They remain committed to developing their young players, even if their additions include a 39-year-old starting pitcher, a 37-year-old set-up reliever, and two 36-year-old outfielders.
“They were needs that we did not have with our young players,” Rangers manager Buck Showalter said Thursday. “We didn’t have people that were ready to do what they were capable of doing. You didn’t see us sign a closer, go after a third baseman or a second baseman.”
The primary additions were left-hander Kenny Rogers, who returns to Texas to fill a void in a starting rotation filled with young pitchers, reliever Jeff Nelson, and right fielder Brian Jordan.
First baseman/designated hitter Brad Fullmer, outfielder David Dellucci, and Eric Young, who will play infield and outfield, also were added.
“It may not be the splash and the bells and whistles that some people equate into successful acquisitions, but these were the type of players we were looking to add to our organization,” Showalter said.
The Rangers are still in a rebuilding mode after four straight last-place finishes in the American League’s West Division, but Showalter likes what has been done despite tight financial constraints.
With last-place finishes translating into big financial losses for the organization, owner Tom Hicks mandated a reduction of the more than $100 million payroll. Hicks said this week that the team has reached his goal of dropping the payroll to between $70 million and $75 million.
The six veteran free agents signed will make just more than $8 million combined this season. That’s less than departed slugger Rafael Palmeiro made last year.
Palmeiro left and signed a $4.5 million deal with Baltimore this week. Two-time AL MVP Juan Gonzalez, hurt much of the last two seasons while making $24 million from the Rangers, signed a $4.5 million deal with Kansas City.
The only free agent who got more than a one-year deal from Texas was Rogers, who was drafted by the Rangers and spent 10 of his first 15 seasons with them. His two-year contract is worth $6 million ($2.5 million this year, $3.5 million in 2005).
