A Bright Future Ahead

A Bright Future Ahead

Dallas, TX - After a tumultuous season in North Texas that saw the Rangers post the worst record the team has had in the last decade (67-95) and jettisoned virtually any semblance of major league talent that was on the 25 man roster, the team has made great moves by bringing back veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy and trading for Arizona's default staff ace Buck Farmer.

Surprising for the Rangers during the tail end of the season was the development of shortstop Willy Adames. Adames as you'll remember came to Texas from the Orlando Pride organization in a deal that sent third baseman Evan Longoria back to the Sunshine State. Adames looks to be invited to Spring Training in Arizona next month and is already penciled in to be the teams starting shortstop this season.

The team has also been optimistic and impressed by the quick development of 1B Jake Gatewood, 3B Nick Senzel, CF Rod Park, and 2B Roberto Baldoquin. It's not out of the realm of possibilities that any or all of the above could be making their debuts at some point this season.

Rangers Owner/CEO/GM BigTex sat down for a Q&A session with local Dallas media last night, here is a transcript from that interview.

(BigTex answering questions)

BT: I just wanted to start out this press conference/Q&A by saying that I appreciate everyone's time and effort when it comes to supporting this franchise. Last season didn't go the way we'd all hoped it would and that's my fault. Sometimes when you get into the habit of buying players it doesn't always go the way you think it will.

That said, I'll now take questions.

DMN: Tex, Yu Janich Dallas Morning News, Have you kept up with the players you dealt away in the middle of the season? Do you think you had a fair return and was the moves, in your head, justified?

BT: Well, I actually did keep up with most of the guys I dealt because I developed a relationship with the team. I think a lot of guys that we ended up dealing away were dealt at the right time as many of them hit major slumps upon their departure from the metroplex. I think Peterson and Kluber were successful for Boston and Miller was successful for the Mets. I think everyone else basically just shit the bed.

I think the returns we had were monumental and helped to change what was going to be a half-decade rebuild into a year or two max. We completely fleeced the Pride when we acquired Willy Adames.

CBSD: Tex, Sum Guiy, CBS News Dallas, We've heard that you've wrapped up Jonathan Lucroy to a multi-year deal and that you've brought in Farmer from Arizona, but are there any other moves you plan to make before Spring Training?

BT: Oh God yes, we're working on a lot of different options at this time. We're close to signing Doug Fister, Sean Nolin, Josh Outman, we've already come to terms with Matt Holiday, Trevor Plouffe, and Christian Bettencourt, we're working on spending a large portion of our un-used budget as we speak.

FWST: Tex, Bob McGloughlin, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, have you heard about the Dodgers uniform change? Have you seen them? What's your opinion on their change and do you foresee any changes for the Rangers in the near future?

BT: Well, I generally won't comment on what other teams do because, well, frankly, I don't give a shit. That said, the Dodgers uniforms are classics like the Yankees, Cowboys, or any other historic teams in history. Changing the uniform is tacky and the reasoning seemed a little "off" to me. How are you going to change the teams colors from blue (crips) to red (bloods) and say that the change was gang related?

As far as the Rangers go, no changes are in consideration for the near future, although we're considering going back to wearing jersey's that say "Rangers" at home, I'm not sure why it was ever changed to just having "Texas" on all the jersey's but I'm fairly sure that the asses in the seats know that they're in Texas.

DMN: Tex, Yu Janich again, what's your opinion on the Astros heartbreaking loss to the Dodgers in the World Series? The entire state of Texas was pulling for them.

BT: My opinion? Fuck them, they deserved to lose. I can promise you this, the entire state of Texas was NOT rooting for an Astros win in the World Series.

I have time for one more question.

FWST: Tex, Bob McGloughlin again, there's rumors out there that you're planning on moving the Rangers out of Texas, are these rumors true? If so, where are you planning to go? Are other cities making offers?

BT: I was dreading this question resurfacing. Look, I'm a straight shooter so truthfully, it's none of your damn business.. hahaha, I'm kidding. Look, when I was lured to the Metroplex several seasons ago, I was promised a new stadium that hasn't been built and likely won't be built. My team played in a jewel of a stadium in Southern California before I left on false promises. The league office has given me permission to find another home if I so desire, one that WILL build me a new stadium and thus far, there have been several offers on the table. Florida, Tennessee, California, hell even a couple other cities in Texas have been on the phone.

I'll just say this, I have no immediate plans to move the Rangers out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area but I'm going to need a little help from the politicians, voters, and taxpayers to make this thing work for the long haul.

Thank you.