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-

58-year old manager Ron Washington rewarded the Rangers with their first trip to the World Series for sticking with him. He failed a drug test for cocaine a little while ago but the Rangers stuck with him. Washington led the Rangers to a 90-72 (55.6%) record during the regular season and they were 8-8 (50%) in the post-season. The Rangers are now 331-307 (51.1%) during the regular season in Washington’s first four years in charge and they are 8-8 in the post-season. The only way Washington can get his team to improve would be to win the World Series, so he will have a little bit of pressure on him in 2011.

When the Rangers decided to use 22-year old righty Neftali Feliz in the bullpen in 2011, it answered a lot of question marks for the Rangers. Feliz won the Rookie of the Year Award in the A.L. last year as he worked in 70 games (0 starts) in which he was 4-3 with 40 saves, a 2.73 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. Feliz has now pitched in 90 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Rangers and he is 5-3 with 42 saves, a 2.42 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP. He has some of the best stuff on the planet and he will dominate once again for the Rangers in 2011.

27-year old righty Alexi Ogando will likely be the Rangers’ top set-up man in 2011 if he’s not needed in the starting rotation. Ogando pitched in 44 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP. He only gave up 31 hits in 41 2/3 innings for the Rangers last year and he also had 39 whiffs, which shows just how nasty he can be. He has a big-time right arm and he could close if something were to happen to Feliz this year.

40-year old lefty Darren Oliver will likely be the top lefty in the pen for the Rangers this year. He pitched in 64 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 1-2 with 1 save, a 2.48 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. Oliver only gave up 53 hits and he only walked 15 batters in 61 2/3 innings for the Rangers last year while whiffing 65 batters. Oliver has now pitched in 256 games (137 starts) in his first 9 years with the Rangers and he is 55-49 with 3 saves, a 5.09 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He has turned himself into one of the better lefty relievers in the majors which has been kind of surprising as he wasn’t much of a starting pitcher earlier in his career.

28-year old sidearming righty Darren O’Day doesn’t throw very hard but he gets results. O’Day pitched in 72 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 6-2 with a 2.03 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP. He has now pitched in 136 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Rangers and he is 8-3 with 2 saves, a 1.99 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. O’Day has only allowed 79 hits and he has only walked 29 batters in his first 117 2/3 innings as he is very aggressive on the mound while throwing strikes.

41-year old lefty Arthur Rhodes is going to give the Rangers outstanding balance in the pen this year. Rhodes pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 4-4 with a 2.29 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He only gave up 38 hits in 55 innings last year as he still appears to have a lot of gas in the tank. Rhodes has now pitched in 849 games (61 starts) in his first 19 years in the majors and he is 84-66 with 32 saves, a 4.06 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP.

27-year old righty Mark Lowe came over from the Mariners last year in the Cliff Lee deal. Lowe pitched in 3 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 0-0 with a 12.00 ERA and a 2.67 WHIP. He pitched in 14 games (0 starts) overall last year with the Mariners & Rangers last year and he was 1-3 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.80 WHIP. Lowe has now pitched in 165 games (0 starts) in his first five years in the majors and he is 5-15 with 4 saves, a 4.09 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Lowe should fit right in with the rest of the relievers in the Rangers’ bullpen as he has a big time arm.

24-year old lefty Michael Kirkman is competing for a job in both the starting rotation and bullpen this spring. He comes into this season as the Rangers’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America. Kirkman pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 0-0 with a 1.65 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP. He also pitched in 24 games (22 starts) in the minors last year and he was 13-3 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

25-year old righty Pedro Strop has a good arm but he hasn’t pitched too well in the majors so far in his career. Strop pitched in 15 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 0-0 with a 10.13 ERA and a 2.63 WHIP. He has now pitched in 22 games (0 starts) in his first two years with the Rangers and he is 0-0 with a 9.17 ERA and a 2.15 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RANGERS BULLPEN IN 2011: A

25-year old lefty Matt Harrison won a job in the Rangers’ opening starting rotation in 2011 due to the decision to leave Neftali Feliz in the bullpen. Harrison pitched in 37 games (6 starts) for the Rangers last year and he was 3-2 with 2 saves, a 4.71 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 63 games (32 starts) in his first three years with the Rangers and he is 16-10 with 2 saves, a 5.39 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Harrison has outstanding stuff and sometimes lefties take a little longer to develop, so maybe he will be a big surprise for the Rangers in 2011.

The Rangers are hoping that the starting rotation gives them just as many good innings as they did in 2011. It all starts with 30-year old lefty C.J. Wilson who has already been named the opening day starter. He started 33 games for the Rangers last season and he was 15-8 with a 3.35 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. Wilson did have issues with his control last season as he walked 93 batters in 204 innings but he also whiffed 170 batters which got him out of some trouble. Wilson has now pitched in 291 games (39 starts) in his first six years with the Rangers and he is 27-28 with 52 saves, a 3.90 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. The Rangers hope that Wilson can give them 200+ innings once again in 2011, as he was a relief pitcher until last year.

It appears as if 22-year old righty Neftali Feliz will be moving from the pen to the starting rotation in 2011. Feliz pitched in 70 games (0 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 4-3 with 40 saves, a 2.73 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP as he won the A.L. Rookie of the Year Award. He has now pitched in 90 games (0 starts) in parts of two years with the Rangers and he is 5-3 with 42 saves, a 2.42 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP. He only gave up 56 hits in 100 1/3 innings so far for the Rangers and he has 110 whiffs and only 26 walks. His contol and stuff will play well in the starting rotation for the Rangers.

31-year old Colby Lewis will also be back in the rotation for the Rangers. He appears to have learned how to pitch in Japan because he was solid for the Rangers last year. Lewis started 32 games for the Rangers last season and he was 12-13 with a 3.72 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. He has now pitched in 76 games (65 starts) in his first four years with the Rangers and he is 24-26 with a 5.17 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. The Rangers need Lewis to repeat the success he had in 2010 this season.

24-year old righty Tommy Hunter will likely be the Rangers’ #4 starter when the 2011 season begins. Hunter pitched in 23 games (22 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 13-4 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He has now pitched in 45 games (44 starts) in his first three years with the Rangers and he is 22-12 with a 4.45 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The Rangers hope that 2010 was a glimpse into the future for Hunter.

31-year old righty David Bush will compete for the #5 job this spring. He pitched in 32 games (31 starts) for the Brewers last season and he was 8-13 with a 4.54 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. He has now pitched in 193 games (184 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 56-68 with a 4.66 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Bush is a solid pitcher, so he could help the Rangers at the back end of the rotation.

31-year old righty Brandon Webb is likely going to start the season on the D.L. He missed all of last season due to injury. Webb only started 1 game in 2009 with the D-Backs and he was 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP. Webb has pitched in 199 games (198 starts) in his first 8 years in the majors and he is 87-62 with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He was the National League’s Cy Young Award winner back in 2006 with the D-Backs.

24-year old lefty Derek Holland has a great throwing arm and I think he’s going to put it all together at some point in the very near future. Holland pitched in 14 games (10 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 3-4 with a 4.08 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP. He has now pitched in 47 games (31 starts) in his first two years with the Rangers and he is 11-17 with a 5.52 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. I wouldn’t be surprised if Holland wins the #5 job in the starting rotation this spring.

25-year old lefty Matt Harrison also has really solid stuff. He pitched in 37 games (6 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 3-2 with 2 saves, a 4.71 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. He has now pitched in 63 games (32 starts) in his first three years with the Rangers and he is 16-10 with 2 saves, a 5.39 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. Harrison will likely find a spot in the bullpen if he doesn’t win a job in the rotation for the Rangers in 2011.

28-year old righty Scott Feldman will likely start the season late this year. He pitched in 29 games (22 starts) for the Rangers last season and he was 7-11 with a 5.48 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP. Feldman has now pitched in 164 games (78 starts) in his first six years with the Rangers and he is 31-32 with a 4.80 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Feldman might wind up being the long man in the pen if he can’t win a job in the starting rotation.

37-year old righty Brett Tomko signed a minor league deal with the Rangers a couple of weeks ago. He pitched in 14 games (all starts) in Rookie+A+AAA-ball last season and he was 2-3 with a 7.18 ERA and a 1.72 WHIP. Tomko last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the A’s & Yankees. Tomko has now pitched in 389 games (266 starts) in his first 13 years in the majors and he is 100-102 with 2 saves, a 4.65 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He will likely start this year in the minors and have to work his way up to the majors.

30-year old righty Seth McClung did not pitch at all last season. He last pitched in the majors in 2009 with the Brewers. McClung has pitched in 177 games (51 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 26-34 with 6 saves, a 5.46 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. He has a good arm but has never really learned how to pitch in the majors.

27-year old lefty Zach Jackson is a longshot to pitch for the Rangers in 2011. He pitched in 35 games (5 starts) in AAA-ball last season and he was 2-3 with a 5.64 ERA and a 1.83 WHIP. Jackson last pitched in the majors back in 2009 with the Indians. He has pitched in 22 games (17 starts) in parts of three years in the majors and he is 4-5 with a 5.81 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RANGERS STARTING ROTATION IN 2011: B