The Rangers will have two new faces in the starting rotation in 2012 as they spent a lot of cash to bring 25-year old righty Yu Darvish from Japan and they will be changing 23-year old former closer Neftali Feliz’ role with the team. The Rangers are going to be shifting Alexi Ogando and Scott Feldman to the bullpen in 2012, as the Rangers have quality depth. Here is a look at the Rangers’ rotation for 2012 as of right now:

#1: Colby Lewis: 32-year old righty Colby Lewis learned how to pitch in Japan and he has been great in his second go around with the Rangers. Lewis pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 14-10 with a 4.40 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has now pitched in 108 games (97 starts) in his first five years with the Rangers and he is 38-36 with a 4.90 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Lewis has now pitched in 136 games (98 starts) in his first seven years in the show and he is 38-38 with a 4.99 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. The Rangers are expecting another good year out of Lewis in 2012.

#2: Derek Holland: 25-year old lefty Derek Holland really started to learn how to pitch in 2011. He pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 16-5 with a 3.95 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. Holland threw four complete game shutouts last night as he was just plain nasty at times. He has now pitched in 79 games (63 starts) in his first three years with the Rangers and he is 27-22 with a 4.73 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. I look for Holland to take the next step in 2012 and pitch like an All-Star.

#3: Yu Darvish: The Rangers spent a ton of loot to pry 25-year old righty Yu Darvish from his team in Japan. Darvish pitched in 28 games (all starts) in Japan last year and he was 18-6 with a 1.44 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP. He has now pitched in 128 games (126 starts) in his five years in Japan and he was 76-28 with a 1.72 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. Darvish only gave up 691 hits while whiffing 1,083 batters in 1024 1/3 innings last year, showing just how nasty he can be. He also showed pinpoint contol as he only walked 221 batters in Japan. Darvish also likes to finish what he starts as he had 50 complete games (15 shutouts) in his career in Japan. Darvish is not the typical soft tosser from Japan as he is a big time power pitcher. It will be interesting to see how he will deal with the better hitters of the U.S.

#4: Neftali Feliz: 23-year old righty Neftali Feliz will turn in his successful role as the closer for the Rangers for a spot in the 2012 starting rotation. Feliz pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 2-3 with 32 saves, a 2.74 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He has now pitched in 154 games (0 starts) in his first three years with the Rangers and he is 7-6 with 74 saves, a 2.55 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. It will be interesting to see how Feliz adjusts to his new role, but he has enough outstanding pitches to handle the job.

#5: Matt Harrison: 26-year old lefty Matt Harrison really turned the corner last year for the Rangers as he was outstanding. Harrison pitched in 31 games (30 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 14-9 with a 3.39 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. He has now pitched in 94 games (62 starts) in his first four years in the majors and he is 30-19 with a 4.49 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Look for Harrison to continue to improve in 2012.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: A-

The Rangers have signed 25-year old lefty swinging outfielder Kyle Hudson to a minor league deal. Hudson got his first taste of the majors with the Orioles last year and he appeared in 14 games in which he was 4 for 28 (.143 avg, .286 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He also played in 119 games in A+AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 125 of 423 (.296 avg, .711 OPS) with 60 runs scored, 0 homers, 23 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. Hudson will try to win a job on the Rangers’ bench this spring.

The Rangers have signed 31-year old lefty reliever Mitch Stetter to a minor league deal. Stetter pitched in 16 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 0-0 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He has now pitched in 132 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 8-2 with 1 save, a 4.08 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP. Stetter will get a shot to win a job in the bullpen this spring.

UPDATE: (3/27/2012) - The Rangers release Mitch Stetter.

The Rangers have signed 32-year old righty reliever Sean Green to a minor league deal. Green pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Brewers last year and he was 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He has now pitched in 264 games (0 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 10-12 with 2 saves, a 4.41 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Green will get a shot to win a job in the Rangers’ bullpen this spring.

The Rangers have signed 32-year old lefty swinging 1B/OF Brad Hawpe to a minor league deal. Hawpe played in 62 games for the Padres last year and he was 45 for 195 (.231 avg, .645 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 4 homers and 19 RBIs. He has now played in 893 games in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 801 of 2,907 (.276 avg, .848 OPS) with 398 runs scored, 124 homers, 490 RBIs and 13 stolen bases. If Hawpe has a strong spring, I could see him making the team as a bench player.

UPDATE: (3/30/2012) - The Rangers have released Brad Hawpe.

UPDATE: (4/6/2012) - The Rangers have re-signed Brad Hawpe to a minor league deal.

The Rangers have added some impressive pitching to the staff over the winter so far. Not much help in the batting order, yet, but they don’t really need any. Here is a look at the new guys the Rangers have brought in so far this winter:

In the field: The Rangers have dealt for 1B/OF Brandon Snyder and catcher Luis Martinez over the winter. But, I see both of those guys starting the 2012 season in AAA-ball. That being said, they could help them at some point this year.

On the mound: The Rangers signed Joe Nathan to be the new closer, allowing them to move Neftali Feliz to the starting rotation in 2012. They are also trying to finish up a contract for righty starting pitcher Yu Darvish from Japan. Darvish and Feliz will give the Rangers two more very impressive arms for the starting rotation. Righty reliever Greg Reynolds will have a shot to win a job as a long man in the bullpen this spring, but he’s a longshot.

Overall: The Rangers have made more subtle moves than the Angels have so far this winter, but they have improved the team nonetheless.

The Rangers have acquired 26-year old righty starter/reliever Greg Reynolds from the Rockies for 26-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Chad Tracy. Greg Reynolds pitched in 13 games (3 starts) for the Rockies last year and he was 3-0 with a 6.19 ERA and a 1.56 WHIP. He has now pitched in 27 games (16 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 5-8 with a 7.47 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP. Chad Tracy played in 134 games in AAA-ball last year and he was 136 of 526 (.259 avg, .814 OPS) with 80 runs scored, 26 homers, 109 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Maybe a change of scenery will help Reynolds out.

The Rangers have re-signed 29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Brad Nelson to a minor league deal. Nelson played in 121 games in AAA-ball last year for the Rangers and he was 130 of 463 (.281 avg, .861 OPS) with 83 runs scored, 24 homers, 83 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He last played in the majors back in 2009 with the Brewers. He has played in 28 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 2 for 28 (.071 avg, .304 OPS). The Rangers will likely stash Nelson in AAA-ball in 2012.

The Rangers have acquired 25-year old righty swinging 1B Brandon Snyder from the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations. Snyder played in 6 games for the Orioles last year and he was 3 for 13 (.231 avg, .719 OPS) with 2 runs scored and 1 RBI. He also played in 114 games in AAA-ball last year in which he was 117 of 448 (.261 avg, .718 OPS) with 55 runs scored, 14 homers, 71 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Snyder played in 16 games in his two years with the Orioles and he was 9 for 33 (.273 avg, .715 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 0 homers and 4 RBIs. The Rangers will give Snyder a chance to win a bench job next spring.