Texas Rangers: How the best case scenario is unfolding

Spring training has gone better than expected for the Texas Rangers and we may be witnessing the best case scenario.

Realistically speaking, this is about as good as any of could have hoped for this season. The Texas Rangers took a massive gamble when they loaded up their rotation with retreads.

With only Mike Minor as a carryover starting pitcher, the Texas Rangers had the nearly impossible task of building a starting rotation with limited funds and/or prospects at their disposal. Also working against Jon Daniels and the Rangers is the undeniable rebuilding position they’re in.

Free agents are all well aware Texas is pretty far from being a real contender. The franchise is in the process of clearing some bad contracts, developing young players, and acquiring high-level prospects. This isn’t a team established players join if they have legitimate options elsewhere.

To fill the rotation the Texas Rangers had to get creative and take some big swings at some very suspect players. Guys like Edinson Volquez, Drew Smyly, and Shelby Miller were all rehabbing projects the Rangers hoped would pan out. And if we’re being honest, we’d consider ourselves lucky if just one of those guys worked out this season.

But here we are at the tail end of spring training and it looks like all three are working out. Together with Lance Lynn (probably the only safe free agent signing they made) and Mike Minor, the Texas Rangers are looking their best case scenario right in the face.

Not only are all of Texas’ aged arms healthy and on track to make the rotation, but they’re looking pretty good as well. Clearly this isn’t going to be an playoff caliber rotation, but they look better collectively than any of us could have imagined.

As Evan Grant from the Dallas Morning News pointed out, the five expected starters are averaging 9.17 strikeouts per nine innings right now. Velocity is up across the board and with the exception of Shelby Miller, their command looks to be on track as well.

It’s important to point out, just because it looks nice today doesn’t mean it always will. There are very few options behind these five starters. If one of them has any kind of set back or injury, it’s going to be tricky to find their replacement.

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Jason Hammel has had a nice spring training and if he makes the roster as a long reliever, he could easily be a fill-in should one of these starters need to  spend time on the DL. But Hammel is no guarantee to make the roster and he may be playing with another ball club next month. And don’t even talk about the prospects right now (topic for another day). With Smyly, Volquez, and Miller all fresh off Tommy John surgery, it’s likely all will be on their own strict pitch counts.

Being efficient pitchers right out of the gate is a must or we could see this bullpen tiring out early.

When we entered Spring Training the starting rotation was one of the most concerning, if not THE most concerning parts of the roster. And with all the fragile pieces being brought in, it seemed unlikely the season-starting rotation would look anything like they planned. But here we are. And the Texas Rangers have seemingly defied the odds with their papier mache rotation.

No, the Texas Rangers aren’t suddenly a contender this season, but we must still acknowledge the difficult situation they’re overcoming with the pieces they’ve brought in. Realistically speaking, this is a best case scenario for the starting rotation. Let’s just hope it can continue.

• Published on 03/17/2019 at 12:38 PM
• Last updated at 03/17/2019 at 12:38 PM