The 2013 Rangers season is over and hopefully put behind us. We talked all about it here and I am sure every other Rangers website on the net covered it to the teeth as well. It’s time to move on.
The Rangers have several players who are free agents or whom they are not going to bring back. Now, keep in mind, this is just conjecture on my part, I am in no way affiliated with the Rangers. Players whom I believe have taken their last swing as a Texas Ranger:
1. David Murphy
David was one of my favorite players for years, and although I still like him, he cannot be the Rangers everyday left fielder going forward. He had a terrible year at the plate (.220/.282/.374) and he is an slightly above average left fielder. The Rangers can find many slightly above average left fielders who can hit better than .220 and have more than 13 home runs. If David would agree to be the fourth outfielder again at a discounted price, then I say bring him back, if not, then I think he is gone.
2. Nelson Cruz
Nelly was a great Ranger, and I will always remember him for the 2011 ALCS, where he put on quite a show. But he is aging, coming off of a suspension that probably cost his team a post season birth, and the Rangers have Alex Rios to play right field. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not bitterly angry at Nelly for taking the suspension, and I would take him back as the everyday DH, but thats not happening. Someone will offer him big money and a three to five year contract, and that team will not be the Rangers. Nelly has a few great years left, but no one knows how many that is and it is a chance I believe the Rangers won’t take.
3. Joe Nathan
Where would the Rangers have been without Joe Nathan in 2013? Not as good, thats where. Nathan was a premiere closer in 2013, but can he repeat that performance at 39, or at 40? He wants multi-year deal, and the Rangers are not willing to go there. With Soria, Scheppers and Feliz all viable options to be the closer going forward, its thanks for the memories Joe.
4. A. J. Pierzynski
AJ was brought in to replace Mike Napoli in the lineup, and he fell a little short. Rumor has it that he did not mix well with everyone in the clubhouse either, but if you put up huge numbers, that rumor doesn’t usually get out there. AJ did pretty well as the Rangers everyday catcher, and his offensive numbers weren’t bad (.283/.324/.428). I just don’t see the Rangers bringing him back. The Rangers are already showing interest in other catchers, so I am sure AJ is also looking elsewhere.
5. Matt Garza
Lets face it, Matt Garza was a failed experiment, and the Rangers front office would be brain dead to bring him back. The only time I ever hope to see him on the mound in Arlington again is in another teams uniform. Garza came in with hopes of being a no. 2 starter behind Yu Darvish, with his great numbers as a Cub (6-1, 3.17 ERA, giving up 25 earned runs and 8 home runs in 11 starts), but when he got to the Rangers, he became worse than either Tepesch or Grimm (4-5, 4.38 ERA, giving up 41 earned runs and and 12 home runs in 13 starts). Have fun elsewhere Garza.
I am not sure what the Rangers are going to do at first base yet. I have very little confidence in Moreland going forward, and I am not sure Kinsler would be happy moving there. Maybe the Rangers bring back Napoli to play first and Salty to play catcher, we will just have to wait and see. Also, speaking of catching, not sure if Soto comes back to be the back up catcher or not, we will just have to wait and see. Profar will be an everyday player somehow for the Rangers in 2014, and it will most likely be at second base. We will just have to wait and see. Thanks for reading.
