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A Position of Great Importance

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If I were to ask you who will be the most important Rangers player in 2013, who would you pick? After consulting an updated roster in order to remember who’s still left on the team, you might pick Adrián Beltré, Ian Kinsler, Yu Darvish or the newly acquired Lance Berkman. Those would be good choices, but as odd as it sounds, sometimes the most important player isn’t necessarily your best player. Who do I think could play a crucial role in 2013?

Mitch Moreland. Yes, Mitch Moreland. His career has been hampered by a lingering wrist injury in mid 2011 and an inability to hit left-handed pitching which caused him to become a platoon-player for much of 2012. His struggles have made 2013 the most important season in his career; this is likely his last chance to prove his worth to the Rangers. Moreland seems well-aware of it – this offseason, a year removed from wrist surgery, he’s hired a left-handed practice pitcher. He still has the management’s faith – at least publicly, evidenced by Jon Daniels saying “We believe in Mitch Moreland” and scrapping plans to move Ian Kinsler to first base.

While the 2013 Rangers don’t have much money invested in Moreland (about $490,000), they have a lot of hope invested in him. If Mitch can become an everyday, league-average first baseman, it allows the team to do the following:

  • Keep Kinsler at second base

Moreland’s steady presence at first base would keep Kinsler in his comfort zone in the best infield in MLB, and allow him to continue being an above average second baseman.

  • Retain an extra year of team control over Olt and Profar

With Mitch at first base and Kinsler staying at second base, this keeps the team from needing to call up Mike Olt and Jurickson Profar. With these two top prospects starting in the minors, they might not gain enough time in the majors to reach a year of MLB service (172 days on the roster in a 182 day season), which would allow the team to control them longer. Olt would get more time to bash AAA pitching, which would raise his trade value (if Jon Daniels wants to allocate this asset in that manner). As ready as Ranger fans believe Profar is, he could benefit from additional refinement in AAA.

  • Keep Berkman off the field

The Rangers are already planning on doing all they can to keep Lance Berkman from playing defense, but if Mitch doesn’t perform against left-handed pitching or gets injured, the temptation will be to put Berkman at first base. Berkman doesn’t fare particularly well against left-hand pitching either, but Ron Washington loves his veterans, and I suspect that if Mitch struggles Lance will be the next option. Berkman’s 37 year-old knees need to be rested for his swing to be effective. Berkman himself has said that much of his power is generated by his lower half. If he tires in the summer heat, he will lose that power and his value to the team.

Outwardly, it may seem that Mitch Moreland will be a minor cast member in 2013, an extra in a cast that contains much bigger names. However, if Moreland becomes a consistent contributor, he could play a key role in solidifying the team in 2013 and beyond.

A Puma, a mule and an elephant walk into a room…

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Lance Berkman, 2011:

“I felt like if they didn’t re-sign Cliff Lee that they were going to be an average team and I feel that’s probably what’s going to end up happening. I feel like [2010] was one of those special years where you kind of catch lightning in a bottle and…they had some guys that I felt like were pitching better than their talent level. “

“They were itching to spend some money. I probably could have gotten the best deal out of them, especially in light of what they gave Adrian Beltre, which I think is pretty much of a reach for him.”

Lance Berkman, 2013:

“In a way they have to buy me out of retirement, and I know that sounds crass — I wish it didn’t — but it’s a big commitment.  It can put a strain on the family.  If I’m going to play, I’m going to give my heart and soul to the team.  But if the carrot’s not big enough, the mule isn’t going to want to go.”

Well, the mule, Lance Berkman (aka the Big Puma), has arrived in Arlington, and he’s brought an elephant into the room.

Jon Daniels seems to be conducting a chemistry experiment in the Rangers’ clubhouse. Gone are Mike Napoli, Michael Young, and Josh Hamilton, replaced by the “clubhouse cancer” AJ Piersynzki and the opinionated mercenary Lance Berkman.

“It’s a little overrated, honestly,” Ian Kinsler said about clubhouse chemistry when asked about it in early December after Michael Young’s departure. Rangers fans who believe in chemistry need to hope that is indeed the case. It’s not as if the clubhouse chemistry will be particularly bad - how could it, with Adrian, Elvis, Jurickson and Ian – but it won’t be improved. How important was that chemistry to the success of the team in recent years? It’s impossible to quantify, but the changed dynamic will be another story for fans to watch in 2013.

What does the Big Puma bring to the Ballpark besides a small bit of baggage? Power. The dude can bash. The big concern is his health. Berkman is 37 years old and is coming off a season in which he played 32 games and had only 97 plate appearances. Obviously though, the Rangers think he is healthy, and they’re hoping he can return to his 2011 form when he hit .301/.412/.547 with 32 home runs. There is the park factor in play, too, now that Berkman will be playing half his games in a great hitters’ park.

Considering Berkman’s age and recent injury, this is somewhat of a risky signing, but some of that risk is mitigated by the length and reported terms: 1 year with a vesting option for a second year, activated if he reaches 525-550 plate appearances, according to Jeff Wilson’s MLB source. This isn’t a move that will cripple the Rangers in the long term if it’s a bust. It could pay off quite nicely if Berkman stays healthy. A healthy Berkman is probably the Rangers best hitter in 2013. He is a switch-hitter, which will help break up the Rangers’ right hand heavy lineup, and he is a better option at DH than Mitch Moreland, the Rangers’ most likely alternative at DH.

There is a lot to like about this deal, from the terms, to the power potential. The negatives are mostly imagined in the minds of those who place importance on chemistry and think that players will care about what Berkman said about the 2010 version of the team. My guess is that the players don’t care, and are happy to have a veteran power bat back in the lineup, just like in 2010 when Vladimir Guerrero joined the team. And if this bet on an aging, recently injured power hitter works out as well as that move, I’m betting Rangers fans won’t care about Berkman’s past comments either.