UPDATE: The Rangers have avoided arbitration with Moreland.
Rangers and Mitch Moreland settle at $5.7 million..... avoid arbitration hearing
— TR Sullivan (@Sullivan_Ranger) February 10, 2016
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With Mitch Moreland currently unsigned for the 2016 MLB season, the Texas Rangers will likely head to arbitration with the first baseman/DH this week, according to the latest rumors. The club also has other plans in mind as they're reportedly interested in free-agent starter Tim Lincecum.
Moreland, 30, is in his final year of arbitration eligibility following the best season of his career. The slugger earned $2.95 million in 2015 and hit .278/.330/.482 with 51 runs scored, 23 home runs and 85 RBI in 132 games. He also registered the highest WAR (2.2) of his career.
He filed for a $6 million salary in 2016 while the Rangers countered with $4.675 million last month. MLBTradeRumors.com projects Moreland to make $5.6 million in arbitration. The two sides have yet to come to an agreement, which means a panel will decide his salary for 2016 this week.
"Moreland will likely take the Texas Rangers to their first salary arbitration hearing since 2000 barring an 11th-hour deal," writes Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
"The sides would meet Wednesday in Phoenix before a three-person arbitration panel if they fail to find common ground on a contract for Moreland's final year as an arbitration-eligible player."
"A hearing would be the first under general manager Jon Daniels."
Moreland was the subject of trade rumors earlier in the offseason, but Daniels said he "hasn't been motivated" by any of the offers from other MLB clubs. There hasn't been much regarding a contract extension between the two sides either.
Meanwhile, it was recently reported that the Rangers plan to attend starter Tim Lincecum's showcase this month.
"The Rangers will look at the likes of Tim Lincecum, who is supposed to throw a showcase session for teams in the next 10 days or so," Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News recently reported.
Daniels mentioned the team is "in the range of where we'll end up payroll-wise," meaning he's likely not looking at pricey free agents. Many have wondered why the club hasn't re-signed starter Yovani Gallardo, and that's because the right-hander is looking for a multi-year deal that will likely pay him a decent amount of money. The Rangers' payroll could reach $150 million when all is said and done and it doesn't look like they want to exceed that number.
Lincecum, who is coming off hip surgery in addition to multiple less-than-stellar campaigns (2012-2015), should be a candidate for a one-year incentive-laden deal.
Rangers assistant GM Thad Levine recently said the team "monitored his health process" this offseason and has "been in contact with his agent." Lincecum has reportedly rehabbed well and doctors previously said he should be fully recovered and ready to pitch by the start of the 2016 season.
"I think that's why we and so many other clubs are so eager to see him throw right now, to see if indeed the injury was responsible for the drop in velocity or if it were something else," Levine said.
A number of other MLB clubs plan to be in attendance for Lincecum's showcase as well, so the Rangers will have some competition if they happen to have legitimate interest in signing him.
