Major league teams are required to set their 40-man rosters by Friday, November 20.  The Rangers settled on their roster a day early by adding Rule 5 eligible lefthanders Michael Kirkman and Zach Phillips (link).  Kirkman (3.48 ERA, 7.3 K/9, 3.8 BB/9, 1.36 WHIP, 0.99 GB/FB) and Phillips (1.39 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 3.5 BB/9, 0.98 WHIP, 1.51 GB/FB) ended outstanding 2009 seasons pitching for the Rangers’ AA affiliate in Frisco.  Both pitchers are candidates to pitch out of the major league bullpen in 2010.

Notable Rule 5 eligible players who will apparently not be protected by the Rangers this offseason include Fabio Castillo, David Paisano, Beau Jones, Johnny Whittleman, Chad Tracy, Brennan Garr, and Adalberto Flores.

The two additions bring the Rangers’ 40-man roster to 37 players (see table below).  The Rangers can offer arbitration to Marlon Byrd and Pudge Rodriguez and still have an available roster spot that can be used in the Rule 5 draft that is scheduled to be held on December 10^th.   

The Rangers are thin in the infield, with only their starting four seemingly capable of producing above replacement level.  Adding a couple of infielders via the Rule 5 draft, waiver claim, minor trade, or free agent signing would appear to be a priority this offseason.  Signing free agents to major league deals or adding a major league player via trade will require that one or more players be removed from the Rangers 40 man roster.  In addition to Byrd and Rodriguez, the most likely players to not survive the offseason on the Rangers roster .39 ERA, would seem to be Willie Eyre, Esteban German, Joaquin Arias, and Luis Mendoza.