no worries

Mitch Moreland’s recovery from wrist surgery is pegged at 8-12 weeks, but the Texas Rangers expect him to be “100 percent no later than March 1.” That’s what GM Jon Daniels told mlb.com. The Rangers’ first exhibition game is March 4, so Moreland might even be able to play in it. The former Mississippi State star, who hit .259 with 16 homers in his first full big league season in 2011, slumped after the All-Star break. Bothered by the sore right wrist, the lefty-swinging Moreland hit .241 in the second half and went just 3-for-29 in the playoffs. Texas has other options at first — Michael Young and Mike Napoli both played there a fair bit this past season — and there are free agent first basemen out there, as well. But Daniels said the Rangers are committed to Moreland as their regular for 2012.