Five Keys To A Successful Texas Rangers' Offseason

In my graduating high school class, we had to have a senior quote underneath our picture in our yearbook.  One of my friends' quotes basically summed up the attitude of Texas Rangers fans all across America:

"If you're reading this, the Rangers still haven't won the World Series."

At first, I laughed. But as I thought about it, I couldn't help but to think how accurate that statement was. Could it be possible that, in 20 years, the team I grew up watching, the first team I saw play live, will still have not won a World Series?

What scared me more was the answer to that question: It's very possible.

Long term, we don't know what will happen. Jon Daniels won't be the GM forever, and Tom Hicks won't be the owner forever (thank the Lord). But in the mean time, here are my five keys for the Rangers to get back to a respectable level and have a successful offseason.

1) Resign Josh Hamilton

It's not every day a player like this falls in your lap. During the past few years, the Rangers have made some stupid trades involving young pitchers that have gone on to be very, very good (John Danks, anyone?).

When the Rangers gave up Edinson Volquez for Josh Hamilton, no one thought Hamilton would be this good.  No one thought he'd be in the running for the Triple Crown.  No one thought he'd launch THAT many home runs at Yankee Stadium.

(Note: Being at that home run derby would've been the greatest feeling in the world. Here is a guy who has gone through so much adversity, so many problems in his life, someone who overcame everything, launching home runs all over the place. Every single person was cheering for this guy.  Can you just imagine how he felt?  I mean, wow.  I don't care what the final count for home runs were.  Josh Hamilton was the clear winner.)

Jon Daniels made a great decision to give up a young arm for Hamilton.  And by bringing in Johnny Narron to be there for Hamilton, the Rangers made sure Hamilton was comfortable.  Hamilton quickly became a leader on this team (along with Michael Young), and the Rangers need to keep it that way for as long as possible.

Locking this guy up would insure the Rangers of having a steady leader alongside Ian Kinsler, not to mention a yearly MVP candidate

2) Sign Ben Sheets

Do I really need an explanation here? The Rangers, as always, have a need for pitching. When you have Vicente Padilla as your top pitcher, you know you've got issues. The Rangers need a proven front-line starter. Yes, Sheets has battled through injuries in the past. But he's also rebounded from those injuries quite well.

Do I expect Sheets to be as good as he was in Milwaukee?  No. The Rangers can score runs with the best of them, but they need pitching that can keep opponents from scoring as well. Sheets will bring that, as well as leadership, to the rotation.

3) Trade two of the four catchers

For the first time in recent memory, the Rangers have some decent trading chips that wouldn't be as detrimental to the team as, say, trading away John Danks was (yes, I'm still bitter). Here's a look at some of the rumors swirling around:

• Yankees looking at Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia possibly for Philip Hughes or Ian Kennedy
• Red Sox looking at Gerald Laird or Taylor Teagarden possibly for Clay Bucholhz/Michael Bowden
• Marlins looking at Max Ramirez for Scott Olsen
• Rangers looking at Matt Cain, but one of four catchers + Chris Davis would be required

Here's a message to Jon Daniels: do not, I repeat, DO NOT trade Taylor Teagarden.  Please. For the sake of all the hearts of Texas Rangers' fans, do not trade Teagarden. Theo Epstein is pushing for him. I don't care what he offers. Trade Ramirez, trade Laird, or trade Salty. But do NOT trade Teagarden. 

With that being said, I think the best deal that has reportedly been offered is from the Yankees (Hughes would be better than Kennedy). Trading for Matt Cain would be a horrible idea, simply because we would have to give up Chris Davis. Davis can and will be a staple at the corner infield spot for a while. Laird is almost certainly gone, with many teams in the running for him.

Saltalamacchia reportedly would love to play for Boston, but I feel the Rangers need to retain at least Salty or Laird just for their experience. Plus, can you imagine the platoon at first base once Justin Smoak gets called up? Salty and Smoak? Sounds like a good old Texas barbecue. All Daniels needs to do is make sure he gets back some decent pitching and perhaps an offensive player, which ties in to my next key.

4) Figure out the infield

To me, other than third base, I felt that the weakest position last season for the Rangers was the outfield. Josh Hamilton played both right and center, with Brandon Boggs, David Murphy, and Marlon Byrd occupying whatever was left. Murphy should be a mainstay in the outfield, but an upgrade is needed over Boggs and Byrd.

Whether that be through a trade from above, a free agent acquisition (Pat Burrell?), or within the organization (Nelson Cruz?), the Rangers should shore up that last outfield spot.

5) Find a cleanup hitter

With Milton Bradley leaving for free agency, the Rangers are losing a valuable asset at the cleanup spot. Common wisdom would be to move Josh Hamilton down to No. four, but as the old saying dictates, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Hamilton flourished in the third spot, and should be kept there. This position needs to be addressed through a trade because no one within the organization is capable of reproducing what Bradley did there last year.

Nelson Cruz, if called up, might fit well, but I still think he's a tad streaky. A top-of-the-line hitter isn't necessary, because the Rangers have enough powerful hitting as it is.

Someone like a Pat Burrell (who would also help the outfield as mentioned above) would fill this spot admirably.

With the Angels losing Mark Teixeira (maybe) and K-Rod (definitely), the Rangers have to be optimistic that their time is coming. Vlad and Lackey could be gone next year, and that team isn't getting younger, either.

Now is the time for Jon Daniels to make some smart moves, shore up the pitching, and not trade any of the valuable assets that the Rangers have saved up.

Hey, you never know, maybe they can prove my friend wrong.