Either way it’s a big bargain, so it really doesn’t matter.

Over the last two seasons, Andrus has produced 4.4 and 4.2 fWAR, respectively. If we multiply those totals by the going rate of each Win Above Replacement — which at the time was around $5 million per win — then Andrus has been worth exactly $43 million over the last two years. (Or about $21.5 million per year.) Due to inflation, the price of each current WAR is $5.5 million, so we’re essentially asking Elvis to give us 2.7 fWAR per year over the lifetime of his 8-year extension. Being that he’s yet to even hit his prime, he could legitimately give us $80-$100 million in surplus value by the time his contract runs up.

Okay, we’ve covered Elvis Andrus’s placement within the organization. Now what does this mean for the other two players in the equation — Ian Kinsler and Jurickson Profar?

 Ian Fullington and I discussing Elvis vs. Profar a few nights ago.

Let’s start with Profar, because he’s now the person who most directly affects the fate of Kinsler:

He just turned 20. He’s starting the year at Triple-A Round Rock. That’s what we know;

Profar is under team control for the next 6 years. At the moment, there’s really no need to force him into a Major League position. The question is, do the Rangers look to use him as the centerpiece in a blockbuster trade, or simply keep him tucked away at AAA for the year and start him at 2nd base in 2014? If the latter is the reality (which seems most plausible), then Ian Kinsler would have to move to a different position;

Ian Kinsler is in his age-30 season. In 2013 he’s beginning the 5-year, $70 million extension he signed last April. That, again, is what we know.

Right now we have to assume Ian Kinsler won’t be traded. The money he’s making isn’t so much the problem, but rather that he’s coming off a very poor year by his standards. The Rangers wouldn’t have a difficult time finding teams interested in Kinsler, but they would likely have an issue getting ample value in return. And Jon Daniels just doesn’t do shit like that. I can’t get behind the idea that the Rangers are so down on Ian Kinsler that they would dump his salary and get nothing in return.

With that in mind, it appears Plan A is that Elvis Andrus will be the franchise’s longterm shortstop, that Ian Kinsler will play 2nd base — at least in 2013 — and that Jurickson Profar will either succeed him there or be traded. If the plan is to carry all three players with 5- and 10-years in mind, then the Rangers are pushing forward into the era of Elvis Andrus and Jurickson Profar playing in tandem up the middle, with Ian Kinsler either in the outfield or at 1st base.

Of course, with everything else Ranger-related, we really don’t know what the blueprint looks like. I could have this all wrong. Seemingly everything changes in our Ranger-conscious on a weekly basis, which speaks more to the quiet, get-the-job-done mentality of the front office than it does about our capacity to analyze information.

This is Feliz’s first of three anticipated arbitration seasons, and the $2.9 million deal he received is just a mere $200K below his expected $3.1 million cost, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Barring an extension, Neftali Feliz is under contract with the Rangers through the 2015 season.

Feliz, Texas’ former flame-throwing closer turned starting pitcher before the 2012 season, produced 4.0 fWAR out of the bullpen between 2009 and 2011, accumulating better than a strikeout per inning (9.07) and a walk rate of 3.1/9 IP. Though he only pitched an abbreviated 2009, totaling 31.0 innings, he ranked 19th in all of baseball in pitching fWAR in the three-year period between ’09-’11. He’s an elite specimen out of the ‘pen.

Acknowledging that, the thought before the 2012 season was to capitalize on his value by transitioning him from closer-to-starter, much like the Rangers successfully accomplished in 2010 with C.J. Wilson, and 2011 with Alexi Ogando. The early returns were somewhat promising; his ERA was 3.16, despite an xFIP of 4.98, a SIERA of 4.67, and a BB rate of 4.85/9 IP. This data comes in the ridiculously small sample of 7 starts, so it’s debatable just how much it actually means.

He began a rehab stint into June and July, but never regained his form. He clearly was not the same pitcher he had been in his first three years, which began the whispers questioning if Feliz was broken. Or, even worse, injured.

He underwent Tommy John surgery in the middle of the summer, and isn’t expected to be back until August of 2013, at the earliest. It’s highly questionable if he will even throw one pitch for the Rangers next year, and if he does, we wonder if it will (a) be out of the bullpen, or (b) be effective enough to justify a significant role come postseason time. Right now, I expect (a) would be true, and am highly suspect about (b).

To that end, it should be a given that he won’t be able to produce enough value out of the bullpen in 2013 to justify the $2.9 million price tag bestowed upon him, but more importantly, we just need to make sure he’s healthy, and ready to go, by 2014.

If the 90%+ success rate of Tommy John surgeries holds true, then he should be a favorite to earn the 5th rotation spot year after next, joining him with Yu Darvish, newly-extended Matt Harrison, Derek Holland and Alexi Ogando, as part of one of the more formidable rotations in all of baseball.

First things first, we want Neftali Feliz’s arm to be OK. Secondly, we want him to be able to pitch again. Thirdly, we want him to begin throwing on a rehab assignment next year. Fourthly, we want him to be called up to the Major League team, hopefully in the midst of a playoff chase.

And lastly, we want a dominating 7-inning start out of Darvish, an 8-0 lead heading into the 8th, and a loud, raucous roar from the Arlington faithful once Neftali Feliz regains his rightful position in the Rangers bullpen.

Sep 17, 2011; Philadelphia, PA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Kyle McClellan (46) delivers to the plate during the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Cardinals 9-2 to claim the National League East Championship. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Kyle has spent the majority of his five year pro career in the bullpen for the Cardinals. In 2011 McClellan filled in for the injured Adam Wainwright until the club traded for Edwin Jackson. He spent the rest of the year throwing night after night in the bullpen until he felt soreness in his shoulder and elbow.

In 2012 McClellan started the year back in the bullpen for the Cards’. After 18 innings of relief Kyle felt pain in his shoulder and elbow. He had surgery on both in July of 2012. As of right now McClellan has begun throwing and fully expects to be ready to go when spring training begins in March.

Kyle has a career ERA of 3.69 over 378 innings. He has posted a 6.1 K/9, 3.2 BB/9 and has allowed 1 HR/9 innings over the course of his career.  Because of McClellan’s history as being a good arm out of the bullpen and showing an ability to start games with some success, he could end up being a very nice cheap pickup for the Rangers. I see McClellan taking Scott Feldman‘s old job if he shows signs of being the pitcher he was before surgery.

Before the recent surgeries, McClellan’s fastball sat around 90 MPH with some sinking movement to it. His curveball was considered an easy plus pitch. Throughout McClellan’s career, according to Fangraphs.com, batters have hit for an average of .116 against the righty’s hook.

Bottom Line: McClellan is a low-low-low risk pickup for the Rangers. If all goes well McClellan will become a better and younger version of Scott Feldman. (Emphasis on better)