Talking with a buddy the other day about the Texas Rangers' off-season struggles, which on the surface seem to be really horrible, he asked a key question. Are the Rangers really the big off-season losers that everyone is making them out to be?
Sure, they've swung and missed on every big target they had this winter — Zack Greinke, Josh Hamilton, Justin Upton, R.A. Dickey, etc. The only move the Rangers have made is bringing in a rehabbing Joakim Soria to put in the back end of the bullpen. They've lost three key pieces of their lineup and two key relievers to free agency.
But panic not, Rangers fans. Here's why the offseason really hasn't been all that bad.
Josh Hamilton — Don't kid yourself, the Rangers never really wanted him back. When the market seemed to be non-existent for the 2010 AL MVP the Rangers thought they might be able to bring him back on their terms. Instead the rival Angels offered five years for $125 million to a 31-year-old who has done enough damage to his own body to probably be more like 35 or 36. Plus, the Rangers now get the Angels first-round pick in 2013 because they made him a qualifying offer.
Zack Greinke — This was the one target the Rangers seemed to genuinely want, but we were never so sure about just how good he really is. He ended up getting a ridiculous deal from the Los Angeles Dodgers to be their No. 2 starter and even negotiated an out in his contract that would allow him to leave after three years if things don't work out well for him.
R.A. Dickey — The Blue Jays just acquired the 38-year-old knuckleballer for their best prospect, which would be equal to the Rangers dealing Jurickson Profar, something they didn't want to do. The Mets would have reportedly taken Mike Olt and other prospects, but who's to say the Mets wouldn't have flipped Olt considering they just signed third baseman David Wright to what is essentially a lifetime contract.
