It will remain one of the nagging mysteries of the 2012 Rangers: how Martin Perez got three starts in absolutely crucial pennant-race games, losing them all. He had a decent ERA in AAA last year, but a disturbing 56 walks against 69 strikeouts.

Profar, Olt, and Martin all hit for nothing in limited time in the majors last season. The contrast between Profar and the other two, though, was electric. They'd bring Profar in in key situations; he had a few big hits; he batted (and made a hit) in the last inning of the play-in game, with the season fading but still on the line. SSS, but he's much younger than the other two and, in addition to speed, power, and defense, he controls the strike zone better than they do, better (to judge by his AA stats) than a whole lot of prospects, let alone teenagers.

Profar is blocked by Andrus and Olt by Beltre, but all the columnists here in the offseason expect some musical-chairs repositioning in 2013. Best guess is that Profar starts everyday at 2B, with Kinsler at 1B or possibly even the outfield. Unless Olt can win the 1B job, he's not going to play much. I doubt they'd keep him as a RHB platoon 1B with Mitch Moreland, though it would be a creative move if Olt could also be a backup at 3B and SS.

Can Olt hack a corner outfield spot? He appears to have the bat for it. Blogs are murmuring about an Olt for Dickey deal, but Olt would be even more blocked at 3B in NY than he is in Tex.

Perez is like baseball's Jake Locker. No matter how long the guy goes just being so-so, he remains a darling of scouts.

I would hate to see the Rangers play Profar at 2B. I don't know what the answer is to get him in the lineup along with Andrus, but IMHO playing him at second would needlessly expose him to injury. Perhaps the answer is to move either Andrus or Profar to CF, with the other playing SS (I'm assuming that Hamilton does not get resigned in this scenario).

Olt for Dickey would be Justin Smoak for Cliff Lee, 2.0. Olt has power and a .390 minor-league OBP and is 24. Smoak has power and had a .400 minor-league OBP and was 23 when traded. It's not like such prospects are plentiful, but they still seem to have an uncertain path to actually becoming any good in the major leagues. I don't know about Olt in the outfield; he isn't particularly fast.

Smoak though didn't show as much power as Olt has in the minors. And, you know, Dickey's not as good as Cliff Lee.

Profar has played some 2B in the minors. I think if the Rangers get rid of MY, Profar could be a good utility type playing some 3B, SS, and 2B. It also gives the Ranger some time on figuring out what they want to do with Andrus and Kinsler.

Olt is supposed to be a pretty solid 3B defender, so I do think it is a bit of a waste to have him be an outfielder.

I'll be disappointed if the Rangers play Hamilton in CF, even if they do resign him. I'd like them to give Gentry a crack at a pretty full time role after the last couple of years, and have Martin waiting in the wings as well.

I wonder where Villanueva would have ranked on this list... I like him an awful lot and I think he was Theo's best acquisition last year.

FWIW - and maybe I'm crazy - but if I could trade my team's system for anyone else's -- I think I'd want the Rangers' system. I think they've got a really, really nice mix of talent all over the diamond, a nice mix of ceiling/performance types, advanced/raw talent, etc.

The easiest solution to the Profar "problem" is to trade Andrus. You'd get a lot for him. It's certainly a nice problem to have. Barring a trade, in the ruthless world, I'd keep Profar in the minors long enough to keep him from having a service year at the end of this year, possibly long enough to keep him from super 2 if the team is going well. This would give you a bit more time to evaluate whether Kinsler bounces back, Gentry can handle a full-time gig, whether whatever 1B/LF/RF/DH mix you've come up with is working, etc.

The easiest solution to the Profar "problem" is to trade Andrus. You'd get a lot for him. It's certainly a nice problem to have. Barring a trade, in the ruthless world, I'd keep Profar in the minors long enough to keep him from having a service year at the end of this year, possibly long enough to keep him from super 2 if the team is going well.

I know this type of thing is almost never done, but it would be interesting if they traded Profar for another team's OF or SP prospect. It would have to be a blue-chipper obviously.

Joey Gallo. I said Joey Callo. With a C. Joey Gallo is dead.

Looks like Young to the Phillies is a done deal.

The Rangers will kick in $10M, and Young gets an extra $1.2M for waiving his no-trade. Josh Lindblom and minor leaguer Lisalverto Bonilla will go to Texas.

Before the trade: Phillies have a first baseman making $20M who is utterly worthless against lefties.

After the trade: Phillies have a two-headed first baseman making $27M who can hit both lefties and righties quite well.

That's my rose-tinted view. Time to go do some work.

I found ironclad evidence that Young will be platooning with Howard: incumbent Phillies 3B Kevin Frandsen is excited about the deal.