The Sunday Read: Rangers Opening Day roster projection 3.0
(AP photo/Abbie Parr)
Spring training will have ended next Sunday and the Rangers will be enjoying a mandatory off day in Texas.
The Opening Day roster, just judging by the way things of gone the past handful of years, might not be set. It might not be set until after the two exhibition games March 27-28.
But things are different than in the past, with general manager Chris Young fully in charge. He’s a former player and might want to let everyone know their fate ASAP so that they can get on with the next step. The Rangers, though, might also wait as long as they can in order to give anyone dealing with aches and pains as long as they need to get ready.
Though their Cactus League record doesn’t show it, the Rangers are in good shape with a week to go.
They have stayed mostly healthy and have seen the rotation’s health improve. The lineup regulars have been productive, and the early results indicate that they are playing better defensively. That doesn’t mean there aren’t some things to clean up, though.
Most important, confidence is sky high.
Only a few roster spots are undecided at this point. Here’s the Rangers Today’s third attempt at deciding them.
Odorizzi has arm fatigue? In spring training? That’s concerning. Unless… this is a generic injury given to hide something else? Hmm…
I agree. I understand guys running into some fatigue midway through camp (it’s pretty routine), but he came to camp with it.
Please please please stop putting Perez first. He is the 4th or 5th best starter, and deGrom has superior K/BB rates and ERAs throughout his career and the last season (ERA was higher than his FIP in 2022). The Rangers might just take you seriously. It would be a tragedy.
You have to understand that it’s a possibility for the reasons I’ve laid out. Of course deGrom is a better pitcher, but that’s not all that’s in play here. He might get it, but Perez might, too.
What are your thoughts on Jankowski v Frazier? It seems that Jankowski is getting more reps in CF than Frazier. And do you see there being a decision to be made between Miller and Duran?
It just seems that Miller is having a so so spring and that Duran is doing so well they can’t deny him.
Jankowski is a center fielder by trade, but he doesn’t hit much. Neither is on the 40-man roster, so it will be tough for either to make the team if Taveras is healthy. If the Rangers are going to take their 13 best players, they will take Duran. I’d be shocked if Miller didn’t make the team.