7 years agoTexas Rangers outfielder Delino DeShields has worked hard in the offseason to improve his defense in center field, and Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram believes that he is likely to win the starting job in spring training. With the Rangers missing out on outfielder Lorenzo Cain, who ultimately signed a five-year, $80 million deal with Milwaukee, Wilson sees the 25-year-old DeShields as the logical successor to 2017 starter Carlos Gomez, who remains a free agent. DeShields performed well playing part time last season after struggling in 2016, stealing 29 bases while collecting 75 runs on a .269 average in 440 at-bats. Despite Wilson’s enthusiasm, it is still likely that Texas adds another piece and deploys DeShields at both center and left field, mixing in Willie Calhoun, Jurickson Profar and whatever piece they add. Take this with a grain of salt, and don’t get ideas of 600 plate appearances until we see DeShields perform in spring training.--Sean Scampton
Source: Jeff Wilson on Twitter