Silent For Too Long said:
You are simply delusional if you think the Rangers are going to magically avoid some rebuilding years.
If the Yankees, the richest and most successful franchise in baseball couldn't do it, historically bottom dweller Rangers won't do it.
Will they have years of rebuilding? Absolutely. But this idea that they've got this "window" of being a postseason team and they are in trouble when it closes has been proven false time and time again.
Everyone said it would happen after Cliff Lee left. They returned to the postseason.
Everyone said it would happen when Feliz and Cruz pissed away a WS. They returned to the postseason.
Everyone said it would happen when Los Angles signed Pujols/Hamilton. They returned to the postseason.
Everyone said it would happen when Prince Fielder's contract was set to hang like an albatross. They returned to the postseason.
Hell, Houston fans of all people should have learned their lesson about counting Texas out... "Come and Get It"... And they did... Again.
I realize it's a foreign concept to Houston fans as they had to literally have one of the worst 4 year stints in the
history of Major League Baseball in order to become competitive (and thus far in 2 years it's netted them 1 wildcard and one watching playoffs from home), but if you have a decent farm system, a sharp GM, and owners willing to spend money then you can stay competitive for a very long time and your rebuilds are very short.
Maybe Hamels is completely broken. Maybe Beltre has played his last meaningful out. Maybe Yu walks.
But this team has averaged 88 wins the last 8 seasons and they are about to build a new stadium (read: selling new season tickets) with two big money guys behind it that aren't afraid to spend money on the roster. Good luck betting on this team not to be competitive, you'll continue to look silly.