ESPN.com senior MLB writer Keith Law joined Will Chambers and Jean-Jacques Taylor on KESN-FM 103.3 to discuss the Rangers upcoming season. Here are the highlights:
On Jurickson Profar's future with the Rangers
Law: I just did a reader chat yesterday and said he needs to get 500 at-bats this season. It doesn't really matter to me at what position, but I think he's probably going to be a better defensive second baseman than Odor ... At this point I'm really just concerned about making sure Profar gets the at-bats ...
He missed two full years after of the shoulder injury and it takes a long time for most hitters to come back from that. it was worse for him because he wasn't actually established in the big-leagues before he got hurt. I think there's real offensive upside there. I think he can hit. I think he has a great approach. I think there's some power to come. If they play him at second he'l be a real defensive asset, but he could probably play left or right [field] and be pretty good at either of those positions ...
Just get this guy the at bats. He's going to end up being, I think, one of their better offensive players if they do that.
Did the Rangers' pitching rotation improve in the offseason?
Law: I say no. I wasn't a big fan of either acquisition [Tyson Ross and Andrew Cashner]. Ross is never healthy. He has an awful delivery that puts tremendous stress on his shoulder. That's why he missed all of last season. And both guys have control problems even when they are healthy. Both are guys I've said I thought would be better suited for bullpen work because, in Ross' cases the delivery; Cashner's case just because he's had shoulder issues since he was at TCU. Neither guy has shown he can stay healthy under a starter's workload ...
If you were telling me [the Rangers] were counting on those two guys to fill one rotation spot together, I'd say 'great.' Because that's probably a realistic estimate of how much you're going to get out of them.
On Joey Gallo's offensive potential
Law: I think he's shown the ability to make adjustments throughout his pro career ... He's always going to strike out too much ... but he has gotten better at capitalizing on good pitches in the zone. His chases outside of the zone are fewer. I think if someone gives him, again that 500 at-bat number, he'll produce enough to be valuable.
The problem for the Rangers is it's a developmental issue for them. Do they want to give someone that playing time recognizing he may not be great this first year? You're trying to make the playoffs, do you want to have Gallo out there and maybe have him be non-productive for the first year, because you're trying to develop him for the future.
It's 40-homer power. It might be 50-home power. I would not walk away from that.