All off-season John Daniels has talked about adding depth to the pitching staff. They have re-signed Colby Lewis, and a host of bullpen candidates. On paper the team will go into training camp with what is supposed to be one of the deepest bullpen’s in all of baseball. Further, the starters seem set with Cole Hamels, Derek Holland, Martin Perez, Lewis, and a host of competitors for the fifth spot. Those candidates would include Chi-Chi Gonzales, Nick Martinez, Anthony Ranaudo, and A.J. Griffin. Meanwhile, like the past couple of years they will wait to see how another pitcher, this time it is Yu Darvish, handles rehab and how/when he might return as the cavalry. There is no doubt that should Darvish return to form, and with Hamels, this team for the first time in franchise history will have two true Aces in the starting rotation. Let’s hope that happens before the All-Star break, because that will be fun to see!
All of the other positions seem set outside of a couple of players working their way through the arbitration process. Which leaves the biggest concern still unanswered.
What to do about the need for a big right-handed bat, and what is going to happen in left field. Josh Hamilton had double knee surgery in the off-season, and is having shots in his knees to control inflammation and pain. What Josh was in 2010-2011 is an extremely unrealistic expectation, and he is yet another left-handed hitter. The team needs a right-handed bat that can hit, and they need it badly. The team is just to left hand dominate, and that creates serious match-up problems at times..
In the off-season the team added Justin Ruggiano, James Jones, and Ryan Rua to add to the competition. On the farm they have third baseman Joey Gallo, outfielders Nomar Mazara and Lewis Brinson are all at Triple-A Round Rock but could be added to the mix. Mazara and Brinson made the top 10 outfield prospects to watch in all of MLB, with Brinson as #2, and Mazara at #3, and Joey Gallo is the #1 prospect for 3B.
Is that enough? It would have been great if they could have signed Yoenis Cespedes. The Mets have evidently reached a deal for 3-years and only $75 million. It would have been a budget blower for the Rangers with a payroll in the $140-$150 million range. Another $25 million with another long-term contract was just too much for the team.
Personally, I hope it was not a mistake to let him get away. Throughout the off-season Justin Upton’s name came up often, but the Tigers jumped on him with a long-term deal that eclipsed $130 million. This all means the Rangers go into the season with some projects and prospects, but they are the defending AL West Champions. However, according to the folks that project wins/losses they say the team should only win 83 games.
The goal is 90 wins, and make no mistake every team within the division will be better than last year. Houston looks like the team to beat, and yes, they have fortified that porous bullpen that cost them down the stretch last year. I don’t care what the projections or prognosticators have to say, the defending champs are the team to beat, and just like last year all the columnist and sports writers figure the Rangers are a third or fourth place team.
Well that’s why they play the game. This is essentially the same team as last year, but with a much deeper bullpen, and some much healthier guys. Keep in mind that only two of the five starting pitchers finished the season with the team. Health always figures into these things, so maybe they should have signed Cespedes, maybe not. He sure would have solidified the outfield, and provided what is needed most. Just put me in the corner of one who figures anything we get from Hamilton is just a bonus!
As always it will be pure joy to see how the young guys do, and if the old guys still have it. John Daniels has done his job the past few years, and I have learned to trust him and Jeff Bannister.
Whatever my opinion is, we are just a few days away from pitchers and catchers reporting. It is nearly time to play ball!!!!
