Here's how the Texas Rangers cement a good starting rotation in 2019

Texas Rangers starting pitching was a nightmare in 2018. But there are ways to swiftly turn things around in a year’s time.

A World Series appearance may not be on the Texas Rangers’ 2019 radar, but a less mediocre season than this past one better be. It will all depend on starting pitching. Texas did not prepare a successful rotation for 2018 and we saw first hand where that got them. Hopefully a lesson has been learned and hopefully the team can enter the upcoming season with a much more reliable rotation.

I’ll be honest, I was on board with the optics of GM Jon Daniels’ offseason strategy following the 2017 season. He signed a few reclamation projects for cheap and kept his fingers crossed that one or two of them would outplay their price. As it turned out, none of them did. Matt Moore was terrible, Doug Fister hardly pitched, Bartolo Colon had one good month, and Yovani Gallardo proved he is well past his prime.

Still, his strategy made sense. He knew the Rangers were getting ready to dive into a rebuild, so why spend big, or modestly, on a season where expectations were already low?

CLEVELAND, OH – MAY 2: Starting pitcher Matt Moore #55 of the Texas Rangers reacts after giving up a home run during the second inning to Jason Kipnis #22 of the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on May 2, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians defeated the Rangers 12-4. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

This offseason is different. Texas has entered their rebuild; therefore, every move from this point forward should be focused on an incline. The offense is basically set. If anything, the Rangers have too many offensive players and will have to find a way to shed some weight in the coming months. The bullpen is a work in progress, though, it won’t be difficult to compose a competitive relief staff from within. That’s essentially what Texas did this past season and that seemed to work out alright.

Again, it all depends on starting pitching.

As of this moment, one rotation spot is guaranteed. That guarantee goes to Mike Minor, who, oh by the way, was very impressive in 2018. He was the Texas ace this season and he’s the leading candidate to be the ace next season as the roster currently projects.

Minor may not be an ideal ace. In fact, there might not be a team in baseball aside from the Texas Rangers that would deem Mike Minor an ace. But do the Rangers really need an ideal ace in 2019?

Sure, they could go all in by throwing the kitchen sink at Clayton Kershaw this offseason, but would that really be wise? First off, Kershaw has to opt out of his current contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. An opt out would be a clear indication that he wants to make even more money than the $65 million remaining on his Dodger contract for the next two seasons. The Rangers don’t need to be spending $32.5 million/year on any player at the current stage in their rebuild.

There will be other Kershaw-esque pitchers coming free over the next two years. It’s better the Rangers wait to see where they stand next offseason before going all in on a legitimate ace.

P.S. Jon Daniels does not plan on going all in this offseason.

In the meantime, they can sign a couple of arms with mid-rotation capabilities. There are only two free agent starting pitchers under the age of 30. Nathan Eovaldi, age 29, and Patrick Corbin, also age 29. Nolan Writin’s’ own Kenneth Nash pinpointed a few starting arms Texas should look to sign this offseason. Eovaldi and Corbin were among them.

Here’s how the Texas Rangers cement a good starting rotation in 2019

By Travis Koch | Oct 4, 2018

Texas Rangers starting pitching was a nightmare in 2018. But there are ways to swiftly turn things around in a year’s time.