David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington on the closer situation with Joe Nathan signing in Detroit:
"Well, right now internally we’ve got (Joakim) Soria, we’ve got (Pedro) Feliz, we’ve got (Tanner) Scheppers who will come into spring training and see where it goes. That will not preclude us from continuing to look and add a piece from the outside. But right now we’ll go with what we have as of today."
Later, Washington also noted the pitching depth the Rangers hold. Now consider this…
Feliz, who has closer’s experience, is coming off Tommy John. He was in the process of moving into the starting rotation prior to his injury and subsequent surgery. Soria was one of baseball’s better closers as a Royal, but wasn’t quite himself last season after he missed all of 2012 while recovering from Tommy John. Sometimes, it’s the next season following the surgery that a player can regain his form. Add Scheppers into the mix and there’s three options at Washington’s disposal. The Rangers don’t necessarily have to nab a closer. Having these three at the back end and provided the health is as it needs to be, Texas isn’t in bad shape.