2007 Rangers Projected Lineup

2007 Texas Rangers

Batting Order

1. CF Kenny Lofton
2. LF Frank Catalanotto/ Brad Wilkerson
3. SS Michael Young
4. 1B Mark Teixeira
5. DH Sammy Sosa/ Frank Catalanotto
6. 3B Hank Blalock
7. 2B Ian Kinsler
8. RF Nelson Cruz
9. C Gerald Laird

Young led the AL last season with a .412 average with runners in scoring position. The Rangers want to drop him a spot to third in the order to take advantage of it. Sosa is the main question mark and whatever he produces will be a bonus. Big things are expected from Cruz, who has folks in camp raving about his power potential. Kinsler could emerge as one of the league's top 2Bs and may also see some time in the No. 2 spot when Catalanotto is out of the lineup.

Rotation

Kevin Millwood
Vicente Padilla
Brandon McCarthy
Robinson Tejeda

5th spot battle:
Kameron Loe
Edinson Volquez
John Koronka
John Rheinecker
Josh Rupe
Bruce Chen
Jamey Wright

Manager Ron Washington said the fourth spot is Tejeda's to lose, and we're not so certain he won't cough it up. Kameron Loe, Edinson Volquez, John Koronka, Josh Rupe, Bruce Chen, Jamey Wright, and John Rheinecker are all in the running for the fifth (and possibly the fourth) slot. Fun. Fantasy owners should only count on Millwood, Padilla and McCarthy until the rest of this mess shakes out.

Closer: Eric Gagne

Gagne has made only 16 appearances over the past two seasons due to arm and back issues. Early reports about his health are positive and the Rangers have already handed him the closer's role, but it's difficult not to have some reservations. Akinori Otsuka is currently slated to work the eighth inning, but we know he can handle the role if Gagne is not ready or if he simply doesn't have the same stuff that he did a few surgeries ago.