Nolan Writin' » Craig Gentry

The Rangers’ Ongoing Search for a Utility Infielder

Michael Goldermann — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 01:22:48 +0000

In 2012, the Rangers employed the likes of Alberto Gonzalez and Michael Young to fulfill the job as the team’s utility infielders. Gonzalez was a non-factor in his 55 plate appearances, posting a dreadful wRC+ of 39 and a fWAR of 0.0, but then again, it was a very small sample size. On the other hand, Young was even more ineffective, posting a wRC+ of 78 and a fWAR of -1.4 (I mentioned Young as being more ineffective, this is due to the fact that Young also spent the majority of his time as the team’s DH). By August, the Rangers designated Gonzalez for assignment, and in the case of Young, the Rangers traded him to the Phillies during the offseason.

Feb 25, 2013; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Jurickson Profar (top) readies during the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into 2013, it was speculated that the Rangers may consider using Jurickson Profar as the utility infielder. This was a strange idea, as it would obviously stunt Profar’s development as compared to him playing every day in Triple-A, and earlier today, Jon Heyman reported via twitter (link), that the Rangers are looking to acquire a UIF, thusly negating any notion of Profar being used as the team’s UIF.

Currently, it appears that Jeff Baker will make the team, given his strong Spring, but Baker is not able to play SS, and that is a problem. As it stands now, the bench would be as follows:

OF-Craig Gentry/Leonys Martín
3B/2B/COF-Jeff Baker
C-Geovany Soto

Externally, the Rangers do appear to have some options, as utility infielders aren’t exactly a rare commodity, and earlier today, it was reported that the Astros were looking to trade Tyler Greene, but his bat and glove aren’t very inspiring. Other than Greene, the only other visible option is Ryan Theriot. Theriot remains unsigned but is reportedly still looking to play, given the right offer. Offensively, Theriot has a career wRC+ of 85, and as a UIF who primarily plays in the middle infield, the Rangers could definitely do worse. Defensively, Theriot has a career UZR of -5.1 in 4,454 innings. As a comparison, former Rangers’ UIF, Andrés Blanco holds a UZR of 3.7 at SS in 751.1 innings.

In conclusion, the Rangers are making the obvious choice to start Profar in Triple-A by looking at external options to fill the UIF void. In a perfect universe, the Rangers would acquire a UIF whose strongest tool is his glove at both SS and 2B. How well this player hits is not the primary concern, hell it may not even be the secondary concern. Ryan Theriot is an average middle infielder, which sounds good as a potential UIF, but defensively at SS, I’d at least like to hope that the Rangers could do better. I am sure that here are many external options to fill the void of UIF on the Rangers’ bench, but only time will tell as to whom the Rangers are looking to acquire.

CF Battle: Leonys Martin vs. Craig Gentry

Clayton Shearman — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 05:14:54 +0000

After watching the Spring Training game against the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday evening I found myself wondering if the Rangers and Ron Washington already know what will happen with the situation in center field. The opening day lineup was on the field to start the game, it was not a coincidence that Martin was in that lineup. Just go back and look at the box score if you can’t remember. There are two players for CF in Arlington and three different options.

Leonys Martin is the most talented player in the Texas Ranger outfield when age, speed, hitting, and fielding are considered with balanced weight. Martin is the youngest, fastest, and he is right there with Craig Gentry when you talk about fielding. I honestly think the Rangers believe he is the best option in center. I believe this because there is a situation where Leonys plays the majority of games or platoons with Gentry, but no one has considered a situation where he is a back-up CF.

Feb 25, 2013; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Leonys Martin (2) singles during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

This spring he has proven that he can handle major-league pitching and he has proven he can handle major-league coaching. Last year he struggled at the plate to the tune of a .174 BA in 46 at-bats. He also struggled in the outfield with his routes to the ball. Those two things became real questions in 2012. After batting .378 in 45 at-bats this spring training and fielding like an above-average MLB starting CF… those questions have disappeared.

Craig Gentry has also impressed during the spring. He has picked up right where his 2012 season left off. He is hitting .286 in 42 at-bats with 5 stolen bases and 2 out-of-nowhere HR’s. Last year Craig batted just over .300 and stole 13 bases while fielding very well for the Rangers. But those numbers will probably not hold up for a second straight year. If Gentry would’ve stolen 30 bases last year, this conversation may not even be legitimate but he failed to surprise in that area last year and here we are.

I think the Rangers will make the right decision on how to handle the platoon, or they will start one of the CF more than the other. One thing that needs to be remembered is how important Leonys will be in the future. He is still young and he is being payed to be a starter. I think he will prove to be a very good CF for Texas. If that is this year, the Rangers should be set. If Gentry proves to be the best option in CF. Next year’s OF will have many unanswered questions.

Leonys Martín: A Comprehensive Analysis

Michael Goldermann — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 07:59:59 +0000

In May of 2011, the Texas Rangers and Cuban defector, Leonys Martín, agreed to a 5-year major league contract worth $15.5MM that included a $5 million signing bonus. Prior to signing with the Rangers, Martín represented team Cuba in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as the nation’s backup outfielder behind future Oakland A’s outfielder, Yoenis Céspedes. With the signing of Martín, Julio Borbón’s future with the Rangers became all but terminated, and the CF job in Arlington became Martín’s to embrace.

Early scouting reports of Martín seemed to indicate a raw but talented athlete with the kind of toolset that projected a prototypical leadoff hitter. Soon after being signed, Martín spent a quick stint in rookie ball before being called up to Double-A Frisco, where he posted a strong triple slash line of .348/.435/.571 in 112 AB’s. With nothing left to prove in Double-A, Martín was called up to Triple-A Round Rock, where he struggled to the tune of .263/.316/.314 in 175 AB’s, essentially ending any and all presumptuous ideas of Martín becoming the Rangers’ starting CF come October.

After Martín’s struggles at Round Rock in 2011, it became unclear as to whether or not the prospect would seize the starting CF job in Arlington to start the 2012 season, which is why the Rangers made the wise decision to let the youngster prove himself in Triple-A, where Martín’s sophomore season in Round Rock certainly proved to be a rebound.

In 231 AB’s, Martín posted a triple slash line of .359/.422/.610, which definitely ended any assumptions as to whether or not he was ready to prove himself in the show, and down the stretch of the 2012 season, Martín was given a sporadic 46 AB’s with uninspiring results, but then again, such results came as no surprise, given his lack of consistent playing time.

Onto 2013, Martín’s opportunity to enter past the sealed gates of CF in Arlington burst open with Josh Hamilton’s departure to the Angels. And with a strong showing in 2012, Craig Gentry currently stands to be a viable platoon option alongside Martín going forward into the 2013 season.

So who exactly is Leonys Martín?

The common consensus amongst scouts tells of an athletic outfielder that truly belongs in CF. Martín’s best tool is his arm, which has been lauded for both its accuracy and velocity. Scouts have also noted that Leonys Martín has a good sense of the strikezone with solid pitch recognition skills. Making contact isn’t a problem with Martín, as his swing has been reported as being compact and it also exhibits plus bat speed. Defensively, Martín projects to have above average range with plus speed. Essentially, Martín has solid tools across the board with none that stand out as being truly elite. As a prospect, Martín has a high floor with the ceiling of an All-Star CF.

As it stands now, the CF job in 2013 is Martín’s to lose, and it is a fairly safe bet to assume that the Rangers will give Leonys his chance to prove himself at the MLB level in 2013. Given the Rangers’ investment in the Cuban defector, the team feels that at the very worst, Martín will become nothing less than an average starting CF at the MLB level. But I for one think that Martín will surprise some people in the baseball world. Look for Martín to turn some heads in 2013, especially given the notion that he will primarily start against RHPs with Gentry starting against LHPs, which should prove to provide a strong collective WAR from the CF position in Texas in 2013.

There is just something poetic about this image: