New 2B in Texas

Arlington, TX -

The Rangers selected 2B Jamey Carroll from the Montreal Expos during the Rule V portion of the Sabermetric Baseball League Draft. Carroll, reportedly a stellar fielder, must remain on the 25-man roster throughout the season or risk being returned to the Expos who failed to place him on their 40-man roster this fall.
Although Carroll has yet to play above AAA he has been a consistent minor league performer, both with the lumber and the leather. Carroll, 23, batted .289/.382/.380 for AAA Syracuse last year. So far consistency with the lumber has not equaled success. Carroll's power seems likely not to develop.

Carroll's glove will carry him on the Rangers roster, as he replaces free agents Lou Whitaker, 39 and Jerry Browne, 30. Both Browne (.257/.332/.361 at AA Frisco) and Whitaker (.212/.310/.349 TEX) were considered liabilities due to their lack of defensive prowess. Browne and Whitaker became free agents when their contracts expired after the World Series.
Carroll will be reunited with fellow former Expos Yamil Benitez, Marquis Grissom, and rookie sensation and fellow keystoner Jose Vidro. Asked about the influx of Expos personnel, GM Joel Green remarked that the Expos should be proud of their development system, and promised to continue to search for talent from whichever sources they could be found, majors, minors, or free agents of any age.

Mike Stanley converted his power packed season into a three-year $12.12 million extension which will carry him into his age 36 season. Over-paid and over-aged? Too soon to tell, but people around the league are wondering.

Read more: http://sabermetricbaseball.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=teamreports&action=display&thread=20#ixzz15hhwIThB