MLB team reports: The Rangers alter their pitching, but it might not be enough; the Rays lean on new stars after Evan Longoria leaves.
The Texas Rangers regressed dramatically in 2017 and finished with a losing record (78-84) for the second time in nine seasons. While the foundation remains intact — Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Joey Gallo and Cole Hamels — the club faces challenges in 20
Catcher
The club expects Robinson Chirinos, 33, to pick up where he left off the second half of 2017 season as the primary catcher. When the team moved Jonathan Lucroy at the July 31 trade deadline, Chirinos blossomed, hitting .285 with five home runs and 13 RBI in 50 games after the All-Star break. A career .238 hitter, Chirinos, who has caught more than 80 games twice, will likely get 120 starts unless he struggles.
Depth chart: Chirinos, Juan Centeno, Brett Nicholas, *Jose Trevino
First base
After struggling to stay in the big leagues for two years, Gallo took a huge step forward. He solidified into a powerhitting everyday first baseman, pounding 41 home runs over 145 games. He struck out 196 times last season, but has shown improvement in drawing walks and being patient at the plate.
Depth chart: Gallo, Ryan Rua, *Ronald Guzman
Second base
Rougned Odor played in all 162 games last season, slugging 30 home runs, despite career-lows in batting average (.204), on-base percentage (.252) and slugging percentage (.397). But, a bigger concern is his increasing strikeout rate. He struck out once every 4.02 plate appearnces. Two years ago, Odor, who turns 24 in February, struck out once every 5.95 plate appearances.
Depth chart: Odor, Jurickson Profar
Third base
Beltre, who turns 39 in April, was limited by calf and hamstring injuries and played fewer than 100 games for the sec- ond time in his career. He still excels at the plate and on defense at the hot corner. The veteran batted .312 with 17 homers and 71 RBI over 94 games. He also boasted his highest slugging percentage (.532) and OPS (.915) since 2012. Entering his 21st season, Beltre may be seeing fewer starts at third in order to keep him healthy and in the lineup.
Depth chart: Beltre, Gallo
Shortstop
Andrus, 29, appears to be entering the prime of his career. He established career highs in almost every major offensive statistical category, including home runs (20), RBI (88), hits (191), runs (100), OPS (.808) and WAR (4.7). Andrus is signed through 2023 and owed about $74 million, but can opt out after the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The question is whether he will play out the contract before it ends. Depth chart: Andrus, Profar
Left field
Seven different players started at least eight games in left field in 2017. The Rangers have options again with Delino DeShields, Gallo, rookie Willie Calhoun, Rua or Nomar Mazara. The Rangers are open to give some of their young players an opportunity, and Calhoun, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline, is one of them. Calhoun, 23, appeared in team’s final 13 games and hit .265 in 34 at-bats.
Depth chart: Calhoun, Rua, DeShields, Mazara, Gallo, *Carlos Tocci
Center field
As it stands, DeShields, 25, is projected to be the starting center fielder on opening day. But the Rangers have shown interest in free agent Lorenzo Cain, according news media reports, a move that would force DeShields to left and change the outlook of the outfield. DeShields has continued to develop in center, and Cain would come at a price. In 2017, DeShields rebounded from a terrible 2016 and became part of the team’s future again. He increased his on-base percentage from .275 to .347 and stole a career-high 29 bases.
Depth chart: DeShields, Rua, *Drew Robinson, *Leody Taveras
Right field
Nomar Mazara, 22, who enters his third season, is an All-Star in the making and could see more time in left with Shin-Soo Choo as the regular designated hitter. He started 86 games in right and 43 in left last season. His slash line was remarkably similar from 2016 to 2017 — .253/.323/.422, but he drove in a careerhigh 101 runs and averaged an RBI every 5.5 at-bats compared to once every 8.1 in his rookie year. Depth chart: Mazara, Choo, Rua
Designated hitter
In his fourth season with Texas, Choo, 35, returned from an injury-riddled year to match his career high with 22 home runs. But it’s safe to say Choo, who enters the fifth year of a seven-year, $130 million deal, has underperformed his contract. He’s averaged 84 starts in the outfield and is expected to see that number drop. He's due $62 million over the next three seasons and likely will be used more as a designated hitter with Mazara developing.
Depth chart: Choo, Beltre, Gallo, Mazara, Calhoun, *Yanio Perez
Rotation
In an offseason that began with two starters under contract — Cole Hamels and Martin Perez — the Rangers were forced to hit the market. They added Doug Fister and Mike Minor via free agency and Matt Moore via trade, all three starters past their prime. Fister, 33, is a reliable option with a 3.80 career ERA. Minor, the onetime starter with the Atlanta Braves, then a converted reliever with the Kansas City Royals in 2017, will attempt to transition back into a starting role. With Moore, once an All-Star, they are taking a chance. But with the new look, the club will try to at least match a staff that finished third in the AL in quality starts (79) and innings pitched (9181⁄ 3) in 2017. Depth chart: LHP Hamels, LHP Perez, LHP Moore, LHP Minor, RHP Fister, RHP Matt Bush, *LHP Yohander Mendez, *RHP Ariel Jurado, *LHP Cole Ragans
Bullpen
The Rangers were terrible at closing out games in 2017. The bullpen combined to go 22-25 with a 4.76 ERA — secondworst in the AL and third-worst in the majors — and blew 21 of 50 save opportunities. Alex Claudio had the most success as a closer, converting 11 out of 15 opportunities, but was not much of an improvement over Matt Bush or Sam Dyson, who each held the role at one time. While Claudio may be the frontrunner, Bush and Keone Kela will compete for the job. A deciding factor could be how the club uses Bush. They may try to convert him into a starter, though with the additions to the staff, he may be more suitable in the bullpen.
Depth chart: LHP Claudio, RHP Bush, RHP Kela, LHP Jake Diekman, RHP Jose Leclerc, RHP Tony Barnette, RHP Chris Martin, RHP Ricardo Rodriguez