I thought I would start this one on the back end of the pen. In 2016, Sam Dyson did a good job holding down the closer job. I don’t see any reason why he would not be the favorite to repeat as the closer in 2017. Dyson had a 2.43 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 70.1 innings pitched. Dyson was reliable, but he did blow 5 saves in 42 tries. He was also the closer on the best team in the American League. His ERA since joining the Texas Rangers is 1.79. Not too shabby. Dyson will be rested and will start the year as the closer as far as I can tell.
Next up in my opinion would have to Matt Bush. Bush exploded onto the scene
with the Rangers in 2016 and posted a 2.48 ERA in 58 games. The Rangers toyed with making him a starter in the off-season, but decided against it. Bush is a great bullpen arm, and I would have had some things to say if they would have moved him to the rotation. Don’t think it would have been a good move. Bush also did not give up a run in the post season, one of the few bight spots in that series. Bush should be the set up guy to start Spring Training.
In his 53 appearances in 2016, Tony Barnette was a pleasant surprise. He posted a 2.09 ERA and struck out 49 in just over 60 innings. Barnette is a great right handed option, and he can strike out lefties and righties alike. He was one of the players that came into a game and did not make the fan base feel nervous. Barnette should be used as an end of the rotation guy in 2017.
Tanner Scheppers had an interesting 2016. He has had an interesting ride since the bar fight incident. Scheppers only got into 10 games in 2016, and he was not too bad. He had a 4.15 ERA and struck out 5 in his 8.1 innings pitched. Scheppers should be back and healthy in 2017, and a healthy Scheppers was good for the Rangers in the past. I believe that he will also be good going forward. I should say I have hope, anyway. I look for him to be an important guy late in games in 2017.
Jeremy Jeffress had a very bad end to his regular season when he was arrested for a DUI. He was pitching pretty well up to that point, and the Rangers traded for him thinking he could be a good late inning guy, maybe even a closer again one day. Jeffress posted a 2.18 ERA with the two teams he pitched for, and with Milwaukee he saved 27 games. Jeffress has hopefully learned a lesson from his incident in 2016. If he stays healthy, he could be huge for a full year for the Rangers.
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