Can you tell me why the Rangers have not been able to -- at least in my memory -- draft and develop a quality No. 1 starter?
-- Andrew T., Haymarket, Texas
The Rangers almost won the World Series in 2011 with an outstanding rotation that included Matt Harrison, Derek Holland and Alexi Ogando. Add Yu Darvish, who was signed as a free agent the following offseason, and the impending arrival of Martin Perez, and Texas' rotation appeared to be set for the next five to seven years. Harrison, Holland, Darvish and eventually Perez were given multiyear contracts to reflect that belief.
If ... if ... if ... that plan had succeeded, the Rangers could have built around that group, taken their time with other younger pitchers and possibly not needed to trade so many others. But when that plan crashed and burned, the club was forced to scramble on the run to assemble a contending rotation, and eventually the bill came due.
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Putting together rotations involves exploring every avenue of acquisition. The Indians have an outstanding rotation of Corey Kluber, Mike Clevinger, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Shane Bieber. Only Bieber was originally drafted by the Indians. The other four were trade acquisitions.
How do the Rangers rank with the number of international players on their Major League roster?
-- Terry B., Fairfield, Texas
For the second consecutive season, the Rangers had more foreign-born players (14) on their Opening Day roster than any other team. Texas' international amateur efforts may be the most successful area of its player acquisitions.
Is there a chance the Rangers could sign Clayton Kershaw, or is that a deal the Rangers just can't afford right now?
-- Aaron S., Grand Prairie, Texas
Kershaw has two more years and $65 million left on his current contract with the Dodgers. He does have the right to opt out this offseason. If Kershaw does so, it will be with the idea of landing an even more lucrative contract. Yes, he is the best pitcher on the planet -- his statistics are ridiculous -- but he has also been on the disabled list five times the past five years. Four were because of his back. Kershaw is only 30, but that will factor into any decision that has to be made.
Given the projections for developing a pennant-worthy pitching rotation, what do you think about trading Nomar Mazara and/or Joey Gallo? They will both probably have high salaries while the Rangers are still a losing team.
-- Dennis F., Sherman, Texas
The Rangers are in a position where they must consider every possibility. But if they do trade either player, they need to get serious starting pitching in return, the kind that will pitch immediately in Arlington -- not Frisco or Down East.
I had been saying before his breakout season two years ago that Elvis Andrus had a Michael Young-type swing and should hit near .300. Now I look at Jurickson Profar the same way. I see a .300 hitter with 25-homer potential. What do you think?
-- Doug H., Orange, Texas
Profar can definitely be a winning player for a winning team. He has had an excellent offensive season, considering he has had to bounce from one position to another. Still to be determined is Profar's future role, but he is a winning player.
Are the Rangers planning on new uniforms any time soon?
-- Alex A., Carrollton, Texas
The Rangers broke out new uniforms -- the iconic red ones -- when the Ballpark in Arlington opened in 1994. The possibility exists of new uniforms coming with Globe Life Field in 2020.
I want to ask the most important question about this new ballpark: Will the Rangers be in the first-base dugout? If the answer is no, may I suggest using your influence to right the wrong?
-- Travis A., Edmond, Okla.
The Rangers will be in the first-base dugout, but that's not important. It's also irrelevant whether it is grass or turf. What is relevant is if this will be a ballpark where pitching has at least a chance of succeeding. To me, that is the most important baseball factor surrounding the new park.
So, we could not give Ivan Rodriguez's son Dereck a chance to make the team?
-- Niles H., Dallas
Dereck Rodriguez was drafted by the Twins as an outfielder and switched to pitching in 2014. He has had mixed results over the past four seasons, reaching as high as Double-A last year, where he was 5-4 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP in 13 starts and two relief appearances. Then Rodriguez became a Minor League free agent, and certainly the Rangers should have been inquisitive. But in retrospect, I'm not sure coming to Texas would have been the best for him given the enormous shadow of his dad's legacy with the Rangers. That would have been an unnecessary burden that could be avoided by signing with most other franchises.