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Napoli Deal Puts Rangers Over Payroll, Don't Expect Roy Oswalt

When Mike Napoli and the Rangers avoided arbitration last week, it did more than just ensure that the catcher would be back with the Rangers: it put Texas at their 2012 payroll limit. Per ESPN Dallas, general manager Jon Daniels said that the Rangers are "more than likely" done with their offseason work, and that the Rangers have no flexibility currently. Daniels did give himself some wiggle room, though, saying he never wants to shut the door entirely.

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This would essentially rule out Roy Oswalt joining the Rangers. And you know what? The Rangers will be just fine without Oswalt.

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Texas already has a slew of more than capable starting pitchers, with Yu Darvish, Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando, Neftali Feliz and Scott Feldman. Two of those pitchers, likely Ogando and Feldman, will be headed to the bullpen to start the year as it is. Oswalt would have to be willing to put his ego aside and pitch out of the bullpen for at least part of the year if he came to Texas.

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Either way, the Rangers don't look like they're going to add Oswalt, and they certainly don't need him.

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Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.