Wednesday Newsletter time: The Rangers don't have many roster locks for 2022, but two have emerged as favorites
Dane Dunning, who started Tuesday's 7-1 loss to the Yankees, is a lock. Andy Ibanez and Leody Taveras are front-runners.
My good friend Jack is about as loyal to the Texas Rangers as any other fan of theirs I know.
Just about every game I can count on an optimistic forward-looking text from him, and he’s particularly not fond of the Houston Astros and Oakland A’s.
On Tuesday, as the New York Yankees were slugging their way to a 7-1 victory, Jack asked if Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Adolis Garcia are the only sure things on the current roster for 2022.
He wasn’t far off.
Much will depend on what the Rangers do in free agency. As of now, I’d add first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and catchers Jose Trevino and Jonah Heim to the list. For the starting rotation, add Tuesday starter Dane Dunning and Wednesday’s scheduled starter, Taylor Hearn.
Leody Taveras and Andy Ibanez have put themselves in a strong spot for the Opening Day roster next season. Manager Chris Woodward said as much before and after the Rangers’ third straight loss.
The Rangers held their annual exit interview with Taveras, explaining to he will again have a great chance to be the center fielder in 2022.
He has shown much better with the bat in his second stint with the team, batting .202 (20 for 99), but is hitting .250 his past 19 games. Included are 11 extra-base hits, four more than the next closest player on the team.
Taveras is an ace defensively and on the bases.
“We’ve seen a ton of growth,” Woodward said. “He has a chance to be an elite player, but there’s a couple things consistency-wise that he needs to be able to do. That’s really the message for him to understand going into next year.”
Ibanez went 3 for 4 in the loss to lift his average to .274. He played first base, one of four positions he has manned defensively. He was the Rangers’ best hitter before he went on the injured list Aug. 29 and has been their best since returning Saturday.
He has reached base in 16 straight games. The Rangers believe the bat plays in the majors, but their message for Ibanez is to remain versatile.
Do that, and he can make the team next season.
“That’s out of my hands,” he said. “I just come in and work every single day and do the same things I do all the time so I can focus on doing the best I can.”
Another go-round?
Charlie Culberson will turn 33 years old 10 days after Opening Day next season. He is hitting .241 with five home runs and 19 RBIs. He can play capably anywhere in the infield and is pretty good in left field.
The Rangers have multiple players like that, each younger and more affordable and a better fit for a rebuilding team. Yet, as much as it would appear Culberson isn’t a fit for the 2022 Rangers, a case can and will be made that he should return.
Woodward, for one, is in Culberson’s corner.
“I think every team could use a Charlie Culberson,” Woodward said. “Any team that wants to win, have a great culture, have a guy that can contribute in so many ways — not just with his versatility on the field, including pitcher, but internally to create a culture and a bond with his teammates.”
The Rangers are going to be young again in 2022. They have had a shortage of veteran leadership among position players, a role Culberson has filled. He could do that again, while also giving the future pieces more time to work on things in the minors.
A veteran leader like Culberson would be welcomed, but the Rangers need to sign a veteran player with a few more notches on his belt. All the young players with the Detroit Tigers, for instance, can look at Miguel Cabrera. The young, injury-depleted 2014 Rangers had Adrian Beltre setting an example daily.
Culberson might not to return. He might not want to return for what could be a sixth straight losing season. But don’t dismiss him from consideration just because he’s a veteran utility man.
Woodward, who was a veteran utility man himself, really likes Culberson.
We’re on YouTube!
The Texas Rangers Baseball Podcast has been on YouTube for a few weeks, but now we’ve done some catching up on turning the audio podcasts into videos.
The first episode with Jon Daniels and the fourth with Cole Ragans and Paul Kruger are up on our YouTube Channel here. Videos of the second and third episodes are pending.
Make sure to subscribe to the channel so that you don’t miss any episodes.
As always, the audio is available on Anchor and other platforms, like Spotify below.
Doggy video!
Fall is officially upon us. Watch out. Enjoy. See you Thursday.
