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Sean Scampton has written 133 articles so far, you can find them below.
Alex Claudio Still Listed Atop Bullpen Depth Chart
With no official announcement and plenty of scuttlebutt to sort through, it's worth noting that the official Texas Rangers MLB.com website currently lists reliever Alex Claudio on top of the bullpen depth chart. Every outlet has their own opinion, and it's not surprising that the 26-year-old isn't atop the wish list. Claudio brings a boring,... Read More
Rougned Odor Wraps Up Rough Spring
Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor finished up a spring training worthy of his name. After a poor 2017 campaign despite 30 home runs, the 24-year-old managed just .200/.262/.400 over 60 at-bats. He also struck out in nearly a third of his plate appearances. Odor is a talented, power-over-hit masher who plays a passable second... Read More
Joey Gallo to Bat Second in Opener
Texas Rangers corner infielder Joey Gallo will open the season as the starting first baseman after spending the majority of the spring working at the position. More interesting is that he'll supplant shortstop Elvis Andrus as the No. 2 hitter. It raised eyebrows in the spring that the three true outcomes slugger was taking at-bats... Read More
Adrian Beltre Looks To A Healthy 2018
Texas Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre finished the spring with .323/.333/.355 slash line in 31 at-bats with no home runs. While the counting stats leave little to be desired, there's almost no concern that the veteran will return to his productive ways now that he's returned to full health. Beltre is an impressive specimen, even... Read More
Ryan Rua Draws the Start in Left on Opening Day
As expected, Texas Rangers outfielder Ryan Rua will start in left field when they take the field against the defending World Series champions from Houston on Opening Day. As exciting as it must be for the 28-year-old, Rua is the dictionary definition of a replacement player and is simply keeping top prospect Willie Calhoun's seat... Read More
Tim Lincecum Looks to May 1 for Return
Texas Rangers reliever Tim Lincecum will play catch Thursday to test out the blister he has been suffering from for the past few days. The former Cy Young winner is targeting May 1 to return to action. Lincecum missed the entire spring after signing with the Rangers and will likely need a week or two... Read More
Elvis Andrus Ready to Build on 2017
Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus wrapped up a mighty impressive spring with a .432/.463/.703 slash line, dispelling concerns about the long-term impact of back spasms he suffered in February. Andrus had a career year in 2017, pairing a strong batting average, low strikeout rate and stolen base production with a surprising 20 home runs. The... Read More
Outfielders Returning from Injury - 2018 Undervalued ADP Targets
Getting tagged "injury prone" can mean a lot of things to fantasy owners. The floor for a guy sitting on the DL is just that: the floor. A big fat goose egg at a position of importance can crater a season, and the guys in this piece all contributed to their fair share of zeros... Read More
Bartolo Colon to Start at Oakland April 2
Jeff Wilson reports that barring something popping up, starting pitcher Bartolo Colon will start for the Texas Rangers at Oakland on April 2. The Rangers stealthily re-signed the 44-year-old on Monday and wasted no time plugging him back in the rotation. Colon was actually one of the better starters in camp for Texas, and he... Read More
Jurickson Profar Hitless in Loss
Texas Rangers utility infielder Jurickson Profar went 0-for-2 with a strikeout in a spring training loss to the Cleveland Indians. The 25-year-old got the start at third base, and was punched out by the reigning Cy Young winner Corey Kluber. The Rangers appear to be keeping their promise to keep Profar's time in the field... Read More
Bartolo Colon Released by Rangers
The Texas Rangers released starting pitcher Bartolo Colon from his minor league contract. The 44-year old pitched reasonably well this spring, putting up a 3.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts and a .257 batting average against over 18 innings. It appears that the Rangers may try to work out a deal with Colon, but even if... Read More
Martin Perez to Start Season on DL
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez has told reporters that he needs one more start before returning to game action, and will therefore start the season on the DL. It will not be a long stay for the 26-year old, who is expected to make the eighth start for the Rangers. Perez is a true... Read More
Trevor Plouffe Released By Rangers
Veteran third baseman Trevor Plouffe has been released by the Texas Rangers. Plouffe is reportedly considering his options and still may resign with Texas and accept an assignment with their Triple-A affiliate. At this point, unless another club becomes desperate for a bat with MLB experience, it is unlikely that other options will pop up... Read More
Carlos Tocci Makes Rangers Opening Day Roster
Texas Rangers' Rule 5 pick Carlos Tocci has been told he has made the Opening Day roster. The 22-year old was a Phillies prospect known more for his glove than his bat, but unfortunately not much more. He hit well in Double-A as a 21-year old, but this is where the interest in Tocci's profile... Read More
Tim Lincecum Scratched With Finger Blister
The Texas Rangers have scratched reliever Tim Lincecum from his outing tomorrow due to a blister forming on the pitcher's middle finger. There was little hope that the former Freak would be ready for Opening Day, and the emergence of this pesky blister only casts more doubt. With all of the interest in Lincecum's comeback... Read More
Kevin Jepsen Likely to Make Opening Day Roster
The Texas Rangers' manager Jeff Banister told reporters that pitcher Tony Barnette is not likely to be ready to start the season, opening a roster spot for reliever Kevin Jepsen. The 33-year-old Jepsen has been a pleasant surprise, giving up just one run and four hits over 9 1/3 innings this spring training. After what... Read More
Jesse Chavez To Work From the Bullpen
The Texas Rangers have informed pitcher Jesse Chavez that he will not start the season as a full-time starter. This is not terribly surprising, as the 34-year old has worked as both a starter and reliever during spring training, and the results were not terribly inspiring. Expect Chavez to be deployed as a long reliever... Read More
Trevor Plouffe Told He Will Not Make Opening Day Roster
The Athletic's Levi Weaver reports that the Texas Rangers have told third baseman Trevor Plouffe that he will not make the Opening Day roster and will be designated for assignment. The veteran said when he signed that he was not expecting to accept a minor league assignment, but it is unclear if he has changed... Read More
Tim Lincecum Unlikely to Be Ready for Opening Day
As the Texas Rangers prep Tim Lincecum for a return to the majors, they are not expecting him to be available for Opening Day. The former Cy Young winner is attempting a comeback by joining the Rangers' bullpen, but what role he will eventually occupy is unclear until the team can get comfortable with his... Read More
Robinson Chirinos Starting Opening Day
Evan P. Grant reports that catcher Robinson Chirinos will start opening day for the Texas Rangers. Chirinos has had a productive spring, slashing .280/.357/.480 with a home run over 25 at-bats. His spring performance included everything that we have come to expect from the 33-year-old, mainly solid power with a lot of strikeouts. Chirinos is... Read More
Tommy Joseph Claimed By Rangers
After the Phillies designated first baseman Tommy Joseph for assignment, the Texas Rangers have swooped in and claimed the slugger. The 26-year-old didn't really have a place in Philly with the signing of Carlos Santana and emergence of Rhys Hoskins, and Texas can deploy the unathletic hitter as a pure designated hitter. It is unlikely... Read More
Joey Gallo May Hit Second
T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reports that the Texas Rangers want to try a few days of Delino DeShields leading off with Joey Gallo following. This is certainly a vote of confidence in the gains that the slugger has made in his hitting approach, but fantasy owners should not get too excited by this news. The... Read More
Cole Ragans To Have Tommy John Surgery
The Texas Rangers confirmed on Sunday that pitching prospect Cole Ragans (elbow) would be undergoing Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2018 season. The 20-year-old was a first-round pick in 2016 and is one of the Rangers top pitching prospects, mixing a solid fastball and one of the best changeups in the minors. Ragans... Read More
Cole Hamels Flings Four Strong Innings
Texas Rangers starter Cole Hamels gave up just one run on three hits and two walks over four innings while racking up three strikeouts. It was a veteran performance and provides a glimmer of hope that the 34-year-old still has something in the tank for 2018. Hamels and manager Jeff Banister were seen walking down... Read More
Willie Calhoun Optioned to Triple-A
In a surprise move, Texas Rangers top prospect Willie Calhoun has been sent down to Triple-A Round Rock. Calhoun was penciled in for the starting left field role and had been getting repetitions at second base as well, but the Rangers have opted to give him some time at Round Rock to start the season.... Read More
Ronald Guzman Optioned to Triple-A
The Texas Rangers sent first baseman Ronald Guzman down to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday. The 23-year old had a poor showing in spring training, hitting just .125/.258/.208 with a 2/3 BB/K rate. Guzman was a long shot to make the roster to start the year, but his poor performance definitely is cause for concern... Read More
Delino DeShields to Start in Center Field
As expected entering spring training, outfielder Delino DeShields has won the Texas Rangers starting center field role to start the 2018 season. What is a little more interesting is that the 25-year-old speedster has also been plugged in as the lineup's leadoff hitter. DeShields was previously identified as a solid sleeper option late in drafts, and... Read More
Matt Bush Heading Back to Bullpen
T.R. Sullivan reports that the Texas Rangers have informed pitcher Matt Bush that he will be returning to the bullpen to start the season and will not be used as a starter. The former first overall pick had been stretching out all spring, even going so far as to work on a third pitch, but... Read More
Greg Holland an Option for Rangers Closer?
In an article from Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, it is reported that the Texas Rangers have considered signing free-agent reliever Greg Holland to bolster their bullpen ahead of the 2018 season. The move would make sense, as Texas has yet to name a closer. Currently, incumbent Alex Claudio is expected to start the season... Read More
Tim Lincecum to Join the Bullpen
Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports that pitcher Tim Lincecum will be joining the bullpen for the Texas Rangers in 2018. What role he will occupy is still to be determined, according to general manager Jon Daniels, but the team has not ruled out using Lincecum in the late innings. The former Cy... Read More
