Rangers Not Too Interested in Pitchers

In a sick twist of irony, the Texas Rangers are entering this offseason with a desperate need to acquire some big bats to add to their punchless offense that plagued them for much of the 2013 season.

Sure, losing Nelson Cruz for the final 50 games of the regular season didn't help matters, but even before Cruz's suspension, the Rangers were in need of two or three bats to add to their lifeless offense.

Other than Adrian Beltre, the Rangers have no one under contract right now that is considered a scary hitter to opposing pitchers, who must find ways to work around said hitter. That has changed priorities for the Rangers' brass this winter, and reports say that the Rangers aren't interested in bringing in a big-name pitcher. Currently, the Rangers' rotation shapes out to be Yu Darvish, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Martin Perez and then a fifth starter of possibly Nick Tepesch, Robbie Ross or even Colby Lewis, if he accepts the Rangers' contract offer.

David Price has been rumored to be a big Rangers target, and several national "experts" say Price will end up in Texas. The top pitching free agents are Matt Garza, who was horribly disappointing in his two and a half months in Texas and Japanese phenom Masahiro Tanaka, who went 24-0 in Japan last season and is expected to post this winter much in the way Yu Darvish did prior to the 2012 season.

Tanaka's posting fee is expected to blow Darvish's $51 million-plus out of the water, but he is said to be not as good as Darvish.

"We’re not, right now, looking to give out a big multiyear deal for a starter,” Rangers GM Jon Daniels told the Star-Telegram. “That’s not what our need is. We’ve got guys we really like that are signed. I’m more focused on the position player side of the club."

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