There is so very much to say about this past years Rangers team. The unprecedented horrible pile up of injuries, the devastation to the pitching staff, the probably career end of Matt Harrison, the controversy of trading past players, the inability to get Nelson Cruz. We can all bash John Daniels, the perceived or real power struggle within the organization with Nolan Ryan’s departure. The mess that Ron Washington leaving created, and all the rumors as to why, when it turned out he was the one at fault. Adversity builds character, and a whole lot of young guys on this team have had the opportunity to be humble.
We can talk about how some of our young guys performed in their first shot at the majors. We can worry over Darvish and Holland, celebrate the emergence of Roughned Odor or the outstanding play of Leony’s Martin. There is much to talk and discuss, and over the coming months everyone is going to have an opinion.
The reality is that even though I do not like John Daniels, and I have said so on numerous occasions, this team is in a fabulous position because of him. In fact, no other team in baseball has what the Rangers do and JD gets the credit for that. I will also give him credit for the way he handled the trade deadline this year. He could have sold off just about everyone, but he took what he knew he had plenty of, and traded it for something he might need.
He could have traded Alex Rios, and he will be roundly criticized for not doing so when they do not sign him next year. He kept Rios as insurance to see if any of the 5-6 guys they were going to run through the majors could in fact play. If all were a bust, he could sign Rios, if a few are keepers then let him go.
There are free agents on this team, Colby Lewis and Neal Cotts, lead that list. There are a host of arbitration eligible players too. The biggest of these is Neftali Feliz and Mitch Moreland.
The Rangers had a payroll of about $133 million this year, one of the highest in team history. With Harrison out due to injury, his insurance policy will pay that salary. Without Rios and a couple of others the Rangers stand to free up about $20-$25 million this year.
Based on September’s play, we know that these rookies, has been’s and never-will-be’s can play some ball, and all of that is before we start talking about Joey Gallo, Jorge Alfaro, Luke Jackson, Nick Williams, and Alex Gonzalez. This team is loaded with raw, and young talent, that is deep at every position from Class A to AAA to the majors. The 40-man roster will be a competition, and the Rangers will have some guys to trade because they just like someone else better.
Daniels, like him or hate him, has done this, and for anyone looking at the big picture you can see it. Tim Bogart will be the manager next year and that is a good move too.
As stated, a book can be written on players personnel, salary, club house, injuries and much more. We can project who stays and how goes, along with trades to be made.
The bottom line is this: The Rangers need a #2 starter, and a big bat at DH. If they can get those two pieces for next year, get healthy, they will challenge for the West and be highly competitive in 2015. Beginning in 2016 and going forward all the young guys start coming to the Arlington.
John Daniels gets a small pat on the back from me for not doing anything stupid at the trade deadline this year and allowing the team to mature. No team in baseball knows more about their farm system than the Rangers do now. What he does in the off-season will determine where this team really goes.
