Hasn't ZiPS loved this guy for a while? Could be a steal, especially if he gets a chance to hit in Arlington.

He's got a legit ML bat. I saw him absolutely crush one at the Futures Game a few years back.

Could be hard for him to find playing time in Texas, though, between Davis and Smoak. Do they still have Botts, too, or is he gone?

Don't forget Max Ramirez who seems to be out of the catching picture and into the 1B/DH race.

I hadn't heard of Koshansky, so naturally when I read the headline I thought this was about hockey.

I hadn't heard of Koshansky, so naturally when I read the headline I thought this was about hockey.

I just assumed it was a relief pitcher. He sounds interesting but the Rangers seem like an odd team to take a chance on him with their current roster construction. Maybe they think they can flip him?

Could be hard for him to find playing time in Texas, though, between Davis and Smoak

Word; all we've been hearing about this spring is how they're set for years with those two, not to mention veteran spare parts like Cats and Blalock. "Depth" problems would seem to apply to the Rangers only, as usual, on the mound ...

Botts is playing in Japan, BTW.

I hope Koshansky! gets a decent shot in the majors at some point.

I keep reading the headline as "Rangers shag Kochansky" and do a Hanna-Barbera "head shake with sound effects" thing.

I was in an econ class with Joe when we were at UVA. It was probably the most challenging class I took - Antitrust Economics with Ken Elzinga (one of the foremost experts in the field) and extremely difficult to get into. He had to miss several classes due to his travel schedule, but when he was there he frequently contributed and was always very engaged in the material and discussion. I had a hard enough time keeping up, and I didn't have the excuse of being a D1 athlete who was the best pitcher AND best hitter on his team (he and Mark Reynolds played together - Mark was a year ahead of us).

All this is to say that I wish Joe well and hope he can catch on somewhere.

They're trying to move Catalanotto and want a one or two year temp until Smoak is ready.

Koshansky's problem is K's - lots of 'em (158 in 457 AB for Colorado Springs last year - 22 in 50 major league AB) - enough to keep him probably being more than a AAA/AAAA bat. Great pop, though, and not a bad guy to pick up on waivers as a minor league insurance policy.

Even with all the Ks, I think he has enough power that he can hit .250 or so. With his power, that's useful.

Great pop, though, and not a bad guy to pick up on waivers as a minor league insurance policy.

How does this work for the Rangers? Does he have to clear waivers again to go to Oklahoma? If so, can the Rockies re-claim him? Is there a mechanism to stop teams from waiving and then claiming the same player ad infitum?

"Does he have to clear waivers again to go to Oklahoma?"

No, he had an option left.

Thanks Vlad.

Why are the Rockies waiving him?
Atkins is kinda hurt, and their OF has a hole too right? Or is Dexter Fowler up already?

Kosshansky has (well, had) an option left and the Rangers optioned him. The Rockies figured they were better off with Atkins and Stewart backing up 1B and wanted the roster spot for someone else. Waiver wars can be fun!

Carbonated beverage to Vlad.

Even with all the Ks, I think he has enough power that he can hit .250 or so. With his power, that's useful.

Particularly in Texas (though .250 is probably at the high end of what he'd hit - IMO - last year's .300 at CSP was a career high, despite being in hitter's environments and not being young for his leagues). He needs to up his walks from solid/decent (career high: 67 in '07) to great to go from useful to good, though.
Personally, I'd love to see teams take guys like this and try to Kieschnick them (in '03, he went 7-2 2.31 in 9 starts for the Wahoos). Not sure if it would work here or in any particular case, a priori, but it's worth trying every now and then.

"Atkins is kinda hurt, and their OF has a hole too right? Or is Dexter Fowler up already?"

They actually have pretty good OF depth right now. Smith in left, Spilborghs in center, and Hawpe in right, with Stewart and Murton and Baker as reserves and Fowler very close to ready, if not there quite yet. Plus CarGo waiting in the wings.

I keep reading the headline as "Rangers shag Kochansky" and do a Hanna-Barbera "head shake with sound effects" thing.

I don't know - Christine was pretty hot.

"last year's .300 at CSP was a career high, despite being in hitter's environments and not being young for his leagues"

A career high, but not really an outlier. .295 the year before that, at the same level, and .284 in 2006. Very good hitting environments, as you note, but even so, that's not bad.

I could maybe buy .240 as a true-talent instead of .250, but I wouldn't go much lower.

I'd say .235/.240 - we're in the same ballpark. I'm hoping ('cause I like the guy - not so much as a prospect, but he's always seemed likable) that last year's power bump was real.

How does this work for the Rangers? Does he have to clear waivers again to go to Oklahoma? If so, can the Rockies re-claim him? Is there a mechanism to stop teams from waiving and then claiming the same player ad infitum?

Tim Pugh

Check out Pugh's transactions in 1996, he ping ponged between KC and Cincy 4 times between May 10 and August 15.

Jay Marshall went from Oakland to somewhere else and then back to Oakland a few years ago before finally clearing waivers and making it to Sacramento.

Jairo Cuevas has bounced back between the Royals and Braves a couple times this off-season in a waiver wire war.

I keep reading the headline as "Rangers shag Kochansky" and do a Hanna-Barbera "head shake with sound effects" thing.

I don't know - Christine was pretty hot.

She's dead, Dave.