DEPARTURES: C Gerald Laird (traded to Tigers), INF Ramon Vazquez (free agent, signed with Pirates), RHP Kameron Loe (signed with Japanese team), OF/DH Milton Bradley (free agent, signed with Cubs), RHP Jamey Wright (free agent, signed minor league deal with Royals).

SPRING FOCUS: As usual, the Rangers have questions throughout the pitching staff, and new pitching coach Mike Maddux will be a central figure in trying to make an epic turnaround. The Rangers are also expected to stress fielding improvement. For a team run by a fielding expert (manager Ron Washington), they have been exceptionally sloppy the last two seasons. The transition of SS Michael Young to third base will be monitored all spring, as will the growth of SS Elvis Andrus.

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Kevin Millwood

2. RHP Vicente Padilla

3. RHP Scott Feldman

4. LHP Matt Harrison

5. RHP Brandon McCarthy

The Rangers need veterans Millwood and Padilla to rebound after consecutive seasons in which they both failed to reach 180 innings. Both can be free agents at the end of the season.

After that there are more questions. Feldman came out of nowhere to be the team's most reliable starter last season, but will his 151 innings of work in 2008 take a toll on him in 2009? Harrison has only three months of major league experience. And McCarthy has been either hurt or ineffective in his first two seasons in Texas. If he stumbles in the spring, it could open the door for one of the Rangers' top prospects, RHP Neftali Feliz or LHP Derek Holland, to make a bid for the rotation.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Frank Francisco (closer)

LHP C.J. Wilson

LHP Eddie Guardado

RHP Derrick Turnbow

RHP Warner Madrigal

RHP Josh Rupe

RHP Dustin Nippert

With an unproven rotation and a home park that it is hitter friendly, the Rangers must find a couple of capable long relievers. RHP Joaquin Benoit, who was among the AL's most durable long men in 2006-07, is out for at least the first half of the season while recovering from rotator cuff surgery.

The closer situation is also unsettled, but LHP C.J. Wilson (24 saves) and RHP Frank Francisco (five saves) both pitched in the role last year with some success. Francisco was perfect after taking over the role for the final five weeks of the season; he should have the inside track.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

2. 3B Michael Young

3. CF Josh Hamilton

4. RF Nelson Cruz

5. DH Hank Blalock

6. LF Marlon Byrd

7. 1B Chris Davis

8. C Jarrod Saltalamacchia

9. SS Elvis Andrus

Manager Ron Washington would probably prefer the experience of Blalock in the cleanup spot, but that would give the Rangers consecutive left-handed hitters in the middle of the order. The other option would be to go with Cruz, who had a monster September but has otherwise been a major league disappointment.

The Rangers might end up with a platoon in left field with OF David Murphy facing right-handed pitchers and Byrd facing lefties.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C Taylor Teagarden

OF David Murphy

C/1B/DH Max Ramirez

INF Omar Vizquel

Teagarden and Saltalamacchia could end up splitting time fairly evenly behind the plate, but if Ramirez makes the team, it will be as a DH and third-string catcher. If SS Elvis Andrus fails on a grand scale, it might open the door for Vizquel to move into the starting lineup and give INFs Joaquin Arias, Travis Metcalf or German Duran a shot to make the team as a backup.

TOP ROOKIES: The Rangers are counting on 20-year-old SS Elvis Andrus, acquired from Atlanta in the 2007 Mark Teixeira trade, to jump from Class AA to the majors. Andrus' minor league splits are remarkably similar to those of Edgar Renteria at the same age. In all likelihood, RHP Neftali Feliz and LHP Derek Holland, the organization's top two prospects, won't open the season in the rotation, but they could put themselves in position to be early season callups if a starter fails.

MEDICAL WATCH:

OF Marlon Byrd (microfracture knee surgery) has been limited in spring training.

LHP C.J. Wilson (left index finger) was injured when he tried to catch a ball barehanded. The extent of the injury wasn't immediately known.

2B Ian Kinsler (sports hernia surgery) is expected to be ready without limitation for spring training.

LHP Kason Gabbard (elbow surgery) is expected to be ready without limitation for spring training.

RHP Brandon McCarthy (right shoulder tightness) was slowed early in spring training.

RHP Joaquin Benoit (shoulder surgery in January 2009) will miss at least half of the season.

RHP Eric Hurley (rotator cuff surgery in January) is out for the year.

OF Josh Hamilton (left Achilles tendon strain) left the March 1 game but said the ailment was minor.