Rangers Could Be Done With Bullpen Additions

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The Rangers have ma sively overhauled their bullpen this winter, watching  Felix Unger Sorum Jersey  ,  , and  depart via free agency while adding  ,  ,  ,  and  in their stead. Its a group that has plenty of big league experience but lacks the track record and relative star power of their departed firemen  Yates and Robertson in particular. Be that as it may, this weeks reunion with Martin could be the final piece of the relief puzzle for Texas. General manager Ro s Fenstermaker told the Rangers beat in the wake of the Martin deal that the Rangers feel like weve done the bulk of our lifting at this point ( ).  Thats not a firm declaration that the team is done adding. Fenstermaker was careful to leave the door open for creative and open-minded solutions to further deepen the group. However, adding a seasoned closer is not something the organization feels is a pre sing need.  Texas entered the offseason making little secret of the fact that its top priority was to re-sign   a goal they achieved on a three-year, $75MM deal that exceeded general expectations but reflected the steep price of rotation help on this offseasons open market. At the same time, the Rangers have been angling for ways to remain under the luxury tax, which helps to explain the decision to trade first baseman  to the Nationals (in exchange for the aforementioned Garcia). Lowe will be replaced at first base by trade acquisition  , wholl earn scarcely more than the league minimum. His left-handed bat will be largely replaced by free agent signee  .  Its been a creative roster shuffle  one thats left the Rangers with a talented but injury-prone rotation, a collection of relievers more accurately described as hopefuls than locks to produce, and a reshaped lineup that the front office is hopeful can be more productive against fastballs (a fatal flaw for the 24 club).  It stands to reason that further dealings could intensify the roster shuffle. Right-hander  , entering the final season of his four-year contract, has been an oft-speculated trade candidate. Trading him would trim $13MM from the payroll and perhaps create the flexibility needed to pursue a reunion with Yates or Robertson  while also leaving some CBT breathing room for in-season trade activity. Moving Gray would naturally thin out the rotation depth, but any of  ,  ,  or non-roster invitee  could step up to join Eovaldi,  ,  and  on the starting staff.  For the time being, it looks like Martin could be the top choice in the ninth inning, but thatll be left up to manager Bruce Bochy, Fenstermaker emphasized. The GM voiced confidence that Martin could fill the role and acknowledged that hes in the candidate pool but added that the situation will sort itself out in the weeks/months ahead. As things stand, the Rangers about $6MM shy of the $241MM luxury-tax threshold.  Brendan Lemieux Jersey