TEXAS RANGERS 2012
For 2011 Opening Day roster, click HERE. For End-of-Season roster, click HERE.
*Players on the 40-man roster: BOLD.
*Players who are injured: +
*Players who are Out of Options: ##
*Baseball America '12 pre-season prospect rankings: BLUE #
*Baseball Prospectus '12 pre-season prospect rankings: GREEN #
'MLBDepthCharts Magazine' includes this roster projection feature but includes additional info, such as player age, 2011 level and stats, 2012 salary and contract info in an easy-to-read, printer-friendly pdf file and excel spreadsheet.
*40-man roster total (40)
*Projected 2012 Payroll: est. $118,000,000 according to MLBDC Magazine
OPENING DAY ROSTER (*indicates left-handed batter **indicates switch-hitter)
Starting Lineup (Click HERE to see last 7 lineups)
1 2B Ian Kinsler
2 SS Elvis Andrus
3 CF Josh Hamilton*
4 3B Adrian Beltre
5 DH Michael Young
6 RF Nelson Cruz
7 1B Mike Napoli
8 C Yorvit Torrealba
9 LF David Murphy*
Bench
1B Mitch Moreland*
1B Brandon Snyder
IF Alberto Gonzalez
OF Craig Gentry
Starting Rotation
1 RHP Colby Lewis
2 LHP Derek Holland
3 LHP Matt Harrison
4 RHP Yu Darvish BA#1
5 RHP Neftali Feliz
Bullpen
CL RHP Joe Nathan
SU RHP Mike Adams
SU RHP Alexi Ogando
MID RHP Koji Uehara
MID RHP Mark Lowe
MID LHP Robert Ross BA#15 BP#10
LR RHP Scott Feldman
Disabled List
Pitchers
RHP Yoshinori Tateyama + UPDATE 4/4 - placed on 15-Day DL, retroactive to March 30th (lower back strain)
Optioned to Minors
Position Players
Pitchers
RHP Jacob Brigham
RHP Wilmer FontRHP Jacob Brigham
RHP Mark Hamburger
RHP Roman Mendez BA#20 BP#8
RHP Justin Miller
RHP Neil Ramirez BA#6 BP#4
RHP Matthew West BA#11 BP#17 + UPDATE 3/4 - out 6 weeks for rehab (sprained elbow); may require Tommy John surgery
LHP Martin Perez BA#3 BP#2
Major League Free Agents Position Players
C Matt Treanor (11/15: signed w/LAD)
OF Endy Chavez* (12/18: signed w/BAL)
Pitchers
RHP Brandon Webb
LHP Mike Gonzalez
LHP Darren Oliver (12/30: signed w/TOR)
LHP C.J. Wilson (12/8: signed w/LAA)
Minor League Free Agents
Position Players
C Kevin Cash
C Robinzon Diaz (12/23: signed w/LAA)
IF Andres Blanco** (12/16: signed w/WAS)
IF Luis Cruz (11/26: signed w/LAD)
IF Esteban German (12/14: signed w/Seibu Lions)
IF Nick Green (12/8: signed w/MIA)
IF Omar Quintanilla* (1/3: signed w/NYM)
OF Doug Deeds* (1/7: signed w/LAA)
Pitchers
RHP Omar Beltre
RHP Manuel Corpas (12/22: signed w/CHC)
RHP Adalberto Flores (11/4: signed w/HOU)
RHP Eric Hurley (12/23: signed w/LAA)
RHP Brett Tomko (2/15: signed w/CIN)
RHP Merkin Valdez (1/4: signed w/OAK)
RHP Tim Wood (11/1: signed w/PIT)
LHP Douglas Arguello
LHP Beau Jones (11/8: signed w/FLA)
Lost off Waivers/Traded
•C Taylor Teagarden UPDATE 12/1 - traded to Orioles
•1B/OF Chad Tracy UPDATE 1/5 - traded to Rockies
•IF Davis Stoneburner UPDATE 3/19 - traded to Indians
•RHP Cody Eppley UPDATE 4/4 - DFA'd UPDATE 4/5 - lost off waivers to Yankees
•RHP Darren O'Day UPDATE 11/2 - lost off waivers to Orioles
•LHP Kelvin De La Cruz UPDATE 3/15 - traded to Indians
TEXAS RANGERS
OFFSEASON PREVIEW posted 10/29/2011
After the dust settles and the Rangers have had a chance to get over their heartbreaking World Series loss to the Cardinals, they will realize that they're in pretty good position to make it back again very soon. The entire starting lineup returns and that's a good thing. They're not a group of aging veterans. All nine players projected to start on a regular basis are in the prime of their careers and now have a wealth of post-season experience.
If GM Jon Daniels feels an upgrade is necessary, he could pursue a first baseman or outfielder this winter. I think they're fine with Mitch Moreland (.259 BA, 16 HR, 51 RBI) and David Murphy (.275 BA, 11 HR, 46 RBI) at the bottom of the lineup but if they can acquire another big bat without it cutting into the budget for pitching help and without it affecting team chemistry, they will be even scarier to face for opposing pitchers. Moreland and Murphy could be expendable at that point, although having some outfield depth is probably a good idea with the amount of injuries suffered by star players Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton over the past couple of years. There's not much help on the way in the upper minors but Leonys Martin is someone who could get some time in center field, especially if free agent Endy Chavez is not re-signed. Julio Borbon, who spent the majority of the season on the DL and in the minors, could also return to fill that role.
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Can Holland be the staff ace in 2012?
Picture courtesy of Icon Sports Media, Inc.
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For the second consecutive season, the team could lose it's #1 starter to free agency. Cliff Lee left after the 2010 season to sign with the Phillies. Unless a certain Yankees pitcher opts out of his contract in the next few days, C.J. Wilson is expected to be the top pitcher available this season. The soon-to-be 31 year-old could command as much as $75M for five seasons. The question isn't whether the Rangers can afford it. They probably can. But do they feel Wilson is worth out-bidding a team that is willing to pay him crazy money? With the shortage of top-of-the-rotation starters available, we could very well see a team with deep pockets like the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, or Nationals do just that.
If Wilson leaves, the team is left with a group of pitchers who made great strides in 2011. And like the lineup, they're in their prime and now playoff battle-tested. Derek Holland won 16 regular season games while posting a 3.95 ERA in 195 innings. His game four masterpiece in the World Series (8.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K) proved that he can be an ace. The 25 year-old could get that chance in 2012. Alexi Ogando may have faded a bit down the stretch and struggled as reliever against St. Louis, but there's no question that he was one of the more dominant pitchers in the majors through his first 18 starts of the season (10-3, 2.72 ERA). Lefty Matt Harrison, who came into the season with a career 5.39 ERA in 225.1 career innings, won 14 games and posted a 3.39 ERA. Colby Lewis reached 200 innings for the second consecutive season and also won 14 games.
That quartet gives the Rangers good reason not to overpay for Wilson. If they fill the remaining spot in-house, Scott Feldman and Michael Kirkman would be the top candidates while top pitching prospects Neil Ramirez and Martin Perez could have an outside shot to win the spot early in the season. One scenario that hasn't been discussed lately is moving closer Neftali Feliz to the rotation. Unless they can acquire another All-Star caliber closer to take his place, it's highly doubtful that it happens.
Their post-season struggles aside, Mike Adams and Koji Uehara were two of the better setup men in baseball in 2011. However, they weren't good when it mattered most and that has to worry the Rangers. Lefties Mike Gonzalez and Darren Oliver are free agents, leaving the team with a huge void in that area. There aren't too many interesting names joining them on the market, meaning the Rangers will likely try to re-sign at least one of them. It also means other teams will be pursuing them aggressively. Hard-throwing Mark Lowe had a solid season and should remain an important part of the 'pen. Feldman could also play a key role if he's not in the rotation.
•UPDATE 11/15 - Daniels told MLBTR today that they are 'very open' to moving Feliz to the rotation if they aren't able to land a starting pitcher through free agency.
Offseason Needs: Left-Handed Reliever
Potential Position Battles: TBD
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26 comments:
Hmmm...They could use some more lefties in the bullpen, and there's only two on the outside looking in...
Not much on the free agent market either. I can see them using some of that minor league pitching depth to try and acquire a lefty reliever.
Ogando #2... but analysts seem to peg him as odd man out if/when they sign Darvish.
We'll have to wait and see.
He was one of the best starters in the league during the 1st half of 2011, which is why I project him so high in this rotation. He's the guy expected to move the bullpen because he proved in 2010 that he can be really good there, too. That can't be said for any of the others. Bullpen will be very good in the late innings with Adams, Ogando, and Nathan.
True.
Do you think Ogando has a future as an SP, or will this move make him a bullpen guy future Closer for his career? If you had to guess.
Lots of factors involved. Colby Lewis is a free agent after this season so he could move back. But Neil Ramirez and Martin Perez will eventually need a spot. Also, there is a chance they trade Harrison and leave Ogando in the rotation.
This club is still stacked. Pretty nice 5 starter if that in fact works out with Feliz.
I can still see a run at Prince in the works. Mix that in with Darvish and wow. They dwarf the Angels at this point and I love Haren and Weaver. This offense is going to continue to be more than any team can handle.
Go get em Rangers
Right. The Angels lineup is not as good as the Rangers' right now, in my opinion. If they can somehow get Prince, and sign Darvish, they are easily still the class of the AL West.
Where's Mike Olt?
The fact that the Rangers are going to give him a look at 1B means he needs to be on the team page at least I think.
Could get an invite to big league camp, as many top prospects do, but he doesn't really have a shot to jump from Hi-A to one of the best lineups in baseball. Giving him some time at 1B makes sense because he's blocked by Beltre, who is signed thru 2015, maybe 2016 if his option vests. Olt should start the season in AA and could possibly be considered for the 1B job in 2013.
I hear you, but it doesn't explain why he's not at least listed as on the outside looking in? I concede that he will start the year in AA, but remember he likely would have already made that step last year had he not been injured. He's also 23 already - so he's a more polished player than your average prospect - his glove is already MLB-ready. His performance in the AFL shows that he may not need much more seasoning in AA. The comparisons to Teixeira (also a 3B coming up) are not unfounded and I actually can't think of a better situation to break a rookie in than in a loaded lineup like Texas'.
I just don't think in Jan. you can say that the breakout star of the AFL doesn't have a shot to make it to the show this year. History in Texas alone says otherwise.
RE: OLT
Let's see if they sign Darvish first.
That is how the dominoes need to fall to pave a way for Olt. If TEX doesn't get darvish, likely they'll back up the Brinks truck for Fielder and then Olt is blocked at both corners...
Wash says Colby Lewis starts on Opening Day (http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/7476104/texas-rangers-sign-japanese-pitcher-yu-darvish-six-year-60-million-deal).. About Half way through the article. Great site btw. Keep up the great work!
Thanks for the link!
I could see Snyder making this club over Gonzalez. This team really doesn't need a backup SS on the bench - since Young is essentially a backup at the position. They could then have a 1B platoon Snyder vs. lefties and Moreland vs. righties.
I'd say it's more likely that Young/Napoli factor into the first base platoon vs LHP. Young's played just 1 game at SS since 2008. They kept a backup SS (Blanco/Quintanilla) on the roster for all of 2011. I'd expect them to do it again.
All righties in the bullpen, that makes little to no sense!
Mike Gonzalez is a still an option as a free agent. Another option would be to keep Ogando in the rotation and move Harrison to the 'pen. A lefty would help, but it's not absolutely necessary if all those guys pitch to their abilities. Nathan-Adams-Ogando-Uehara can be really tough in the late innings.
Jason, I wasn't attacking you on the righties in bullpen comment... just think that management should figure something out and get some (a) lefties in there!
GREAT job with this site!!!
No worries. I knew what you meant by it. Glad you like the site and thanks for commenting!
Have to assume the much rumored Uehara trade with the A's goes through and they sign Gonzalez. They have to get a lefthanded reliever in the pen. Uehara for Rosales makes too much sense IMO.
Or they sign Oswalt and make Matt Harrison the lefty in the 'pen.
Uehara for Rosales does make sense. The A's can move Sogard into the backup infield role. They also have a ton of OF depth but that's not really the Rangers' immediate need.
Moving Harrison to the pen after the year he had? I find that hard to swallow. I know Oswalt wants to go there but they simply don't have the need.
Agreed. Signing Mike Gonzalez is a better option. But if they've discussed the possibility of Oswalt, then they've probably discussed Harrison to the 'pen if he were to sign.
Over/under 450 ABs for Murphy? How often will he sit vs. lefties?
It really depends on if Borbon and/or Martin get hot and can play CF regularly, which would push Hamilton to LF. I think he'll definitely get his 350-400 AB's. Considering Cruz and Hamilton's injury history, I'll say he gets more than 450.
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