Jurickson Profar (left) was the latest Rangers prospect to be sent down to the minor leagues, joining Mike Olt. Profar and Olt were both considered as the front-runners for bench spots on the major league team to start the season, but both will get a chance to play everyday in Triple-A instead of seeing sporadic playing time in Arlington. I personally think the move is a great one, giving both guys a chance to see more at-bats and more defensive innings at different positions.
The moves to send Profar and Olt to the minors solidified the spots of Jeff Baker and Leury Garcia on the major league roster to open the season. Garcia has been with the Rangers each Spring Training since 2010, but has not seen game time in the major leagues. Garcia hit just .222 during Cactus League play in 2013, but defensively he has done enough to earn one of the utility infield roles.
Jeff Baker has been talked about before on this blog, but he is worth talking about again. Baker will be able to play any spot on the infield if needed, with the exception of shortstop. Baker led the Rangers with 22 hits (through Tuesday) in Cactus League action, good enough for a .423 batting average and driving in seven runs. Baker will be entering his ninth major league season, seeing time with the Rockies, Cubs, Tigers and Braves.
So the Rangers infield situation looks like this:
1B - Mitch Moreland
2B - Ian Kinsler
3B - Adrian Beltre
SS - Elvis Andrus
Bench - Jeff Baker
Bench - Leury Garcia
The outfield competition was also fierce during Spring Training, with three guys competing for one starting spot and the fourth and fifth outfield jobs. David Murphy and Nelson Cruz will be the everyday starters in left field and right field respectively, and it appears that Craig Gentry and Leonys Martin will platoon in center field to open the season. Ultimately if one of those two would take the job and run with it, the team would be better off, but I do not feel that you can go wrong with either player.
Gentry hit .345 this spring (through Tuesday) with two home runs and six stolen bases, which is one of the biggest qualities he brings to the team. Gentry had 19 hits this spring, the same as Leonys Martin. Martin hit .339 during Cactus League play, but struck out 11 times in 56 at-bats. Martin has the greater upside, and over time will be the most consistent player of the two. Look for Martin to take job full-time at some point during 2013. Personally, I am a Gentry guy, so I hope he makes the most of the opportunities he does receive.
The question for the Rangers really is what will happen to Julio Borbon. Borbon is out of minor league options, so the Rangers will have to either keep him on the Opening Day roster, release him outright or trade him to another team. The odds are that Texas will trade him, but that is yet to be seen. Ron Washington has said the Rangers may keep an extra bat until they need their fifth starter, so Borbon could benefit from that. Borbon hit .333 this spring, and the interest will be high for the 27-year old speedster.
So the Rangers outfield situation looks like this:
LF - David Murphy
CF - Leonys Martin (vs. RHP)
CF - Craig Gentry (vs. LHP)
RF - Nelson Cruz
Bench - Julio Borbon (for now)
Catching will be a strong suit for the Rangers in 2013, with new starting backstop A.J. Pierzynski taking over for Mike Napoli. Pierzynski is a two-time All-Star who hit 27 home runs (career high) and drove in 77 runs for the White Sox in 2012. Pierzynski has been a part of a World Series champion in Chicago in 2005, and the pitchers will learn to love his competitiveness and knowledge of the game. Geovany Soto, who started 2012 as the starting catcher for Chicago's other team, will spell Pierzynski a couple of times each week.
Lance Berkman will be the designated hitter on most nights for the Rangers, and he can fill in for Moreland at first from time to time. Berkman is hoping to bounce back to his 2011 form, when he was one of the key pieces of the Cardinals team that beat Texas in the World Series.
With Borbon on the roster to open the season, which may or may not happen, the Rangers will have 14 position players to open the season and 11 pitchers.
The starting rotation is finally set for the Rangers as well, with the fifth spot in the rotation going to rookie Nick Tepesch. Tepesch went 11-6 in 26 starts in the minor leagues in 2012, finishing with a 3.67 ERA. Tepesch beat out Randy Wells and Robbie Ross for the final spot in the rotation.
The Rangers starting rotation looks like this:
1 - Matt Harrison, LHP
2 - Yu Darvish, RHP
3 - Derek Holland, LHP
4 - Alexi Ogando, RHP
5 - Nick Tepesch, RHP
Tepesch will not be needed until the second week of the season, so to start the year he will not be on the roster. The Rangers will carry seven relief pitchers until that time, then option either the seventh arm or the extra position player down to the minors.
The seven guys in the pen should include: Joe Nathan (closer), Jason Frasor, Robbie Ross, Derek Lowe and Michael Kirkman. The last two spots are still to be decided, as there are three guys competing for two spots. Josh Lindblom, who was acquired in the Michael Young deal with Philadelphia, is being challenged by right-handed pitcher Tanner Scheppers and left-handed pitcher Joe Ortiz. My gut says Lindblom and Ortiz will earn the final two spots, with Scheppers headed to the minors.
This Rangers roster is not as power-packed as in the past couple of years, but is still one to be feared. The starting pitchers will be strong through Ogando, and Tepesch has tons of potential and is a guy I am excited about seeing on the mound. If the bullpen can finish games, the Rangers are going to win the American League West in 2013.
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