Rangers hoping to stabilize rotation, first, corner OF in 2017

ARLINGTON — The Rangers’ offseason is already starting to look familiar. Once again, starting pitching is the top priority.

It seems to be an annual quest, but the reality is that most clubs go into the offseason looking to upgrade their rotation. It’s the most prized commodity in the industry, and it’s why the Rangers are once again pounding the drums about developing their own starting pitching.

The Rangers’ efforts in that regard have been partly derailed by their willingness to trade pitching prospects for major midseason pennant-race reinforcements like Cole Hamels, Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Beltran. And that comes with the bill when clubs are determined to put themselves in the best possible position to succeed right away.

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That’s always the Rangers’ goal, and their highly productive farm system continues to be able to fuel such lofty ambitions.

Addressing first base and the outfield are also on the Rangers’ list with four months to go before pitchers and catchers report.

Arbitration-eligible: RHP Shawn Tolleson, RHP Tanner Scheppers, RHP Lucas Harrell, RHP Jeremy Jeffress, RHP A.J. Griffin, RHP Sam Dyson, LHP Jake Diekman, C Robinson Chirinos, IF Jurickson Profar.

Free agent: RHP Colby Lewis, OF Ian Desmond, 1B Mitch Moreland, OF Carlos Gomez, C Lucroy ($5.25 million club option), Derek Holland ($11 million club option).

Rotation: Hamels, Yu Darvish and Martin Perez represent a head start for the Rangers over most clubs. Griffin, Harrell and Nick Martinez offer internal candidates, but the two big decisions …

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