly ripping Josh Hamilton for the alarming lack of discipline he's displayed at the plate, increasing the likelihood that he'll be headed elsewhere this offseason. Fans booed the slumping slugger at home for the firs ... More >>

A Texas Rangers Midseason Report: It's Time to Go All In

With the baseball season at the symbolic halfway point, we asked former Unfair Parker Sam Merten to root around in his beard and see if he could come up with anything to say. He obliged ... and obliged ... and ... Sports are unpredictable. That's why we watch. And there's no greater evidence than t ... More >>

Are Yu Kidding Me? The Texas Rangers Are About to Open the Bank Vault For Darvish.

​In winning the well-publicized bidding for Yu Darvish shortly after 10 Monday night, the Texas Rangers have positioned themselves to sign the famous Japanese hurler to one of the riskiest contracts in baseball history. And unless the 25-year-old right-hander immediately establishes himself among ... More >>

Exploring Texas Rangers' Options as Wheelin' and Dealin' Begins at Hilton Anatole

Photo by Sam MertenThe scene yesterday afternoon in the lobby of the Hilton Anatole.​Likely bracing for the departure of free-agent hurler C.J. Wilson, the Texas Rangers have already inked former Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan to a two-year, $14.5 million contract and announced Neftali Feli ... More >>

Guts, Not Gaffes Give Texas an Opportunity for the Kill Shot: Rangers-St. Louis Cardinals World Series Game 6 Preview and Open Thread

Texas RangersMike Napoli celebrates his game-winning double in the eighth inning of Game 5.​The intellect of one of the best managers and greatest players in baseball history short-circuited at the worst possible times for the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the World Series, but Monday night ... More >>

A Rangers Repeat? History Suggests Odds Are Long.

One Hit Wonders

Bronze Beltre

Whitt's Merten's End 3.11.11

Photo by Sam MertenChuck Greenberg and Texas Rangers co-chair Bob Simpson celebrate after outbidding Mark Cuban in an auction to own the club​Whether you've reached the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's Merten's End: *Well, that was quick. Chuck Greenberg formed ... More >>

It's Never Too Early For Spring Training Knee-Jerk Reactions

Photo by Sam MertenIan Kinsler could be gearing up for a career year.​You hear it every year around this time: Spring training stats are meaningless. And, sure, while that can be true for guys like Doug Deeds -- the 29-year-old career minor leaguer who's hitting .357 with two homers and four RBI f ... More >>

Texas Rangers Spring Training Clouded with Awkward Spat with Iconic Captain Michael Young.

Eye on Surprise: The Texas Rangers' 2011 Bullpen

​Forget missing out on Cliff Lee and Zach Greinke at the front end of the rotation, a huge factor in how the Texas Rangers will defend their American League championship will be who pitches and how they perform out of the back end of the bullpen. I think the Rangers have voluntarily ... More >>

Thumbs Up: Adrian Beltre Makes the Texas Rangers Better

​The race is on today. Which big announcement/press conference will arrive first: The Dallas Cowboys hiring Jason Garrett or the Texas Rangers signing Adrian Beltre? Let's go with Beltre, as the free-agent third baseman and agent Scott Boras arrived in town last night and agreed to a fiv ... More >>

Michael Young OK With Moving Again. But Where?

​Your Texas Rangers whiffed on Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke, instead settling for Brandon Webb and Arthur Rhodes. I don't mind the signing of Webb because he's another low-risk, high-reward guy. He only costs $3 million, and what if he - 18 months after a reconstructive shoulder surgery - retur ... More >>

Texas Rangers' momentum comes to a screeching holiday halt by the Phils Who Stole Cliffmas

Closing the Book on Cliff Lee, Who Would Have Loved Texas For the Right Price

Sam MertenAdios, Cliff. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.​I know. I know. You're tired of hearing about Cliff Lee. He's a goner, and it's not like the Rangers didn't do their best to keep him here. Actually, I'd say Jon Daniels, Nolan Ryan and Chuck Greenberg did too much in their attemp ... More >>

My (Fausto) Carmona: Plan B Now That Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke Are Headed Elsewhere

Trading for Fausto Carmona would help ease the pain of losing out on Lee and Greinke.​Since we can all feel OK about losing out on the Cliff Lee sweepstakes, it's fair to evaluate Jon Daniels' Plan B, especially with the trade of Zack Greinke -- easily the best pitcher to be had on the marke ... More >>

Cliff Lee Shuns Rangers, Shocks Yankees and Signs With Phillies

The Phillies?! Now Rangers fans don't even get a chance to boo him.​The good news: Your Texas Rangers didn't lose Cliff Lee to the New York Yankees. The bad/horrible/devastating news: Your Texas Rangers lost Cliff Lee. To the Philadelphia Phillies?! We heard persistent whispers all through ... More >>

Rangers and Yanks Both Lose Cliff Lee Sweepstakes as Southpaw Heads Back to Philly

Sam MertenThanks for the memories, Cliff.​After much procrastination, former Texas Rangers ace Cliff Lee has decided to return to the Philadelphia Phillies, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, with Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweeting that the deal is for five years and approximately $ ... More >>

Whitt's End: 12.10.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *In the ALCS, the Rangers beat the Yankees in six games. In the pursuit of Cliff Lee, looks like the Yankees will beat the Rangers in seven years. *I've been rough on the Rangers, who at one point ... More >>

Let's Get Cliff Lee ... AND Zack Greinke

​Is that doable? Seems like it. Although the Kansas City Royals are reportedly getting impatient with the Texas Rangers' low-ball offers. I understand the odds are against the Rangers getting Lee, who is now also talking to the Boston Red Sox. But - dream with me here a little - how would a s ... More >>

Werth It? Doing the Rangers' Math as Fat Contracts Swirl Around MLB Winter Meetings.

Photos by Sam MertenDamn. If Jayson Werth commands a seven-year, $126 million deal, how much is this guy worth?​Prior to the beginning of baseball's winter meetings yesterday at Walt Disney World Resort, a flurry of activity resulted in big-name players dealt and fat contracts inked. Predictab ... More >>

Why Your Texas Rangers Must Sign Cliff Lee

​I know he was miserable in Game 1 of the World Series and mediocre in Game 5, but the Texas Rangers wouldn't have been to the Fall Classic in the first place without pitcher Cliff Lee. As baseball's winter meetings start today at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, lots of talk a ... More >>

Whitt's End: 12.3.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *I'm going to be extremely disappointed gutted if the Rangers don't sign Cliff Lee, hopefully during next week's Winter Meetings in Florida. Sorry, but a consolation prize of Zack Greinke - or ... More >>

Do the Rangers' New Owners Have the Money and Will to Build on a Winning Formula?

Texas Rangers: Less Fireworks, More Fun?

​And now, for two facts that have never ever gone together in the past: 1. The Texas Rangers are 10th in the American League (out of 14 teams) in home runs. 2. The Texas Rangers have a winning record. I know. Weird. When the Rangers beat the woeful Kansas City Royals on Sunday, they did it wi ... More >>