The Texas Rangers have some prospects trying to burst into the major league club while their veterans only get older. Can they make it back to the postseason or will their advancing years and injury troubles put a stop to Texas?
The Texas Rangers and their bruised and battered band of baseball men shockingly went for it at the trade deadline, acquiring Cole Hamels from the Philadelphia Phillies, and won the AL West by two games over the Houston Astros and three games over the Los Angeles Angels.
They hope to do it again, but one can describe their squad in one of two ways. One way is a good mix of veterans and younger players raring to break out and run away with the division. Another way is a bad mix of over-the-hill players and young guys who haven't matured yet.
Despite having the Angels pay for Josh Hamilton to sit on Texas' disabled list to start the year, their payroll is still over $157 million, and the salary relief they get will come from key contributors Adrian Beltre, Ian Desmond, Colby Lewis, and Mitch Moreland. They're not in the crisis situation the Angels are in, because they do have some prospects to fill in the gaps if they can't spend the money to do it, but will they be enough as their stars hit the wrong end of their aging curves? We'll see.
2015 record: 88-74, won AL West (lost ALDS to Toronto)
2015 record vs. A's: 9-10
2016 Fangraphs Playoff Odds Standings: 79.9 wins (3rd in AL West), 22.5% chance of reaching the postseason
2016 Opening Day payroll: $157 million + major league minimums
2015 year-end payroll: $156 million
Starting pitching
While losing Yovani Gallardo drags things down for the Rangers, getting a full season of Cole Hamels will help bridge that gap. If they can get full seasons out of their oft-injured pitchers, that will go a long way too.
Starting pitching 2016 FanGraphs projections, 2015 results
AL ERA Rank
AL FIP Rank
A's
Rangers
A's
Rangers
2016 FanGraphs
9th (4.05)
11th (4.14)
8th (4.05)
11th (4.15)
2015
3rd (3.91)
11th (4.32)
6th (4.01)
13th (4.39)
Returners: Cole Hamels, Martin Perez, Derek Holland, Colby Lewis, Chi Chi Gonzalez, Nick Martinez, Anthony Ranaudo, Phil Klein
Additions: Yu Darvish (from Tommy John surgery), Jeremy Guthrie, A.J. Griffin
Subtractions: Yovani Gallardo, Wandy Rodriguez, Ross Detwiler, Matt Harrison
Injuries: Yu Darvish (TJS recovery, expected back in May)
Bullpen
The level of variance and the parity in the American League means there's not a huge difference between the top five and bottom five bullpens in the AL. The Rangers made a couple of modest free agent acquisitions, adding Tom Wilhelmsen for $3.1 million and Tony Barnette from the Yakult Swallows in Japan for two years and $3.5 million with a 2018 option.
The big question for the Rangers will be whether the bullpen will perform like their 2015 first half bullpen or their second half bullpen. Before the All-Star Break, the Rangers had a worse bullpen ERA in the American League at 4.38. Yes, even worse than the A's (4.32)! After the All-Star Break, the Texas bullpen settled down as they marched to the division title with the 6th best ERA after the break (3.79).
Relief pitching 2016 FanGraphs projections, 2015 results
AL ERA Rank
AL FIP Rank
A's
Rangers
A's
Rangers
2016 FanGraphs
6th (3.68)
12th (3.82)
4th (3.68)
11th (3.87)
2015
15th (4.63)
11th (4.12)
13th (4.36)
12th (4.26)
Returners: Shawn Tolleson, Sam Dyson, Jake Diekman, Keone Kela, Tanner Scheppers, Sam Freeman, Alex Claudio, Phil Klein, Luke Jackson, Andrew Faulkner, Jose Leclerc
Additions: Tom Wilhelmsen, Tony Barnette, Cesar Ramos
Subtractions: Spencer Patton, Neftali Feliz, Ross Ohlendorf, Roman Mendez
Injuries: Scheppers (knee, 60-day DL, expected back in July)
Position players
Despite not losing all that many key contributors, the projections are not fans of the Texas Rangers because so many of their best hitters are into their 30s. Prince Fielder will turn 32 this year, Shin-Soo Choo 34, Adrian Beltre 37.
They're also throwing Ian Desmond into left field for want of a better non-prospect option. Josh Hamilton will start the year on the disabled list. Top Rangers prospect Nomar Mazara will get some Triple-A time but may get a chance to push his way onto the major league roster. Joey Gallo also can play some left field.
Position player 2016 FanGraphs projections, 2015 results
AL WAR Rank
A's
Rangers
2016 FanGraphs
14th (16.6)
13th (16.8)
2015
13th (13.6)
5th (21.1)
Returners: 3B Adrian Beltre, SS Elvis Andrus, 2B Rougned Odor, OF Delino Deshields, OF Shin-Soo Choo, DH/1B Prince Fielder, 1B Mitch Moreland, C Robinson Chirinos, OF Josh Hamilton, C Chris Gimenez, 2B Hanser Alberto, 3B Joey Gallo, OF Drew Stubbs, C Bobby Wilson, OF Ryan Rua
Additions: LF/SS Ian Desmond, OF Justin Ruggiano
Subtractions: OF Leonys Martin, INF Adam Rosales, C Carlos Corporan, 1B Mike Napoli, OF Kyle Blanks
Injuries: Hamilton (knee, expected return in May)