Fantasy Forces:
1B-Rafael Palmeiro(38) Like a Timex, Palmeiro just keeps on ticking.  For the fourth time in the last 5 years he hit 40+ homeruns while topping 30 for the eighth time in a row.  Give him just 5 more homeruns in those 8 years and he would have topped 40 each year.  Despite his age and his commitment to power versus another .300 season, Palmeiro is a touch below the Helton's and Giambi's of the league but one of the top producers in all of baseball. With 10 more long balls, the guy the Cubs once said will be nothing more than a slap happy outfielder will pass the 500 barrier, leaving Cooperstown to wait for his retirement.
SS-Alex Rodriguez(27) Once again the failures of an Arod led team steered the MVP voters clear of Arod's All-World feats, as he led the league in homeruns for a second consecutive year while snaring his first Gold Glove award, snapping Omar Vizquel's nine year reign.  Though he is just 27, he is two homeruns from 300 and deserves talk of not only being the greatest shortstop ever but possibly the greatest player ever.  Though he has sacrificed some average for exceptional power numbers recently, expect him to put the two together soon, making him a perennial triple crown threat.  The premier performer in the game today, he should take full advantage of his magical 27th year with his best season yet.
CL-Ugueth Urbina(29) Although he seemed to lose favor in Beantown with his mild mannered approach to the game, Urbina's 2002 campaign was perhaps his best ever as he topped the forty save mark for the second time while blowing just 6 opportunities.  His control was better than ever and his fastball was again popping after an early season slumber that left him in the high 80's.  Nearly unhittable, Urbina was one of the most feared closers in the 90's until arm troubles sidelined him.  As last year proved, he is once again among the most feared.  Given the Rangers potent offense and dismal rotation, he may not see as many opportunities in 2003, but the ones he does will most likely turn into saves.

Better Days Ahead:
3B-Hank Blalock(22) Rushed into a starting job on the heels of a terrific spring last year, Blalock quickly showed the Rangers he needed more time to develop, having never previously played in AAA.  Approaching the game in his usual aggressive manner, the young slugger found himself in holes he couldn't dig himself out of as he slumped horribly before being shipped to Oklahoma, where he should have started to begin with.  While still considered a top prospect, questions surfaced following his short stay in the bigs.  With top prospect Teixeira ready to take a shot, Blalock could find himself at second or on a different team.  Considering the talent the Rangers could get in return and their lack of front-line starters, the latter is likely at some point this season, which could allow Blalock to blossom into the all-tool talent he is proclaimed to be.
SP-Ryan Drese(26) Like Blalock, Drese found himself out of his element in his rookie year although he was forced to endure every waking minute of it without the saviour of AAA.  In 26 starts he barely came in under 7.00 while failing to overcome the command problems that had haunted him throughout his minor league career.  He will be given a shot to land in the rotation this year and with an impressive arsenal (and Texas not going anywhere real quick) he should take care of business.  While more rough times are ahead, he should develop into a solid middle rotation guy in the years to come although his value this season is minimal.
OF-Kevin Mench(25) With Blalock and Teixeira on the fringe, Mench was the first of Texas' baby bashers to make a statement in the big leagues as he challenged for the ROY despite playing in just 110 games, most after June.  Big and packed with a stick to match his ego, Mench was the MVP of the Florida State League in '00 and spent less than 2 months in AAA, leaving his final development in the hands of Showalter and Co.  If he keeps his head on straight, he has the talent to be a solid #5 hitter and '03 should bring him another year closer.
SP-Mario Ramos(25) Brought over in exchange for ultra-hyped Carlos Pena, Ramos was supposed to contend for a rotation spot after the break but instead endured a horrific season at Oklahoma in which he lost command of his pitches, primarily his fastball.
3B-Mark Teixeira(22) In just one minor league season the former Georgia Tech star has positioned himself as the top third base prospect in all of baseball and may push Blalock, a former top prospect, to a new position.

Supporting Cast:
C-Einar Diaz(30) Taking over for a legend, Diaz will be under tremendous pressure to redeem one of the league's worst rotations while rebounding from a nightmarish 2002 as well.  Once a top prospect, the speedy backstop has been thwarted by impatience exposed with the liquidation of Manny Ramirez and Roberto Alomar as well as injuries, suffering through a broken rib early in the season.  With his defense taking the same route as his offense last year, Diaz should be a solid contributor with steady but unimpressive production.
OF-Carl Everett(31) Although Hart made an effort to rid the Rangers of John Rocker, he was unable to move this headcase in the offseason, due to his exorbitant $9 million contract which expires post-2003.  Possessing tremendous talent , the sulky outfielder is uncommitted to the everyday habits that the top hitters share but will be motivated highly by his impending free agency.  Although he stepped it up in his last free agent season as an Astro, his ceiling is much less now and any visions of a repeat of '99 are far and few between, as he is pushed further and further down the lineup.
3B-Herbert Perry(33) Signed to an extension towards the end of 2002, Perry has seen his days as a full-time player pass him by, but his versatility as a fielder along with a steady bat makes him invaluable.  With Blalock and Teixeira both fresh to the bigs, the 7 year veteran should see plenty of action around the diamond as well as in the late innings and put up respectable part-time numbers.
SP-John Thomson(29) Like Pedro Astacio and the late Daryl Kile, RIP, before him, Thomson's exodus from Coors Canaveral led to a good amount of success.  After seeing nearly two seasons washed out by injuries ('99 and '00), Thomson shook off retirement and gave it another go.Traded to the Mets at the deadline, the former 7th round pick accounted for 22 quality starts and posted a career-high 181 innings.  With his fastball back in the mid-90s and his control among the best in the game, Thomson is poised to take another step forward as the Rangers #2 man.  Given his history in Coors, the venue change shouldn't have nearly the effect it had on Park and he should be among the leaders in wins and WHIP.
2B-Mike Young(26) Given his first crack at everyday duty, Young responded well, hitting primarily out of the #2 hole where he will reside again.  Although he hit just 2 homeruns after the break, he roped 43 extra base hits while raising his average 13 points from his 2000 rookie campaign.  Given time he may develop into the .300 hitter he was in the minors but it may not be at second base.  With the possibility Blalock may shift to second to make room for the phenom Teixeira, Young might find himself roaming the outfield later this year or in '04.  In the meantime, if he can continue to even out his BB/K ratio, he will provide steady production from the pivot position.
RP-Esteban Yan(27) Much like a pitcher in Colorado, a little sympathy can be directed at the poor soul brought in to close games for the Devil Rays.  Last year's poor soul was Yan, who blew 8 of the 27 opportunities he had.  This year he will be able to slide into a support role of which he is much more suited due to his approach to the game.  Despite an arsenal that features a high-90s fastball and a wicked slider, he gets lazy far too often around the plate while also suffering from long-term memory, death for a closer.  Should Urbina go down Yan will be the first off the line but expect him to supply a good dose of relief wins, innings and strikeouts until then.

Risky Business:
OF-Juan Gonzalez(33) Once the league's premier run producer, Igor is far from those days as nine trips to the DL in a 14 year career are finally taking their toll.  Last year it was his right thumb and questions still persist as to his health.  If healthy, Gonzalez is still young enough to be a huge producer in a loaded lineup but that is a huge if and highly unlikely to come to fruition as another part-time year is surely in the works.
SP-Chan Ho Park(29) While the signing of Park was supposed to solidify a questionable rotation, an early season hamstring problem and subsequent pitching hand blisters led to speculation Park was a product of Chavez Ravine as opposed to the top of the rotation pitcher he was paid to be.  Supposedly fully healthy, he will take his position at the top again but beware, while his ceiling may be huge, Park entered 2002 with a 3.04 ERA at Dodger stadium the previous five seasons as opposed to 4.66 on the road.  Last year did nothing to discredit that belief and stiff precaution should be used when considering Park in '03.  He who takes the gamble could be rewarded handsomely, but with great risk.
Jeff Zimmerman(30) Expected to hold the closer role last season, Zimmerman never made it out of the gate, blowing out his elbow before the season.  Surgery should relieve him of further limitations and he isn't a power pitcher so speed isn't a factor but he will likely be out until the break.  When he returns, expect short stints with occassional set-up duties.

The Final Cut:
While the Rangers possess one of the league's weakest rotations, Hart has made great strides in piecing together a solid bullpen anchored by their first true closer since John Wetteland.  If the bullpen can hold up and Park and Thomson can hold down the top of the rotation, the offense will provide the wins.  While starving for pitching, Texas has the rare dilema of choosing between their two top third base prospects while Arod, Mench and Young offer an extensive pool of youth for Showalter to build on, as he did in New York and Arizona previously...and we know where they ended up.  Although it is unlikely 2003's version will reap big returns, there are plenty of fantasy options in Texas.