OFFICIAL OFF SEASON THREAD ( 2017 )

[Bmurph]

Was Beltre a ST injury though?

No I think he was injured working out at home before, getting ready for WBC

 

[DT LUNA]

No I think he was injured working out at home before, getting ready for WBC

Any word on Faulkner and the dizzy spell yesterday?

 

[Bmurph]

Any word on Faulkner and the dizzy spell yesterday?

Rangers' Andrew Faulkner: Feeling OK after Wednesday departure
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Faulkner feels alright following his departure from Wednesday's game due to lightheadedness, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Faulkner, who is competing for one of the final bullpen spots in Texas, exited early Wednesday after he reported feeling lightheaded. It now appears as if this was merely a case of dehydration, so the lefty should be alright for a regular workload moving forward.

This was my first thought when I heard it too

 

[Bmurph]

Rangers' Sam Dyson: Day-to-day with sprained wrist
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Dyson sprained his wrist during a fall Friday and has been scratched from Tuesday's outing against the Diamondbacks, TR Sullivan of MLB.com reports. An MRI came back negative and he is considered day-to-day.

He will play catch Tuesday but won't pitch in a game. His availability for the first round of the World Baseball Classic is now questionable. A decision regarding the WBC will be made in a few days. The injury sounds minor enough that the Rangers should still have their closer for Opening Day.

 

[Bmurph]

Rangers' Cesar Puello: Dealing with leg soreness
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Puello is dealing with minor leg soreness and will take it easy in workouts Wednesday, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

It doesn't seem to be anything to worry about at this point. The 25-year-old NRI hit .283 with 31 RBI last season for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and is competing for a reserve role in the Rangers' outfield. Consider him day-to-day.

 

[Bmurph]

Rangers' Jose Valdespina: Cleared by urologist
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire
Valdespina says his urologist gave him the all clear to return to action Wedneday, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

He was hit below the belt by a comebacker in Monday's Cactus League game and had it checked out for precautionary measures. Valdespina posted a 3.66 ERA over 40 minor league games last season, so he likely doesn't carry any fantasy interest.

 

[Bmurph]

March 1, 2017 10:57 am
Rangers' Sam Dyson: Progressing well from injury
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Dyson (wrist) is progressing well and is expected to throw a simulated game tomorrow, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

The closer sprained the wrist during a fall last week, but it doesn't appear to be a lingering issue. Dyson's status for the World Baseball Classic is still in jeopardy and he likely he won't return to game action for a few days as a precaution. The right-hander is coming off a breakout season with the Rangers, in which he compiled 38 saves and 55 strikeouts.

 

[Bmurph]

March 1, 2017 11:16 am
Rangers' Tyson Ross: Amps up throwing regimen
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Ross (shoulder) will make 25 throws from 125-135 feet and 15 pitches from flat ground Wednesday, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

This is a good sign for Ross' progression this spring as he makes his way back from offseason surgery. The veteran right-hander had been throwing from 100 feet every day, so the escalation likely indicates a gain in strength. Ross is still doubtful to return to game action before late April, but his recovery seems to be on the right track.

 

[Bmurph]

March 2, 2017 10:03 am
Rangers' Adrian Beltre: Scheduled for Friday MRI
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Beltre (calf) will undergo an MRI on Friday to determine whether or not he will play in the World Baseball Classic, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Beltre has already started light workouts, but a calf ailment has prevented the 37-year-old from going full-go. Although he had been optimistic about playing in the first round of the WBC, it now appears that missing it altogether is on the table. It would be a tough loss for the Dominican Republic team, but prospective fantasy owners would likely prefer to see the veteran rested, especially given his past calf issues.

 

[Bmurph]

Rangers' Andrew Cashner: Will ease off a few days due to soreness
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Cashner is suffering from biceps soreness and "will be backed off" for a few days, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Injuries are an all too familiar refrain for the right-hander, who's trying to rebuild his career with the Rangers. The 30-year-old remains in a good spot to claim a rotation spot out of camp if healthy, but further health woes will jeopardize that role and the value of even considering Cashner in a mixed fantasy draft.

 

[Bmurph]

March 2, 2017 11:15 am
Rangers' Andrew Cashner: Scheduled for doctor visit
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Cashner (biceps) will be examined by Dr. Keith Meister on Friday, Jared Sandler of CBS Dallas/Ft. Worth reports.

The Rangers showed "little concern" over the injury but wanted to double-check the right-hander's status. As reported previously, Cashner will miss a few days. He'll likely need to return to baseball activities in the next week or two to have a comfortable timetable on his way to his first start of the 2017 season. AL-only players needing starting pitcher depth on draft day should stay abreast of his availability.

 

[Bmurph]

March 2, 2017 1:03 pm
Rangers' Yu Darvish: Tosses sim game
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Darvish threw a simulated contest Thursday, giving up three runs on three hits (including a home run) and two walks, while striking out three in 2.2 innings, Dave Sessions of MLB.com reports. He threw 31 strikes in 51 pitches.

The right-hander's line looks ugly but mostly served to get his stuff right before logging a spring game. While the club will continue his progression at a controlled pace, Darvish, who spun a 3.41 ERA last year with 132 strikeouts in 100.1 frames after returning from Tommy John surgery rehab, will remain coveted as a fantasy ace.

 

[saddles]

 

[DT LUNA]

Good to see Beltre back in the line up.

 

[Bmurph]

Texas Rangers 2017 season preview: Good health in rotation key for playoff hopes
The Rangers have won back-to-back AL West titles, but can they do it again in 2017?

• by Dayn Perry
• @daynperry
• 8h ago • 5 min read

In 2014, the Rangers stumbled to 95 losses, which is the most defeats they’d racked up in a season since 1985. Under manager Jeff Banister, though, Texas enjoyed a swift reversal. They won 88 games and the AL West title in 2015, and then repeated as division champs in 2016 while notching 95 wins.

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Heading into the 2017, the Rangers may not be the favorites to three-peat in the AL West (Astros, doff your caps), but they’re very much capable of playing deep into October.

To that end, GM Jon Daniels and company have complemented a strong core (and a strong farm system) by tapping into the free agent market for rotation depth and veteran first baseman Mike Napoli. That is to say, they’re well-positioned to matter once again as Yu Darvish enters his walk year.

So what’s ahead for what’s been one of the best organizations in all of baseball throughout recent history? Let’s crack open this particular coconut ...

The vitals

• 2016 record: 95-67
  
• 2017 depth chart: click here
• 2017 schedule: click here

That run differential, though
Yes, the Rangers won 95 games in 2016. On the downside, they outscored their opponents by just eight total runs. Based on run differential, that means Texas played like an 82-80 team.

Drill down to the batted-ball level, and things don’t get much better for them. The concern is that their 2017 baseline may be lower than you’d think based on those 95 wins. Clutch hitting, generally speaking, is what allowed the Rangers to outplay their runs scored and runs allowed, and clutch hitting isn’t a sustainable skill at the team level.

On the other hand, the Rangers’ current roster is better than that of an 82-win team. Last season, their run differential improved after they found the proper bullpen mix, got Yu Darvish back, added Carlos Gomez, and traded for Jonathan Lucroy. Those pieces are still in place, so you can’t quite eyeball that plus-8 run differential and assume the 2017 Rangers are a .500-ish squadron. There’s a middle ground between 95 and 82 wins, and somewhere in there is where the 2017 Rangers will settle.

Can the rotation stay healthy?
Potentially, Texas will have a strong rotation in 2017. Health throughout that rotation, however, may be hard to come by.

Perez is one of a number of Rangers pitchers who must stay healthy. USATSI
Consider:

• Darvish hasn’t registered a qualifying number of innings since 2013. He’s been on the DL five times since joining the Rangers and is of course a veteran of Tommy John surgery.
• Martin Perez underwent Tommy John surgery in May of 2014.
• Andrew Cashner has been on the DL six times in his career, including twice last season for neck and hamstring problems. He also dealt with blisters in 2016. This spring, he’s already been shut down with biceps tendinitis.
• A.J. Griffin underwent Tommy John surgery in early 2015 and spent time on the DL in each of the last two seasons with shoulder issues.
• Tyson Ross will open the season on the DL after thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in October of last year. Because of the condition, Ross was limited to just a single start in 2016. He’s making progress in camp, but he’s very much an unknown quantity for the time being.

The takeaway from all of this is that the Rangers’ rotation depth could be tested early and often in 2017. Last season, the Rangers used 11 different starting pitchers, and that mark could be matched or surpassed in the season to come.

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Should they need to dip into their reserves, then Nick Martinez and Chi Chi Gonzalez may be the first in line. Top pitching prospect Yohander Mendez might also be an option, but he may require a bit more seasoning.

Too many maladies, though, and the Rangers may need to survey the trade market, possibly well in advance of the non-waiver deadline. If, say, Darvish goes down behind Cole Hamels, then perhaps the going rates for Jose Quintana look a bit more reasonable.

Lucroy’s effect on the rotation
On Aug. 6 of last year, the Rangers acquired catcher Jonathan Lucroy from the Brewers. Lucroy is of course one of the best-hitting catchers in the game today, and he’s also a highly skilled defender at the position -- particularly when it comes to handling pitches and framing pitches. That’s significant for Texas because they’ve been lacking in this area for some time.

Of note, of course, is that Lucroy will spend his first full season with the Rangers in 2017. As such, the Rangers may be better in ways that escape easy detection thanks to their having a skilled backstop on a full-time, season-long basis.

 

[Bmurph]

Outfield has questions to answer
The Rangers of course bid adieu to Ian Desmond via free agency, and the departure of deadline acquisition Carlos Beltran means than Shin Soo-Choo will slide over to the DH role. All of this means some churn in the Texas outfield. As you’ll see in our projected lineup below, they figure to trot out Jurickson Profar in left, Carlos Gomez in center, and Nomar Mazara in right. There’s upside in that arrangement, but there’s also uncertainty.

In Gomez’s case, he struggled so badly in Houston that he got released. He looked much better in Texas, thanks in large part to an altered swing, and that’s a good sign moving forward. Still, at age 31 and with some recent history of poor production, Gomez isn’t a sure thing.

Speaking of which, Profar and Mazara, while still young and highly promising in the long-term, may not produce at a high level right away. Last season each started out strong, and each saw his numbers degrade significantly as the season wore on. That pattern for a young hitter raises concerns about getting exposed and failing to adapt.

The likelihood is that the Rangers’ outfield will be perfectly fine in 2017 and may even be a pronounced asset (bear in mind that Delino DeShields is also around for depth). However, there’s some risk with this grouping. One thing to watch is whether power prospect Joey Gallo, primarily a third baseman in the minors, emerges as a candidate at one of the corner spots.

Probable lineup

1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Shin-Soo Choo, DH
3. Adrian Beltre, 3B
4. Mike Napoli, 1B
5. Rougned Odor, 2B
6. Jonathan Lucroy, C
7. Nomar Mazara, RF
8. Elvis Andrus, SS
9. Jurickson Profar, LF

Probable rotation

1. Cole Hamels (L)
2. Yu Darvish (R)
3. Martin Perez (L)
4. Andrew Cashner (R)
5. A.J. Griffin (R)

Probable bullpen
Sam Dyson did a fine job as the team’s closer last season despite a strikeout rate that doesn’t meet the standards of many typical ninth-inning options across the league. He’ll have Jeremy Jeffress and Matt Bush setting him up, and either could be a candidate for saves should Dyson falter. Jeffress has experience in the ninth inning from him time in Milwaukee.

SportsLine projection: 83-79, second place in the AL West

 

[DT LUNA]

Nice outing for our guys today. Gallo and Gomez with the long ball. Pulling for Gee. UTA home boy.

 

[Bmurph]

March 3, 2017 10:39 am
Rangers' Adrian Beltre: To decide WBC fate Saturday
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Beltre (calf) will make a decision Saturday on whether he will participate in the first round of the World Baseball Classic, Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Beltre underwent an MRI on Friday and will find out the results later in the day.

The 37-year-old has been brought along slowly in camp to preserve his chances of suiting up early in the WBC. The Dominican Republic club may find a way to add him later on in the tournament if they advance, but perhaps fantasy owners may root for him skipping the event altogether, given that he's fighting another spring lower-body injury. Hopefully, his prospective owners' draft will happen long after a clear prognosis of his Opening Day availability.

Hoping he doesnt play, but what do you do

 

[Bmurph]

March 3, 2017 11:02 am
Rangers' Tyson Ross: Taking important rehab steps
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Ross (shoulder) is expected to throw off a half mound Friday and a full mound early next week, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Ross is making progress in his recovery from offseason surgery to correct thoracic outlet syndrome. However, any fantasy player expecting early-season contributions from the talented righty probably will have to wait at least a month into the season. Stashing him for peanuts is the best play in mixed leagues, though he may cost a bit more in AL-only fantasy games, which increases the risk.

 

[Bmurph]

March 3, 2017 2:55 pm
Rangers' Adrian Beltre: In lineup for spring debut
by RotoWire Staff | RotoWire


Beltre (calf) will play third base and bat second in Friday's Cactus League contest, his first game of the spring, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Despite dealing with nagging calf tightness throughout camp, Beltre has remained adamant about representing the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, so this may be a tell-tale sign. The 37-year-old underwent an MRI Friday that came back clean and it appears this was enough for him to see game action. This appears to be a positive step towards recovery, but it will be worth monitoring how the four-time All-Star feels after the game.