L.A. Angels Add Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson; What's Next for Texas Rangers?

The Los Angeles Angels made arguably the biggest splash in the free agent market Thursday morning, landing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to bolster their infield and rotation, respectively. 

Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million contract, according to early reports, signaling that the Cardinals were unwilling to go the extra years and dollars to retain the face of their franchise.

As for Wilson, he returns to his native California by signing a reported five-year, $77 million contract. His signing in L.A. creates a rotation that is headlined by potential Cy Young candidate Jered Weaver, along with Dan Haren and Ervin Santana.

That couldn't be worse news for the Texas Rangers, who reportedly offered C.J. a contract somewhere in the neighborhood of five years, $60 million. Their biggest division rival now has the ammunition to be considered the favorite in the AL West, and it almost forces the Rangers to continue looking in the free agent and trade markets.

I think it makes the Rangers spenders over the next couple of weeks, and that starts with the biggest name left on the market.

Prince Fielder

The Rangers will undoubtedly inquire with Scott Boras about securing the services of the left-handed hitting slugger. His swing fits perfectly with the Ballpark in Arlington, and even though owner Nolan Ryan refuted claims that Fielder would be a great fit financially in Texas, he might be singing a different tune when he looks at the projected roster the Angels have on opening day. 

The 27-year-old slugger could be the final piece for a team so close to glory. Adding his 38 home runs to a lineup that already included four players with more than 30 home runs would still hold their lineup in higher esteem, even with the addition of Pujols. 

While the Pujols signing was big for the Angels, Texas fans have already been briefed on why Fielder was a better fit in Arlington, anyway.

The Rangers have dealt with Boras before (A-Rod), and although his landing in Arlington will likely be predicated on how much money is on the table, the Rangers revenue from their new TV deal and back-to-back appearances in the World Series will surely help the negotiations of any big-time free agent that shows interest in Texas.

Yu Darvish

Darvish announced today that he will allow his Japanese club, the Nippon-Ham Fighters, to post him for MLB teams to bid on.

The Rangers have been active in trying to get one more starter to bolster their rotation, and were linked to Mark Buehrle and Wilson before both took bigger deals from other clubs. Darvish will require a lofty bid, but the Rangers have headlined the scouting and key acquisitions that make them a potential favorite to land the Japanese ace.

Adding Darvish, or any starter, would allow the Rangers to send Alexi Ogando back to the bullpen full time. Even if they ran into trouble with first-time starter Neftali Feliz, or had injury problems in the rotation, they would have Ogando and Scott Feldman as an insurance plan.

Darvish is going to garner a lot of attention, and with Wilson and Buehrle now off the market, he becomes the most attractive free agent starter. Texas is going to have to bid high, but it has the information and assets to make him a Ranger.

James Shields/Matt Garza

The two former teammates are widely considered the biggest trade commodities that teams will chase in the starting pitcher market, and both have been linked to the Rangers in recent weeks.

Garza will likely cost the Rangers more in terms of prospects, and Theo Epstein has been known to sell high when he is manufacturing a trade. Are the Rangers really willing to offer prized lefty Martin Perez for Garza?

My guess is no, and that makes Shields the more likely choice for the Rangers' rotation in 2012. The Rangers can offer starters David Murphy, Mitch Moreland, and Craig Gentry, and also has Tanner Scheppers, a young prospect many in baseball are high on.

Tampa Bay has a history of not being able to keep free agents(Carl Crawford), and even trading guys when the price is likely to run too high (Garza). If the Rangers offer up a decent package, they could become frontrunners in the chase to land Shields and help the Rays re-tool their team to compete in the AL East.

Conclusion

This couldn't have been a great day for the Rangers' brass, with two of the highest players at their prospective position going to a new team. But the Rangers haven't been steered wrong by GM Jon Daniels yet, and I wouldn't be surprised if they are able to make a move in the coming weeks for one, or possibly two of these guys to help gear up for a return to the World Series in 2012.