Latest Texas Rangers Roster Projection
The Texas Rangers have an off-day at Spring Training on Tuesday. Opening Day is just a little over a week away. The 26-man roster is starting to come down to the wire.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy says there are still jobs to be won. Plus, another injury is influencing who might be ready for the regular season.
With that in mind, it’s time to go back and examine the Inside the Rangers’ Opening Day roster projection. It's the fifth one of the offseason, with one more before Texas faces the Philadelphia Phillies on March 30 at Globe Life Field.
Players in bold have been added since our last projection.
Starting Rotation (5): Jacob deGrom (RHP), Martín Pérez (LHP), Jon Gray (RHP), Nathan Eovaldi (RHP), Andrew Heaney (LHP).
No changes here. Pérez is on his way back from the World Baseball Classic after Venezuela’s elimination. Bochy hinted strongly that deGrom looks to be the Opening Day starter after pitching in his first spring game Sunday. Bochy said that they didn’t work him to 50 pitches because he was actually too efficient. The Rangers starting five has been remarkably good this spring. I won’t guarantee this is how Bochy will roll out the rotation, but all signs are leaning this way.
Bullpen (8): Brock Burke (LHP), Taylor Hearn (LHP), José Leclerc (RHP), Jonathan Hernández (RHP), Will Smith (LHP), Joe Barlow (RHP), Cole Ragans (LHP), Dominic Leone (RHP).
Bochy didn’t offer an update on Glenn Otto and his right lat on Monday. Otto was scheduled to have an MRI after being scratched Saturday. It’s close enough to Opening Day where I believe the Rangers might let Otto start on the 10-day injured list so they can save a reliever they might have to cut otherwise. The question is which one?
Bochy isn’t saying, of course. But I think I have it narrowed down to three — Josh Sborz, Ian Kennedy and Dominic Leone. Bochy raves about Sborz’s stuff, but he needs him to locate his plus pitches and he’s given up way too many runs in camp (nine in just 4 2/3 innings) to justify keeping. The problem is he’s out of options. If the Rangers cut him, they risk losing him on waivers. Maybe no one picks him up?
Kennedy and Leone have both been steady in camp. Kennedy has given up two runs in six innings. Leone has allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings.
With Otto likely out to start the season, I lean toward Leone. Both Kennedy and Leone would give Bochy four right-handed and left-handed relievers. Leone used to pitch for the Giants, and while Bochy didn’t manage him, he is familiar with him.
First Base (1): Nathaniel Lowe
No change here. He’ll probably start 150-plus games barring health issues.
Second Base (1): Marcus Semien
Semien says he’s appreciated the steadiness and consistency of this camp as opposed to last year’s rushed approach due to the lockout. It seems to agree with him.
Shortstop (1): Corey Seager
Seager has a 12-game spring hitting streak. Someone should tell him to save some for the regular season.
Third base (1): Josh Jung
Jung has cleared every hurdle this spring. He even managed to dodge an injury in a minor car accident over the weekend.
Outfield (3): Robbie Grossman (left), Bubba Thompson (center), Adolis García (right)
After the off day, Leody Taveras will start batting from the right side of the plate. That’s the more troublesome part of his recovery from the oblique injury. How quickly he can swing with no pain will likely determine whether he starts Opening Day on the roster or on the IR.
For now, I’m projecting that Taveras will go to the IR to start the season. The Rangers don’t want to rush him. Thompson still seems like the potential starter in Taveras’ place and he continues to get starts. The Rangers want a little more pop in his bat, but defense is critical in the expansive center field at Globe Life Field. His defense and speed will get him a job regardless.
Still, the Rangers are running players like Josh Smith out in center field, just in case. Bochy confirmed this weekend that Grossman will get the majority of playing time in left field.
Catcher (2): Jonah Heim (starter), Mitch Garver
If you’re wondering, Bochy envisions Heim getting the majority of the playing time here. Garver caught a full game for the first time this spring on Monday. The Rangers are overjoyed with his progress. But Garver will get more games at DH than catcher.
Designated Hitter (1): Brad Miller
That said, envision, Miller as the backup DH and one of Bochy’s super utility players. He seems destined to play first and third on days when Lowe and Jung don’t, respectively.
Utility (3): Josh Smith, Ezequiel Duran, Clint Frazier
I’m sticking with Smith, Duran and Frazier here. Frazier slipped into the last projection after the Taveras injury. So if Taveras is ready for Opening Day, Frazier will be the cut.
Assuming Taveras starts on the injured list, Frazier’s only significant competition might be Yoshi Tsutsugo, who arrived late due to visa issues but is hitting .300, and outfielder Joe McCarthy.
More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:
- Jose Altuve Injury Potentially Helps Texas Rangers Playoff Chances
- Texas Rangers Terminating TV Rights if Bally Sports Goes Bankrupt
- Texas Rangers TV Uncertain in RSN Bankruptcy
- Rangers Must Lock Up Two Big Stars Before Season
- Rangers Ace deGrom Honest Thoughts on Pitch Clock, Organization
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
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