Rangers Casting for Medium-Sized Fish at Winter Meetings

There won’t be a pursuit of Cliff Lee, a signing of Yu Darvish or a trading for Prince Fielder this year during baseball’s Winter Meetings, but that doesn’t mean the Rangers will be merely content spectators this week in San Diego. There are, after all, holes to be filled. Just not glamourous, big-budget holes.

Coming off their disastrous 95-loss season that cost them their manager and relevance, the Rangers enter the off-season’s biggest week looking for starting pitching, maybe a backup catcher and – with Torii Hunter’s decision to sign with Minnesota – an everyday left-fielder.

Pitching: Since they’re already uncomfortably close to their payroll ceiling, they won’t be in on top prospects Jon Lester and Max Scherzer, but a play for mid-rotation starter along the lines of Jordan Zimmerman, Doug Fister or Dillon Gee is a possibility.

Left field: With Shin-Soo Choo moving to right field and Hunter moving to Minnesota, the Rangers might be sniffing around the likes of Justin Upton or Jonny Gomes.

Catcher: Seeking a veteran backup to starter Robinson Chirinos, they might go back where they started and nab Geovany Soto, who was traded to the A’s last season but is now a free agent.

A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.

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