3 in the top 30

7. Elvis Andrus - SS Rangers - DOB: 08/26/88 - ETA: 2010
Previous rankings: 2006 #110, mid-2006 #96, 2007 #129, mid-2007 #109, 2008 #30

.291/.350/.346, 1 HR, 39 RBI, 62/24 K/BB, 37 SB in 309 AB (AA Frisco)

Andrus is more than merely holding his own lately. The Texas League's youngest player is hitting .327 in 119 at-bats since returning from a fractured finger last month. He's also swiped 10 bases in his last 10 games. Andrus is still figuring out exactly what he can do on a baseball field. He's on his way to becoming an above average defender at shortstop and his swing is starting to result in fewer grounders and more liners. He's never been one to be blown away by fastballs. With 12 homers in more than 1,400 professional at-bats and just 13 extra-base hits total this year, he still isn't showing any real power. However, that's perfectly acceptable at age 19. At worst, he figures to be good for 10-15 homers per year in the majors by the time he's in his mid-20s. The Rangers will have reason to move Michael Young back to second or to third in 2010.

20. Neftali Feliz - RHP Rangers - DOB: 05/02/88 - ETA: Aug. 2009
Previous rankings: none

6-3, 2.52 ERA, 55 H, 106/28 K/BB in 82 IP (A- Clinton)
2-0, 2.65 ERA, 11 H, 17/6 K/BB in 17 IP (AA Frisco)

It was well known that the Rangers landed a top-notch talent when they picked up Feliz as part of the Mark Teixeira deal, but no one could have predicted that he'd come this quickly. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Dominican was still in Rookie ball when the deal was struck, and he entered this year having thrown 71 1/3 innings in two seasons in the U.S. Now he's in Double-A after being promoted earlier this month. Feliz has a .193 average against this year, and he's surrendered only two homers in 99 innings. He overpowers hitters with a 94-98 mph fastball, and both his curveball and changeup have really come along since he first debuted. I pegged his ETA as 2011 in the Rangers' preseason top 10, but it now looks like there's a real chance of him contributing next year.

27. Taylor Teagarden - C Rangers - DOB: 12/21/83 - ETA: April 2009
Previous rankings: mid-2007 #135, 2008 #34

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=2&articleid=30730&pg=1

Lets try and come up with some serious locations for some of the Rangers trade chips. The teams would require both need and prospects to get our trade chips.

Bradley-
Ariz (Byrnes out for the season and Upton going to the DL, would love Scherzer...)
Mets (Alou out for the season, Church has concusion issues, but iffy minor league system)
Stl (needs more to protect Pujols, would love Rasmus but....)
Tampa Bay ( would love to take ride in their minor leagues..., might not want Milton becasue of precived attitude)
Boston (Papi would have to be really hurt, which comsidering he just started taking BP...)
Min (just doesnt seems like thier type of move, better off working the left side of the IF)
NYY( Matsui needs another knee, and Hank can't wait)

THe NL teams are one that i ahve already seen discussions on both in print adn on message boards..

That leaves Millwood and Padilla, Laird/Salty/MadMax/Teagarden, Everyday Eddie, Cat, and Jamey Wright...

Add what other teams might be interested, and take a whirl at some of the other guys on the list...

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/allstar08/news/story?id=3472772

In advance of the All-Star Game selections on Sunday, ESPN.com surveyed 32 of ESPN's top baseball minds to find out which players should be starting in the 79th Midsummer Classic on July 15 at Yankee Stadium. Following are the voting results and the choices at each position

Its not a surprise that Texas has 4 starters, the bigger surprise the margin with Kinsler 26 more than Perdoria, Young 10 more than Jeter, Bradley 22 more than Manny, and Hamilton getting 32 votes to lead the  OFers...

AAA

Nippert 7ip no hitter, 2 BB 5K

JMjr 1-2 2b, 1BB, 1r

Arias 2-3

AA

Borbon 1-5 1 r 1 sb

Vallejo 2-3 2b, 1 sb 1E

Elvis 1-3 2r 1 rbi 2 sb including stealing home

Low A

Beltre 1-3, BB

Beaven 5ip, 5h, 1 BB, 5K

Rookie

Blier 2ip so far, 1 h 2Ks

AZL

Main 5ip, 3h, 3r, 3er, 2 bb, 7k

Hopefully i didnt miss anything....

What a difference a SI cover story will do for you. Josh Hamilton has jumped from a distant 6th last week to 2nd this week dislodging Vald out of the OF mix in  the AL.

In other news, Kinsler moved up over Brian Roberts to a distant 4th at 2B and MY holds at 3rd well behind the leader Jeter.

Thanks again to everyone who has been voting for our home town favorites. Keep stuffing those ballot boxes guys!!!

Link

Rangers Laird and Catalanotto to Bronx?

I wouldn't rule the Yankees out for Frank Catalanotto. Jason Giambi appears to be about done, and Catalanotto, a native New Yorker, might be a good guy in a pinch. He could be potentially paired with Rangers catcher Gerald Laird, who might hold some interest to the Yankees, pending the long-term prognosis on Jorge Posada. -- Dallas Morning News

Texas might dump Washington and Broussard?

Ben Broussard and Ron Washington are linked. If the Rangers end up making a managerial change, I wouldn't be surprised if they made two announcements at the same time; the second being designating Broussard for assignment. -- Dallas Morning News

Texas to give Salty more playing time?

There was no reason the Rangers had to move Jarrod Saltalamacchia into a platoon role. They could have used him as a straight backup and part-time DH (though with Milton Bradley's inability to play the outfield every day, there would be some issues there). In the short-term, it's apparently their only solution. Long-term, I expect Laird will be traded before the summer is out. -- Dallas Morning News

Botts a complete bust with Rangers?

Why did the Rangers' pull the plug on Jason Botts so fast this season and designate him for assignment? Here's why: Botts simply has not taken advantage of any of the brief glimpses the Rangers have given him. In the last 75 years, there have been 3,341 non-pitchers to have careers of at least 300 plate appearances. Botts currently ranks 3,334th on that list in plate appearances-per-strikeout (3.02). He's right there with Russell Branyan and Jared Sandberg. -- Dallas Morning News

All can be found on Ben Maller's MLB rumors

http://msn.foxsports.com/rumors/mlb

Engel Beltre, in the Midwest League:  .295/.331/.446

The MWL is a pitcher's league, and low-A is generally populated by guys who are a year or two out of high school, international signees, and lower-light college draftees in their first pro season.

Beltre is 18 years old...if he were American, he'd be in the 2008 draft.

Two high school hitters went in the top three picks in 2007, and they both project as CIFs.  Mike Moustakos, who went #2 overall, is hitting .198/.260/.260 in the Midwest League right now.  Josh Vitters, who went #3 overall, is hitting .214/.214/.429 in just 4 games in the MWL, after posting an aggregate 281 OPS in 14 games in the minors last yaer.

per Lonestarball

Engel Beltre went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBI for low Single-A Clinton on Sunday.

David Murphy and Kason Gabbard have already paid dividends, but Beltre has the most raw talent of the players the Rangers picked up from the Red Sox for Eric Gagne last summer. The 18-year-old is batting .295/.331/.446 in the Midwest League.

per rotoworld

Who does he  remind you of?  What  are your concerns still at this point in his developement?

And no angry hate remarks about the Gagne deal.....

Very rarely do i ever star  my thread, but after Texas DFA 'ed Jason Botts today, i am finally tempted to try this again.

What is the overall board opinion of Jason Botts? He has never had consistent Ab's in the majors, but has flat out raked in the minors. Currently he is striking out almost every other AB in the majors. He currently has 2Hrs, 8 BB and 3 2B's in 38 ABs. 5 of his 6 AB's have been for extra bases.

So? What do you think? Will he get picked up? Does he have a chance as a MLB regular?

With it looking more and more each game they play that Texas is going to be sellers  at the deadline, if not sooner. What would you give up for Blalock?

 He would definately add some of the missing power to the Dodgers lineup.

He seems to have recovered from his  weird injury from last year (Thorasic Outlet Syndrome?)  and is signed for a reasonable 6mil this year with and option for 6.2 next...

LaRoach +?

Ben in Texas: With the steady demise of the Ranger's season, what would be likelyhood of Micheal Young getting traded? And if so, what would be his expected value in return?

 Steve Phillips: (1:27 PM ET ) Michael Young could bring back some decent talent. Most teams probably wouldn't look at him as a SS, more as a second baseman, as his defense has declined. His value is probably greatest on the other side of the infield. You are getting some age with him, and he won't bring back a No. 1 starter, but he could nab a blue-chip prospect. Most good teams already have a good SS, so he'll be better served as an offseason trade .

Hummm lets see....Who could need a 2B by the break?

Col, LAD, Cubs,  CHW, Indians, maybe  KC....

Just a thought...