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Speaking of, the Rangers are heavily rumored to be the ideal spot for Zack Greinke, whose trade from the Kansas City Royals seems like a foregone conclusion. The Rangers will have the pay out of the nose in young, good prospects. The key component is Engel Beltre, the 21-year-old centerfielder in Frisco, had in the Eric Gagne deal from Boston. Again, if Greinke is in Arlington next season, it means that Lee is in pinstripes. Not an awful plan B, but one I'd rather avoid.
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The Rangers got themselves a catcher. They signed 32-year-old Yorvit Torrealba to a two-year, $6.2 million deal. Torrealba is OK. Good defensively and OK enough at the plate. He hit .291 in 2009 in limited time in San Diego. His career high in games is 113 and that was in 2007. I see him playing at least that many in Texas splitting time with Matt Treanor or Taylor Teagarden. The best stat on Torrealba is that he had a 3.14 pitcher's ERA last season, the lowest since 2003. Give him arms and he can make them shine.
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Finally, Frank Francisco is expected to accept arbitration and return to the Rangers. I thought he was gone. We've kind of seen what he has. Then again, how valuable would he have been in three or four of those playoff games? When he's on, he's on. Unhittable. He lost his closer's job in April to Neftali Feliz. Feliz seems bound to the starting rotation. It's thought Alexi Ogando could close, set-up or even start. Therefore, Francisco is pretty important. There's also thought that the Rangers could go after a free agent closer, like Rafael Soriano.
