5 things Texas Rangers want to see this spring to help them reach their 2020 goals
Spring training begins next week for the Texas Rangers, whose pitchers and catchers report to Arizona on Tuesday and hold their first workout Wednesday.
They will head to the Surprise Recreation Campus with an internal expectation that they will contend for the American League playoffs. That’s not necessarily a sentiment shared by the media and Vegas bookmakers.
The Rangers are aware that they have flaws, but believe they know what it would take to enhance their postseason chances. They are also open to adding to the roster before Opening Day on March 26.
“There’s still a number of free agents out there, some we have interest in,” general manager Jon Daniels said. “I think the trade market got a late start. It seems like there’s more discussion going on. We don’t have anything super active or close, but enough dialogue still ongoing that it wouldn’t shock me if we had some moves that affected our roster.”
Five days away from the official opening of spring training, here are five areas where the Rangers need to see things trend the right way.
Internal upgrades
The Rangers didn’t make an off-season splash with a position player, missing out on third baseman Anthony Rendon, so it is more incumbent upon the incumbents to do more than in 2019.
More is needed from second baseman Rougned Odor and shortstop Elvis Andrus. The Rangers need more at first base, whoever ends up with the bulk of the playing time there. The bullpen can’t slip early as it did last season.
First up
No one can stake a claim to this job entering camp.
Ronald Guzman is determined to win his spot on the team, manager Chris Woodward said, but the Rangers are going to give Greg Bird a chance to beat out Guzman.
Bird, signed to a minor-league contract Tuesday after four straight injury-plagued seasons with the New York Yankees, must show that he is healthy but also that he can be productive.
Center of attention
Danny Santana heads to spring training top the depth chart in center field, but the Rangers aren’t sure that’s his best role.
They liked moving him around last season, his breakthrough year in the majors, and belief that would benefit the 2020 Rangers.
The problem is they don’t have another candidate ready to play there every day. There are external options, but the Rangers will also look at Nick Solak, Scott Heineman and Leody Taveras this spring.
Gallo’s health
Unable to land an impact bat (so far), the success of the Rangers’ offense could depend on Joey Gallo’s ability to stay healthy.
He was an All-Star last season despite a June oblique injury, but didn’t play the final nine weeks after breaking the hamate bone in his right hand.
Gallo will play mostly right field in 2020, and the Rangers believe he didn’t lose the plate approach that made him an All-Star.
Bullpen pieces
Gone from the Opening Day bullpen in 2019 are Chris Martin, traded July 30 to the Atlanta Braves, and Shawn Kelley, a veteran whose option was not picked up. That duo held the bullpen together early last season as Jose Leclerc struggled as the closer.
Gone, too, is hard-throwing rookie Emmanuel Clase, who was sent to the Cleveland Indians in the Corey Kluber trade.
Leclerc is the top candidate to close again, though the Rangers like using him in tight spots in the middle innings. Rafael Montero was effective in the eighth inning last season, and veteran Jesse Chavez returns healthy. Brett Martin and newcomers Nick Goody and Joely Rodriguez are in line for Opening Day.
That leaves two spots. Two important spots.
