Today I read on a couple different sites with Jon Daniels quoted as saying Jurickson Profar will not be moving to the outfield. I know there have been a couple erroneous threads speculating whether or not it would be a good idea to shift him into a right (or center) fielder.

On the other hand, he also confirmed that Mike Olt will be working out in RF this spring. I, for one, am not particularly comfortable with Olt playing right field, but at the same time I am curious to see what type of production he could generate at the plate. The problem with Olt is, if for some reason he makes it on the roster as the 24th man (likely fulfilling a 4-corners role), does the amount of playing time he would theoretically be receiving justify not saving a year of control by keeping him in AAA to start the year?

These are questions that need to be answered. If the Rangers are committed to a youth movement, then we'll likely see guys like Justin Grimm, Leury Garcia/Jurickson Profar, and Mike Olt on the Opening Day roster.

What do you guys think? Who would you like to see on the roster come Opening Day?

Personally I would like to see you never posting on here again.

@eric r.
Good Post>>
Personally, I think all of the above will either make the team in spring training or will be brought up
by the All Star break. I don't see the front office making any moves for bench players, etc. Grimm
has an outside chance as the #5 starter or at least spot starting from a long position in the bull pen.
Cruz scenario can flip things quickly. We're missing 37% of our HR production from last year, so I
believe Olt has a better chance proving he can fill a MOTOB. Profar, obviously is the one player we
all are curious whether he makes the 25 man or gets his reps in AAA. Garcia over Profar Opening Day.

I'd like to see Olt/Garcia/Grimm on the opening day roster. Let Profar play AAA, maybe call him up later. Depends on what happend I guess.

DUH!

eric--
Did JD never say that Profar might get some time in the OF? I thought i heard that.
I wondered if it might be signs of another disconnect between the FO and Wash.

The way Wash refused to play Olt and Profar last year upset me and i think most fans--and i would think JD for sure..
FO had to get rid of MY to keep Wash from playing him every day.
How much friction do you think there is?

This team collapsed last year.

Is Wash on the hot seat? Could this be his last year as manager?

I think Profar and Olt are ready and should be playing every day for someone.

Holy macarole.

Ben and Skin reporting that Vegas has set the over/under for Rangers wins this season at 87!
Where have we heard this number before?

Also that Dutch has been told to stop the silliness. He won't have a show on Ben and Skin this season!

Terri C.
That bit of news is only a week or so old.

Terry, if Jon Daniels didn't like how Wash used his guys last year, he should have said something. He is, after all, Ron's superior.

As for Olt and Profar, yes, they can start for someone. They could start for a lot of teams. Problem is, the Rangers have something like 8.0-10.0 WAR playing in their middle infield, and Adrian Beltre is a 5-6 win 3rd baseman. Without taking the future into consideration, I would like like to see a Mitch Moreland/Mike Olt platoon at 1st base -- to maximize offensive production -- but I believe we'll see Olt in AAA to begin the season.

Yes, I like our infield. If you weighed offense and defense equally, I think the Rangers have the best infield in MLB. But you don't; offense is more valuable, so I think the Tigers still get that distinction. For now.

In a way, it's kind of a shame, because what UIF would want to sign with Texas, knowing they're likely to play in maybe 50 games at most (but likely fewer)? Most teams don't have 3 all-star infielders.

Wow Andy that was some really insightful input.

You go with your best 25. If that includes Olt and Profar, even Garcia then that is the way it is. Profar will be by all accounts begin 2013 at Round Rock. JD has said such in a round about way, by stating that Profar would have to have enough at bats to justify him on the 25 man roster. Spring Training and injuries will be the determinant. Saving a year on Profar has some limiting value. Olt is a different case, primarily because he is 24 [25 before the end of the season], a right handed bat who can play two positions [1b, lf] where their would either be lefty battere, and rf [Cruz situation] and give Adrian a rest without a major loss in defense. So I see Olt on the 25. The question would be who would you rather have Baker or Olt, or possibly Snyder [who can be the #3 catcher]. Losing a year of control on two players, who have had success at AA level, who at the earliest can be lost in 2019 is vastly over rated and to the Rangers a NON-issue. Playing time however is a concern, but there is one point to consider: is it more valuable for an individual player to be at ML level, even in a limited role over being in the minors. At the ML for each hour on the field for a player there is at least hour sometimes as high as two learning the skills in practices, coaching and other training. Recall that a typical player gets to the park of a nite game often 4 to 6 hours before the game even starts. And does just being in that surroundings and around Major Leaguers off sets any gains by minor league every day play? The main reason I could see by playing such player at say AAA is if there was an intent the raise his value by the stats generated. With Profar already the #1 OF 100 top prospects, that is mote.

Spring Training means very little. The Rangers already have a pretty strong idea of who will be on their roster Opening Day.

To me it makes good sense to try Olt in the outfield. He's blocked at third and Rangers management wants to give Moreland a full Chris Davis like chance to stick at first. If Cruz gets 50 days suspension, Olt will get 200 AB that he would not get as an infielder. I like the way Gentry gets on base, but do the Rangers have the pitching to win with little-ball? Olt could realistically hit 20 hr in a full season and he has a great arm. Why not try him in RF?

As good as he is, Profar still needs to start the season in Round Rock and get regular work. That way he will be ready when the Price-Andrus deal goes down in July.

if by some miracle we are still the the race for the AL West, then it would more likely be profar that would be leaving

A month ago I would have agreed with you trickydick, but I have concluded that Boras will not let Elvis sign an extension. He will be a FA after '14. Profar is our SS of the future. I watched him play several games in Frisco last year and think he really needs at least a half season at AAA, but he will have Ozzie-like magic when he is ready. I love Elvis. He is going to have a great career but, when the time comes, it will just make better financial sense to let him play elsewhere.

Don't know about Olt in RF. this switch would be justified if his better fielding exceeds Cruz's better hitting. He needs time T 3B and 1B to maintain his plus defense. I also believe Olt needs to be rehabilitated. I believe his injury and Wash significantly diminished his trade value. Whether AAA or MLB is the best place for this, I just don't know.

Primi, I would agree with you if were talking about 2011 vintage Nellie, but not last year's princess Cruz. I guess he could use that as his defense: "If I took PEDs, why was my performance so much worse?" Anyway, this is his contract year, so I expect that ship to sail at the end of this season. With Murphy also a possible FA, why not see if Olt can do the job?

Good discussion.

At Olt's age, I don't think "seasoning" is really needed. I think "getting on the bus" before his ticket expires is the important factor with him.

And, my guess is he'll see 30 games at 3B (if Adrian's balky hammies act up again) and 45-50 games at 1B and upwards of 50 games in RF/LF and 15 games at DH. I don't think Wash will bat Mitch against the "tough lefties" so Olt will get those ABs. I think his career starts now. And, I think we'll like what we see.

I'm a Moreland fan and see him being pretty much the full-time 1B with those exceptional times out of the lineup. And, even on those days when that "tough lefty" takes the mound and Olt starts, I still see Mitch coming in late for match-up purposes.

Unless Profar shines brightly in Surprise, I'd be surprised if he starts the season with the big club. Holding his clock back a season won't put him anywhere near his prime after 6 years so that's not an issue. My hope is that Leury starts as the UIF getting some time in the OF, too. Of course, any innings he gets in the OF will impact Olt, but Garcia is one of those exciting guys that I think we'll enjoy watching play the game.

If Olt makes the team, I don't see Snyder in Arlington. Or Blake. If Ian sprains an ankle or Elvis finds himself injured for the first time, Profar is on the bus home to Arlington; otherwise, I don't see him before July 1 (excepting, of course, an extraordinary performance in ST).

This is a really good squad.

C: Pierzynski/Soto
1: Moreland/Olt
2: Kinsler/Garcia
3: Beltre/Olt
S: Andrus/Garcia
L: Murphy/Olt/Garcia
C: Martin/Gentry
R: Cruz/Olt/Martin/Garcia
D: Berkman

B1: Olt
B2: Garcia
B3: Gentry

A few people seem to be under the impression that these players work for Boras instead of the other way around. That's not how agents work. I'm sure they have differing levels of advisement, but agents all work for the players.

If Elvis wanted more than anything to be a Ranger for life, he probably would have been extended into FA already. But like most players, surely he's looking to maximize his value. His agent has a history of being able to do that for his clients. But don't for a second think that Elvis hasn't signed long-term because his agent won't "let" him.

"You go with your best 25."

Not necessarily. The batboy will be 20 years old this season. He does not need to spend 4 days a week on the bench when he could be honing his skills in AAA every day. There is absolutely no reason, right now, to have Profar on the 25 if he's not going to play almost every day. And for now, it doesn't seem like he's going to, as long as Elvis and Ian remain healthy.

Andy, I agree. Either Profar or Olt only makes sense if the amount of at bats they'd be receiving in MLB justify the experience they won't be getting in AAA. Right now, I don't know where those at bats would be coming from, not unless they decide to platoon Moreland and Olt at 1st base. Even at that, I'm still inclined to keep Olt in AAA. At least at the start.

The new CBA puts a premium on maximizing value from your in-house talent. For that reason, 6 years of control means more in 2013 than it did in previous years.

Not many players go against their agent when it comes down to cashing in. Elvis isn't Pudge Rodriguez. He's out of here before long and Profar is here for the long haul. Can't say if he starts the season on the MLB club but he will finish it at SS and Elvis will be somewhere else waiting for Free Agency. I would love to see Leury Garcia as the Super Utility guy because of his versatility and speed. I expect Olt to make the squad out of Surprise to platoon with Moreland at 1st, backup Beltre at 3rd and split time with the corner outfielders. He should get some at bats for Berkman as the DH also. Youth will play a big part in the Rangers success this season. I look for Leonys Martin to split time with Craig Gentry in CF also.

I'd much rather see Borbon in RF than Olt and as others have already said, I think it makes more sense for both Olt and Profar to play every day in the minors than it does to sit on the bench.

Thanks for the read. Let's go Rangers!!