Rangers Announce Spring Training Roster
stadiumreport.bbn February 25th, 2021
Coming off a 90 win season, the
Rangers are viewed as the favorites for the division for some... as the blows kept on coming for the
Astros.
deGrom &
Paxton left via free agency, and ever reliable
Brad Peacock decided to hang up his cleats following the World Series win and some personal troubles. That leaves the door open for the following group:
Starting Pitching:
Albert Abreu(25, R),
Hans Crouse(22, R)
Seranthony Dominguez(26, R),
Michael Fulmer(27, R)
Ariel Jurado(25, R),
Dallas Keuchel(33, L),
Michael Matuella(26, R),
Casey Mize(23, R),
Justus Sheffield(24, L),
Cory Taylor(27, R),
Jake J. Thompson(26, R)
A deep group with a new sheriff on top with
Dallas Keuchel, two really reliable right-handers in
Fulmer and
Taylor, another lefty in
Justus Sheffield that started strong last year and then kinda fizzled out, and a ton of options for the #5, including two big prospects in
Hans Crouse and
Casey Mize... that are not even on the 40-man.
It is rumored that GM Max Gerlach has buyers remorse on the on the 8y/$32M contract extension for
Sheffield and then there is ...
Jake J. Thompson who is trying to make his return from surgery.
Right-Handed Relief Pitching:
Dellin Betances(32, R),
Victor R. Diaz(26, R),
Riley Ferrell(27, R),
Jorge Guzman(25, R),
Tommy Kahnle(31, R),
Luis Angel Medina(21, R),
Trevor Rosenthal(30, R),
Alex Speas(22, R)
Left-Handed Relief Pitching:
Brett Adcock(25, L),
Jake Brentz(26, L),
Alex Claudio(29, L)
Want to hear a manager that does not commit to a closer: Joe Girardi is one. "We are considering our options," he said. From a roster construction angle, that makes a lot of sense.
Despite having a bullpen that was miles better than their rotation, Max Gerlach blew up the group and brought in
Tommy Kahnle,
Delin Betances and former
Marlins closer
Jorge Guzman as well as young lefty
Brett Adcock... With that group, it would make a lot of sense to have a righty closer and go with two lefties in the pen.
Also,
Trevor Rosenthal returns from injury... unless he blows his arm again...
Catcher:
Danny Jansen(25, R),
Josh Morgan(25, R),
Matt Whatley(25, R)
Danny Jansen will be the main gig here as he is coming off a .259/.355/.349 year with 2.3WAR overall and
Matt Whatley is likely to be the defensive backup.
Infield:
1B
Bobby Bradley(24, L), 1B/OF
Willie Calhoun(26, L), 2B
Jorge Castellanos(24, R), 2B
Richie Palacios(23, L), IF
Chris Seise(22, R), 3B
Joey Gallo(27, L), SS
Thairo Estrada(24, R), SS
Royce Lewis(21, R)
Add
Steven Sensley as a 1B option to the mix. The big battle on this roster will be
Castellanos/
Seise/
Estrada for two infield spots with
Richie Palacios having an outside chance... way outside chance.
Bradley made a big step forward last year and
Royce Lewis is still only 21... and coming off a 4.5WAR season. This could be the best infield in the AL soon.
Outfield:
LF
Billy McKinney(27, L), CF
Cole Brannen(22, R), CF
Ricky Eusebio(27, R), RF
Daniel Johnson Jr.(24, L), RF
Nomar Mazara(25, L), RF/LF
Yanio Perez(25, R), OF/1B
Steven Sensley(25, L), RF
Justin Williams(25, L)
Take a big, hard-hitting outfield/DH mix... and add the bat of the #12 prospect in baseball to it.
Steven Sensley is expected to make the 25-man, and will get a lot of exposure this Spring Training and is expected to learn some left field in the process... to platoon with
Billy McKinney.
Nomar Mazara and
Justin Williams return as right fielder and DH, and center field will see the arrival of prospect
Cole Brannan as left-handed part in a center field platoon.