[Griever20]

Rangers Announce Spring Training Roster
stadiumreport.bbn

February 20th, 2019

Starting Pitching:
Albert Abreu(23, R), Clayton Blackburn(26, R), Tom Eshelman(24, R), Ariel Jurado(23, R), David Paulino(25, R), Jake J. Thompson(24, R), Tyler Wagner(28, R)

A lot of youth, not a lot of experience, and potentially not a lot of innings. That can be a good thing, that can be a bad thing. Also, they lack a left-hander. Via GM Max Gerlach: "I looked for talent, not for handiness."

Relief Pitching:
R.J. Alvarez(27, R), Tony Barnette(35, R), Brady M. Feigl(28, L), Riley Ferrell(25, R), Ian Gibaut(25, R), Luke Hochevar(35, R), Keone Kela(25, R), Jose Leclerc(25, R), Aaron Loup(31, L), Gerson Moreno(23, R), Adrian Sampson(27, R), Tony Zych(28, R), CL Alex Claudio(27, L)

A solid group with a lefty closer Alex Claudio, two strong righties in Keone Kela and possibly Riley Ferrell, and a veteran lefty in Aaron Loup. The former Jays pitcher signed a minor league deal with a $1.4M Major League option just before spring training. Solid group, and some options for a trade deadline deal.

Catcher:
Josh Morgan(23, R), Matt Whatley(23, R), Matt Wieters(32, S)

Morgan and Whatley are prospects with some upside, and Wieters is the everyday guy that will get to teach one of them. My bet: Wieters and Morgan.

Infield:
1B Bobby Bradley(22, L), 2B Brandon Lowe(24, L), 2B Rougned Odor(25, L), 3B Joey Gallo(25, L), SS Thairo Estrada(22, R), SS Royce Lewis(19, R)

Too many left-handed hitters, the biggest problem for this Rangers team, which is where Royce Lewis could become a big factor. IF he and Bradley become major stars, an infield of Bradley, Odor, Gallo and Lewis could be the next big thing in 2-3 years. But, they are a bit low on MLB level backups here.

Outfield:
LF Willie Calhoun(24, L), LF Billy McKinney(24, L), CF Julio Pablo Martinez(22, L), CF Carlos Tocci(23, R), RF Daniel Johnson Jr.(23, L), Nomar Mazara(23, L), Yanio Perez(23, R), Justin Williams(23, L)

With Rule V draftee Billy McKinney in the mix, it will be a hard job to trim down this outfield to a group of four to five, and lots of new faces will start down in AAA. When healthy, Mazara should be a lock for right field, but every other position is open for battle. One of them could end up as everyday DH.

Overall, the fans are... split between optimism... and sadness. "We are paying $80M for players that aren't even playing," remarked diehard Rangers fan Bryan from Detroit. "We could've gotten three years of Bryce Harper, who is now in Atlanta or three years of newest Cardinals ace Clayton Kershaw for that," he remarked in the Rangers very own fan forum.

However, Debbi from Houston wrote that "this is the future. No reason to dream of the old days with Beltre, Hamels and co. Yes, they won 90+ games and got us into the playoffs, but the team needs to bring fresh talent in to pair it with our young players that are already there. Gerlach is doin' the right thing."

At the end of the day, the results of the next three to five years will decide.