moreha tekor akhe: Cj Rangers

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The 2010 season showed the results of a 5-year plan implemented by GM Jon Daniels in 2007 with the Mark Teixeira trade. The 2007 trade deadline and the amateur draft a month prior would all be key pieces of the successful Rangers season. Dominant rookie of the year closer Neftali Feliz, defensive All-Star Elvis Andrus, and platoon outfielder David Murphy were all acquired at the trade deadline, while starting pitcher Tommy Hunter, centerfielder Julio Borbon and first baseman Mitch Moreland were each selected in the June 2007 draft. And trades which resulted in Cliff Lee, Bengie Molina, and Jorge Cantu were each completed with a member of the Rangers 2007 draft class being sent in return.
The pitching staff, looking to be a strength for one of the first times in recent history, would depend on the #3 and 4 starters, C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis, due to a lack of expected production from Scott Feldman and free agent Rich Harden. Wilson, Lewis, and trade deadline ace Cliff Lee would each finish in the top 20 among American League pitchers in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and WHIP.
A complicated team sale that would end up in bankruptcy court and possibly cost the team president Nolan Ryan and GM Jon Daniels would be an outside threat the team would have to ignore until it was resolved in August.

Texas Rangers Pitcher C.J.

C.J. Wilson

C.J. Wilson, Rangers pitcher,

pitcher C.J. Wilson with

C.J. Wilson. Rangers

Thanks to utility infielder Esteban German the "claw and antlers" would become an active part of the Rangers in-game celebration. Following a play involving strength a Rangers' player would look to the bench and raise his right arm with fingers out-stretched to make a claw. After a play involving speed a player would place his thumbs on each side of his head and outstretch his fingers to make antlers. The fans would embrace the "claws and antlers" and a "claw and antlers" T-shirt, designed by Rangers equipment manager Richard "Hoggy" Pricewould, would be the top selling MLB T-shirt sold in 2010, selling over 360,000, even though the design was not introduced until after the All-Star game. On the final day of the season fans would participate in a pre-game "claw and antlers" parade.

Texas Rangers Pitcher C.J.

Rangers pitcher CJ Wilson

Texas Rangers Pitcher C.J.

Texas Rangers pitcher C.J.

THE BEST OF RANGERS PITCHER

Rudy Jaramillo turned down a 1-year extension and took the hitting coach position with the Chicago Cubs.
Ivan Rodriguez signed a 2-year deal with the Washington Nationals. The Rangers received a compensation draft pick for Rodriguez who was a type B free agent. The other type B free agent on the Rangers, Marlon Byrd, signed a 3 year deal with the Chicago Cubs, re-joining his hitting instructor Jaramillo.

Texas Rangers Pitcher C.J.

Rangers Pitcher C.J. Wilson On

C.J. Wilson, Doug

OF RANGERS PITCHER C.J.

Relief pitcher C.J. Wilson #36

Omar Vizquel signed with the Chicago White Sox, as well as Andruw Jones. Neither free agent met type A or B status so Texas received no compensation for their departures. At the winter meetings Jon Daniels made headline moves when Texas traded Kevin Millwood and $3 million to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Chris Ray and a PTBNL. The Orioles later selected Ben Snyder in the rule 5 draft from the San Francisco Giants and sent Snyder to the Rangers to complete the trade. Following the Millwood trade, the Rangers signed Rich Harden to a 1 year deal. The contract includes a mutual 2nd year option. Michael Young told the media his new teammate "… has the best stuff in the league. I didn't say some of the best stuff. I mean the best stuff I've seen." Harden was not offered arbitration by his former club, the Cubs, so Texas did not lose a draft pick to sign the type A free agent.