With all that is going on with Michael Young, arbitration with a few of our players, free agency next year, I am curious to see if anyone can look so far into the future as to give a lineup and pitching staff for the start of the 2012 season.

Rotation
CJ
Derek Holland
Neftali Feliz
Colby
Martin Perez

C- Torrealba
1B Chris Davis
2B Ian Kinsler
3B Adrian Beltre
SS Elvis Andrus
LF Nelson Cruz
CF Engel Beltre
RF Mitch Moreland
DH Josh Hamilton

with
Borbon
Teagarden
Chad Tracy
Blanco on the Bench

Good idea trying to predict the 2012 lineup when we don't even know what the 2011 on will be.

Only three things I could see differently.

C.J. may end up hitting free agency. I think if that happens you'll see either Feliz in the rotation, Hunter in the rotation, or Scheppers in the rotation.

Josh Hamilton is made for a corner outfield position like RF. He has a much better arm and better range and speed than Moreland. He is was too good an athlete right now to make him a DH.

And Chris Davis, won't outplay Moreland. He won't be the starting first baseman for the Rangers again I don't believe.

If the Rangers trade MY for Carlos Lee then id want him at DH and Hamilton in RF and Moreland at First id like to keep Davis around theres something about having the best defensive infield that makes me feel better about having Tommy Hunter on the mound.

Rotation without CJ..
This is if everything goes right with their development as pitchers...
Neftali Feliz
Derek Holland
Colby Lewis
Tommy Hunter
Martin Perez

I think that Moreland will become a better defender than we think. And I imagine that Scheppers will get called up sometime this year and be put in the bullpen. and then looked at hard for the rotation for 2012. So the odd man out could be Tommy Hunter.

But the biggest mistake the Rangers could have made was signing Scott Feldman to that awful contract. We could've used the near 11 million over the next two years he's going to make, and use it to bring Lee back for more money.

Yeah Feldman's contract is a waist... Im still not sure about Moreland i think hell be a good bat though and maybe above avg. glove but he wont be as good as Davis.
And i think sheppers if his arm doesnt fall off or something will be the Closer

Probably too soon to call Feldman's contract a waste. He has a definite chance to be worth 4.4 mil this year if he can just be a dependable back of the rotation guy. 6.5 is probably steep for 2012, I agree, but the 2013 is an option.

Is it a club optiion? If so then its not as bad as i thought.

Yup club option for 2013 on Feldy.

I'll give this a shot:

Rotation:
Wilson (I think he stays)
Lewis
Feliz
Holland
Perez

Bullpen:
Ogando
Scheppers
Lowe
Beltre
Rhodes
Snyder
free agent or trade

1B - Moreland (I think Davis might be traded at this point)
2B - Kinsler
3B - Beltre
SS - Andrus
LF - Hamilton
CF - Borbon
RF - Cruz
DH - Young? If he is traded, Murphy probably gets at bats here.

I'm not banking on Engel Beltre being much, but he could start getting playing time in the outfield in 2012 as well.

Pujols at first base in 2012.

Joel Whos catching?

I doubt Colby will be the #2 starter then

Go with Torrelaba since he's got another year, but you know that will be mixed with Treanor or whoever.

If Moreland and Davis turn out to be busts, and the Rangers cant get Pujols AGon or Fielder I think they should go after Carlos Pena then they would have the best Defenseive infield in all of baseball

Rotation -
1. Holland (CJ is gone unless he has a ridiculous year this year, plus Holland will be awesome in 2011)
2. Feliz
3. Colby
4. Perez
5. Hunter

C. Torre
1B. Davis - but I think Rangers will sign someone by then.
2B. Kinsler
SS. Elvis - will be undoubtedly top 3 SS in league by then with Haney and Tulo
3B. Beltre - not as productive as we think
RF. Nelson
CF. Engel Beltre
LF. Hambone
DH. Young/Murphdog - and Hambone to rest him

CL. Scheppers

Just one tiny point. Rossi asked for projections for the lineup for the start of the 2012 season. While Engel Beltre and Martin Perez could certainly appear in the majors in 2012 (Perez very likely will), it's also very unlikely that they'll start the season in Arlington even if it's just for service time/arbitration reasons.

Who's on first?

I don't know.

I Don't Know's on Third.

@Dave H Right, that makes it even more difficult, since the Rangers undoubtedly will start the season with a couple new frea agents sprinkled in. That almost has to be the case in the rotation, since its doubtful Wilson returns in addition to Lewis, Holland, Feliz, and Hunter all seing success in 2011.

thats rite.. even in a perfect world i doubt Perez makes the opining day rotation.
In a perfect world he might get called up this year in september, but i doubt hell start the next year in the rotation maybe if someone gets injured or traded. but he could be in the rotation by the
ASB