The Sunday Read: Brad Miller wasn’t Texas Rangers’ biggest offseason move, but could make big impact

If there’s one thing beat writers can be relied upon, it’s their uncanny ability to make a potential mountain out of a mole hill.

Take the batting lineup Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward gave to the umpires Friday at Scottsdale Stadium. Batting first, for the second time this spring, was Brad Miller.

But for the first time, he was batting first in the same game as presumed leadoff hitter Marcus Semien.

Hmmm.

It turns out there might actually be something there.

“Especially against the right right-hander,” Woodward said.

That sounds pretty targeted, just like the Miller signing was.

While fans were clamoring for Nick Castellanos and Michael Conforto after the MLB lockout ended, the Rangers went with a nine-year veteran who keeps getting jobs because he’s good at what he does best.

Aside from hitting left-handed pitching, that’s just about everything.

In an offseason spending spree that totaled $575.5 million, the impact of the $10 million given to Miller the next two seasons so far is greatly underappreciated.