MBL Texas Rangers:

[hayesb26]

I've tried this in the past once or twice, and have been wanting to try it again for a while now.

I've been the General Manager of the Texas Rangers in the MajorBaseballLeague since 2010. The league is currently in the offseason, preparing to begin 2015. The league is using OOTP8, having converted from V6 before the 2014 season. We have a standard MLB setup, with the exception of Tampa Bay moving to Carolina. The league uses full minors, including AAA, AA, High and Low A, Short Season A, and Rookie League.

Upon arriving in Texas in 2010, it was time to rebuild, from the ground up. The team had been successful in the first couple of seasons, winning the AL East in 2005 and grabbing the wildcard in '06. However, those pieces were getting older, expensive and much less effective. The team lost over $40,000,000 from 2006 to 2009, while finishing over .500 just once and growing progressively worse each season. As new GM, I immediately began shipping out older, overpriced players for young prospects. Things got worse before starting to improve, as the team's financial situation started to brighten and the young prospects began to infiltrate the major leagues. Since taking over and shedding payroll for youth, I've managed to help the team profit over $65,000,000. With a strong financial situation and youngsters that will help carry the team, it is now the time for the Rangers to return to respectability and success.

Team History:

2005: 95-67 -- AL West Champions -- $29,898,084 Profit
2006: 94-68 -- Wild Card Winners -- $6,784,169 Loss
2007: 84-78 -- 3rd in AL West -- $4,441,493 Loss
2008: 75-87 -- Last in AL West -- $26,064,885 Loss
2009: 63-99 -- Last in AL West -- $702,154 Loss
2010 (Took Over as GM): 61-101 -- Last in AL West -- $18,404,893 Profit
2011: 58-104 -- Last in AL West -- $5,365,725 Profit
2012: 73-89 -- Last in AL West -- $9,520,303 Profit
2013: 71-91 -- Last in AL West -- $3,561,937 Profit
2014: 68-94 -- 3rd in AL West -- $32,004,887 Profit

As you can clearly see, since taking over I've shed payroll and brought youth into the Texas system. That youth is slowly making its way to the majors and having an impact on the team. I believe we're right at the cusp of becoming a legit team and are ready to make it a fight in the AL West.

With free agency coming up, I'm expected to make major moves in free agency to bring in veteran leadership to help aid the youngsters. In addition, we've still got a great draft position for this season, and should benefit from that as well. I'll go over the team's roster and free agent plans more in depth soon.

[hayesb26]

2015 Texas Rangers:

With free agency still the come, the team is certainly not yet complete and ready for Spring Training. Major changes are likely to come in the next couple of weeks. However, a core group of young players is already in place and we will highlight those players here (some highly touted minor leaguers included):

Starting Pitchers

Rhett Holliday: The 1st overall pick in the 2012 MBL Amateur draft, Holliday was immediately seen as the pitching savior in a league that is extremely thin on starting pitching. He was in the big leagues in September of 2012 and hasn't looked back. After winning 10 games and posting a 4.84 ERA as a rookie, he won 11 in his sophomore campaign, with an ERA of 3.97, a huge improvement that established himself as one of the top pitchers in MBL. Just 24 years old, he is expected to move into the ace role of the franchise this season and anchor the pitching staff for a long time to come.

Kris Johnson: The lefty was acquired this offseason in the contraction draft, as the Montreal Expos and Tampa Bay Devil Rays were removed from the league. He lost twenty games last season, but had a respectable 4.81 ERA. He is expected to be the #2 starter this season and significantly help a pitching staff that has consistently ranked in the bottom of the AL in recent history.

Zach Duke: Another lefty who was brought to Texas from the Cubbies before the 2012 season, with great expectations. Texas hero Mark Teixeira was sent to Chicago to acquire him, and he was expected to be the staff ace. However, he has yet to live up to expectations, never posting an ERA below five during his stay in Texas. He has another two seasons remaining and, at just thirty-one years old, he will have several more chances to prove his worth.

Rusty Staub Jr: A seventh round draft pick in 2012, Staub has worked his way through the minors and evolved into a solid pitcher. He will be counted on in the major league rotation this season, and should produce well for a bottom of the rotation man. Now 24 years old, Staub pitched very well in a September callup last season and has potential to be a solid #2 starter behind Holliday in the very near future.

Juan Valdes: A 23 year old prospect, the "Columbian Bean" is almost ready to make an impact in the major leagues. Valdes was acquired from division rival Oakland last season at the all-star break in a deal which saw former ace Cole Hamels leave town. Hamels was the face of the staff for four seasons before being dealt due to his impending free agency. Juan will start the season at AAA Oklahoma this season, but will probably see time in the majors before it is all said and done.

As you can tell, we have only four starters who project to pitch in the majors this season. This means that we'll certainly be making a run at somebody in free agency, hopefully a proven veteran who can be the #2 or 3 pitching for the next 3 seasons.