A new stadium, new ace, and new hopes. There’s fresh air surrounding the previously stale Texas Rangers club for the first time in years.
However, for what? They do have some solid things going for them, but as it stands right now, I do not see this team as a true contender at this point.
Joey Gallo is, quite honestly, one of my favorite players in baseball. He was, prior to his injury, on his way to an MVP-level campaign in 2019, with an OPS of .986 in a little under half a season. On pace for a 7.6 fWAR season over a full 162 last year, Gallo is the main cog in a Rangers lineup relatively devoid of sidekicks.
Nick Solak, acquired for Peter Fairbanks last season, is one of baseball’s most exciting prospects. The likely everyday center fielder for the Rangers, Solak is graded at a 50 future value by Fangraphs, with at least a 50 grade in each of the five tools. He’s raked at pretty much every spot in the minor leagues, so it’s fair to assume he is going to be a very good player for Texas this season.
Shin-Soo Choo has been a steady force on top of the Rangers lineup, albeit unspectacular. Entering the final year of his unspectacular contract, Choo has been above 100 wRC+ every year since 2007. Choo OPSed .826 last year, his age 36 season. It’s tough to predict the production of a 37 year-old, but it’s fair to assume he won’t completely fall off a cliff.
Danny Santana, Texas’s resident Swiss army knife, broke out last year. He’s incredibly valuable, but for a team with a potentially better version of Santana in Nick Solak, his talents are somewhat wasted. Elvis Andrus has been good for a long time, but his bat has really started to fall off a cliff the past couple years. He still has a pretty good love, but he’s now a bottom of the order guy. Rougned Odor is much like Andrus, in which he doesn’t have a bat but still has a decent glove. He should be batting towards the bottom of the order.
Todd Frazier makes his way to Arlington after a two year stint with the Mets. He’s another guy that, although unspectacular, definitely isn’t going to lose you games at the hot corner. There were reports he could move to first base, but until they can replace him at third base, that isn’t going to happen.
Robinson Chirinos returns as catcher after his one year hiatus in Houston, one in which he came close to replicating his spectacular 2017 campaign. Much like a lot of this Texas roster, and the rosters of a lot of the middling teams in this league, he’s solid but unspectacular behind the plate. Jeff Mathis, perhaps the worst hitter in the history of the sport, backs him up. Mathis works very well with pitchers, but he wasn’t even good defensively last year, so anything above a replacement level should be considered an absolutely massive win for the Rangers.
Ronald Guzman is the weakest player in the starting nine for the Rangers, having not hit at all in last year, his rookie campaign. That being said, look for an improvement from a once relatively touted prospect whose hit tools are better than his production thus far in his short career.
None of their depth really leaps off the page. Greg Bird and Blake Swihart are the two notable NRIs in camp with Texas, but the chances of them taking roster spots from either Isaiah Kiner-Falefa or Scott Heineman are rather unlikely. Those two are likely fighting for the third final bench spot along with Matt Duffy.
-
Ep 102: Chiefs, Eagles Advance To The Super Bowl
by Full Press Coverage on January 30, 2023 at 11:26 pm
If this were last year, I would have laughed in the face of what I would have considered to be a farce of a “major league” rotation. Needless to say, Lance Lynn and Mike Minor very much proved me wrong.
Minor was legitimately a Cy Young candidate last season, one which saw him pitch to a 6.4 RA9-WAR and a 3.59 ERA. It’s impossible that he does this again next year, as his xFIP- was an even 100 in 2019, but he is a very solid top-of-the-rotation starter for a team not quite in playoff contention.
Lance Lynn was just as good, but at a much more sustainable clip. He pitched to a 6.1 RA9-WAR and 3.67 ERA, but at an 84 xFIP-, which is 16% above average, and 73 ERA-, which is 27% above average. Lynn should be the Rangers’ opening day starter, but he will more than likely not be. Why?
Because of Corey Kluber. The former Indians Ace and 2x Cy Young award winner was traded to Arlington this offseason for a package consisting of Delino Deshields, Jr. and Emmanuel Clase. Kluber had a ton of trouble staying healthy last season, only pitching in seven games. He wasn’t good in those seven starts, but there’s nothing to suggest that’s anything close to indicative of his future successes. If he’s healthy this year, he’s going to be an elite-level pitcher again in 2020.
Kyle Gibson, who signed a multi-year pact after a couple of solid seasons in Minnesota, holds down the fort as Texas’s four starter, with Jordan Lyles as the five. While it’s an understatement to say that I’m not the biggest fan of Jordan Lyles, you can absolutely do worse. This rotation is undoubtedly the best part of this roster and should lead them to a lot of their victories this year.
Their bullpen is verrrrrry unspectacular. Emmanuel Clase would be their best arm here, but he is now in Cleveland. Jose Leclerc still has nasty stuff, and if he learns to harness it, which he hasn’t done so far in their career, he is going to be a good back end guy. Outside of him though, they are relying on a lot of mediocirty in the form of Jesse Chavez, Rafael Montero, Luke Farrell, and Cody Allen to get them through games. That’s an area of major concern.
I like this rotation a lot. The rest of their roster? Not so much. This is an unspectacular lineup with one star player and an unspectacular bullpen with one potential good reliever. That’s a recipe for mediocrity, which is exactly what the Rangers will be.
Projected Record:
75-87
Projected Divisional Finish (AL West):
4th
Projected Opening Day Lineup and Rotation (Fangraphs 2020 fWAR Projections for each player in parentheses):
Lineup
Shin-Soo Choo, DH (1.2)
Nick Solak, CF (1.8)
Joey Gallo, RF (2.4)
Todd Frazier, 3B (1.3)
Danny Santana, LF (1.4)
Elvis Andrus, SS (1.2)
Rougned Odor, 2B (1.0)
Robinson Chirinos, C (1.5)
Ronald Guzman, 1B (0.2)
Rotation
Corey Kluber (3.1)
Lance Lynn (3.6)
Mike Minor (3.0)
Kyle Gibson (1.5)
Jordan Lyles (1.1)
-
Ep 141: Andy Reid, Eagles, And Conference Championship Weekend w/ Joe Bannerby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 5:36 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former Eagles President Joe Banner to talk […]
-
Ep 140: The 49ers/Cowboys Rivalry With Former San Francisco Tight End Brent Jonesby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 9:02 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former 49ers tight end and three time Super […]
-
Ep 137: Hall Of Fame Discussion w/ John Turneyby Full Press Coverage on December 30, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Football historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 136: Remembering The Longest Game Ever Played With Larry Littleby Full Press Coverage on December 24, 2022 at 1:09 am
On the 51-year anniversary of the longest game ever played (Chiefs vs. […]
-
Ep 135: Hall of Fame Semifinalist Jahri Evans Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Former Saints guard and 2023 HOF Semifinalist Jahri Evans joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 134: Remember AFL/NFL Star John Hadl with Nick Canepaby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Former Hall of Fame voter, Nick Canepa, joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 133: Hall Of Fame Semifinalist Henry Ellard Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Former Rams and Redskins wide receiver, Henry Ellard, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 132: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalists w/ Rick Gosselinby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin […]
-
Ep 131: 'Football Heaven' With PFHOF Senior Advisor Joe Horriganby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Advisor, Joe Horrigan, joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 130: Remembering John McVay With Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo Jr.by Full Press Coverage on November 13, 2022 at 1:42 am
Clark and Ira are joined by Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to […]
-
Ep 271: NFL Championship Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
Ep 270: NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 1:31 am
-
Ep 269: NFL Playoff Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 4:13 am
-
Ep 268: Week 16 Fantasy Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on December 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
(Episode 3.2) Offseason Talk with the "Command This!" Podcastby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 3:04 am
George Carmi hosts Steve, Dev, and Phil as they discuss the Commanders […]
-
Ep 167: Super Bowl LVII Previewby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 12:33 am
This season premiere featured a preview of the NFL's season finale. In […]
-
1/31 - Tom Brady and the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers Futureby Full Press Coverage on January 31, 2023 at 9:00 am
Ian and John discuss whether or not the 49ers loss in the NFC Championship […]
-
1/30 - Conference Championship Recap: Eagles, Chiefs Advanceby Full Press Coverage on January 30, 2023 at 10:35 am
Ian and John recap the Eagles and Chiefs victories on Conference […]
-
1/27 - Conference Championship Preview: Who is Going To The Super Bowl?by Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 9:50 am
Ian and John preview Conference Championship Weekend and give their picks […]
-
1/23 - Divisional Round Recap; Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles, and 49ers Advanceby Full Press Coverage on January 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Ian and John recap Divisional Round Weekend in the NFL. Learn more about […]
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 211 "Steel Reserve"by Boot 2 The Face on January 28, 2023 at 6:59 pm
We preview the Royal Rumble and other things in the week of pro wreslting. […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 210 "No Monè, No Monè, No Monè"by Boot 2 The Face on January 19, 2023 at 12:55 am
Rucker and EJ are back discussing Rucker going to Impacts Hard to Kill […]
-
Fight Stack: Da-un vs Clarkby Full Press Coverage on February 2, 2023 at 12:00 pm
-
Full Press MMA - Wednesday, February 1stby Full Press Coverage on February 2, 2023 at 12:00 am
-
Hawks at Sunsby Broken Controller Media on February 1, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Raptors at Jazzby Broken Controller Media on February 1, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Kings at Spursby Broken Controller Media on February 1, 2023 at 9:00 pm
-
Warriors at Wolvesby Broken Controller Media on February 1, 2023 at 8:15 pm
-
Thunder at Rocketsby Broken Controller Media on February 1, 2023 at 7:30 pm
-
Nets at Celticsby Broken Controller Media on February 1, 2023 at 6:45 pm
-
Fight Stack: Fedor vs Baderby Full Press Coverage on February 1, 2023 at 6:00 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm