Rangers’ roster not official, but decisions largely made

The best day of spring training — the last day of spring training — has finally arrived.

A charter plane awaits to take the Texas Rangers back to Arlington after their Cactus League finale Wednesday and into the regular season following two exhibition games Friday and Saturday against the New York Mets.

Roster moves are still pending, but the decisions pretty much have been made by now. Only injuries can shuffle the plans, and the uncertainty surrounding two right-handed relievers will create a roster shakeup.

The last remaining position battle was settled Tuesday when Ryan Rua was named the starting left fielder by manager Jeff Banister. Outfielder Jake Smolinski, the runner-up to Rua, and infielder Adam Rosales have locked up bench jobs.

Rua’s upside offensively, with power and the ability to hit for average, showed up after a slow start. His glove needs work at what essentially is a new position, but he was the choice after entering camp as the favorite to win the job.

“That was the goal coming in,” Rua said. “The offensive part of the game is going well right now.”

But don’t expect any other announcements until Saturday afternoon. That’s the way the Rangers roll and have rolled the past handful of years, waiting until as late as possible to unveil the opening 25.

That’s fine. At this point, the players know they will either be on the roster or at Triple A. Disappointment awaits for some, but, as someone around here used to say, that’s the way baseball go.

One bench spot and three to five rotation spots have yet to be awarded, but were it not for Tanner Scheppers’ right ankle and Shawn Tolleson’s forearm, the Rangers would have their roster.

A reading of the tea leaves says that were Scheppers and Tolleson completely healthy, the bullpen would include them, Neftali Feliz, Sam Freeman, Kyuji Fujikawa, Jon Edwards and Keone Kela.

The thinking here is that Scheppers, whose MRI exam and visit with Dr. Keith Meister revealed no structural damage, will start the season on the disabled list but that Tolleson, who pitched Tuesday in a minor league game without any issues, will be in Oakland on Monday. So, swap out Scheppers with Roman Mendez.

Kela and Edwards have been among the stars of camp and have won jobs. Fujikawa hasn’t been nearly as dominant, but he is trending upward and the Rangers like his success against left-handed batters.

Freeman, the left-hander acquired Saturday from St. Louis, is better against righty hitters, and the Rangers don’t want to keep another lefty reliever. And for those wondering, no, the Rangers don’t miss Robbie Ross, the bullpen lefty who was traded away to Boston in the off-season.

As for the final bench spot, Banister said that it will go to either outfielder Delino DeShields Jr. or Carlos Peguero. Banister, though, has been saying for five days now, although not directly, that he wants DeShields, the Rule 5 draft pick.

The Rule 5 stigma is a factor both ways: The Rangers don’t want to lose the player, but they also would like to have more roster flexibility. DeShields’ wheels, though, have won the Rangers over.

Peguero would be a lefty hitter on the bench, but Banister said that backup catcher Carlos Corporan, a switch hitter, will be the bench lefty.

Official word, though, will be on hold until Saturday, in all likelihood. Left field and bench spots were cleared up Tuesday, the eve of the best day of spring training — the last day of spring training.

“I’m ready to get out of here and get going,” Rua said.

He didn’t know it, but he was speaking for, oh, everybody.

This story was originally published March 31, 2015 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Rangers’ roster not official, but decisions largely made."