The rebuilding program is in full swing and with the A's also looking more toward the future than the present, the Rangers have a chance to be the worst third-place team in baseball. Bonus!

Seriously, their young talent is promising, especially when you consider Ian Kinsler, trade deadline acquisition Jarrod Saltalamacchia and offseason acquisition Josh Hamilton are just scratching the surface.

Offense has never been a problem in Texas, though. The key is the development of the pitching, especially young starters Brandon McCarthy, Kason Gabbard and you-name-it prospect they go to during the season.

The Rangers once pinned their future on the DVD Boys -- John Danks, Edinson Volquez and Thomas Diamond. Danks was dealt for McCarthy, Volquez dealt for Hamilton and Diamond is recovering from Tommy John surgery last spring. At least they have something to show for those prospects.

Now, they have to wait -- patiently -- and hope everything starts to come back together over the course of the (next two or three) season (s).

Spring position battles

Left field, right field and DH -- Milton Bradley, Marlon Byrd and Frank Catalanotto vs. Nelson Cruz, David Murphy, Jason Botts and Chris Shelton

The only certainty in the Rangers outfield will be Hamilton playing regularly. Bradley will, too, if and when he is healthy from his knee surgery -- although he will open the year at DH if he cannot play the field. Catalanotto is a stopgap bat in the event Cruz, Murphy, Botts or Shelton don't prove worthy of at-bats. Consider Hamilton a must-have in all leagues because of his 30-homer potential, while Bradley and Byrd are sleepers for deeper leagues. The other guys are nothing more than AL-only reserve options to open the season, although we some power potential with Shelton or Botts.

Catcher -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia vs. Gerald Laird

This is really not a position battle, because the Rangers paid dearly to add the power bat of Salty to their franchise. He will be their opening-day catcher, a position the Rangers say they are committed to have him play over first base. Laird has proven to be too inconsistent to be a Fantasy option outside of AL-only leagues anyway. Salty's 11 homers in just over half of a season will make him tough to get on the cheap, but we could see a 15- to 20-homer campaign out of him in his first full season. He has the potential to be the best catcher in Fantasy in a few years.

Starting pitcher No. 5 -- Jason Jennings vs. Luis Mendoza and Eric Hurley

Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Brandon McCarthy and Kason Gabbard are the front four, while Jennings will fill the No. 5 spot, if his elbow is sound. Mendoza and Hurley are the next closest prospects and only useful in deeper long-term keeper formats. Jennings is a serious injury risk, so save for perhaps Millwood or McCarthy, the Rangers starters should only be considered in deeper AL Fantasy formats.

Closer -- C.J. Wilson vs. Joaquin Benoit, Eddie Guardado and Kazuo Fukumori

We have Wilson as the incumbent coming into spring, because the Rangers have previously chosen him over Benoit, who they appear to prefer in a setup role. Guardado can close if he is healthy and effective again, getting another offseason to recover from reconstructive elbow surgery. Fukumori is an imported setup man as a wild card, but regardless of who wins the Rangers' closer's job, we don't see that person helping many Fantasy leagues or holding on to the job the whole year.

Texas Rangers Outlook
Projected lineup Pos. Projected Rotation
1 Josh Hamilton CF 1 Kevin Millwood RH
2 Ian Kinsler 2B 2 Vicente Padilla RH
3 Michael Young SS 3 Brandon McCarthy RH
4 Hank Blalock 3B 4 Kason Gabbard LH
5 Milton Bradley RF 5 Jason Jennings RH
6 Marlon Byrd LF Alt Kameron Loe RH
7 Ben Broussard 1B Top bullpen arms
8 Jarrod Saltalamacchia C CL C.J. Wilson RH
9 Frank Catalanotto DH SU Joaquin Benoit RH
Top bench options RP Eddie Guardado LH
R Jason Botts OF RP Kazuo Fukumori RH
R Nelson Cruz OF RP Frank Francisco RH
Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2007 high Destination
1 Chris Davis 22 3B Double-A Double-A
This monster power prospect could move in if Hank Blalock gets dealt.
2 Taylor Teagarden 24 C Double-A Triple-A
Big-time U. of Texas star finally hit stride in pro ranks; can he catch?
3 Kasey Kiker 20 LH SP Low Class A High Class A
Long term we like his chances to star over all of Texas' pitching prospects.
4 Eric Hurley 22 RH SP Triple-A Triple-A
Rangers SP prospects are cursed, but perhaps this one can make it in '08.
5 German Duran 23 2B Double-A Triple-A
Nice power potential for his position, but he's seriously blocked right now.
Best of the rest: C Max Ramirez, P Luis Mendoza, P Michael Main, SS Elvis Andrus, P Matt Harrison, OF Julio Borbon, P Omar Poveda, OF John Mayberry, P Armando Galarraga, P Thomas Diamond, P Neil Ramirez, P Tommy Hunter, SS Joaquin Arias, OF David Murphy, OF Engle Beltre, P Doug Mathis, 3B John Whittleman, P Bill White, P Jesse Ingram, P Omar Beltre, P Beau Jones, P Josh Rupe, P Francisco Cruceta, C Chad Tracy, OF Anthony Webster, 2B Jose Vallejo, C Guillermo Quiroz, P Neftali Feliz.

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