Mitch Moreland and the Rangers are Far Apart

Mitch Moreland – AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Designated hitter and first baseman Mitch Moreland wants a one year contract from the Rangers worth $3.25 million according to the Sports Day DFW’s Gerry Fraley. The Rangers reportedly offered him $2.025 million. So, it appears that the Rangers and Mitch Moreland may have differing opionions on what he is worth to the club. Being that far apart may be one of two things. Either Mitch Moreland thinks that he is worth that much and he will stick to his guns and let an arbitrator work out a deal between himself and the Rangers (the Rangers have not gone to arbitration with a player since 2000), or he is shooting high to try to get a contract somewhere in the $2.5 million range.

Either way it is usually not  a good sign if a ballclub and a player are that far apart. Lets face it, if Mitch had remained healthy last season and continued to bat the way he was when he went down, he would have had a really nice season, as it was his season was not too bad. The 28 year old had a decent season, but I wouldn’t say it was a great season. His line was .232/.299/.437/.736 with 23 home-runs and 60 RBI. His career batting average is .253, so he was down a little in that category, but he did hit his most home-runs in 2013. So what are the Rangers to do? How do you figure out how to solve a situation like this? I believe it is all about compromise. The Rangers are probably not willing to go as high as the number that Mitch is asking for, but that doesn’t mean that Mitch is in the wrong asking for it. When trying to sell a car, I usually set a price that I know I am not going to receive for that car, knowing that I have an actual number in mind that I am willing to sell the car for.

I believe that Mitch is doing the same exact thing, and I personally don’t believe he will stick by his guns on the $3.25 million. I am also not sure that the Rangers will go as high as $2.5 million, but I have been surprised before by things like this. In the end, Mitch and the Rangers will settle, it will be at some price in the middle, and the hopefully Mitch will have his best offensive season yet and earn the paycheck that he wants. It would be a win-win for everyone involved, and that would be a good thing.