NEW YORK – Enough about the offense already. <\/p>\n
Let\u2019s talk about various other crises, like the bullpen<\/a>. It\u2019s time to diversify the portfolio so to speak. At least that\u2019s the message I\u2019m getting from this week\u2019s bag o\u2019 questions. <\/p>\n Here are some answers on how (or if) the Rangers<\/a> might address the bullpen, the rotation\u2019s performance<\/a>, a long ago great bowl of ballpark chili and amenity (which I\u2019m singing as if I was Doechii) and where the Rangers rank in that category. <\/p>\n It\u2019s time for Evan Help Us. Ready? No? Well, here we go anyway.<\/p>\n Rangers<\/p>\n This is the best Rangers rotation since ____<\/p>\n (please fill in the blank)#EvanHelpUs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Casual Fan \u2074\u1d37 (@LeCasualFan) May 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n ME: Ever? <\/p>\n At least to this point, that\u2019s my numbers-based supposition. They began the week leading the majors in rotation ERA at 2.83. It was their best ever through 48 games. Hard to argue with results. <\/p>\n Now, there are still more than 100 games remaining. There is a lot that can go wrong. Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Tyler Mahle all have long injury histories. In particular, I just wonder how the wear and tear of a long season will impact deGrom and Mahle. <\/p>\n DeGrom began the week on pace for 180 innings in the regular season. He hasn\u2019t thrown more than 100 innings since 2019. Mahle was on pace for 176. He\u2019s only thrown that many innings once in his career – in 2021 when he reached 180. It\u2019s hard to envision these guys reaching those thresholds. So how do the Rangers manage their workloads so they can be ready to pitch in the postseason should the Rangers make it there? And how does that impact the rotation\u2019s performance? <\/p>\n On the other hand, the potential rotation reinforcements – Cody Bradford, Jon Gray and Kumar Rocker – are all pretty talented. If they can get healthy here sooner rather than later, the Rangers could build in some maintenance rest for the key members of the rotation. <\/p>\n The performance of the rotation has been exceptional, particularly where it comes to limiting walks. The Rangers are not beating themselves. But they have a number of issues they are still going to have to confront. It\u2019s one thing to have to try to maintain guys health; it\u2019s another thing entirely when you have to manage both health and workload. <\/p>\n All that said, at the moment, I\u2019d feel pretty confident with a playoff rotation of deGrom, Eovaldi, Mahle, Leiter with a bullpen bolstered by Rocker, Gray and Bradford. But we are a long way from that. <\/p>\n Is there any way Ray Davis and the ownership group adjusts to the hard cap on the tax threshold? Without some help to the bullpen we are wasting the excellent rotation play a lot. #EvanHelpUs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ben Windsor (@trombone0007) May 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n ME: It\u2019s always possible, but let me tell you why I don\u2019t think it\u2019s advisable at this point. It just doesn\u2019t make sense. You spent the entire winter trying to squeeze under the $241 million payroll threshold. Why go over now? If you were willing to adjust, the time to adjust was in the winter when the marketplace was full of more options. <\/p>\n Now, if you go over, the options are lesser, but the penalties remain severe. Go to $245 million say and you pay $2 million in tax (50% on anything over the $241 million threshold). Doesn\u2019t sound all that bad, right? It\u2019s not. Except you\u2019ve now insured that next year, you would be in a higher tax bracket still. Still at 50%, which will limit your spending all over again. It\u2019s a bad cycle. Get under this year. Reset the penalties, so that tax rates are lower, and then, if you need to add something to the 2026 team, you\u2019ve got more ability to do that. <\/p>\n You never know how desperate somebody gets to maximize wins, but it would seem not a very prudent proposition to undo your entire offseason strategy in order to grab a reliever for three or four months. <\/p>\n ME: He is with the team on the current trip and throwing regular bullpens. He was expected to throw a bullpen featuring his entire arsenal either in New York or Chicago. <\/p>\n Matter of time before he goes out. The current timeline has him back no latter than Aug. 1. Sborz told me on Monday that he is looking to get back before the All-Star break. It would give the Rangers another high-leverage bullpen reinforcement. They could use one based on the workload. <\/p>\n Aside from the guys who have already been back-and-forth, is there anybody in the Rangers minor league system right now who you might expect to make a contribution in the 2025 season?#EvanHelpUs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 jnellie53 (@jnellie53177814) May 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n ME: Oh, there are a number of guys who could contribute at some point this season still, but I don\u2019t think there are any who will make contributions as every day players.<\/p>\n Before the year is done, it won\u2019t surprise me if Alejandro Osuna ends up playing some outfield, but, unless there is a long-term injury or the Rangers ultimately move on from Adolis Garc\u00eda, I don\u2019t think there is a regular opening. Emiliano Teodo or Luis Curvelo could get bullpen looks and that might be the spot where the Rangers need the most help. For that matter, Marc Church was with the club to open the season, but has since been sent back down. He might figure in the bullpen before the year is over. <\/p>\n But the player who has the highest talent ceiling is infielder Sebastian Walcott, a tall shortstop. I don\u2019t see an opening for regular shortstop help this year. It\u2019s Corey Seager, if he\u2019s healthy; Josh Smith if he\u2019s not. I don\u2019t think the Rangers would bring Walcott up for a backup role. <\/p>\n what’s your favorite food at any ballpark you’ve ever been to, whether the stadium is still around or not #evanhelpus<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 \ud83e\udddf\u200d\u2642\ufe0f (@CameronKohuss) May 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n ME: All-time, you say? I\u2019d have to go with an old black bean chicken chili at Candlestick Park. It may have been the forerunner of what has became the Cha-Cha Bowl, named for Orlando Cepeda, at Oracle Park in San Francisco, though this was more Mexican than Caribbean, I\u2019d suggest. I don\u2019t know how good it was, but it seemed exotic to me 30 years ago and I loved it. <\/p>\n Other faves: First time I had Rubio\u2019s fish tacos was at old Jack Murphy\/Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Those two really stood out as memories for me. <\/p>\n Currently, I\u2019m big on the Hurtado BBQ stand at Globe Life Field. It\u2019s really good, though the lines can get really hard to manage. I find the food at Citi Field to be creative and delicious and about the best thing the Mets have going for them. <\/p>\n Has there been any rumors of trading for a closer? That would allow bochy the option to pitch Jackson in an early inning #EvanHelpUs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 gpa (@JeffFortneysr) May 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n ME: Not yet. Trading speculation season doesn\u2019t really start until after Memorial Day. And actual trading season usually doesn\u2019t start until a month later. <\/p>\n As we\u2019ve mentioned already, there are some real issues to the Rangers adding payroll to get an experienced closer. And I think to trade a position player prospect for a rental closer or perhaps even a young vet with a couple of years of control risks being a bad long-term play. That said, Chris Young wants to win and if he thinks a trade will make this team complete, I have no doubts he will act.<\/p>\n Semien is 34 and still only batting .174. What would your strategy be with him to get him on track, or limit his downside to the offense? #EvanHelpUs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Price (@Burlp674975) May 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n ME: Just based off the last couple of games, I think Semien is trying to make some pretty significant changes. He\u2019s gone the opposite way more often, it feels like. I think that\u2019s come from some conversation with Bret Boone. I think. As I write this, it\u2019s early Wednesday morning. I last spoke to Semien and Boone about Semien\u2019s approach on Saturday and wrote about the challenges Semien faces<\/a> as he hits his mid 30s. Boone has talked gushingly about the changes Yankees first baseman Paul Goldshmidt has made that I believe includes a better use-the-whole-field approach and my intuition suggests this is also part of Boone-Semien talks.<\/p>\n From talking to former players, I know the one regret they had is that the stubbornness that makes them great at some point can become a detriment. For much of their career, it was their belief in themselves to trust their ability and approach that led them out of long slumps. But at some point, to beat aging, they have to change to prolong their success. And it\u2019s impossible to know when you have to give up on things you\u2019ve always believed in, and find new ways to make adjustments. <\/p>\n How much variance is there in player amenities across the league, and are the Rangers known for treating their players well? For example, is there a big difference in things like food\/travel\/training between various teams? #EvanHelpUs<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Michael McBee (@McBee90) May 20, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n ME: Can\u2019t speak to every team, but when it comes to clubhouses, the Rangers have the newest and the biggest and the amenity element is spectacular. And, yes, in general there are differences in how much a club is willing to invest in players\u2019 comfort. <\/p>\n As a former player, Chris Young values this element. He wants his players happy and to spend time in the clubhouse around teammates. He wants the Rangers organization to have a good reputation as a destination for free agents: A championship organization with championship standards and excellent treatment of players. But, he also knows the business. Rare is it that a clubhouse spread or the number of spa tubs or sleep pods will actually woo a player in free agency. It still comes down to dollars. But, to answer your point, at this stage, I believe the Rangers amenity element of their culture is top flight. <\/p>\n Now, in the case of treatment of players, different guys can have different takes. For example, Dane Dunning had to take a significant pay cut not to be non-tendered last year. Jake Burger was sent to the minors six weeks after the Rangers acquired him in a trade. Guys have ridden the shuttle back-and-forth to the minors after solid outings because the Rangers needed fresh arms. None of these things are necessarily wrong; they are components of a performance-based business. But the decisions do impact and upend families and lives and that can also leave an impression on a player. And players often talk to other players. Not saying that any of the instances above have created any tension, only using them as real-world examples of how operating the business can get in the way of putting people first at all times.<\/p>\n SportsDay Rangers Episode 2: The one with Mark Teixeira<\/a>Texas Rangers\u2019 Jake Burger details his Triple-A reset, Bret Boone\u2019s biggest emphasis<\/a><\/p>\n Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.<\/a><\/p>\n