Texas picks up Lucroy's option

ARLINGTON -- The World Series is over, and now the Rangers have to address their own free agents.
Most pressing are the options the club holds on pitcher Derek Holland and catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Those decisions have already been made.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels had made it clear the club would pick up a $5.25 million option on Lucroy, calling it a "no-brainer," and the club officially announced the decision Thursday.
The Rangers have also informed Holland they are not picking up his $11 million option, though there has been no announcement. Texas has five days from the end of the World Series to make a formal decision, and it could trade him before that deadline.
The Rangers have five other free agents in outfielders Ian Desmond and Carlos Gómez, outfielder/DH Carlos Beltrán, first baseman Mitch Moreland and pitcher Colby Lewis. Daniels said the Rangers would have interest in all five under the right circumstances.
The Rangers would like to sign either Desmond or Gomez to play center field, though they still have Delino DeShields on the 40-man roster. Gomez would likely be cheaper than Desmond, allowing the Rangers to allocate financial resources in other areas.
Starting pitching is Texas' main priority for the offseason, and the debate is whether or not to re-sign Lewis, who has been with them since 2010. Lewis, 37, was 6-5 with a 3.71 ERA in 19 starts for the Rangers this season, but he missed 2 1/2 months with a strained muscle in the back of his right shoulder.
Lewis has made it clear he would like to re-sign with the Rangers. This is the fifth straight offseason Lewis has been a free agent. In the past four, Lewis has re-signed with the Rangers on a one-year deal.