Notes: Sorting out crowded outfield

02/24/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Rangers outfielder Laynce Nix agreed to a contract for 2006 that includes a $10,000 bonus if he is named the Most Valuable Player of the American League Championship Series.
The Rangers would love to see him get that award. Or David Dellucci, Kevin Mench, Gary Matthews Jr. or Brad Wilkerson. Any of their outfielders would be fine with the Rangers.
They just need to figure out who is going to play where, and manager Buck Showalter has been having one-on-one conversations with each of his outfielders this week to get their feelings on the matter.
The simple fact is if Phil Nevin or Erubiel Durazo get locked in as the designated hitter then Showalter has five able bodies for three spots. A trade might be possible, but general manager Jon Daniels has made it clear he has had no discussions about trying to move an outfielder.
"It was more to get a feeling of what they're thinking and telling them what I know and how I feel about it," Showalter said of his meetings. "They'll all get an opportunity, and there are a lot of factors that can change it. It will be a tough call. It will be a tough call for J.D. to make. You hope to keep them all, but you do the math."
Dellucci, Matthews and Mench were regulars last season and Wilkerson has been a regular for the past four years with the Washington Nationals.
Wilkerson is a wild card because he can play all three positions. Nix is the second wild card because he is coming back from two shoulder surgeries after having once been the Rangers' regular center fielder. Matthews took over that spot after Nix went down and played well.
"Really, those are things I don't worry about any more," Matthews said. "People have to analyze things and how things are going to line up, but I just go out and prepare myself to play 162 games. Things have a way of working things out, and there's no reason to believe they won't again."
Dellucci is proof of that. Every year he comes to camp looking like he'll be a reserve outfielder and Showalter keeps finding him plenty of playing time.
Last year, he saved the Rangers as their leadoff hitter and had his best season, hitting .251 with 97 runs scored, 29 home runs and 65 RBIs.
"The challenge is making them think of the big picture as the season unfolds," Showalter said. "They are all capable of contributing, and you understand why they all want to be out there. You feel good that the organization has that quality depth. You create a scenario where everyone is in the flow, but that's not always good enough for everybody."
Rotation almost set: Showalter usually waits until late in the spring to announce how his rotation will unfold. Now he and pitching coach Mark Connor have already decided the order of the first four.
Kevin Millwood has already been named the Opening Day starter and he'll be followed by Adam Eaton, Vicente Padilla and Kameron Loe, in that order.
"It feels good to be looking for just one guy," Showalter said.
Connor has set up his spring pitching plans so that five guys will be built up with the potential for being the fifth starter: Juan Dominguez, Josh Rupe, C.J. Wilson, R.A. Dickey and Thomas Diamond.
Edison Volquez started three games last year, but Connor said he is not up with that group. John Wasdin has started 16 games for the Rangers the past two years, but Connor said he is being looked at in relief.
Connor said Dickey's knuckleball, with the help of Charlie Hough, has improved "immensely" since last season.
Cordero up, Regilio down: Closer Francisco Cordero got back up on the mound a day earlier than expected, but reliever Nick Regilio is hurting again.
Regilio experienced more tenderness in the flexor tendon area of his right arm after throwing Friday and is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Saturday. The results will be sent back to Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, and he will determine what course of action should be taken. Regilio had flexor tendon surgery last year that sidelined him for the final three months of the season.
Cordero, over the shoulder tenderness from earlier in camp, threw 35 pitches off the mound, including some changeups. He threw Wednesday and the Rangers were expecting him to wait until Saturday, but Cordero wanted to go again Friday.
"There was more intensity from the other day," Connor said. "Hopefully, we can build from there."
Briefly: Nix ($345,260), Jon Leicester ($332,100) and Frank Francisco ($331,500) all agreed to new contracts, meaning everybody on the 40-man roster is signed. ... Infielder Aarom Baldiris and pitcher Armando Galarraga, delayed in Venezuela by visa problems, are expected to join the workouts Saturday. ... The Rangers will take batting practice in Surprise Stadium for the first time Saturday. They will be on the field from 9:30-11 a.m. MT as part of FanFest, with free admission. ... Reliever Kevin Walker, in camp on a Minor League contract, is from Grand Prairie, Texas, and to play for the Rangers, he said, "would mean everything to me. I grew up next to the old stadium. My friends and I would go out and buy cheap outfield seats and sit in the nosebleeds and watch as many games as we could."

Source: http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/