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Texas Rangers: Established Core, Top Prospects Destined for Greatness?

By Kenneth Nash

ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 31: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers runs in to score and celebrates with his team mates to end the game against the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Park in Arlington on March 31, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 31: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers runs in to score and celebrates with his team mates to end the game against the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Park in Arlington on March 31, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – MARCH 31: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers runs in to score and celebrates with his team mates to end the game against the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Park in Arlington on March 31, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – MARCH 31: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers runs in to score and celebrates with his team mates to end the game against the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Park in Arlington on March 31, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rick Yeatts/Getty Images) /

The Established Core

The core of the Rangers future is already in Arlington and has been for a number of years. Still, they’re so young, they will be the cornerstones of this club’s long-term future and with the way they’re performing so far this season, it seems like the future is more than bright.

Let’s run through who I believe is the established long-term core for the club and what their contract situations are moving forward. Working youngest to oldest…

  • Nomar Mazara (24) – signed thru 2019; arbitration thru 2021
  • Ronald Guzman (24) – signed thru 2019; arbitration thru 2023
  • Isiah Kiner-Falefa (24) – signed thru 2019; arbitration thru 2023
  • Jose Leclerc (25) – signed thru 2022; team option for 2023 & 2024
  • Joey Gallo (25) – signed thru 2019; arbitration thru 2022
  • Rougned Odor (25) – signed thru 2022; team option for 2023
  • Elvis Andrus (30) – opt out after 2019; signed thru 2022; vesting option for 2023
  • Mike Minor (31) – signed thru 2020
  • Lance Lynn (32) – signed thru 2021

Clearly, the core of this team has plenty of years left in Arlington. Mike Minor and Lance Lynn, while they may not be part of the young core, figure to be long term parts of the Rangers pitching staff due to their contracts. But this list doesn’t even include guys like Delino DeShields, Jeffrey Springs or Yohander Mendez who have plenty of team control left themselves.

When you look at that group, it should strike you how young and talented the core of the big league club in Arlington is right now. On that list, you see two starting outfielders, three infielders, your future catcher, two starters and a lockdown closer. In terms of building blocks, that’s about as good as it can get and gives you the foundation to which you start adding top prospects to fill out your roster.

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