Texas Rangers: How Will They Choose Their Closer This Season?

The Texas Rangers are just about ready to begin their 2018 Spring Training. This season, they’ve made a number of investments in the hopes of building a dominant pitching rotation, as well as improving their bullpen. The Rangers are keen to again become a team worthy of reaching the playoffs and eventually the World Series.

The bullpen wasn’t very strong last season. Truth be told, they looked nothing like the dominant force they were in 2016. The bullpen was inconsistent and they had trouble staying healthy. Even though it’s just one bad season, the Texas Rangers know that improvements are to be made this season.

The most important thing as far as the bullpen goes is the duty of closer. At the moment, at least three names are expected to compete for the job as the team’s closer; Keone Kela, Jake Diekman, and Alex Claudio. How do we expect the Rangers to make their decision on who will be given that very important duty?

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Competition. The way it’s always been in the organization. Claudio, Kela, and Diekman will do it the old-fashioned way. In all seriousness, it’s the only way to go.

We can expect these three talented players to report to Spring Training on their assigned dates and immediately get to work. They’re expected to begin their workouts the day after reporting.

The favorite to land the job is Claudio due to his outstanding performances as the closer last season. As great as he was in 2017, he needs to prove himself this training. No matter how good you’ve been in the past, you’re still never guaranteed anything in the future as you’re expected to continue to prove yourself. If Claudio is focused, healthy, in good shape, and most importantly if he’s highly motivated, he’ll earn the duty of closer and he’ll be able to continue what he started.

Whoever is named closer for this coming Opening Day, will have earned it. And they’ll have to step onto the mound every night and make the most of their hard-earned opportunity.