Evan Grant has written at length about the TV deals, and how that, along with the luxury tax threshold, has held the Rangers back from doing anything exciting, wild, or crazy. Reduced TV money has slowed the Rangers spending, but will it make a difference this year?
The team has made an only a few acquisitions. They have added Tyler Mahle but he will miss half the season due to shoulder surgery, they added relief pitchers Kirby Yates, and David Robertson too. Otherwise, they resigned Travis Jankowski for depth.
That does not seem like a lot but most everyone the team is already under contract, and in case you forgot that team won the World Series last year.
So what is needed to repeat?
The starting positions are all set in the field; it is the same players as last year. There are several young players including Wyatt Langford that may be amazing. The biggest loss was backup catcher and DH Mitch Garver. The Rangers signed catcher Andrew Knizner, and are hoping that Sam Huff is ready to step up. The Rangers are fine with their everyday players and my belief is their depth is outstanding. This team can hit the ball!
Pitching is always an issue for every team in the league. The starting pitching begins the season with Max Scherzer, the previously mentioned Tyler Mahle, and Jacob deGrom all on the injured list. The plan is to get those three ready by mid-season, so they will be able to ride in like the Calvary. Everyone is just going to have to pray for health for the first half of the season with these starters. Guess what, everyone said that last season too.
I know everyone wants Jordan Montgomery back, and I do too. The reality is the team most likely cannot afford him, this is not the Dodgers, and Montgomery is not going to take a 20-year deferral. I would feel super about the rotation if he was here, but without him, the team will just have to stay healthy.
The bullpen was a hot mess most of last year. There have only been a couple of additions as previously mentioned. However, there a couple of flame throwing rookies n Jesus Tinoco, Carson Coleman, and a whole host of non-roster invites to spring training. I am not as worried about the bullpen as I am the starting rotation. Sporz, Leclerc, Robertson, Yates, and Kirby should be able to hold the fort at the back end of games, and Cody Bradford showed good things last season. It is not perfect but it is far ahead of last year at this time.
To summarize, the Rangers are counting on a lot of rookies or first year players to provide depth and help the team. They are short on starting pitching depth, but what they have can be competitive, because again this team will score runs. They really need another starting pitcher to eat some innings.
Backup catcher is a concern, DH is a concern, the bullpen is a concern with depth and consistency, counting on many rookies to fill holes, and staying healthy is where this team is.
Those concerns are countered by the history of this lineup, which was the top ranked offense in all of baseball last year and may be better this year. The bullpen is a game management issue and I trust Bochy. Rookies need to play, not everyone gets to make $30 million unless it is the Dodgers.
The team will have to play well in April and May and hold on until the Calvary arrives in mid-season. You don’t win a season in April and May but you can lose one. They just need to be competitive and in the hunt. If they do that then help arrives and anything can happen just like last year.
Football season ends Sunday, and it is time to play baseball ya’ll!!!
