Prince Fielder Rumors: Rangers on the Verge of Becoming World Series Favorites

As they stand right now, the Texas Rangers are a good team. They may not exactly be World Series material, but they're pretty good.

In the very near future, the Rangers could become World Series material and then some. It depends on what happens with two players that they have on their radar: Prince Fielder and Yu Darvish.

At the moment, the vibes concerning both players are pretty positive. Here's the latest from ESPN baseball analyst Jim Bowden:

As far as Darvish is concerned, the Rangers have until Wednesday to sign him to a contract after winning his exclusive negotiating rights with a $52.7 million posting bid. Team CEO Nolan Ryan said on Friday (via ESPNDallas.com) that he is "optimistic" that a deal will get done.

As for Fielder, well, Bowden's tweet tells pretty much the whole story. The two sides met face-to-face, it went well and the Rangers have the funds to make a deal happen.

Signing Fielder is not exactly necessary. The Rangers finished among the league leaders in runs scored, home runs and slugging percentage in 2011, meaning they really don't need a thunderous bat like Fielder's.

But as I've already written, the addition of Fielder would make the Rangers downright scary. Their lineup would have even more power, and his left-handed stick would give them great balance up and down the order.

The addition of Darvish, meanwhile, would give the Rangers an arm to replace C.J. Wilson, who signed with the Los Angeles Angels, Texas' AL West rivals. Darvish achieved legendary feats pitching in Japan, and he brings electric stuff with him to the states.

If Darvish is able to maintain his electric stuff (unlike, say, Daisuke Matsuzaka), he will have ace potential. Even if he does not turn out to be an ace, he is a pitcher who could provide innings.

Given the thump the Rangers could have in their lineup if they add Fielder, and given the talent they have in their bullpen, they won't need their starters to do anything more complicated than provide innings. If the new-look Rangers are clicking on all cylinders, it would take upward of six runs to beat them on a given night.

If and when the Rangers do add both Darvish and Fielder, it would be very easy to argue that they are even better than they were in 2010 and 2011. They were good enough go to the World Series both years, so the 2012 team would have to be considered a favorite to go back in 2012.

To be sure, the new-look Angels and the suddenly pitching-rich New York Yankees will be in the mix, as will teams like the Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Detroit Tigers.

But what the Rangers have on all of them is that they've been there and done that in each of the last two seasons. They already have more experience than any team in the American League, and they will have just as much talent if they sign the two guys on their radar.

You wouldn't have to anoint them right away, mind you. You would, however, have to like their chances.