The Rangers went from worst to first in 2015, improving by 21 wins to claim the AL West title. Their season ended in Game 5 of the ALDS to Toronto but it was still a highly successful campaign. The question now is: Can Texas repeat that success, or even improve upon it.
TEXAS RANGERS
+1878 to win 2016 World Series
+918 to win AL Pennant
The Rangers did little over the winter for a second straight offseason, despite a free agent marketplace loaded with premium talent. Before last season, the Rangers didn’t commit much money as they waited for all their injured players from 2014 to get healthy.
They didn’t go crazy this offseason because all those injured players came back to lead the team to an unexpected American League West title and are back for 2016. The Rangers won’t surprise anyone again. But they have the cast to defend their division title and keep winning in the postseason.
The clock is ticking until Yu Darvish returns in mid-May from Tommy John surgery, an addition that will give the Rangers two premier starting pitchers. Darvish will join a rotation headed by lefthander Cole Hamels.
The bullpen, following the mold of the Royals’ dominating unit, has a chance to shorten games and not be worn out at the end of the season. The Rangers could have six relievers who have experience closing games at some level, but they could also trade one of those arms to shore up another area of the club.
Prince Fielder was the AL Comeback Player of the Year after hitting 23 homers, driving in 98 runs and batting .305 one season after undergoing major neck surgery. Fielder was at his best when the Rangers were at their worst.
The body of work left the Rangers believing there is more in store for 2016. Justin Ruggiano figures to be a key contributor off the bench as the right-handed-hitting complement for Josh Hamilton and Mitch Moreland.
Adrian Beltre enters 2016 in the final year of a six-year contract that many criticized when he signed it in 2011. The deal rates as one of the best in team history, as Beltre has been an offensive force, a premium defender and a clubhouse leader.
His power numbers have declined the past two seasons, and he has battled through injuries. The Rangers, though, are counting on him to be their cleanup hitter, and his second half in 2015 – while playing with an injured thumb that required offseason surgery – is reason for optimism.
A lot hangs on the return of Darvish. The back of the Rangers rotation has a wide range of outcomes this season and the quicker they can get Darvish back on the mound the better.
Age will claim some production from a lot of the big names, particularly on the run-prevention side. Barring a rash of injuries, the Rangers should be competing for another division title come September.
Key Additions: OF Ian Desmond, OF Justin Ruggiano, RP Tom Wilhelmsen.
Key Losses: OF Leonys Martin, SP Yovani Gallardo, RP Neftali Feliz.
The oddsmakers say it, so it must be true: The Rangers are a favorite to win the American League. They will have the rotation to do so, once Darvish returns to form, and the bullpen could be one of the best in the game. The lineup that led a second-half charge is back, and though a few players could be susceptible to regression, the offense should stack up as one of the league’s best.
Prediction: 88-74
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