We continue our position series on the Rangers with a look at the outfield.
Outfielders: LF/RF Jim Adduci, CF/LF Michael Choice, LF Shin-Soo Choo, CF Leonys Martin, LF Daniel Robertson and LF Jake Smolinski.
Most productive outfielder: Martin
Least productive outfielder: Choice
Stat of note: Martin finished fourth in the big leagues with DWAR of 2.3.
Outlook: Martin (career-high 194 total bases) improved as a center fielder and leadoff hitter (.298/.354/.391) yet there are still concerns. Ron Washington didn't trust Martin against left-handed pitching or as a leadoff man, Tim Bogar did. New manager Jeff Banister hasn't said where he'll place Martin. Choo (123 games) played through a bone spur and then an ankle injury the majority of the season. He was the leadoff man until his injuries forced him to the 60-day disabled list. Choo said he's willing to move down from the leadoff spot and also possibly move to right field, a position he's more accustomed to playing. If Choo moves to right, the Rangers might look to a player already on their roster or to free agency for left field. If the Rangers sign a corner outfielder, Adduci, Robertson and Smolinski will compete for the fourth outfielder spot. Ryan Rua is another possibility, but he looked shaky in the outfield at times last season. Robertson is a contact hitter and might have the lead as the No. 4 outfielder, but Smolinski, after recovering from his foot injury, hit the ball pretty well late in the season. Choice won a job in spring training but was demoted. Can Choice respond and make a push to earn a roster spot? Engle Beltre has battled through leg problems and his status is unknown at this stage of the offseason. He was rehabbing but then had to stop when more leg issues developed. He's a talented player who hit .292 in 92 games for Triple-A Round Rock in 2013 and the club still has hopes for him.
