SURPRISE, Ariz. - Here's your summary of the first week in Rangers camp: Josh Hamilton showed up with a sore knee. Josh Hamilton went to Alabama for a stem cell injection. Josh Hamilton returned to camp on crutches. Josh Hamilton will miss the first month of the season.

This has led to a panic among the populace.

It's not so much surprise that Hamilton is hurt again. It's this: What exactly is the Rangers' fallback plan?

On Friday, they reached agreement with former Ranger Drew Stubbs, according to three sources. Stubbs was a fine defensive replacement last September, but it's not the kind of deal that quiets a panicked fan base. Nor would have Will Venable, who agreed to a deal with Cleveland only an hour or so before the Stubbs news trickled out.

The old Twitter timeline - where everybody goes with calm, reasoned solutions - has blown up with demands for a David Murphy reunion. Or to bring Denton's Austin Jackson back home. Or to drop everything and call the Chicago Cubs about newly superfluous Jorge Soler.

And from another segment: Hand the position to 20-year-old Nomar Mazara. Or Lewis Brinson. Or put Joey Gallo back out there.

Here's what should happen: Everybody should watch Netflix and chill (not a euphemism).

The truth is the Rangers' left field situation is far better off at this point than it was a year ago. It's probably only going to get better. Full disclosure, though: Last year the left field situation was a disaster. So, it would be hard for them to be as bad off again.

This is a team that went into camp last year with the left field spot completely open. Ryan Rua and Jake Smolinski, with 191 career at-bats, were the top options. Ryan Ludwick, 36, was the late winter veteran depth option. Hope is not a strategy.

A dozen different players started games in left field last year; Hamilton the leader among them at 33 games. The left fielders put up a combined OPS of .688 for the year, 26th among the 30 MLB teams.

This group is going to be better.

"I think we're in better shape," manager Jeff Banister said Friday morning. "I think we are more athletic and more experienced in our options."

No, there isn't an individual player who is going to seize the position in spring training, become an every day starter and make it his. There are however enough shares of players to build out the position adequately. It is the way the Rangers must think. They must construct a full season out of bits and pieces.

Justin Ruggiano may never be a full-time player, but he is accomplished as the right-handed complement in an outfield platoon. He could be an asset for 50-60 starts in left. Rua, who has something to prove after his stock dropped precipitously last year, is back with something to prove and provides a secondary option. Stubbs gives the Rangers the ability to turn the position into a defensive plus for the latter half of games.

Hamilton should be back by May 1, but who knows if he can be counted on for 100 productive games or even 80. If, however, he can get an unrushed spring - the goal of stretching the current rehab plan out - perhaps he can give the Rangers two months' worth of productive Josh. Maybe that comes in June and July. Maybe it comes in August and September. And, yes, there is a chance it doesn't come at all.

Which is where Mazara and Brinson and, to a lesser extent, Gallo come in. Mazara and Brinson are more disciplined hitters than Gallo, but lack his off-the-charts power. In the short term, they should be more ready to contribute at the big league level by the middle of 2016 than Gallo was when he was tried in left field in the middle of 2015.

And if all else fails, there is the July trade market. The Rangers found themselves a difference-making ace at the deadline last year. If they can do that, they can certainly find legitimate left field help.

The situation is not ideal.

It is far from dire.

Go watch Netflix and chill.

A movie. I'm talking about watching a movie.