The Rangers entered the offseason focused primarily on improving the majors' worst pitching staff. But that help is going to have to come internally; club president Nolan Ryan said it is unlikely the team will bid on any big-time free agents. A solid pitching staff would make this team a contender, but the Rangers exited the season at least two starters shy of a full rotation and with a hole in the seventh- and eighth-inning roles in the bullpen.
BIGGEST NEEDS: Pitching. Pitching. Pitching. The Rangers think RHP Scott Feldman and LHP Matt Harrison are on the brink of establishing themselves as pitchers, but one problem this team has had in recent years is that the pitchers who end one season on the brink of establishing themselves never seem to follow it up the next year. Texas might try to trade from its deep farm system or from its wealth of catchers in order to upgrade the rotation. FREE AGENTS: OF/DH Milton Bradley, INF Ramon Vazquez, RHP Jason Jennings, RHP Jamey Wright.
What to do about Bradley, the team's cleanup hitter, is the biggest non-pitching related issue. Bradley is clamoring for a multi-year deal but still missed more than 30 games this season despite never going on the DL. Vazquez and Wright are likely gone; if Jennings returns, it will be on a minor league deal.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: C Gerald Laird, OF Marlon Byrd, LHP C.J. Wilson, RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP Kameron Loe.
It's very possible the Rangers will trade Laird for pitching. A number of teams have been interested in him. Byrd has emerged as a team leader and might get offered a multi-year deal to keep him past free agency (this is his last year of arbitration). Wilson and McCarthy didn't perform as hoped this season, but the Rangers remain hopeful they can both contribute over the long haul. Loe is the most likely non-tender candidate in the group.
IN LIMBO: 1B Hank Blalock, C Gerald Laird, C Jarrod Saltalamacchia.
The Rangers have an emerging starting catcher in Taylor Teagarden, which could make both Laird and Saltalmacchia expendable if a deal for pitching comes up.
MEDICAL WATCH:
LHP C.J. Wilson (elbow surgery), 2B Ian Kinsler (sports hernia surgery), LHP Kason Gabbard (elbow surgery), RHP Brandon McCarthy (strained finger ligament) are all expected to be ready without limitation for spring training.
RHP Joaquin Benoit (shoulder inflammation) was to be re-evaluated in November.
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (forearm inflammation) hoped to begin playing winter ball in November.
