At GM Meetings, Daniels says club is flexible
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- As the offseason began to ramp up and the General Managers Meetings got underway at the Boca Raton Resort & Club on Monday, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said the club is open to listening to anything and is still pretty flexible.
It's no secret the Rangers are in the market for a starting pitcher, a right-handed bat and another bullpen arm, and Daniels said at this point no one area is more important than the other.
"There are a number of areas we can upgrade," Daniels said. "The nature of the conversation depends on which club we're talking to."
Right-hander Yu Darvish is expected to return from Tommy John surgery in May, and Daniels said the pitcher will head to Japan in the next few days. He's at the part of his recovery where he's not throwing. Darvish will return to the U.S. in January and remains right on schedule in his recovery, Daniels said.
When healthy, Darvish joins a rotation that includes left-handers Cole Hamels, Derek Holland and Martin Perez. The Rangers have made a qualifying offer to right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who's expected to turn it down. Daniels said the club would like to add another arm to compete with Chi Chi Gonzalez, Nick Martinez, a healthy Nick Tepesch, Anthony Ranaudo, Phil Klein and potentially Anthony Bass.
"Internally, that's the group we're looking for at competition, but you can always add to that," he said.
Meanwhile, Daniels said middle infielder Jurickson Profar has been impressing during the Arizona Fall League, but the club doesn't have plans for him to play winter ball. Profar, who has been a non-factor with the Rangers the past two years because of a right shoulder injury, is expected to come to spring camp ready to play a position.
"He wanted to play winter ball, but we said, 'To what end at this point?'" Daniels said. "We're still close to having this thing in the rearview mirror. I don't see what's to be gained at this point. Just get ready for Spring Training and shut it down at the end of the Fall League and have a normal offseason and come into Spring Training ready to go."