Gerry Fraley, Rangers beat writer for SportsDayDFW.com and The Dallas Morning News, answered questions about the team during a live chat Thursday. Here are some of the highlights:

What does the Rangers' starting outfield look like next year? (Please tell us it includes Lorenzo Cain!)

Fraley: They have always liked Cain and repeatedly asked the Royals about him. That said, the need for starting pitching will trump center field. The Rangers cannot afford to go out and get up to three starters and pay for Cain, too. See them going with DeShields in center, Mazara in right and Calhoun in left. DeShields will have to cover a lot of ground in that alignment.

What starting pitchers will be available in the offseason who the Rangers could reasonably pursue/make sense for this club?

Fraley: Jake Arrieta may be too costly, but Lance Lynn could be a good fit for this club. Realize he has not pitched well yet, but Miguel Gonzalez would be an effective and reasonably priced fifth starter.

What do you think is going to be the team's biggest question mark that needs to be fixed heading into the offseason?

Fraley: The rotation. The Rangers have only two set starters under contract for next season: Hamels and Perez. Cashner is going to get significant play on the free-agent market, and there are no starters ready in the system.

What has been Cole Hamels' deal lately? Something's been off since late August.

Fraley: That is a narrow time frame, don't you think? Hamels as been good this season but not up to past levels. The Rangers are 12-9 in his starts going into tonight's play. They were 24-8 in his starts last season. Hamels came out of spring training with less than ideal velocity, and the oblique injury set him back. He has also been inconsistent with the curveball all season and fallen in love with the cutter at times. There is no in-between with the cutter. It is either a devastating pitch, or it gets whacked.

Who do you think is the team's best reliever behind Alex Claudio?

Fraley: Jake Diekman. He is tough on left-handed hitters. In most late-inning situations, a reliever will face a tough left-handed hitter. Diekman can handle that. he is also important to this bullpen because of intangibles. Diekman is a "glue" guy in that he holds the bullpen together. Will always believe that his absence because of surgeries this season contributed to Sam Dyson's downfall. Dyson heavily leaned on Diekman.

Click here to enjoy the entire chat.