The biggest question facing this club and us as fans is what is the big picture goal of the front office right now? The insistence on not laying out long term cash for any free agents this year and bigger insistence in not moving Jurickson Profar and Elvis Andrus speaks to something bigger going on.  But that’s the question. What? Do we think we can get a deal done for another front line pitcher or land Giancarlo Stanton or Carlos Gonzales.

Just compiling info as the guys arrive in Surprise and get busy this week, we see that Mike Olt says he’s ready to play right field. That’s good news since we don’t know if Nelson Cruz will miss a chunk of the season or not.  We’re seemingly set in the infield except first base. We have someone to play there but can Mitch Moreland turn it up a notch or will we see the fragile Lance Berkman fill the spot most often. Outfield is where some of our biggest challenges are. Besides the Nelson question, can Murphy continue his step forward from last season? Will Ron Washington go to a platoon in center with Leonys Martin and Craig Gentry?

We appear to have a starting four for our rotation. But honestly it could just be three. Derek Holland took a giant step backwards last season and is not maturing the way he should. So we have Darvish, Harrison and Ogando locked and loaded. Can Holland lock down the fourth spot? Then for the fifth guy, will Perez or Grimm step up?

I said one of our biggest questions was outfield. The arguably biggest question is our bullpen. We have plenty of security (it appears) in the eighth and ninth innings. What about sixth (hopefully not often) and seventh? Losing Adams and the “good” Koji was probably second on the disappointment list after Hamilton.

It’s a scary and exciting time for Ranger fans.  The one question I don’t want to even think about right now. Is it time to tap the brakes on expectations?

We are holding on to Elvis Andrus as if we truly believe we will sign him when he’s done season after next. The only thing I would look forward to in that scenario would be Nolan Ryan locked in a room with Scott Boras. Oh to be a fly on that wall.

Checking the winter baseball numbers for the good guys, nobody is exactly setting the Latin world on fire. In fact, two of our CF candidates are not giving us hope in taking Hamilton’s place. Leonys Martin (.253/.327/.384 with 29 K’s in 146 AB) and Engel Beltre (.250/.329/398 with 30 Ks in 128 AB) will be in Surprise this year. Granted Beltre is a longer shot than Martin, it really appears to be Craig Gentry’s position to lose. Nothing awe inspiring on the offensive side of things. Mike Olt has been a little better but Juricskson Profar was shelved with an injury. Not that we put a lot of stock in winter ball, it is disconcerting nonetheless.

Based on all of the reports I have read, everyone is asking a fortune for whoever it is we are after. The names that are most intriguing are of course Stanton (Miami) and Gonzales (Colorado). As a fan, would I be cool with losing Profar or Andrus for either of those guys? Yes on Stanton and no on Gonzales. By the time any deal is done though, it’s putting a lot of eggs in one basket. We need more like three baskets right now. A power hitting outfielder, a starting pitcher and some more bullpen help.

We’re on the clock. Pitchers and catchers report in just a little over the month.