The MLB Rangers have been itching to create a new facility in the Dominican Republic" since '10, but because of a series of complications, they have "gone from being on the leading edge of a trend to doing a bit of catch-up," according to Evan Grant of the DALLAS MORNING NEWS. Approximately half the MLB teams have "invested significant money into building and operating their own academies, rather than leasing from third parties." Eventually, a $10M complex that will "serve as the foundation for the Rangers' Latin American operations will rise from the dirt" and replace the "overcrowded, aging, prison-gray cellblock that currently houses their academy." The Rangers have "fallen perilously behind on the infrastructure side" to accelerate their talent's growth. The facility was "supposed to have already opened in January." but now the plan is for the fields "to be ready in the summer, the main building" by early '19. It will "rival the spring training facility" in Surprise, Ariz, if "not in scale then certainly in functionality." The Rangers have "been in their current facility" since '11. Dominican native and Rangers RF Nomar Mazara rolled his eyes "when the subject of the academy was brought up." He said, "It needs everything. I feel bad for the kids there. They don't want to stay there." Rangers Assistant for Player Development GM Jayce Tingler said, "It's a half-grade to a grade below other facilities." Grant notes the international marketplace is "likely to change again soon," as clubs are "preparing for the possibility of an international draft starting with the next" CBA in '21. It may "necessitate even more advanced scouting in Latin America and more of an investment" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/6).
EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE: Rangers President of Baseball Operations & GM Jon Daniels said of MLB's slow offseason, "It's obviously been talked about a bunch. I think the reasons that have been thrown out there are pretty accurate, and it's a combination of all of the above. Some teams are committing to younger players and kind of looking to allocate their resources elsewhere." Daniels, appearing Sunday on Dallas-based KRLD-FM, added, "Some of the factors created by the CBA, and not just this CBA, but the past few, and how it impacts the market." Daniels said of rule changes addressing pace-of-play issues, "The shorter breaks between innings will be well received as long as it's from a revenue standpoint. I mean that's why they're longer right? I would think that will have minimal impact on the game, and be positively received by the fans. I'm not so sure on the mound visits. ... A big reason it's slowed down is all the analysis going on behind the scenes" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/5).
