Footprints in the Snow: Rangers

Footprints in the Snow is FanHouse's look at the paths to be forged by MLB teams this winter as they look ahead to 2010.

For the Texas Rangers, 2009 was a rousing success of a transition year. The team who used to simply try to outscore you altered their mindset. They put more of an emphasis on pitching and defense, and it paid off. They dropped down from first to seventh in runs scored in the AL, but the team ERA climbed from last (14th) to eighth. Their defense went from one of the worst in baseball to being considered one of the best.

The result was a huge step forward in the one stat that really matters for Ron Washington and his troops: they won 87 games, which was the most for the Rangers since 2004. Expect the growth to continue as the Rangers are loaded with young talent. The only problems could be money (more on that later) and the fact that their division is going to be really strong for the foreseeable future. But, hey, to be the best, you gotta beat the best.

---

---

Who Might Leave

Hank Blalock, 1B/DH; Andruw Jones, OF/DH; Marlon Byrd, CF; Omar Vizquel, SS; Ivan Rodriguez, C; Joaquin Benoit, RP; Eddie Guardado, RP

Shopping List

In a shocking reversal of a decade-long trend, the Rangers will be looking for an offensive boost. Their defense last season was exceptional and it aided in the growth of their pitching staff. The balance -- they finished seventh in the AL in runs and eighth in ERA -- was welcome, but there is always room for improvement.

Adding someone like Jermaine Dye or Vladimir Guerrero to the middle of the lineup would slide everyone else into a spot more suited to them, as the Rangers lack a truly menacing cleanup hitter. If Josh Hamilton returns to the form he showed in 2008, he could try to fill the slot, but that's making a pretty big assumption, considering the injury history he's building up. The Rangers are also reportedly talking with the Cubs about Milton Bradley, so he could fit the bill as well. Finally, the Rangers may simply retain Byrd and go with essentially what they had last year. The biggest drawback to this would be that the Rangers don't want to hold back the development of budding center fielder Julio Borbon. If he's ready, signing Byrd for twice the salary (or more) he made last year would be a waste of resources.

The Rangers pitching staff is teeming with potential, yet still incredibly young and mostly unproven. Ideally, they'd be able to bring in someone like John Lackey or Roy Halladay -- both have been mentioned as options in different reports -- to slide atop the rotation. Then Kevin Millwood would be the No. 2 starter and three youngsters -- from the group of Derek Holland, Scott Feldman, Tommy Hunter and Neftali Feliz -- could fill in behind.

Money Matters

Of course, the above shopping list could be rendered pretty useless in light of the team's financial situation. The Rangers are not going to be in position to land a big-time free agent or take on a huge amount of payroll in a trade because the team is in the process of being sold and is being handled by Major League Baseball.

That means they can forget about Lackey or Halladay. A more cost-efficient route for the Rangers could be Ben Sheets. They've been connected with him in the past and he's been rehabbing in Texas. He could probably be had for a one-year, incentive-laden contract, and he has the potential to be an ace once again. Remember, he's only 31 and had a 3.09 ERA in 2008. He also has worked with Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux before, so the move would be mutually beneficial.

Along those same lines, if they want to make a run at Dye or Guerrero, it could be possible with a creatively structured deal. If they end up acquiring Bradley from the Cubs via trade, they'll have to ask the Cubs to take on most of Bradley's salary (which reportedly the Cubs aren't willing to do just yet, but if they are desperate enough to deal him, they might have to).

Kevin Millwood's huge contract is up after 2010, so the Rangers will be free from those eight figures. Hopefully by the time the season ends, the ownership situation is settled and the Rangers can use that money for upgrades elsewhere.

Offseason Goals

Aside from adding a bat and hopefully a solid veteran starting pitcher, most of the Rangers' offseason plans will revolve around continuing to grow their young major leaguers and a farm system that has been rated as the best in the majors by Baseball America. Elvis Andrus, Chris Davis and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are helpful on defense -- to varying degrees, as Andrus is outstanding -- but need to grow offensively to truly help the club achieve their potential. Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz can continue to blossom, but can they handle middle-of-the-order duties if Hamilton doesn't play back to form and the Rangers can't sign anyone else?

The biggest offseason emphasis, however, will be the continued development of the young pitchers. Maddux and Nolan Ryan will continue to stress their throwing program (which involves much more frequency than other teams) and watch the strides made by Holland, Feldman, Hunter and Brandon McCarthy. Finally, the Rangers need to decide what to do with Feliz. The 21-year-old phenom rocks the radar gun to the tune of triple digits and was lights-out in his rookie season. He appeared in 20 games and allowed just six earned runs in 31 innings (1.74 ERA) out of the bullpen. He struck out 39 while allowing just 13 hits. Of course, he was predominantly a starter in the minors. Do the Rangers keep him as a setup man for Frank Francisco or get him in the rotation? It's the classic Joba Chamberlain debate. They need to decide now, not try to transition Feliz in the middle of the season. At least Feliz won't be handled with kid gloves. He'll be on the Nolan Ryan plan, whether in the 'pen or rotation.