Per Andro: Ogando Back to Rotation in 2013

Rangers have told Alexi Ogando he will start next season.

— Anthony Andro (@aandro) November 2, 2012

The Alexi Ogando yearly yo-yo will bounce back to the rotation in 2013. After hinting at it for a couple of days via T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers have sort of formally announced that Ogando will be starting again next season via Anthony Andro.

With Ogando starting, the Rangers are looking at a rotation that includes Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Ogando, and several in-house fifth starter options before Colby Lewis returns mid-season next year. This also doesn't include Zack Greinke whom the Rangers are apparently preparing to go after this winter.

Of course, with Ogando in the rotation, that leaves another hole to fill in the bullpen with both Koji Uehara and Mike Adams on the free market from the back-end of what was a strong 'pen last season. The Rangers were looking for members for their 'pen before this and will obviously need more help to get to closer Joe Nathan with Ogando moving out.

That could mean that the Rangers have already decided that Neftali Feliz will return in the bullpen when he is healthy enough to pitch next season as well.

Ogando was last a starter in 2011 when he started 29 games and won 13 of them. He made the All-Star team as a starter and had a fantastic first half to the season. Ogando tired late in the second half and ended up pitching out of the bullpen in the postseason before being returned to the 'pen for all of the 2012 season.

So, I guess we have Ogando closing in 2014 to look forward to!