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 in order to upgrade the rotation. ARRIVAL: RHP Derrick Turnbow (minor league free agent from Brewers).
DEPARTURES: C Gerald Laird (traded to Tigers), INF Ramon Vazquez (free agent, signed with Pirates), RHP Kameron Loe (signed with Japanese team).
FREE AGENTS: OF/DH Milton Bradley, 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. Wright is likely gone. If Jennings returns, it would be on a minor league deal.
ARBITRATION-ELIGIBLE: OF Marlon Byrd, LHP C.J. Wilson, RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP Frank Francisco.
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. Francisco might wind up as the closer in 2009.
IN LIMBO: 1B Hank Blalock is 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 during the offseason.
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia (forearm inflammation) was playing well in the Dominican Republic in December.
