As Texas Rangers pursue Anthony Rendon, manager Chris Woodward says others must improve
Let’s say the Texas Rangers sign Anthony Rendon to play third base, either this week at the winter meetings or in the days and weeks that follow.
The position would be set for five, six or seven years. The Rangers would be getting a solid defender and a terrific hitter who hits for power, hits for average and for each of the past three seasons has struck out fewer than 100 times.
The Rangers just got better.
Rendon, though, gets to occupy only one spot in the batting order and play only one position. He can only do so much to make the Rangers better.
In other words, some key players on the roster need to start carrying more of the load whether or not Rendon is added.
They know who they are because the Rangers have told them.
“I definitely don’t want to create a sense of entitlement along any — especially for younger guys,” manager Chris Woodward said. “I want our guys to feel like they need to earn every at-bat they get. It’s important for our team to understand we need to compete every pitch of every game.”
Andrus, Odor on the list
A focus last season, Woodward’s first, was putting new information and changes in place. As the season moved along, there was an expectation that players needed to be moving along with the changes.
Those who weren’t heard about it.
If performance wasn’t telling enough, the Rangers mentioned by name the players who must improve. It might have looked like they were calling out players, including veteran shortstop Elvis Andrus, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t true.
General manager Jon Daniels said Andrus will have some competition in spring training. Daniels said second baseman Rougned Odor’s big contract ensures a spot on the roster but not necessarily in the starting lineup.
Woodward told right fielder Nomar Mazara to make adjustments or risk being demoted to Triple A Nashville. First baseman Ronald Guzman was sent to Nashville, and so was center fielder Delino DeShields.
The catchers, Jeff Mathis and Jose Trevino, need to be better offensively.
It’s not all on the hitters. A number of pitchers must get better.
“You’re not always going to go 4 for 4, and we’re going to be able to support guys through failure,” Woodward said. “But at the same time, I just need to know that they’re constantly doing the things they need to do to prepare to be successful every day.”
Woodward seeing results
The good news, Woodward said, is he started seeing those things.
The Rangers were impressed by Odor’s final month, albeit against some September call-ups he should find success. However, he responded to the challenge the Rangers placed before him.
“Guys really understood my expectations, our staff’s expectations,” Woodward said. “We supported a lot of guys through failures. I think at the end they appreciated it. They knew we cared. But at the same time, it is a performance-based industry. They have to produce.
“Sometimes the production doesn’t always show up in the stat line. It shows up in their preparation and some of their less notable stats that we keep track of that show progress as opposed to just looking at their OPS.”
The Rangers have added three free agents this off-season, right-handed starters Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles, and left-handed reliever Joely Rodriguez. They insist they will add a third baseman, be it Rendon or another free agent or via a trade.
Daniels said on Monday the Rangers are looking at catchers and attempting to unload a lefty-hitting corner outfielder. The general assumption is they are trying to move Mazara, who has two years of club control and could be a more motivated player as he approaches free agency.
No matter which players are on the roster once spring training rolls around, many of them are going to have to earn their regular-season playing time.
“I hope everybody comes in ready to go,” Woodward said. “I look forward to it, and I hope it brings out the best in all of our guys. I don’t want to put anybody’s back against the wall, but at the same time, they need to earn their spots.”
