This started as a comment at One Strike Away, a Rangers blog I read daily.  The subject is minor Rangers prospect Ryan Rua, who started in Left Field for Texas last year but broke his ankle the first week of the season, and showed poorly upon returning to the plate.  He's been quietly mashing the ball in Spring Training, leading some to speculate on his future with the big club.  Comment commences:

I tweeted back and forth with Jared Sandler (Rangers contributor for WFAA and other places) on this issue yesterday evening. In and of itself, I don't think the Ian Desmond deal was the *right* deal, but it was certainly a *good deal*. The one area where it really bothers me is that it blocks Rua, who the Rangers considered major league left field talent before he broke his ankle. He's showing once again that he's a legitimate LF option, but with Desmond on a one-year MLB deal, Rua gets pushed further down the depth chart. Ruggiano will almost certainly get playing time before Rua does, and I would bet after Rua's poor play coming back from injury Texas will likely be inclined to play him in Round Rock for a while.

So, playing odd-man-out, which is where Sandler seemed to get edgy: if Rua mashes, who does he knock out of their current gig? Desmond isn't going anywhere; he's on a MLB deal so it's DL, trade, or release if he's a bench bat. Ruggiano can play all three outfield positions and potentially 1B; he has the historic stats to suggest he *is* the right-handed platoon bat anyone would want. Choo isn't going anywhere, especially if he plays to his potential. That leaves DDJ, and on the face of it he's the most likely to lose his position as this point. Ruggiano can play center and may have as a good a bat; unless Desmond bombs he's still in LF, and if he bounces back even a little he'll probably hit better than DDJ. That moves DDJ to the bench, and he's faster than Rua so he keeps the fourth outfielder spot. Rua is still in AAA.

Added info:  Evan Grant's lineup update for March 8th presents a breakdown of outfield options.  He implies (does not directly state) that Ruggiano likely became the odd man with the Ian Desmond signing.  That is, Ruggiano was signed to platoon with Hamilton, but supposedly Ian Desmond will now hold down left field until someone pushes him off.  Plus, Rua has options, Ruggiano doesn't.  The job he was signed for his gone, and his guarantee is only $500,000.  He may be done in a few weeks.

My conclusion: it will take two player moves/transactions in the outfield to occur before Rua gets called up. Which is a real shame, because I think the ability to be a full time Major League outfielder is there. And once again I say "getting Ian Desmond for 1/$8 was a fantastic deal. I'm just not sure it was the right or best deal for Texas."

Posted by: Ben at 09:49 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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