Hank Blalock is healthy again after having a rib removed last year. His power is back and he will be the cleanup hitter for the Rangers.

Catchers – Gerald Laird, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Adam Melhuse

Following the deadline deal that sent Mark Teixeira to the Atlanta Braves for catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, one would have thought that the catching situation in Texas was settled for the near future; they would have been wrong.  All indications this spring point to Gerald Laird assuming starting duties to begin the season and Salty starting the season in AAA.  So why is Saltalamacchia being drafted as a top 10 catcher?  There is no question that the 22-year old switch hitter profiles as a top 5-10 offensive catcher immediately upon his arrival but Texas will not carry him as a backup to begin the season, opting instead to carry veteran Adam Melhuse as Laird’s caddy and have Salty return to Triple A in order to maximize at bats.  Expect Saltalamacchia to be up for good by no later than the All-Star break so he should be stashed on fantasy benches in most leagues.  Laird is marginal #2 C in AL-only leagues while he is the starter. 

First Base/Designated Hitters – Ben Broussard, Frank Catalanotto, Chris Shelton, Jason Botts

The crater-like hole left by Teixeira will be filled this season by former Indian/Mariner part-timer Ben Broussard.  Unfortunately, there is little to suggest that he will even approach adequacy as a full-time starter. For a 31-year old with career .267/.328/.458 rates who can’t hit lefties he doesn’t scream “league average starting corner infielder”.  Realistically the only other options in the organization that would be able to fill the 1B slot are Frank Catalanotto (who is the starting DH) or even Saltalamacchia (though GM Jon Daniels has reiterated that Salty will stay a C, at least for 2008).  You could do worse at corner infield in AL-only leagues but that is damning with faint praise.  The fantasy MVP of April 2006, Chris Shelton, was signed by Texas after being non-tendered by Detroit.  Shelton could have value in Arlington if given the opportunity as a platoon 1B but that doesn’t appear to be in the offing as Shelton will begin the season in Triple A.  Designated hitter figures to be filled primarily by Catalanotto who earned a 3 year/$18 million contract following the 2006 season to act as the resident “professional hitter”.  Unfortunately for Texas, what they will receive for their troubles is a below average hitter, with no defensive value, who is bereft of any kind of power and at 34 only figures to decline.  If Jason Botts could ever translate his Triple A performance to MLB success the Rangers would be onto something.  However, he has failed to impress in his last two trials in the majors and is unlikely to be much of a contributor.  The Rangers’ apparent decision to carry him this season is likely to be his final chance to stick.

Middle Infielders – Ian Kinsler, Michael Young, Ramon Vazquez

The middle infield of the Rangers houses two of the few fantasy assets on the Rangers this season.  Michael Young’s days as an elite fantasy shortstop have gone by the wayside.  His extra-base power is in decline leading to a 3-year drop in OPS and he never was a threat to steal.  Nonetheless, thanks to a top-heavy SS position, it is still safe to call Young a top 7-10 mixed league SS who still figures to be as safe a bet as any in batting average, runs and RBIs.  The true fantasy gem here is Ian Kinsler who clearly has the skill set to be a top 5 2B this season.  He is entering his prime (he will play 2008 at age 26) and was one of the 14 players in baseball to go 20/20 (and just one of 3 players to do so while qualifying at a middle infield spot).  Ramon Vazquez will reprise his role as a capable infield backup who is capable of playing all infield positions except catcher.

Third Base – Hank Blalock, Travis Metcalf

Due to the emergence of a wave of young upper echelon 3B and a few dreadful, injury-plagued seasons, Hank Blalock has seen a precipitous drop in his fantasy stock.  There was encouraging signs this past season during the 58 games he was on the field for but they do come with a caveat: his numbers were propped up by Blalock hitting lefties at a near .300 clip after suffering from an extreme right/lefty split for the prior five seasons.  Blalock has hit very well this spring and is entering his age-27 season so there is reason to be optimistic that last year’s improvement was real.  The youngster who filled in for Blalock during his injury last season, Travis Metcalf is out for the first few months of the season and will provide organizational depth upon his return.

Outfielders – Josh Hamilton, Milton Bradley, Marlon Byrd, David Murphy, Kevin Mench

Ever since been rescued from baseball obscurity after being selected by the Reds in the Rule V Draft in ’06 it has been a wild ride for Josh Hamilton.  Being that he was among the better offensive players on the team last season, it was curious that the Reds were willing send him to Texas (albeit for Edinson Volquez, who would look nice right about now in the Rangers rotation).  The darling of many preseason breakout lists, Hamilton does not come without risk: he did miss a significant portion of last season with various ailments, did not hit well against lefties last season and there is the ever present, however remote, risk that his former demons could resurface (which is a long and sordid tale).   Given a healthy season, it is not unreasonable to think Hamilton can exceed 30-35 HR in Arlington and generally be a top tier fantasy outfielder.   The rest of the Rangers outfield is not nearly as interesting as we’re bound to see regression from Marlon Byrd and another injury-plagued season from the frustrating Milton Bradley.  Bradley, coincidentally, is starting the season as DH for health reasons (surprise!) pushing Catalanotto to the outfield.  Former Red Sox 1^st round pick David Murphy begins the season as the primary outfield backup but could push Byrd for the starting spot.  Kevin Mench, who rejoined the Rangers via non-roster invite, will not break camp with the Rangers but could see some time in the outfield/DH rotation if any incumbents suffer from injury/underperformance.

Starting Pitchers – Kevin Millwood, Vicente Padilla, Jason Jennings, John Patterson, Brandon McCarthy, Kason Gabbard, Luis Mendoza

There is no avoiding the fact that the Rangers starting staff this season figures to be among the worst in the American League.  The team if bereft of any pitcher that would qualify as a #1-#4 on most mixed league staffs.  Take staff “ace” Kevin Millwood.; two years removed from an ERA title, Millwood posted career lows in both ERA (5.16) and WHIP (1.62).  Essentially his acceptable strikeout rate and his ability to prevent home runs (he’s HR per 9 was one of the 5 best for qualified AL starters) were the only skills that saved him from an even worse season.  His hit rate ballooned to over 11 H/9, which is partially to blame on the highest BABIP of his career and a mark far above league average.  A regression to the mean in BABIP gets his ERA into the middle to high fours; not too exciting.  Vicente Padilla was predictably a bust in his first year, post-large contract.  Texas native Jason Jennings arrives from Houston coming off a dreadful season and as flyball pitcher seems a particularly poor fit for Arlington’s dimensions.  Former Nationals ace John Patterson was recently signed and figures to begin the season rehabbing at AAA.  He possesses the potential to be the “ace” of this motley crew if he pitches to his potential and is healthy (which is admittedly pretty rare) but he makes for about the only interesting endgame AL-only pick in the whole lot.  Kason Gabbard predictably regressed to the pitcher he always was before his brief productive stint as a fill-in starter. He is a #5 starter at best but more than likely not even that.  On the injury front, the disappointing Brandon McCarthy will miss the first few months of the season with forearm inflammation and will be slated towards the back of the rotation when healthy. 

Bullpen – C.J. Wilson, Joaquin Benoit, Kazuo Fukumori, Eddie Guardado, Robinson Tejeda, Franklyn German, Jamey Wright, Josh Rupe

After coming into his own as an elite lefty specialist in 2006, C.J. Wilson assumes the full-time closer role in Texas this season.  In keeping with characteristics typical of most left-handers, Wilson displays a large platoon split (career BA vs. righties/lefties is .301/.176).  Regardless, Wilson should pitch well enough to keep the job if healthy and slot in as a lower tier closer but one who will provide value given where it will be necessary to draft him.  Unbeknownst to most non-Rangers fans, Joaquin Benoit has emerged as one of the more consistent middle relievers in the American League.  Benoit would likely have no trouble stepping in for Wilson and could close for a number of teams this season.  Another intriguing name in the Rangers bullpen is Japanese import, Kazuo Fukumori.  During his career in Japan, Fukumori has consistently struggled with control but has pitched well this spring and is a name to watch as a sleeper saves candidate.  Eddie Guardado is all name at this point and should not be a considered as a threat to snipe saves.  Robinson Tejeda is a talented arm but has been inconsistent.  It is not inconceivable that he could be a candidate to start at some point, as the 5^th starter spot remains in flux. 

Probable Lineup

Ian Kinsler, 2B

Michael Young, SS

Josh Hamilton, RF

Hank Blalock, 3B

Milton Bradley, DH

Marlon Byrd, CF

Frank Catalanotto, LF

Gerald Laird, C

Ben Broussard, 1B

Projected Rotation

Kevin Millwood

Vicente Padilla

Jason Jennings

John Patterson

Kason Gabbard

Closer

C.J. Wilson

Next in line

Joaquin Benoit/Kazuo Fukumori