Team-by-Team Fantasy Projections: Texas Rangers

Here are the 2016 MLB fantasy projections for the Texas Rangers (ZiPS projections courtesy Dan Szymborski; Steamer projections courtesy Jared Cross, Dash Davidson and Peter Rosenbloom; Zeile projections courtesy FantasyPros):

Hitters

C Robinson Chirinos

Chirinos offers little fantasy appeal, as he'll most likely splitting time with Chris Gimenez. However, he's shown he has some pop, hitting 10 homers in 233 at-bats in 2015 after slugging 13 in 306-at bats in 2014. He's worth keeping an eye on, but not worth drafting outside of AL-only leagues.

1B Mitch Moreland

Moreland hit a respectable .245 against LHPs a year ago, which will be good enough to make him the everyday first baseman. With the depth at 1B across the AL, he isn't worth drafting in 10 or 12-team leagues, but will drive in runs hitting fifth or sixth in a stellar lineup.

2B Rougned Odor

Odor is no longer a well-kept secret after a dazzling performance in the 2015 ALDS against Toronto. He launched 16 long balls in only 120 games last season, showing power at a position that usually lacks it. At 22, he makes for a high-risk, high-reward mid-tier second baseman.

3B Adrian Beltre

Even at the age of 37, Beltre can still be relied upon as a mid-tier third baseman. He's a safe pick due to his durability (140 games played in 12 of his past 14 seasons) and his floor of a .280 average, 15 home runs and 70 RBI. His upside is limited, but he's solid.

SS Elvis Andrus

Andrus provides great value in the stolen base column. Delino DeShields and Shin-Soo Choo have pushed him out of the top of the order, leading to a potential decrease in runs and hits, but there's potential for an RBI increase if he slots into the six-hole.

LF Ian Desmond

Desmond was signed in a surprise move by the Rangers, who will use him as their primary left fielder. While Josh Hamilton and Joey Gallo may threaten his at-bats from time to time, Desmond should easily clear 500 PAs; his SS/OF eligibility makes him a valuable pick in the middle round of mixed leagues.

CF Delino DeShields

DeShields won't provide home-run power, but has a patient approach at the plate and can really fly. He hit .261 as a 22-year-old rookie, but showed off his maturity with a .344 OBP. He can be drafted late and will score plenty of runs leading off in a dangerous lineup.

RF Shin-Soo Choo

In leagues that count walks and OBP, Choo is gold. He has a career OBP of .382 and has a 162-game average of 84 BBs. If he hits second in Texas' lineup, he has 100-run, 25-homer potential. He finished with 22 home runs and scored 94 times last season despite a brutal start.

DH Prince Fielder

Fielder doesn't swing for the fences like he once did as a young slugger in Milwaukee, but he's a better overall hitter. His new up-the-middle mentality doesn't bode well for fantasy, though he still has 100-RBI potential in a hitter-friendly park with a deep lineup around him.

Starters

LHP Cole Hamels

Hamels is the definition of a workhorse, as he's looking to log his seventh consecutive season of 200 innings. His exceptionally clean delivery has limited injuries throughout his career. Hamels has a high floor and can be taken in the early-to-middle rounds as a safe pick.

RHP Colby Lewis

Lewis, 36, is nearing the end of his career and has little fantasy appeal. He has recorded double-digit wins in four out of his last five seasons, but has only posted an ERA below 4.40 in one of those.

RHP Yu Darvish

Coming off Tommy John surgery, Darvish has Cy Young potential, making him a high-risk, high-reward fantasy pitcher if taken in the early rounds. He's especially valuable in leagues that put a premium on strikeouts, with an 11.2 strikeout-per-nine rate over his three-year career.

LHP Derek Holland

Holland is a serviceable back-end starter when healthy, though that caveat is a major concern. The veteran left-hander has only started 16 games over the past two seasons.

LHP Martin Perez

Much like Holland, Perez can be a reliable back-end starter, but he provides little fantasy value. He pitches in a tough ballpark and doesn't strike out many batters.

Closer

RHP Shawn Tolleson

Tolleson has struck out 184 batters in 181.2 innings in two seasons with the Rangers. He should continue to rack up close to a strikeout per inning. As long as Texas remains a contender in the AL West, he should tally around 30 saves. He can be taken in the second tier of closers.