The Mystery of the Rangers’ Offseason

            The Rangers have certainly had an interesting offseason, to put it lightly. To recap, here is what the Rangers have (and haven’t) done this offseason:

Done Deals:

            Josh Hamilton: Signed with Angels, 5yrs/ $125 MM

            Mike Napoli: Signed with Red Sox, 1yr/ $5MM ($8MM in incentives)

            Mike Adams: Signed with Phillies, 2yrs/ $8MM

            Ryan Dempster: Signed with Red Sox, 2yrs/ $26MM

            Lance Berkman: Signed with Rangers, 1yr/ $11MM

            Joakim Soria: Signed with Rangers, 2yrs/ $8MM

What Could Have Been:

            Justin Upton: Traded to Braves

            Zack Greinke: Signed with Dodgers (6yrs/ $147MM)

            R.A. Dickey: Traded to Blue Jays

Rumours:

            Michael Bourn: Unsigned (Free Agent)

            Kyle Lohse: Unsigned (Free Agent)

            Giancarlo Stanton: Miami Marlins OF (on trade block)

            David Price: Tampa Bay Rays SP (on trade block)

            Nelson Cruz: Potentially suspended for PED use

            As you can see, the Rangers have lost far more than they have gained this off-season both in terms of players and talent. Texas has not only lost out on some key pieces that really could have made them a dangerous team (Zack Greinke, Justin Upton) but have also lost some of their core pieces from their playoff run over the last 3 years (Mike Napoli, Josh Hamilton). That kind of combination sets up exactly the type of situation that the rangers are in right now: a team with such high hopes entering the off-season, but are now in February and some glaring holes on the roster while also getting weaker in many areas.

            I could try to give you an explanation as to why the Rangers have essentially flopped and left the door open for the Angels, Athletics and maybe even the Mariners to overtake in the tough division that is the AL West, but I would be making as good of a guess as you. The reason why this is such a head-scratching off-season to so many is because of where the Rangers were as a franchise. Texas had just made the playoffs for the third straight year (having gone to the World Series in 2010 and 2011) had money to spend and prospects to deal to make their team a tru powerhouse and favorites to win it all.

            The Rangers had (and still does have) plenty enough money to not only retain their own players that had expiring contracts, and then some; but what do they decide to do? Let their free agents walk (Napoli, Hamilton) and watch others (Greinke) that could have significantly improved their roster pass by and move on to greener pastures.

            Texas had (and still do have) plenty of prospects to deal for that ace that they so desperately need (Price, Dickey) or that big bat to replace Hamilton or support him and Beltre had Hamilton have come back; but what do they decide to do? Keep all of their prospects and not add any Major League pieces while letting rumoured targets find other homes (Dickey, Blue Jays).

            Finally, the Rangers had (and still have somewhat) a great club if they were able to retain the likes of Napoli, Adams, and Hamilton, but with having not done anything but incremental moves like signing some stability for the bullpen (Soria) or a questionable lineup piece (Berkman), they have set themselves up for a regression in 2013. Also, the improvements from the other teams around them haven’t helped their chances either.

            The Texas Rangers off-season is one that causes any baseball fan, but especially Rangers fans, to wonder what could have been this off-season had everything gone according to planned. However, as of today, February 2, 2013, the Rangers look like a team in shambles, but also a team with so much hope and a bright future. They just have to find out what their identity is moving forward.

Nicholas Bell