Rangers Notes: Offseason Needs Shift into Focus

Shin-Soo Choo could give the Rangers a left-handed power hitter in the outfield, something missing since the departure of Josh Hamilton.

Trying to move past another stumbling finish to a disappointing season (not to mention the loss of the most notable icon in franchise history), the Rangers will be in the unfamiliar position of trying to improve their offense via free agency or trades this winter.

The Texas lineup that lost Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli and Michael Young heading into this year did not fare as well as many had hoped, and Nelson Cruz’s late-season suspension highlighted multiple weaknesses in the batting order.

Cruz is going to be an unrestricted ‘Type A’ free agent for the first time in his career this offseason, and while the Rangers are expected to make him a qualifying offer of roughly $14 million, the Dominican slugger could elect to seek a more lucrative multi-year contract from another club on the open market.

Alex Rios has already supplanted Cruz as the team’s everyday right fielder, and both Craig Gentry and Leonys Martin saw regular playing time down the stretch, but Texas could look to add a left-handed power bat to the outfield mix.

Some of the top names available to that end include Shin-Soo Choo, Jacoby Ellsbury, Curtis Granderson and Grady Sizemore, each of whom is 33 years old or younger and has reached double figures in home runs at least once in their career.

Barring a blockbuster trade this offseason, the Rangers appear to have most of their infield set with Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler, but they are likely to seek a utility man to replace free agent Jeff Baker.

In addition, the club could look for a more reliable power source than Mitch Moreland at first base, with Kendrys Morales, Justin Morneau and former Texas slugger Mike Napoli among the top players available at that position.

Behind the plate, both A.J. Pierzynski and Geovany Soto are eligible for free agency in a class that features a considerable gap between the most coveted name on the market — Atlanta catcher Brian McCann — and the next-best option.

The Rangers figure to be in the running for McCann’s services, and it would not be surprising if they brought back Soto because of the successful rapport he appears to have developed with starter Yu Darvish.

Aside from Darvish, left-hander Derek Holland is about the only other sure bet to begin next season in the Texas rotation, although 22-year-old Martin Perez certainly earned himself strong consideration by posting a 10-6 record across 20 starts this summer.

Matt Garza, acquired from the Cubs in a July trade, is eligible for free agency after winning just four of his 13 starts with the Rangers, but he’s thought to be one of the better pitchers on the market this offseason.

Also drawing interest this winter will be a handful of serviceable veterans who have shown the ability to surpass 200 innings pitched in a season, including Dan Haren, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ricky Nolasco, Ervin Santana and Jason Vargas.

Finally, the Texas bullpen does not figure to see a great amount of turnover next year, although some roles could be shifted if closer Joe Nathan decides to turn down his 2014 contract option and become a free agent.

Davis to Serve as Controlling Owner

With Nolan Ryan resigning from his ownership post, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said last week that Ray Davis will replace Ryan as the controlling owner of the team.

Davis, who already serves as co-chairman of the organization with Bob Simpson, is expected to be bestowed with his new title at the annual meeting of MLB owners in mid-November.

Following six years as a Rangers executive, Ryan announced two weeks ago that he will be stepping down from his front-office position at the end of this month, at which time he will sell his stake in the team to Davis and Simpson.

Leyland Retirement Could Open Door for Maddux

While he does not appear to among the finalists for the vacant Cubs’ managerial job, Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux is now being discussed as a potential candidate to replace Jim Leyland in Detroit.

Leyland announced he would not return as manager just two days after his Tigers lost to the Red Sox in the American League Championship Series, and Maddux has said he would “absolutely be interested” in the Detroit opening.

“This team is built to win now,” Maddux said of the Tigers. “I would try to put my own brand on it and just try to fill Jim Leyland’s shoes — not that anyone will be able to fill his shoes.”

Rangers Notes: Pitching Solid, though Bats Remain Quiet

After taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning Friday, Yu Darvish allowed back-to-back home runs and was tagged with the tough 3-2 loss.

Aside from a pair of offensive outbursts against Seattle last week, the Rangers have struggled to produce in key situations recently and have been held to exactly two runs in three straight games while losing a weekend series to visiting Minnesota.

The Texas pitching staff, on the other hand, is doing its part not to put the lineup in a hole and is currently working to extend a new club record by giving up no more than five runs in 29 consecutive games.

At Safeco Field last Monday, the Rangers got to left-hander Joe Saunders for seven runs in seven innings as Travis Blackley turned in another decent start, helping Texas roll to an 8-3 victory.

The Mariners and Rangers traded early runs Tuesday and were locked in a 3-3 tie until the top of the tenth, when Ian Kinsler scored from third base on a rare go-ahead balk called against Seattle rookie Danny Farquhar.

Southpaw Martin Perez outdueled the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez for the second time in a span of 10 days on Wednesday, watching as Texas scored multiple runs off Hernandez in three of the first four innings and leading the way for a 12-4 rout to wrap up the season series.

Following an off day Thursday, right-hander Yu Darvish was unhittable for six innings as the Rangers built a 2-0 lead Friday in Arlington, but the Twins rallied for three runs in the seventh on homers from Chris Herrmann and Justin Morneau to beat Texas by a 3-2 final.

Starters Matt Garza and Mike Pelfrey each allowed a first-inning run Saturday before settling down as the game entered the bottom of the ninth in a 1-1 tie. Texas then loaded the bases against a pair of Minnesota relievers, and Leonys Martin knocked in the game-winning run with an RBI single up the middle.

Sunday afternoon’s rubber game, which featured a handful of defensive miscues for the Rangers while they went a lackluster 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, went to the Twins by a 4-2 final score.

Feliz, Berkman Headline Roster Reinforcements

With active rosters expanding to 40 players on Sunday, the Rangers made a series of additions as they reinstated designated hitter Lance Berkman and pitchers Neftali Feliz, Michael Kirkman and Nick Tepesch from the disabled list; recalled right-hander Cory Burns and catcher Robinson Chirinos from Triple-A; and purchased the contract of outfielder Jim Adduci from Round Rock.

Coming back from reconstructive elbow surgery, Feliz saw his first big-league action in more in more than 15 months on Sunday with one-and-two-thirds scoreless inning pitched versus Minnesota.

Berkman, meanwhile, did not get into Sunday’s game but is expected to receive sporadic playing time over the final month of the season. The 37-year-old has been unavailable since early July due to continuing knee and hip ailments.

Jim Adduci made his major-league debut in left field Sunday at the ripe age of 28, and the longtime minor-league veteran went 1-for-2 with a walk.

Cruz Offers Apology for ‘Mistake’

Having served nearly half of his 50-game suspension for ties to the South Florida anti-aging clinic Biogenesis, outfielder Nelson Cruz addressed the media Friday and apologized to the Rangers and their fans “for the mistake that I [made].”

“It’s been a really rough few weeks,” he said. “But I have good friends and good family. They’re behind me.”

Cruz, who would be eligible for postseason play if Texas can reach the playoffs, also took batting practice at Rangers Ballpark and will report to the club’s spring training facility in Arizona later this week to continue working out.

“The key to him is just seeing live pitching,” manager Ron Washington said. “If we end up getting in the playoffs, we’re not looking for him to come and carry us. Just be part of the lineup. He’ll hurt somebody.”