With Opening Day right around the corner, the Texas Rangers have to feel good about their talent level. Just in the last two offseasons, the club added a two-time Cy Young winner, two former Rookie of the Year winners, NLCS MVP and multiple All-Stars.
Yes, players such as probable Opening Day starter Jacob deGrom, Corey Seagar and Marcus Semien, along with proven manager Bruce Bochy, provide hope. That's not to mention a farm system that was just ranked among the top-10 in baseball.
The Rangers could find themselves in position to challenge for a playoff spot after six consecutive losing seasons. That would be huge. But is Texas really closing the talent gap on perennial powers like the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers?
"We're right up there with them," Texas pitcher Glenn Otto told Inside the Rangers. "We've added a lot of experience and talent in this clubhouse. Not only talent and experience, but guys that want to help everyone succeed. They want to talk ball and exploit every weakness that the opponent has."
Remember where the Astros started? Between 2007-2014, Houston had seven losing seasons with three 100-loss seasons in the mix. Once the franchise turned things around in 2015, José Altuve was in the league for four seasons, George Springer was in the Astros system since 2011 and Carlos Correa since 2012.
The Dodgers are another test study. The franchise has a reputation of developing talent, such as current Rangers shortstop Corey Seager. However, Los Angeles also spends big bringing in big-name players in free agency and via trade.
It's no coincidence the Astros and Dodgers won the last two World Series.
"Both of those organizations have a lot of sustained success," Rangers utility man Brad Miller told Inside the Rangers. "Throw in the Cardinals, Mets, Phillies, Braves. It's a crazy tough league and, for us, that's the case.
"You have to earn it. All of those teams have to earn it again, so for us, it's about going out and playing and doing it. We brought a ton of good players into the room and to camp, but we have to earn it."
Otto that the expectation in the clubhouse is to be playing beyond game No. 162.
"We want to win every game we can," he said. "Seeing things from the eyes of someone with experience that's been in this league for a long time really helps the guys that haven't been here quite as long."
There's a lot of work to be done, but the Rangers front office is trying to do its part. Now it's up to the guys on the field to help take the next step.
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