Rangers off season in review

Major League Signings:
Arthur Rhodes, RP (1-year, $3.9 million + option year)
Brandon Webb, SP (1-year, $3 million + incentives)
Yorvit Torrealba, C (2-year, $6.25 million)
Adrian Beltre, 3B (5-year, $80 million + option year)

Minor League Signings:
Seth McClung, RP
Dave Bush, SP
Brian Barden, 2B
Endy Chavez, OF
Yhency Brazoban, RP
Zach Jackson, SP
Omar Quintanilla, UTL
Barret Loux, SP ($312K)
Kevin Cash, C

International Signings
Yoshinori Tateyama, RP (1-year + 2 option years)
Hirotoshi Onaka, OF (minor league contract)
Rougned Odor, SS ($450K, Venezuela)
Alberto Triunfel, SS ($300K, Dominican Republic)


Trades and Claims:
Mike Napoli, C/1B (acquired from Toronto)
Ryan Kelly, RHP (acquired from Oakland, assigned to Hickory)
Mason Tobin, RHP (acquired from Chicago Cubs)


Notable Losses:
Cliff Lee, SP (signed w/ Philadelphia)
Vladimir Guerrero, DH (signed w/ Baltimore)
Frank Francisco , RP (traded to Toronto)
Bengie Molina, C (free agency)
Jeff Francoeur, OF (signed w/ Kansas City)
Max Ramirez, C (designated for assignment)
Clay Rapada, RP (designated for assignment, signed by Baltimore)
Brandon McCarthy (signed w/ Oakland)
Guillermo Moscoso (traded to Oakland)
Dustin Nippert (free agency)
Warner Madrigal (signed w/ New York Yankees)
Cristian Guzman (free agency)
Rich Harden (signed w/ Oakland)
Jorge Cantu (signed w/San Diego)
Nathan Haynes (outright release)
Doug Mathis, SP (signed w/ Cleveland)
Willie Eyre, RP (signed w/ Oakland)

Summary: After making their first ever World Series appearance, Texas now goes from being the hunter to the hunted. However, despite the losses of All-Stars Cliff Lee and Vladimir Guerrero, and reliever Frank Francisco, the Rangers will begin 2011 an improved roster over what they had Opening Day 2010.

'Depth' seems to be the key word for this off season as Texas has made several moves to give themselves greater flexibility with both their lineup and their pitching staff. The acquisition of multi-dimensional player Mike Napoli (C/1B/DH) and the free agent signing of All-Star 3B Adrian Beltre allows Texas to make All-Star (and current unhappy camper) Michael Young their primary DH and 'Super-Sub' player. Assuming Young isn't traded (which has gone from being imminent to unlikely) Texas is hoping to give him time at every position around the infield. Underrated player Andres Blanco adds to the depth as he not only plays 2B & SS, but spent some time at both Catcher and OF during Winter League play.

Also of note is the loss of hitting instructor Clint Hurdle, who helped steer the offense to a league leading .276 batting average. Hurdle left after just one season to fill the vacant managerial job in Pittsburgh. He was replaced by former big leaguer Thad Bosley. Despite the change, Texas is going to hit the ball, that's a given. There's far too much talent on the roster to expect otherwise. What is in question is what the change in philosophy, if any, will mean for the offense overall.

Cliff Lee going back to Philadelphia definitely hurt the Rangers rotation but it was far from a surprise. Texas wasted no time in at least trying to rebuild their rotation, signing former NL Cy Young winner Brandon Webb. Webb is an unknown quantity, coming off two years of arm troubles but Texas is hopeful a 1-year deal coupled with a healthy arm will produce a good year from the former ace. The Rangers also signed righty Dave Bush to a minor league deal with the belief that he can provide some back of the rotation depth should young guys like Derek Holland and Michael Kirkman come up short.

Texas is also counting on yet another 40-year old reliever to stabilize their bullpen. Last season, old man Darren Oliver had a nice season, posting a 2.48 ERA in 64 appearances. However, Oliver wore down as the season went on and was largely ineffective throughout most of the playoffs. The signing of fellow 40+ left-hander Arthur Rhodes is expected to take some of the pressure off Oliver and keep him fresh for the entire season. Rhodes, who made the All-Star team last season for the Reds, is a 19-year veteran and has extensive playoff experience. Texas also added sidewinding Japanese pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama and traded for a live arm in Mason Tobin. Both pitchers are expected to at least make a push for a spot in the bullpen.

Lastly, Texas made a couple of moves with an eye towards the future, signing former 1st round draft pick Barrett Loux along with a pair of athletic shortstops, Rougned Odor and Alberto Triunfel. Pitching, defense and speed continue to be the focus not only at the Major League level, but in the Minor League and Developmental levels as well.

Most people will point to the loss of Cliff Lee as something that pushes Texas out of the upper echelon in the AL, but this sort of thinking is short-sighted and exactly the sort of thing the Rangers can use to make yet another run to the World Series. Losing Lee hurts. He was unquestionably 'the man' in the playoffs, and without him Texas never would have made it to the World Series. However, Texas was far was inept prior to Lee's arrival. Fact is, Texas had a better regular season record without Lee (50-36), than with him (40-36). Moving forward, there's no reason to believe 2010 breakout stars C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis can't continue to make strides and carry the rotation, at least until Jon Daniels and Co. are able to make a deal for another arm. If they pitch as expected, and if players like Tommy Hunter can continue to grow, the Rangers should once again find themselves in the hunt for another AL West title with an eye towards another run at the World Series.

Ramirez & Rapada Designated for Assignment

Today, Arthur Rhodes and Brandon Webb signed their one-year contracts with the Rangers, finalizing their respective deals.

To make room for Rhodes and Webb on the 40-man roster, Texas designated catcher Max Ramirez and relief pitcher Clay Rapada for assignment. The Rangers now have have 10 days to trade, release, or outright Ramirez and Rapada to the minors.

Max Ramirez is a .217 hitter over parts of two seasons in Texas but hit .286 for AAA-Oklahoma City in 2010. Once highly thought of within the Rangers Organization, Ramirez's lack on consistency at the plate and less-than-marginal arm behind the plate have dropped him below other internal catching prospects like Jose Felix and Taylor Teagarden.

Rapada, a September call-up, recorded 3 Holds over the last month of the season and showed enough to be included on the Rangers Post Season roster. However, the side-winding lefty was also unlikely to make the Rangers Opening Day roster, as Texas is lefty-heavy in their bullpen with Darren Oliver, Arthur Rhodes and possibly Derek Holland having spots essentially locked up.

Of the two, my hope is that Texas can find a way to retain Rapada. Ramirez has been given every opportunity to make a statement but has done little to impress. Rapada, on the other hand, showed flashes late in the season and has pitched very well the past two seasons in AAA.

Former Cy Young winner set to join Rangers

Cliff Lee signed with Philly, then Texas came up short in their efforts to land Zack Greinke, but it appears they have finally landed a potential ace to at least partially fill their pitching void.

Pending a physical, the Rangers have signed former Cy Young winner Brandon Webb to a 1-year contract worth a reported $3 million, with an additional $5-$7 million in performance incentives. Webb has pitched just 4 innings over the last two seasons due to reoccurring arm troubles that have resulted in him spending 372 on the disabled list.

Webb, 31, won the National League Cy Young award in 2006, when he went 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA, 6.8 K/9 and 1.8 BB/9. He also finished second for the award in both 2007 and 2008.

Webb is a pronounced ground ball/strikeout pitcher, perfect for the Rangers hitter-friendly ballpark. However, the violent arm motion he uses to throw his A+ sinker is one of the reasons for his arm troubles, as it puts an immense amount of strain on his shoulder. While a return to his Cy Young-level is impossible to expect, Texas is, at the very least, banking on Webb being healthy enough to nail down a spot in what is a slightly thin starting rotation.

Possible Options For Texas Post-Lee

Cliff Lee was clearly the jewel of free agency pitching but he was hardly the only quality starter available. With Lee now signed, sealed & delivered in Philly, Texas is no doubt reviewing some back-up plans both via trade and free agency. While everyone has heard the Zack Greinke and Matt Garza rumors, you're probably gonna have to give up the farm to get either of them. However, several mid-range starters remain available on the free agent market, most acquirable without having to give up any draft considerations.

Brandon Webb (31)

Before arm injuries robbed him of his last 2 seasons, Brandon Webb was arguably the best pitcher in the National League. From '05-'08, Webb was a ridiculous 70-37 with a 3.23 ERA, winning the NL Cy Young Award in 2006 and finishing second in the voting in '07 and '08.

Scouting Report
Webb has an elite sinkerball and a very good fastball. Before his injuries, he was a innings eaters who exhibited good control and the ability to induce ground balls in bunches. Having missed the last 2 seasons, injuries are a massive concern and his up-side is silly huge.

Jeff Francis (29)

A former 1st round pick, Francis has spent his entire career in Colorado. A durable pitcher for the first 3 full seasons of his career, the injury bug bit the lefty in 2008, when he made just 24 starts. Francis then missed all of 2009 and part of 2010 with a shoulder injury before returning to make 19 starts.

Scouting Report
Francis is a contact pitcher with good control. He's a 3-pitch pitcher with a fastball that sits around 86-88 mph, an above average change-up (78 mph), and a curveball (72 mph) that he'll throw in any count. His change-up is widely regarded as his best pitch.

Freddy Garcia (35)

Over the course of Garcia's first 7 seasons, the former 2-time all star won 116 games while averaging 205 innings pitched per season. From '07 to '09, injuries hampered Garcia, allowing him to make just 23 starts during that 3-year stretch. However, the righty returned to form in 2010, going 12-6 while making 28 starts for the Chicago White Sox.

Scouting Report
Like Francis, Garcia pitches to contact and does not walk many hitters. At the same time, he doesn't strike out very many hitters either, meaning he needs a good defense behind him. He has a smooth delivery and keeps hitter off balance with a quality change-up. Garcia also has extensive playoff experience and is a career 6-2 in the postseason.

Doug Davis (35)

Despite an injury-plagued 2010, Davis has been a fairly durable player over the last several years, averaging 33 starts and 196 innings pitched from 2004 to 2009. Davis is also a former Ranger, having played with them from '99-'03.

Scouting Report
The 35-year old lefty is tough as nails and does not get rattled, regardless of the situation. He can have issues with his control from time to time but has a very good curveball and a sneaky quick fastball. When his control is off, his reluctance to challenge hitters with his fastball really hurts him, often resulting in too many walks.

None of these guys (save for Webb if healthy) would likely crack the top 3 of the Rangers rotation but all are quality 4th starters with proven track records. Considering Texas currently has no more than three pitchers on the roster with guaranteed rotation spots, signing any of these veterans would provide a big upgrade over who they currently have under contract.