Hi, and welcome to another edition of Right

on Rangers LIVE coming at you little offseason

talk and game five of the World Series

a little bit later on this evening coming

up here in about 40 minutes.

First pitch, man, I was not expecting that

come back there at the end of the

bottom of the ninth looked like a top

of the what 12th inning home run by

Milwaukee was going to send us straight into

the offseason, Tampa Bay finds a way and

you love to see it.

You have more baseball on your TV tonight.

As I like to say, that's what it's

all about.

If you don't have a dog in the

fight and for a lot of Rangers fans,

I think, look, you're, you're rooting either way,

a team to win a World Series for

the very first time.

I'm looking forward to the game tonight.

I'd love to see the Rays win just

for the simple fact that I just shared.

We'd like to see more baseball in 2026.

We're going to miss it when it's gone.

And so I'm hopeful that the Rays can

extend the series, you know, Milwaukee Rays doesn't

matter to me who wins it.

I know that the Brewers man, what, what

a depressing memory this would be.

If you allow Tampa to come all the

way back, I don't see it happening.

It can't happen.

I mean, we watched years ago, what 20,

almost 25 years ago, the Red Sox figured

out against the Yankees and the ALCS never

been done in the World Series though.

That would be something else either way.

One team by what the end of the

weekend or early next week, we'll be lifting

their first trophy in franchise history.

Looking forward to it.

We will definitely be talking Rays Brewers here

and there, but we have got some good

Ranger stuff to cover today.

I'm excited about today's show.

We have a look, Texas finally getting a

payroll figure out there projected 20, 27 player

payroll sitting roughly around 170 million before any

kind of major off season addition, roughly 20

million below what it was in 2026.

Maybe that sounds like room to work.

It doesn't really to me, but you have

to remember.

Texas needs an everyday offensive upgrade.

They need a better bullpen.

They got to get bullpen arms.

First of all, you had a lot of

guys on one of your deals and you

need a real plan at both catcher and

possibly second base deciding based on what you

do based on your decision that you make

with Zeke Duran.

I think a lot of Rangers fans feel

like he'll probably slot right into the second

base spot.

I've advocated everyday player, but no need to

tie him down to one position.

Clearly he thrived playing all over the field,

played seven different positions in 2026.

I see no reason to make Zeke Duran

the Josh Smith of 2026.

Like you have no reason to nail him

down to second base.

We saw how that went with Smitty.

There's a lot of pressure that comes along

with it.

You're definitely, I think, limiting the value of

Zeke Duran, much like you were limiting the

value with Josh Smith by making him an

everyday player.

I think we have seen firsthand.

We just had firsthand experience.

Just because you make a guy an everyday

player does not mean that they are magically

going to become a better hitter.

In some ways, I think you consider, and

I know this is a lofty example, but

you consider players like Shohei Ohtani that have

come out and basically said, yeah, I feel

more locked in when I'm actually playing multiple

positions.

Josh Smith actually said the same thing.

At some point, I think it was in

24 or 25, he actually said, yeah, I

feel like it actually kind of helps me

lock in more at the plate because I'm

playing all over the field.

I think that we have seen, it's not

a magic wand to just be tied down

to one spot, and in fact, in some

ways, it actually decreases the value of the

player.

You have a guy like Zeke Duran that

can play all over the place, have him

play all over the place.

No need to make him the everyday second

baseman or come out with that title before

the season begins.

He's an everyday player.

There's no doubt about that, but I think

that you can be a little bit flexible

in the way that you employ him.

We are going to get more into what

potential off-season moves the Rangers might be

able to make.

Tonight's question is going to be, what can

that $170 million payroll, that $170 million starting

point, what can that actually buy for the

roster?

We'll explore some options.

It's going to be hard without the benefit

of the off-season being fully upon us.

World Series still rolling, free agency.

It could be opening up as soon as

tonight, right?

You are going to have things start flooding

out once the World Series comes to a

close, but we'll get into all that more

in just a little bit.

But first here at Right on Rangers, we

cover everything Texas sports.

We put a huge emphasis on the Rangers

during the MLB season and off-season, and

we thank you for choosing Right on Rangers

for all of your Texas Rangers content.

Drop a comment, drop a question.

I will be checking the chat really throughout

the entire show.

I know we had a full five-minute

opener there where I wasn't doing much of

that, but I will surely be checking the

chat.

I want to hear from you guys what

you have to say.

We will let the chat guide the experience

a little bit here, although I have a

number of different talking points, as always, that

I will try and cover throughout the course

of the show.

Appreciate you guys.

Thank you for hanging out.

Cowgirls fan, it's funny how people think, like,

is that an original comment?

Are we thinking that that does something?

Cowgirls, man, that is the most classic clap

back in the book.

Come on now.

Jeffrey, get some new material, my guy.

I mean, at least make me smile, man.

It made me laugh, but a little chuckle.

I got a smile on most days, but

a little chuckle, man.

Cowgirls, come on now.

We can do better than that.

We really can.

All right.

I appreciate all you guys hanging out.

Let's get into it.

So we got Cal Q mentioned in the

chat.

RJL, what's good, my guy?

Good to see you.

Cal Q, a Ranger in 2027.

It depends on what he's asking.

I do think if you can get Cal

one or two year deal, a little more

on the team friendly side.

Absolutely.

I don't think there's a lot of Rangers

fans that don't want to see Cal Q

back.

I will say this, the only thing you

kind of question with Cal is, are we

potentially looking at a bit of a one

hit wonder?

And I don't say that just to rain

on the parade here, just to be Mr.

Negative.

But I think it's something you always have

to consider with baseball.

You always have to consider, is this just

an anomaly?

Did Cal Q just have a really incredible

year?

Was it just lightning in a bottle in

2026?

Or is he actually going to be able

to continue this?

I personally feel like it's going to be

tough for Cal to duplicate what he did

this year.

That doesn't mean you don't go out and

get him.

But I do think you have to probably

be erring on the side of, it's not

going to be as good.

How not as good is it going to

be?

That's the question.

And that's what the Rangers brass is going

to have to answer.

Do you feel like Cal can even be

in the zip code of what he was

in 2026, in 2027?

I'm a fan of Cal Q.

You guys know this.

Look, I had to eat a massive plate

of crow on him in spring training.

I was going in hard on the Cal

Q acquisition.

Why are we doing this?

Why is Cal eating up reps that other

young arms in the organization could be having?

And then he went ahead and showed everybody

what's good.

We keep going.

Ethan says, Cal won't repeat again this year,

YouTube comment.

I tend to be on that side.

Now, again, he won't repeat.

Okay.

Now, how big of a drop-off are

we talking?

Again, that is the big question here.

How big of a drop-off really will

it be with Cal Q?

I think to come out and boldly, confidently

say, you're going to get the same exact

thing from him in 2027 that you got

in 26 is a bit of a stretch,

a bit of a stretch.

All right.

We keep rolling.

Bowden said that the Rangers could give Joc

two years, 30 million.

That's got to be the laziest take I've

ever seen.

The Rangers are not giving him any money.

Hey, did anybody watch Jeff's live today?

Did anybody watch Jeff Wilson's live today?

I didn't get a chance to watch it.

I've been at work all day.

If you did, I know that kind of

the leading question he had was related to

Joc Pederson.

If you watch Jeff's show today, I'll try

and catch up on it while we're on

the show here if I can.

What was his point about Joc Pederson?

Did anybody watch that?

If not, I'll try and check it out

real quick.

But I know I've got a few people

that definitely tune in to DLLS and keep

up with those guys.

So let me know if you did.

But I just want to say this before

I even consider what Jeff had to say

on the topic.

There's no way you can bring back Joc

Pederson.

It doesn't even make sense from really any

angle in my mind.

Well, you need a lefty power bat.

OK, you can go out and get somebody

else that can actually play the field and

can contribute against lefties and not just be

a righty only.

And by the way, can't play any defense

anywhere.

I don't want to see Joc Pederson back

in a Rangers uniform.

It's not because I'm a hater.

It's because I don't want players that aren't

dynamic and aren't versatile.

Joc, he doesn't run the base as well.

He can't field, he can hit, but only

against righties.

That's the exact type of player that Chris

Young came out and said, you're trying to

get away from.

It wouldn't make any sense to me if

the Rangers keep Joc Pederson.

If you're going to come out and say

you need to get more athletic, God bless

Joc.

That's not exactly the image that comes to

mind when I'm thinking about athletic dynamic baseball

players.

It's not.

Joc can hit the ball really hard and

far at times, but he's taken up a

roster spot when he can really only do

one thing.

He's a one trick pony.

All he does is hit against righties and

occasionally he gets hot, but he's streaky.

He's not the kind of player that really

fits in Skip Schumaker's system philosophies.

Not a put the ball in play guy.

He's a hit a home run guy when

you need a home run and you need

that, no doubt on your team, but I

don't want to see the Rangers waste a

whole lot of roster spaces in 2027 on

players that can really do one thing.

And in Joc's case, one very, very specific

thing.

That's me.

Nate, what's good, man?

Always good to see you, brother.

If we resign him, he'll give us an

ERA in the mid threes I'll take another

year of Cal going back to Cal Q.

I'd be happy if the Rangers can figure

out a way to bring him back.

But if I'm Cal Quantrill, I'll say this.

Go at it from the player's perspective.

This is probably one of Cal's last chances

to get a really good deal or at

least get a solid deal for himself.

Unless he follows up 2026 with a masterful

2027.

This to me is Cal at his peak,

right?

This is the epitome of the value is

not gonna get any higher on Cal.

I think at this point, I absolutely think

that if you can get a team friendly

deal, you bring him back.

If not, then you let him walk and

you let him see what he can manage

with another team.

But I'd be a fan of them resigning,

no doubt.

All right, Texas Carnage, what's good?

You and me always got beef, I feel

like.

I feel like you're always giving me a

hard time, keeping me on my toes.

Appreciate you hanging out as always, brother.

Thank you so much.

Hey, look, we have, by the way, 170

million as the starting point.

We talked about that in the opener.

$170 million is the projected 2027 player payroll.

All right, right around 171 million, I believe.

Last season ended around 192 million just so

we're on the same page.

So we are decreasing the salary once again.

Yes, sir, good times.

It's not a shock to me if we're

just being honest here, not just being click

bait, rage bait, just screaming at absolutely nothing

here.

I definitely don't think this is anything that

should shock or surprise with the incoming lockout.

You've got a lot of teams, I think,

that are gonna be in this boat where

you're shrinking payroll a little bit.

I'm not so sure that you are going

to find a lot of teams that are

going to increase the payroll heading into a

lockout like this.

I'm not saying it's gonna be zero, but

I just would be surprised if the majority

of clubs in 2027 in the off season

decide to increase the payroll.

I just don't think it's gonna happen.

You roughly are going to have 20 million

to add if Ray Davis keeps spending at

that level.

We're considering Joc Pederson coming off the books.

I know that a decrease in salary from

192 to 171, you have to dive into

that a little bit.

There is some money coming off the books.

You've got Joc Pederson, 18 and a half

million dollars, that's coming off the books.

You've got a lot of arms out in

the bullpen, that money coming off the books.

You've got dollars that are coming off.

You have to think about the whole picture

here.

I'm definitely not trying to spin this.

By the way, I'm not trying to carry

water or anything like that.

It's never great to see 192 to 171.

What I'm just trying to do is explain

what the Rangers are really working with here.

Am I a fan of decreasing the player

payroll?

No, I'd love if they just kept it

right where it is or increased it slightly.

It'd be below the luxury tax.

Look, the tax calculation, by the way, it

includes contract averages and benefits of the two

figures kind of answer different questions.

Texas, by the way, far below the tax

line in 2026 after three straight years above

it.

So under that expiring CBA agreement, that resets

the next payroll rate from 50% to

20%.

But look, the new 2027 labor rules haven't

been negotiated yet.

So you are kind of resetting the luxury

tax by doing what you're doing, but you

don't really know what it's gonna look like

in 2027 until there's an agreement.

So this kind of gives Ray Davis a

genuine decision.

Do you keep the previous spending level and

you ask Chris Young to choose which problems

are going to survive or the authorized more

money?

So the club has a shot at real

upgrades in multiple spots.

Most Rangers fans, I think would be a

four would be in favor of the latter,

right?

Let's spend a little bit more, man.

Let's upgrade some positions.

You've got some good players, some quality players

on the team.

Can we put a few more key pieces

around them?

Spending more definitely isn't any kind of free

pass in my mind for the front office

either.

By the way, I think Texas has spent

plenty in recent years.

We've talked about this.

CY has not done the best with the

money that he has been given.

You have Joc Pederson contract.

I know some people have tried to argue

the Tyler Mahle contract with me.

You spent over $20 million on a guy

that gave you about 15 total starts.

I mean, come on, that's not money well

spent, man.

I'm never going to be convinced that the

Tyler Mahle contract was a great deal for

Texas.

It wasn't.

You got 18.

I think it was 18 total starts in

a two year time period.

You paid over a million dollars a start

for Tyler Mahle.

Wasn't a good contract.

There's money right there.

That's basically $50 million.

$60 million.

Almost $60 million right there in contract money.

CY has not always done the best with

the money that he's been given.

Better evaluations of talent has to matter.

I think Joc did well to at least

rebound slightly in 2026, but I can't pretend

like Joc Pederson had some monster elite season.

It was good.

I think you could argue it was above

average, but I don't think anybody should be

saying it was an elite year from Joc.

It's hard for me to say that in

general about players that really only are platoon

guys.

And that's what Joc Pederson was.

CY has to spend the money that he

is given on a much better level.

Look, the trades are going to be interesting.

Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, names getting floated around

a lot.

I think we have to remember something though.

Those guys don't have to be traded if

they don't want to be.

So we can write as many Corey Seager,

Jacob deGrom articles as we want.

But the bottom line is those guys are

not going to be traded if they don't

want to be traded.

They have no trade clauses.

I do think if they really want to

trade deGrom, at some point as a player,

I do think you start getting the hint

like, man, they really don't want me.

Let me go ahead and play for a

contender then.

But I think that guys like Seager, guys

like deGrom, a part of why you signed

a long-term deal is you want to

be there.

You want to have the security.

Like if we're being real, you want the

no state income tax.

That's just being smart.

Don't think about it with Corey Seager or

with Jacob deGrom.

You go play on the East Coast, you

allow a trade to Boston or you allow

a trade to New York, wherever it is,

you're instantly losing money to taxes.

That is a big benefit.

I think that we have to consider here.

It's definitely a lot of money either way,

but guys like Jacob deGrom, you're close to

retirement.

I don't think that these guys are just

going to accept a trade anywhere, man.

Like you get shipped out to one of

the California teams.

My goodness.

Now you're getting raked over the coals in

taxes.

There are just some practical things here that

I think we have to consider when it

comes to Jacob deGrom and Corey Seager potentially

getting traded.

I'll keep checking the comments here.

deGrom, Eovaldi, Jansen, 68 million off the books

next year.

Ethan, the one caveat is you can bring

back deGrom for 20 million a year in

2028.

2027, you're still paying a 38 million.

You could bring deGrom back on a $20

million contract in 2028 if you so choose.

20 million for one year of deGrom doesn't

sound terrible.

I guess we're going to have to see

what he does in 2027.

One year of 20 million for Jacob deGrom

does not sound awful and you're gaining $18

million anyways.

I would not say it is a foregone

conclusion that deGrom is gone after this year.

I could see the Rangers bringing him back

one more year.

Maybe he retires as a Ranger.

He comes to that conclusion and then you

maybe go year to year with him if

he still wants to pitch.

I don't know.

But for me, it's not going to surprise

if they decide, hey, we're gaining $18 million,

38 to 20.

Let's bring back Jacob deGrom one year 20

million club option.

I think that could happen.

It would not surprise me in the least

bit.

Appreciate all you guys hanging out.

Definitely want to get you guys involved as

much as I can in the show.

Definitely will continue on with our guiding topics.

But man, drop a comment if you got

something you got to get off your chest.

Something you want to see the Rangers do

this offseason.

A question you want me to address on

the show here would be more than happy.

All right, Garrett, what's good, man?

Yeah, I think a big win for Texas

this Saturday.

Talking little Longhorns football here.

I don't think they have their quarterback.

If I'm not mistaken, I read that report.

I do not think that they are going

to.

I do.

I don't think they're going to play around

with their food now when it could be

wrong on that, but I think that the

Longhorns probably take care of business this weekend.

That's my guess.

All right, let's keep rolling.

Chris, yeah, I mean, look, the taxes part,

I think, is something that a lot of

people don't consider.

It's like, you know, to us, you're making

millions of dollars either way.

But to them, especially players like deGrom getting

a little bit older, you are thinking about

that.

You don't want to go to a place

that is going to tax you out the

yin yang, man.

You don't.

You want to be in a place that

is going to set yourself up financially well

for the years where you're not playing Major

League Baseball.

You know, you get traded to New York.

You get traded to one of these East

Coast states with a very high tax rate

in terms of state income tax.

You're losing money.

Absolutely.

What's good?

Only time comment from YouTube.

Only time the Rangers were ever entertaining was

watching Josh Hamilton.

Yeah, look, I think Hamilton is definitely a

polarizing figure.

I personally would agree with the sentiment.

I don't know about all this, but I

agree with the sentiment that the Rangers in

the early 2010s were much more entertaining.

I will say that.

I don't think that the 2020 Rangers, look,

save 2023, Adolis Garcia, the legendary run.

I don't think the 2020 Rangers have been

particularly entertaining.

But the 2023 team, yeah, I don't think

you're going to be able to argue that

one a whole lot.

But most Rangers fans that I talk to

will tell you straight up.

They like the 2011, 2010 teams better, even

though they didn't win at all.

I probably land on that side myself.

I think the 2010 and the 2011 teams

were just more lovable.

You had a lot more lovable figures.

You had Beltre.

You had young Beltre in 2011, right?

I mean, look, you had Hambone.

You had Kinsler.

There were so many lovable players on those

teams.

Ron Washington, much more lovable manager than Skip

Schumaker.

I think that a lot of Rangers fans

feel that way.

Absolutely.

Keep on going here.

Everyday lineup.

Let's just kind of talk through where we

see this.

First of all, six different players started at

second base for Texas this year.

You had Nicky Lopez with 53 starts.

Foscue at 40.

Josh Smith before he was traded 30 starts.

Ezequiel Duran, 25.

That is the position that I do feel

like still needs a plan.

Zeke is definitely a guy that you can

put there, but I think you would do

well to move Zeke all over the yard.

He had his best year playing seven different

positions.

I think we have learned from Josh Smith.

In the off season, coming into spring training,

Josh Smith was crowned the everyday second baseman.

And what ensued was not pretty.

Josh did not play particularly well in that

second base everyday role.

Kind of makes me wonder in hindsight if

they would have just ran it back with

Smitty as a utility man.

How would that have gone if you just

would have had him continue in his jack

of all trades role on the team?

Would he have had a better 2026?

I think so.

I think that you put a lot of

pressure on him, making him the everyday guy.

And with Zeke Duran, I think you would

be best served continuing to utilize him all

over the diamond.

He can play third.

He can play short, second, outfield.

You don't really want to play Zeke Duran

at first base.

But you can if you need to.

He's played there in the past.

Zeke Duran's value is in his versatility.

It's in his defense as well.

And in 2026, it was definitely in the

bat as well.

He had a career year offensively.

I would be disappointed if the Rangers come

out and make it a big deal.

Zeke Duran is our everyday second baseman.

With the nature of some of the players

that Rangers are bringing back.

Think about your Corey Seagers.

Think about your Josh Jungs.

Guys that have a tough time staying on

the field.

Your Wyatt Langfords.

All these guys, in my opinion, are injury

-prone players.

They are.

Seager, Jung, Langford, bad luck or not, they're

injury-prone players.

You need a guy like Zeke Duran that

can fill any of those positions at any

time.

And so I don't want to see second

base just be given to Zeke.

Now, Foscue played a little bit better defensively.

I think that the glove was a bit

of a liability coming into this last season.

And Foscue, I think, had a rough beginning

defensively in 2026.

Who could forget the collision with Corey Seager?

He had the bobble that turned into a

walk-off error in Anaheim.

It was a rough start for Foscue out

at second base with the glove.

He definitely came on stronger down the stretch.

Foscue is a guy I think you have

to expand out.

You know, he definitely proved himself with the

swing and with the offense against lefties in

particular.

I want to get away from players like

Pederson and the 2026 version of Foscue that

could really only hit against one side and

could only really DH, maybe play a position

part-time here and there if you absolutely

needed it.

I'd like to see Foscue get opened up

a little bit more.

I want to see less one very, very

specific role for individual players.

I want to see guys that are more

versatile.

Jay Rockwood's good.

Need guys that get on base.

Yes, preferably guys that don't strike out a

lot.

Double yes, triple yes.

You need more guys that put the ball

in play.

If you learn anything from this World Series,

I think that's the takeaway.

I mean, think about that Brewers.

What was it?

Third inning in game three where it was

just death by a thousand ground balls.

Like that's really what it was, that it

was death by a thousand ground balls in

game three when the Brewers had the eight

run scored with what two outs.

All they were doing was like spraying ground

balls all over the yard.

They were just finding holes, just guys putting

the ball in play.

That to me is where you need to

be with the offense that you bring along

with you.

Let's keep rolling here with comments.

Back is we got to get younger.

Younger Cowboy Chris appreciate the comment.

I agree with that.

You have an old team right now.

You're one of the older teams in baseball.

Chris says I read where Ron Washington would

like to come back to the Rangers.

Please, please.

And then when it doesn't work out with

Skip, we can make him the manager again.

Look, God bless Skip.

I know he's a little bit polarizing in

Ranger land right now.

I think you got to give him a

second year.

Let's see what he does in year two.

But if it's not going well at the

end of 2027, I don't think Skip has

an unlimited runway.

Not at all.

Rob, what's good?

Comment says just thinking about the Brewers.

They have a great balance.

Don't need homers so much when they have

relentless hitting and base running.

Death by a thousand balls put in play

death by a thousand ground balls.

That's Brewers baseball right now.

They're not hitting a lot of homers, although

they did in the 12th inning last night.

Thought maybe that was going to be the

World Series clenching homer.

It wasn't.

The Rays figure out a way to take

advantage of an error to lead off the

bottom of the ninth.

The rest is history.

That's what we need more of with our

offense.

Put the ball in play, hit a ground

ball in the hole.

I'd make the defense work.

That's what we didn't do enough of, really,

in any of the past three seasons where

we didn't make the playoffs 24, 25 and

26.

I've enjoyed watching the Brewers and I know

that some people took my comment, you know,

a little bit the wrong way.

Like, I think it's fun watching Milwaukee and

I think it's fun watching Tampa Bay do

their thing in this postseason.

I'm a fan, though, of World Series and

just playoffs in general, where there's more eyes

on the sport.

I think that for the baseball purists, for

the diehards like us, we'll watch anything.

I'll watch any World Series.

I will say this postseason, it just has

felt like there hasn't been a lot of

juice.

There hasn't been a lot of drama.

That's why I would love to see the

Rays make something of this World Series.

I would love to see them make this

World Series interesting because the World Series up

until last night was a snoozer and I

know some people, you know, Austin, come on,

the record, the two outs, how many runs

they scored.

That wasn't fun for me.

It just wasn't.

I was thinking to myself the entire time

the Brewers were demolishing the Rays in game

three.

I'm like, man, this isn't even competitive.

I want to watch competitive tight baseball games.

That is what makes October fun and dramatic

to me.

And again, I like when more eyes are

on the game.

And it's not just because, you know, this

is a bit of a business for me.

It is a business for me.

And the more eyes that are on the

game, the more people talking about baseball, the

better in my opinion.

But look, even in my personal life, I

like it when people are talking about the

World Series.

I've got a few people, but I mean,

when the Dodgers and Yankees were in the

World Series, for example, everybody was talking about

that.

Even when it was Dodgers, Blue Jays, I

felt like because it was the Dodgers, everybody's

talking about it.

My preference for World Series is always David

versus Goliath.

If possible, let's get like a small market

team versus a big market team.

Or let's go Goliath versus Goliath.

The David versus David matchups don't intrigue me

a ton, although I'm going to watch them.

I love baseball.

But at least in this World Series, I'd

love if you could extend it out.

Get me to a game six, please.

Get me to a game six.

Come on.

The gentlemen sweep, the 4-0 sweep.

Yuck.

Like the Brewers can win it.

I don't want any Brewers fans getting pissed

off at me.

Like the Brewers, I'll be happy if they

win it.

But can I at least get a game

six?

And hey, if possible, you know, you got

to think about money for the players, man.

We talked about this on the show the

other day.

The players get paid more of a bonus,

especially the guys making league minimum.

They get paid more when you play more

games.

That's how it works.

The more games you play in October collectively,

the more money the players get in that

bonus pool.

By the way, the way that works, the

bonus pool is distributed evenly among all players,

regardless of salary.

So you've actually got some players on the

Brewers and Rays that are going to make

more money from the postseason bonus than they're

going to make from their salary.

So look, I'd rather see more baseball.

Rob, I agree.

Comment from YouTube.

I think MLB wants a game six.

It's about the money.

I'm sure they do want a game six.

And look, you don't think the Brewers want

a chance to clinch back in Milwaukee.

I'm not saying the Brewers are going to

throw the game tonight, but I'm talking about

the management.

I think all of the money that goes

into hosting another World Series game, like if

you lose game five, I'm sure there'll be

some disappointment.

But I think the silver lighting is going

to be obvious.

Man, we get to host another World Series

game.

Talk to me.

All right.

Gracefully forgiven.

What's good?

I have to agree.

I was a big fan of seeing two

first timers, but man, no conquering or David

Goliath.

Look, I know some people like I had

a couple of people clapping back at me

like I hate.

Oh, bro, I hate it.

How, you know, people make the argument about

eyes on the World Series.

The ratings.

I don't care about ratings.

I really don't care at all about the

ratings.

We'll own this Rangers Nation.

The Diamondbacks Rangers World Series was the lowest

rated World Series in MLB history.

It's kind of sad to say out loud,

but that is the truth.

The Diamondbacks Rangers World Series was the lowest

rated World Series in Major League Baseball history.

We wouldn't know it.

We didn't know the difference because who cares

about the ratings?

We're watching our team win it all, baby.

I don't really care about the ratings.

I just want the intrigue.

I like David versus Goliath.

You know, I like it when it's small

market versus big market.

There's some juice there, right?

And you've got the big market fan base

versus the smaller market fan base, as well

as everybody else that wants to see, for

example, the Dodgers get knocked off.

So you had Dodgers, you had all their

fans, but then you had the Blue Jays

fans and really the rest of Major League

Baseball behind the Blue Jays.

That was fun.

And then Dodgers, Yankees, it was kind of

like, can they both lose?

But it's Dodgers, Yankees.

So you want to naturally see what's going

to happen anyways.

And you've got a ton of eyes on

the World Series as it is just because

of the name recognition.

We keep rolling.

Where I sit in Tampa, when the Rangers

were, it was $70 per seat.

This series is 14,000 a seat and

$200 parking.

You got to be kidding me.

Wowza.

That is ridiculous.

Ridiculous.

By the way, if you're hanging out, you

haven't hit that follow button, haven't hit that

subscribe button yet.

Please do so.

We do this every Wednesday.

We talk Rangers baseball.

We talk offseason baseball.

World Series will be over by next Wednesday.

So we will know who the winner is

by the time we make it back here

together.

We'll be in full offseason mode, free agent

mode, hot stove, trades, all that good stuff.

It'll be awesome.

But this is what we do every week.

Every Wednesday, we do our Rangers offseason show.

Over the weekend, we have college football.

I cover the Texas Longhorns here on the

show.

We also cover the Dallas Cowboys for the

NFL.

We cover the Dallas Stars, the Dallas Mavericks.

It is a busy time of year here

Right on Rangers, but it's all good stuff.

October is my favorite month of the year

by far when it comes to sports because

you got a little bit of everything.

Got the World Series.

You got NFL in full form.

You got college football full form.

You got NBA, NHL starting up.

It's great.

I love it.

Definitely would appreciate if you followed along with

us.

And hey, if you haven't hit that like

button yet, TikTok, you can hit that like

button as many times as you want.

And man, does that help out in getting

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That is a very small way that you

can support the channel.

And again, if you're on YouTube, you're on

Facebook, hit that like button.

Means a lot.

Appreciate it.

Darnell, good to see you, man.

Thank you, sir.

Appreciate the kind words.

All right, let's reel this back in.

We have gone through a number of different

things already, but let's just keep on plugging

here.

Jacob Latz.

Let's talk Lassie.

He definitely solved the Rangers back end of

the bullpen issues that had really plagued the

team in 2025 when you were mixing and

matching Robert Garcia and, you know, Sean Armstrong.

And you were really throwing anybody back there

that even demonstrated a steady pulse in the

ninth inning.

Jacob Latz 2.13 ERA.

He collected 30 saves.

I will say for all the development crap

that we give the Rangers, they can't develop

talent.

Lassie is bucking the trend a little bit.

That is a genuine development victory.

And I think it gives Chris Young obviously

a credible ninth inning option before you go

shopping for a bullpen.

I don't think that you can mess with

Latz in the ninth inning.

Like if the wheels fall off, sure, you

can potentially reconsider his role.

As long as Jacob Latz is effective, I

just don't know how you go away from

him in the ninth.

I've heard a little bit of noise here

and there, not much, but a little bit

like, hey, moving back into the starting rotation.

I'm not a fan of that.

We talked about this last year.

The second you move Jacob Latz out of

that role, you just wonder how it's going

to go poorly.

I don't know at all how I could

get behind or support removing Jacob Latz from

that ninth inning frame.

The second you do that, it is going

to be a cluster.

Let that guy continue to cook in the

ninth or in the eighth and ninth.

I just think you got to roll with

who got you a lot of wins in

the year prior.

Relief Group overall had an ERA around 4

.5, a strikeout rate around 20%.

Not great.

They have to find more swing and miss

in that bullpen.

And that, I think, is a big priority

for Chris Young.

You have a little bit more swing and

miss needed here.

Can we get some high octane, you know,

upper 90s arms that are able to miss

bats?

To me, that's a big reason why the

bullpen faltered a little bit down the stretch.

You just didn't have enough swing and miss.

You didn't have enough guys that could come

into a big situation and keep the ball

out of play.

There's, I think, a reasonable case for avoiding

expensive multi-year relief contracts.

And Chris Young, he has shown his cards.

See why not a big guy, not big

on, I should say, giving out multi-year

deals to relievers.

Relievers can be unpredictable.

There is a price, though, for constantly, constantly

trying to rebuild three or four jobs with

bargain pickups every single season.

And that is what Chris Young has done.

Every year you're going to the bargain bin,

you're doing one-year deals, you're retooling constantly.

It would be nice to have a little

bit of staying power in that pen.

It really would be.

Haven't seen it so far, but man, that

would be ideal if you can find some

guys.

Jacob Latz, clearly one of those pieces, a

guy that'll be around for a while.

I think they have three or four more

years of club control with Jacob Latz, which

means naturally he's probably going to be a

guy you talk about with trades every single

season.

If the Rangers aren't doing well, will they

trade Jacob Latz?

You know that's going to happen unless the

Rangers are firmly in a playoff spot.

He is constantly going to be in trade

rumors.

I constantly going to be in hot stove

talks.

I hope the Rangers will be able to

get back to October in 2027.

I can't say I feel incredible about that

prospect right now, but hope springs eternal once

the offseason hits and hope definitely springs eternal

once spring training is upon us.

I don't know if we're going to get

to that anytime soon with the way this

strike is looking way the way these labor

talks are going, but I'm going to try

and remain optimistic.

I really will.

I think Jack Leiter is another reason to

think carefully about pitching depth.

5.29 ERA and 15 starts, albeit he was

dealing with some injuries, underwent the ankle surgery.

He's aiming for a normal offseason.

That's definitely encouraging, and I think that.

You have to at least be hopeful that

he can turn it around and have a

better year at fully healthy, but I don't

think he's guaranteed for a 2027 rebound.

I think that there is a very good

case that he will be better with a

100% health bill, but I can't sit

here and tell you he's definitely without a

doubt going to be a much, much better

pitcher in 2027.

I hope he will be, but I think

the jury's out on that.

I really do.

Chris was good.

Appreciate that man.

Look, one of my favorite caps right here.

Got this on new era, not available on

fanatics last time I checked, but I think

new era has this cap trucker hat.

It's got the snapback.

Definitely not anything fitted that I found in

this style, but if you don't mind snapbacks

is a good half for you.

Bullpen and pitching is good.

Yep.

Definitely going to have to find a way

to keep on keeping on with the bargain

bin bullpen pickups.

I don't think you're going to go spend

a ton of money on a reliever this

off season.

That definitely is going to have to be

one of the top priorities.

Last is perfect where he is.

Why mess with what's not broken when there's

no, when there's too many broken around the

team?

Yeah, I mean he, he is one of

the stabilizing forces right now on the Rangers.

He's a guy that's consistent.

You didn't have a ton of consistent players

in 2026.

Latz was kind of the model of consistency.

Rob J appreciate you.

Thank you so much for the comments throughout

the show, brother.

Couldn't agree more in that department.

All right, more coming at you.

We are about 45 minutes into the show.

We have roughly about 10, 15 minutes left.

Let's talk about the farm system.

Can the farm system provide cheap help in

2027?

Sebastian Walcott.

He has been making some headlines in fall

baseball.

Dude just tears the cover off the ball.

He had 114 mile an hour double the

other day.

I mean, these are show.

Hey, oh, Tony exit velocities.

And yes, I understand it's minor league baseball,

but this dude hits the ball as hard

as anyone in the game.

You will never convince me, by the way.

I posted about this last night.

You will never convince me that Sebastian Walcott

couldn't have helped us win three more games

in the month of September.

You will never convince me of that.

We, by the way, needed three more wins

in order to make October.

We finished 80 and 82.

The Astros obviously finished at 82 and 80.

Our 81 and 81 was it.

You needed what two or three more wins

in order to get to October.

You'll never convince me that Walcott couldn't have

put us over the top and helped us

win a couple more games.

But, you know, at least he'll be able

to hit around the facility in the offseason,

right?

Who cares about October?

At least you'll be able to participate and,

you know, hit or hit around and do

some training with the minor league instructors.

Man, that's going to be great.

I'm going to love watching that and taking

that in, baby.

So much better than watching Sebastian Walcott in

October, right?

By the way, the Brewers, they made an

interesting decision to really give a long-term

contract to one of their young players this

year, right?

They made a very interesting decision and it's

paid dividends, right?

You look at what happened last night, Cooper

Pratt, who, by the way, the Brewers gave

a nice little contract to one of their

big prospects.

He was hitting a home run in the

World Series that almost won the Brewers the

World Series.

And do you think they cared if he

was going to be able to participate around

the facility during the lockout?

No, because they knew that he could help

the team right then and there.

The fans that were so adamant that Walcott

needed to be kept down because you want

to have him around the facility during the

lockout.

Who gives a crap, man?

I want to watch October baseball.

You cannot convince me Walcott wouldn't have been

worth two wins in September and potentially help

you win some games in October too.

I think Walcott needs to be an everyday

starter next year.

100%.

No doubt in my mind.

Ka-chow, it's good.

I would love Cam Cauley to be up

with the club in 2027.

Big Cam Cauley fan.

Definitely a co-founder of the Cam Cauley

fan club.

Cam Cauley is the fastest man in Major

League Baseball.

That sounds like a dude that might fit

the CY qualifications in the exit presser.

You want athletic.

You want guys that are versatile.

That sounds like Cam Cauley.

It might be a good idea to put

the fastest man in Major League Baseball on

a Major League roster.

I'm just throwing that out there.

And Cam Cauley, dude should be an automatic

steal every time.

And I know you can't do that.

I know that's hyperbole, but you should be

getting Cam Cauley moving as much as you

possibly can.

The dude was, I think, caught once.

Was he caught once last year?

In the minor leagues?

I know he was perfect.

He was like 30 for 30 on stolen

bases and AAA.

Did he get caught once?

I can't remember.

If he did, it was like one caught

stealing last year.

Yes, Bryce, what's good?

TikTok comment.

We did talk about the Rangers dropping down

to around 171 million in their payroll.

Clearly, you know, you've got, you know, Joc

Pederson coming off the books.

You've got some other one-year deal guys

coming off the books.

You got Kyle Higashioka coming off the books.

So you've got some flexibility there, but yeah,

171, not really the number a lot of

us wanted to hear.

And yes, it is a business, but unfortunately,

that means that the Rangers are going to

be a little bit limited.

Not my favorite thing to open up the

show with, but that is the big news

coming out of Rangerland.

All right, more.

Let's talk deGrom.

deGrom trade machine is in full force.

We already discussed this deGrom, Corey Seager.

All these big name players have no trade

clauses anyway, so we can write all the

articles we want this offseason about where to

Grom would fit, where Seager would fit.

They got to approve the trade.

And there's a lot that goes into it.

Bleacher Report proposed Jacob deGrom in about

30 million in cash to the Cubs for

Justin Steele and catching prospect Owen Ayers.

That's a writer's look, deliberately wild idea.

Not necessarily evidence of trade talks, so just

want to be clear.

The Bleacher Report article on deGrom to

the Cubs.

It's an article.

It's it's a hypothetical trade.

It is not evidence of rumors or anything

like that.

So to me, you'd be saving $8 million

in that deal.

I do like the thought of getting a

catching prospect.

I do think the Rangers need to address

the catching position one way or another.

I'm not necessarily convinced on Logan O'Hoppe's

long-term viability at the position.

Rangers don't really like him back there behind

the dish.

He didn't get a lot of time behind

the plate as a Ranger.

He did get opportunities at the plate hitting.

But for me, I think you have to

point a pinpoint.

You have to pick out who's going to

be the catcher of the future.

Is it Malcolm Moore?

Evan Grant reported last season that a lot

of people within the organization don't necessarily see

Malcolm Moore as a long-term option, a

catcher.

Could he be transitioned to another position and

be a good hitter for Texas?

Possibly.

But Evan Grant reporting that Malcolm Moore isn't

necessarily viewed as a long-term catcher within

the organization.

They do need to figure that out.

I think that is absolutely priority.

I would say top five priority for Texas

this offseason.

Jordan, what's good is Seager question here.

Seager in a new uniform next season.

I think Seegs is going to be around

next year.

I don't think he will approve a trade.

I really would be surprised.

I think, you know, new baby, young family,

money, a thing, right?

You have no state income tax plan in

Texas for 81 of your 162 games.

I would be surprised if Corey Seager accepts

a trade.

deGrom, a little bit of a different story.

deGrom can be a free agent, potentially after

this year.

I could see deGrom being willing to put

up with a different locale for maybe, you

know, the six months right of the season.

Less than that.

If there's a strike, Corey Seager's got multiple

years left.

So with Seager, it feels a lot less

likely to me because unless he just loves

the place.

You're not talking about one year and then

you reset and free agency.

Seager's got what?

Five years left, four years left in his

deal.

That to me is going to be tougher

to get Corey Seager to approve that no

trade clause.

Highly doubt Bryce says TikTok here.

Doubt the bullpen is going to be rebuilt

anytime soon.

I think they're selling.

Yeah, I think they're going to do the

bargain bin thing.

I think they are going to do the

bargain bin thing.

And Bryce, I'm with you.

Another comment would rather a 100 loss season

next year than another 81 and 81.

I've said for so long, either go all

in and try and maximize the team's chances

in this small window that you've got left

with, you know, deGrom and Evo and Corey

Seager starting to make some maybe get a

little bit past his prime or start selling

the mediocre, the 80 and 82, 81 and

81.

It's painful.

Mired in mediocrity, baby.

It's just not my most favorite thing.

Would Diaz Kachow says YouTube here would Diaz

be a name mentioned if we bring back

someone we bring back next year?

I'd love to have Elias Diaz back, but

the reality is you've got O'Hoppe.

You've got Danny Jansen.

Are you going to run it back with

Elias Diaz?

Maybe, but you would think that might mean

that somebody else has to get the heave

ho.

I don't know if anybody's going to be

taking on Danny Jansen.

He's coming off of a surgery.

And O'Hoppe is a name that you could

potentially float around in trades.

But if the Rangers are giving up on

O'Hoppe and trying to trade them already, I'm

not sure that sends a great message to

the rest of the league about how O'Hoppe's

doing.

All right, let's wrap up and let's let's

end on a couple of different things here.

Rangers news here.

Jake Burger receives a very well-earned honor.

Jake Burger is the first Rangers player to

receive the MLBPA Players Trust Philanthropist of the

Year Award.

His Burger Family Foundation receives a $25,000

grant as a result.

Happy for them.

Happy for Jake and Ashlyn, his wife.

The work deserves recognition regardless of what happens

with arbitration this year, whether Jake Burger is

still a Ranger.

I know that Burger, the player, gets a

lot of criticism and we definitely criticize Jake

Burger here on the show, but let's separate

the ballplayer from the man.

Jake Burger, the man, is an outstanding human

being.

Don't know him personally, but the actions speak

loudly.

And this honor is very well-deserved for

him representing the Rangers organization well.

Bravo to Jake Burger and to his family

and congratulations to him.

Four Rangers await gold glove decisions.

deGrom, Langford, Carter, and Duran.

I think Duran is going to be the

one that you are most upset about if

he doesn't win it.

Utility gold glove should be his.

We'll see if a couple of the other

finalists start getting some traction, but I think

Duran should be a shoe in for that

gold glove.

I think everybody else has less of a

shot.

Wyatt Langford, I think, is probably your longest

shot.

Jacob deGrom, probably another guy I wouldn't necessarily

count on.

Evan Carter.

The numbers are great, but he not really

being an everyday player.

I think that's going to be a tough

sell as well.

Like I definitely am hopeful that these guys

will earn.

Eventually, at some point in their career, that

title, I think Zeke will get it this

year.

Evan Carter, if he can figure it out

with the bat, I think a gold glove

as an everyday player is going to be

a bit of a no-brainer for him.

Now, it goes without saying, gold glove doesn't

necessarily mean you're hanging around forever, right?

I mean, Jonah Heim won a gold glove.

We know that Nathaniel Lowe won a gold

glove.

It doesn't give you a free ticket to

stick around forever in the organization, but it

is a big honor and that would be

outstanding if one of our boys could take

it home.

All right, baseball beginning here.

We got any score?

Do we have any score in the Milwaukee

Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays game?

Are we still at 0-0?

Yes, we are.

Bottom of the first inning.

I'd like a game six.

Come on, I want to see some weekend

baseball here.

Give me a game six, please.

That, to me, is what I'd like to

see.

Once we get to game six, whatever.

If Milwaukee wins, I'll be all right with

it.

If we get to a game seven, I

will be thrilled.

We have not seen a game seven yet.

We only saw one game five and that

was the Indians.

You guys know I'm always going to make

that mistake.

The Guardians and the White Sox.

In their series, no other series has gone

to a winner-take-all.

So I wouldn't mind seeing a game seven

in the World Series.

Who wouldn't?

But just get me to a game six,

please.

Come on, Tampa.

Let's figure this out.

All right, y'all.

I appreciate all you guys.

It was a fun show.

We will be back next Wednesday and we

will be in full offseason mode as the

World Series will end at some point, whether

it's tonight or this weekend.

We will have a full offseason show for

you next week.

You will see me on Saturday and Sunday

for the NFL and college football that's ahead

of us.

The Longhorns play Mississippi State.

Cowboys are playing the Cardinals and you'll have

a number of different pieces of content out

over the next 24 hours and over the

course of the rest of the week.

Appreciate all you guys hanging out.

I definitely would be thankful and grateful if

you shared one of the videos with somebody

in the coming days.

You know, somebody that is a Rangers diehard.

You know someone that's a Stars diehard, a

Mavs diehard, a Cowboys diehard.

Please send them one of my videos.

That is such a great way that you

can help me out continuing to grow this

channel and it would mean the world.

Thank you for your support of the show.

For all of you that commented today, I

appreciate it.

Hope you guys have an outstanding rest of

the week.

And as I always say to end every

show, God bless and go Rangers.