Texas Rangers

The Rangers have proven that they are willing to push their pitching prospects, as evidenced by their use of both Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz at the Major League level in 2009. The next pitcher who could follow suit is 18-year-old Martin Perez (he’ll turn 19 on April 4).

They pushed him to Double-A last season, where he struggled in five starts (5.57 ERA, 14 K in 21 IP), but he was extremely successful in his time at Single-A:

5 Wins
93.2 Innings
2.31 ERA
1.23 WHIP
105 Strikeouts (10.09 K/9)
33 Walks (3.17 BB/9)
.332 BABIP

Lock this guy up. Just do it. He's on the brink of "Pierredom." Make that "Crawfordom." And you can get him cheap! Julio Borbon  is set to bat leadoff for the Texas Rangers, and he will be a big reason why the Rangers will take the AL West in 2010.

We took a glance at the 10 best outfielders to choose from, and the next 10 are an interesting bunch in that they offer a nice compliment in all categories (power, hits, speed).

While the following players won’t offer as much muscle, the trick is not to overload your team with massive power—despite some saying you should—rather adding a balance of homeruns, hits and speed; something that these guys do in fact offer.

Danny Gutierrez, named a “Rising Star” in the Arizona Fall League, has been suspended 50 games of the 2010 season after violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, according to the Office of the Commissioner.

Gutierrez tested positive for an amphetamine, a performance-enhancing substance.

Selected in the 33rd round by the Kansas City Royals in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Gutierrez has had a couple stellar seasons, to say the least.

Talk about coming full circle: 17 years after Darren Oliver began his career with the Texas Rangers, it looks as though Oliver will be returning to the Rangers.

The Texas Rangers are nearing completion of a one-year deal to add LHP Darren Oliver to the bullpen, two sources said Sunday night.

Oliver, 39, has been used as a reliever for the last four years and has found significant success in that role.

I’ve already given my early projections on Alcides Escobar (click here to view) and Everth Cabrera (click here to view), so let’s finish off the trifecta of young shortstops by looking at Elvis Andrus.

Of the three, Andrus was the most impressive in 2009, mostly as a 20-year old (he turned 21 in late August), posting the following line:

I realize that the sale of the team will not actually take place today, and that Bud Selig's "deadline" is really just to establish which group will get exclusive negotiating rights to buy the team, but my feelings are still the same.

There are no numbers or stats that support my feelings, simply a strong tug on my gut that really just wants to see Tom Hicks tip his hat and leave the organization.

The (AL) West just got wilder.

Rich Harden has reportedly signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Texas Rangers.

The deal, which is contingent upon Harden passing a physical, is believed to have an option for 2011 valued at $11.5 million.

According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, there is a preliminary deal between the Rangers and the Orioles to move Kevin Millwood to Baltimore.

Baltimore would send relief pitcher Chris Ray to Texas. Ray is 27 years old and has been less than stellar the past two seasons (2008: 42.2 IP, 16 saves, 4.43 ERA; 2009: 43.1 IP, zero saves, 7.27 ERA).

In 2008, he got shut down because of Tommy John surgery, and he hasn't shown that he's recovered fully yet.