The Rays Wanted More(land)

I decided to take a day off since I was getting a little writing fatigued and needed to recharge my batteries, but I’m back now. Let’s talk one more time [briefly] about the Matt Garza deal that didn’t go down.

As you may recall, I was very keen on Garza even when Cliff Lee was still on the table. As free agency got on, Garza seemed more and more like what this team needed to call this off-season a true success.

But that didn’t happen. Although the Rangers made a play for him, Garza found himself in Chicago as part of a sputtering Cubs franchise [possibly] on its last legs.

When the dust had settled, the Rangers’ unofficial offer started to circulate. It apparently included LHP Derek Holland, former closer Frank Fransisco, minor league OF Engel Beltre, and a Cubs minor league catcher — who would have been acquired in a separate deal.

A few days after those details came out, others suggested that the deal could have been made if the Rangers had included Mitch Moreland. From what I’ve heard, no one is sure if Moreland would have been included with the others mentioned above or the centerpiece of a different offer, but either way I am happy that the Rangers walked away.

At the moment, Moreland is serving to stabilize a position (1B) that has been pretty unstable for the last couple of years.

He seems like a good hitter with a short, simple swing. He’s also a smart defender who didn’t miss many cues in his rookie season. While it is entirely possible that Moreland could find himself in a sophomore slump in 2011, I would rather take that chance and hold onto him for the moment.

I’m not sure what the team’s 1B depth chart looks like, but — with Chris Davis’ bat consistent only in its inconsistencies — Moreland having an opportunity to make the position his own is something I am rather looking forward to.

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