MLB Power Rankings: Post Winter Meetings

14. Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers, despite high expectations, were unable to make a third straight trip to the playoffs in 2017. A disastrous month of April from closer Sam Dyson, a strikeout-prone offense and an inconsistent starting rotation proved too much for the Rangers to overcome. They finished 78-84 after falling apart completely in September.

The Rangers front office has made several moves to bolster the starting rotation and/or bullpen already this winter by signing right-hander Mike Minor to a three-year deal for $28 million, trading for Matt Moore and signing Doug Fister to a one-year deal for $3.5 million. Now 30, Minor returned to the big leagues last year with Kansas City after missing two years to shoulder injuries. The Royals used him as a reliever, and he pitched to a 2.55 ERA in 77.2 innings while striking out 88.

Minor is intent on returning to a starting role, which is how he broke into the league with the Atlanta Braves. As a starter, Minor went 38-36 with a 4.10 ERA. His best year came in 2013 when he went 13-9 with a 3.21 ERA and threw over 200 innings.

If Minor is able to transition back to the rotation, that’s a boon for the Rangers, who just lost Martin Perez for a few months after breaking a bone in his non-throwing elbow in an accident with a bull on his ranch. Losing Perez for an extended period of time leaves the Rangers left hoping Moore and Fister can still rebound and do more than simply soak up low-quality innings as they did last year.