Countdown to Opening Day #6 Texas Rangers

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

#6 Texas Rangers: Prince and Choo added to the Mix

PROJECTED LINEUP
LF Shin Soo-Choo
SS Elvis Andrus
1B Prince Fielder
3B Adrian Beltre
RF Alex Rios
DH Mitch Moreland
2B Jurickson Profar
C Geovany Soto
CF Leonys Martin

PROJECTED ROTATION
Yu Darvish
Matt Harrison
Martin Perez
Colby Lewis
Alexi Ogando

PROJECTED BULLPEN

Closer: Neftali Feliz

Set-up: Tanner Scheppers

Top Prospect: Rougned Odor (2B)

The Rangers are at the point where it is all about making the right tweaks to a championship caliber club. After back-to-back losses in the World Series, Ron Washington's group has been in the mix every season, but has not found the perfect mix.

Prince Fielder

So Rangers went out and made the bold move to trade beloved Ian Kinsler to the Tigers for Prince Fielder and sign Shin-Soo Choo out of free agency. They let Joe Nathan walk.
Leaving the closer role open is dangerous but I actually think they are stocked with three guys (Feliz, Scheppers, Soria) that all can do it. Neftali Feliz and Joakim Soria before injury were elite closers. Somebody is going to lock down the ninth inning. Felix will get the first crack at it.
The real question comck s to the rotation that has been decimated by injury to Derek Holland and before that Matt Harrison, Colby Lewis and others. If the starting five can be serviceable, and we know Yu Darvish is one of the best in the game, than the Rangers could make another run at a championship. If they don't? Time to try another mix.

CALL ME MR. SUNSHINE - The years of being the protector to Ryan Braun and Miguel Cabrera are over. This is Prince's team and Washington stamped it by announcing he will hit in the three-hole and not the

Yu Darvish

four hole. There's a message there. And with the weather in Texas Prince is going to lose a few pounds this summer. He also is going feast on the right field fence and mash 50 homers on his way to a MVP.

REAL TALK - Thew new look Rangers are going to give that offense some life and they could run away with that division with any kind of decent pitching behind Yu Darvish. Jurickson Profar's breakout season could make them untouchable offensively. They have a lot of options, but no one they truly know what they are going to get out of. I'll just say now if Joe Saunders is pitching things are not going well.

Breakout: Prince Fielder (1B)

Bust: Leonys Martin (OF)

Fantasy Baseball Sleeper: Neftali Feliz (CL)

LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 91-72 (2nd in AL West)

PROJECTED 2013 FINISH: 93-69 (1st in AL West)

**Check back tomorrow for the St. Louis Cardinals*