Dallas Sports

Fans are always asking: why do Major League teams bring so many players to Spring Training?

To answer that question quickly—they do it in order to get a good look at how the young players are performing and more importantly how they play against other Major League talent.

But after a few weeks, the teams will begin shorting their rosters in order for their Major League starters to get more consistent and longer game appearances.

On Sunday, the Texas Rangers made their first round of optioning players to the minor league squad in preparation for Opening Day.

Not even a month ago, the Rangers and free agent pitcher Ben Sheets seemed to have ironed out a preliminary two-year contract.

Things quickly fell through when doctors performing Sheets’ physical determined that he needed to have surgery on his right elbow.

The contract was thrown out, Sheets went on to have the surgery, the Milwaukee Brewers were responsible for the bill (the last team Sheets played for,) and the Rangers went on to spring training with the pitching staff they have.

The second part of the Two-for-One MLB Previews covers the two teams that made the most even trade of the past offseason, Texas and Cincinnati.

Past Previews: TB/SD

Current Standings

ALE: 1, Tampa Bay*, 3, 4, 5

ALC: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

ALW: 1, 2, 3, 4