Free agency is now open, and the Yanks appear to be wasting no time in going after Lee. Everything I'm about to write is pure speculation and opinion, so here we go. Truth is the Rangers could be a better overall team without Cliff Lee. With Hamilton, Cruz, C.J., Murphy, and a couple of others, arbitration is going to take a chunk of the money the Rangers can spend this offseason. Paying Lee the huge contract will limit what other moves the Rangers can make this winter.
The biggest need this off-season is going to be starting pitching. C.J. Wilson and Colby Lewis are the only sure things coming back. Hunter will probably stay somewhere in the rotation, but this team needs an ace. Feldman is coming of a horrible year and is having surgery. Rumors are flying around that Neftali Feliz will get a shot in the rotation, and I'm not real sure how that's going to work. Cliff Lee is without a doubt the number 1 target for the Rangers, but they also will have there eye on Jon Garland, Hisashi Iwakuma ( from Japan ), and I expect them to take a chance on a recovering Brandon Webb. Former Ranger Chris Young could also be on the radar, but suffered from lingering arm issues last season with the Padres.
The biggest hole in the everyday area would be the catching position, if Lee signs I'm assuming that this spot will remain Teagarden and Treanor, unless they trade for someone. Without Lee the Rangers would most likely be going after Victor Martinez or John Buck. John Buck is coming off the best season of his career which would make me a little nervous about if he can duplicate it. Victor is a career .300 hitter and average defensively, but run production from the catching position would make this line-up very tough from top to bottom.
Mitch Moreland has earned the chance to be the everyday first baseman next season, and I would expect the Rangers to look for an older back-up who could also serve as a DH. Another rumor flying around is the chance that Michael Young will move to DH, and the Rangers would look to sign Beltre on the open market.
Bullpen- outside of Feliz ( if he stays in the pen ) and Ogando, I'm not sure what the relievers will look like next year. Okay, I realize O'day will be there, i'm just not that impressed or thrilled with him. Kerry Wood is the biggest and best option for relievers in free agency, along with Soriano from the Rays. Problem is Wood will probably not be happy unless he is going to be the closer, but I would like to have a whole pen full of closers personally.
As you can see, the Rangers have a few holes, and getting quality on the cheap if Lee signs is going to be tough. Without Lee, the Rangers could possibly fill all the spots that need to be addressed with real quality.
I know it sounds like I'm saying the Rangers are in trouble, but I'm not, the bulk of this team will be back. The players coming back are enough to put them back in position to win the A.L. West next season, but a few quality additions could put them square in the middle of chasing another pennant and potentially World Series.
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