2016 Rangers Playoff Roster Predictions

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Catchers (2): Jonathan Lucroy, Robinson Chirinos

Infielders (5): Mitch Moreland, Rougned Odor, Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus, Jurickson Profar

Outfielders (6): Carlos Beltran, Shin-Soo Choo, Ian Desmond, Carlos Gomez, Nomar Mazara, Ryan Rua

Starting Pitchers (4): Cole Hamels, Yu Darvish, Colby Lewis, Martin Perez

Relief Pitchers (8): Sam Dyson, Matt Bush, Tony Barnette, Alex Claudio, Jake Diekman, Jeremy Jeffress, Keone Kela, Tanner Scheppers

**If the Rangers elected to select just a seven-man bullpen and a five-man bench...

Out: Tanner Scheppers

In: Jared Hoying

My biggest hangup is over the end of the bench between Rua, DeShields, and Hoying. They each have at least one flaw that brings their candidacy into question.

DeShields is not just a good base-stealer, but is also a good baserunner who maximizes his speed with efficient steps. While he's hit lefties well of late, I'm not sure that I'd consider him a prime right-handed bat off the bench in a big spot. His biggest knock is that he simply can't offer any form of a defensive upgrade at this point. Frankly, if he could, this wouldn't be a discussion.

Hoying isn't as fast as DeShields, but he's more than fast enough to warrant status as a speed upgrade. Unlike Delino, Hoying is a late-game outfield upgrade and has been used as such frequently over the last month. He just can't hit, however. At all. The Rangers also don't really need another left-handed bat on a bench that will already have Mazara and Profar.

While you could consider DeShields a plus-bench runner and Hoying a plus-bench defender, I'm not sure that Rua is really a "plus" anything, however, he's not a minus, either. Of the three candidates, Rua, who is a needed right-handed bat, is a very capable and efficient baserunner and a versatile quality defensive player. The biggest sticking point is his bat. He was a fixture in the lineup vs. LHP earlier this season because he was among baseball's best against them, but then he went cold versus everyone. He still would be the best right-handed bat on the bench because, as you know by now, the switch-hitting Profar can't hit lefties.

Ultimately, while there isn't a perfect option, if I could only pick one--and with a four-man bench you're only picking one--I'm picking Rua because he can contribute in all three areas, even if you'd consider none of his contributions to be "plus" contributions.

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