It's been said a lot recently by me and many others that 2012 wasn't an all-aroung great year for the Texas Rangers. When you put into account all the things thats happened to them on and off the field over the past few months you can only suspect the the mood will be very much differant in Arlington in 2013.
From losing the AL West title to the A's on the final day of the season. To losing the 1 game playoff to the Baltimore Orioles at home. Then not being able to re-sign franchise player Josh Hamilton and not only watch him walk away, but walk right into the hands of the Los Angeles Angels, Texas's arch rival. Hamilton now resides in LA with teammate and former Rangers pitcher CJ Wilson who also left just last year.
Leaving Texas along with Hamilton was pitcher Ryan Dempster who performed very poorly in his short stint with the Rangers after being a deadling pickup from the Cubs. Dempster went to Boston with another Rangers slugger Mike Napoli when Texas was unable to re-sign the 2 after the RedSox made better offers. The Rangers then helped fill the Phillies 3B needs when the team traded long time Ranger Michael Young to Philadelphia in December. In all fairness though, there was no place for Young in the Rangers infield and Philly is a much better playing spot for the 36 yr old utility player.
When it came to adding players the Rangers set out to acquire a mess of big name players only to come up significantly empty. Texas was set high on bringing in elite starting pitcher Zack Grienke up until he ended up in LA with the Dodgers. Obviously the Rangers also weren't able to sign Hamilton, Dempster, and Napoli leaving holes to fill. Michael Bourn and BJ Upton weren't found as the answer to those problems as the both signed elsewhere after being pursued by Texas.
The Rangers didn't acquire what they wanted by trading either. Coming into the offseason the team had really want to get a #1 pitcher in David Price or James Shields from Tampa. The Rangers though weren't at all interested in parting ways with top prospects Jurikson Profar and Mike Olt making it difficult for a deal to be done. The Rays did end up trading Shield to the Royals for their top prospect Wil Myers.
Once Hamilton left, Texas tried very hard to land Justin Upton from the D-Backs. But again trading Profar wasn't going to be a thrill for the Rangers. Upton was traded last month to the Braves.
In the end the Rangers only added a few key players signing 37 yr old Texas native Lance Berkman. Former White Sox catcher AJ Pierzynski. And RP Jakime Soria, who's coming back from Tommy John Surgery and should be ready to pitch by May.
So for 2013 the Rangers have a lot of questions the answer. GM Jon Daniels has said that Olt and Profar will compete for spots on the big league team this spring and if they do make the team where and when will they play? Ian Kinsler has already said that he's open to moving to the outfield to make room for Profar. But an all-star 2B in his prime playing center field doesn't make sense to me. Honestly though to make room, you could always trade Elvis Andrus for some good starting pitchers.
Texas also has to worry about Nelson Cruz who's name has come up in documents linking him to PED use involving a south Miami clinic. But until MLB finishes their investigation not much can be said.
But forget about what the Rangers don't have and focus on what they do have. The leagues best 3B Adrian Beltre, 30HR guy Nelson Cruz (for now), and a very solid offensive catcher in Pierzynski. The rotation with Colby Lewis and Yu Darvish is also good, along with the bullpen lead by Joe Nathan.
But remember Hamilton didn't leave the AL West, a very much improved AL west should I say (minus the Astros). He only left the Rangers. For the now very dangerous Angels. A team that are now better than the Rangers. The Rangers couldn't win with Josh Hamilton, can they win with out him?
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