The Rangers Report

Team Record As Of September 27, 2007

75-84, Tied For 3rd, American League West

Offseason Improvement Needed

The more I look at this team, the more I feel that had things broken differently, maybe the Rangers would be in contention, or at least at .500, than they are now.

The rotation is more or less settled, with the rotation likely going to consist of Kevin Millwood, Brandon McCarthy, Vicente Padilla, Kason Gabbard and Edinson Volquez, with Kameron Loe functioning as the long man and emergency starter.  All in all, it's not a bad rotation to hang your hat on, and it should have some improvement as the kids get older and more experienced.

The middle of the infield looks set, with Young and Kinsler anchoring the middle, and Hank should be better next year now that he's gotten his medical issues out of the way.  Salty should be an above average catcher and maybe the first superstar catcher the Rangers have had since Pudge was allowed to leave.

It also appears that Frank Catalonotto will be our starting left fielder next year, not a bad thing as long as you're willing to accept some occasional errors and his problems with Lefties.  And I think Murphy can be a average centerfielder/right fielder, depending on where you're willing to put him.

That leaves, really, only a certain amount of holes to fill.

First Base - Depending on who you ask, the Rangers are either going to re-sign Wiffy Wilkerson to play first for a year, play Cat there full time or try and sign a stopgap gloveman, like Sean Casey.  As for myself, I'd immediately call up the Cincinatti Reds and ask them if I could convince Adam Dunn to accept a trade if his option is exercised.  I'd trade them a average prospect in a second if I could get him, so long as I agreed to pay for the option.  Dunn could easily be a American League Version of Ryan Howard if brought over.

Centerfield/Right Field - As I said, the Rangers could use David Murphy in either spot, so long as you don't expect a whole lot.  I'd make a big push for Andruw Jones on a one year deal, to allow some of the kids on the farm to develop, or chase after Mike Cameron for three years.  But I won't, WON'T, sign Torii Hunter to a five year deal.  That just smells like disaster.

Really, however you slice it, the Rangers need help.  However, with the trade market brewing up nicely, it's possible that the Rangers can address their needs if they're willing to take a chance on dealing away some of their fringy prospects (Mendoza, Galarraga) or some of their arms that they may not need anymore (Tejeda).  All in all, it should make for an interesting winter.

Other Notes

Scott Feldman will evidentlly be headed to the AFL this winter instead of Josh Rupe, who still is hurt.   I still love Rupe's arm, but this is getting crazy.

Sammy Sosa wants to come back for another year.  To that, I say hell no.

The Rangers are getting a lot of love on several of Baseball America's Minor League Previews.  Guys that have been profiled are:

• Engle Beltre, Wilmer Font, Cristian Santana (Arizona)
• Tommy Hunter, Jacob Brigham, Fabio Castillo (Northwestern)

I wonder how the list would have looked had Michael Main been eligible for either list, but he spent so little time in both leagues that he's just a floating prospect right now. 

Update:  It appears that both Michael Main and Neftali Feliz would have made the Northwestern League list had they been eligible, with Main being the Number One Overall Prospect.  Woot!