The final three weeks leading up to the season opener will be about three things:

1) Getting the full team together for the first time whenever the seven members of the roster competing in the World Baseball Classic are done.

2) Staying healthy.

3) Determining the back of the rotation.

From a competition standpoint, the only thing left to decide are those one or two spots (hint: it should be two) available at the back end of the rotation to start the year. And the Rangers hope they have long-term solutions for those questions by the end of April. As far as the start of the season goes, viable options are emerging from the crowd of pitchers.

And, yes, we are aware that Cole Hamels stunk up the joint in his outing against Los Angeles, that he did the same in his AL Division Series start against Toronto and that he wasn't so hot in September of last season, either. For now, he's Cole Hamels and he gets the benefit of the doubt. If the rough outings continue into the season, yeah, the Rangers have an issue. But spring training in Arizona is not a great place - it's not even a good place - to try to make an evaluation on a lefty who is veering more towards craftiness than being a power guy.

So, just under three weeks out, here's what I've got for a roster:

Starting pitchers (5): RHP Yu Darvish, LHP Cole Hamels, LHP Martin Perez, RHP Mike Hauschild, RHP Dillon Gee

Changes: Dillon Gee replaces Chi Chi Gonzalez

The skinny: Andrew Cashner received encouraging news about his biceps tendinitis, but still hasn't faced hitters this spring and there are less than three weeks to go to opening day. Maybe he could get ready quickly, but why accelerate the process now for somebody who has had soreness this spring and who has never thrown 200 innings in a season? The prudent thing to do is be patient, even if that means he's not ready until the end of April. If he opens the season in the rotation, it says either that the Rangers rushed him back or that spring training, as currently constructed, is longer than necessary. Just as is the case with the final rotation spot for most teams, it's about as solid as the last strong outing by one of those competing for the job. This week it's Dillon Gee. He's been outstanding in three straight performances. It could be A.J. Griffin. What is becoming more clear is that the Rangers will have to find a way to keep Hauschild, the Rule 5 pick from Houston, on the roster.

Relief pitchers (7): RHP Sam Dyson, RHP Matt Bush, RHP Tony Barnette, LHP Alex Claudio, RHP Keone Kela, RHP Jeremy Jeffress, RHP Tanner Scheppers,

Changes: None

The skinny: There is still a chance the Rangers go with eight relievers here and one less position player. If so, Hauschild is probably the guy who fills that role and two vets end up in the Nos. 4-5 spots to begin the year. It might make sense to have a second lefty to pair with Claudio as the final reliever, but nobody has really stood out. Don't rule out the Rangers making an end-of-spring move for a lefty that is going to be squeezed off somebody else's roster

Catchers (2): Jonathan Lucroy, Robinson Chirinos

Changes: None

The skinny: With both Lucroy and Chirinos at the World Baseball Classic for the last week, Brett Nicholas should have gotten lots of exposure. Alas, he required surgery to repair a bit of torn cartilage in his knee, hasn't played since March 6 and might not be ready for the start of the Triple-A season. It has given the Rangers more chances to look at A.J. Jimenez, who was acquired from Toronto after he was designated for assignment right before spring training began. The 26-year-old has a .245 batting average and .646 OPS in parts of four seasons at Triple-A.

Infielders (6): 1B Mike Napoli, 2B Rougned Odor, SS Elvis Andrus, 3B Adrian Beltre, INF-OF Jurickson Profar, INF Drew Robinson

Changes: None

The skinny: There are going to be some interesting debates in Rangers staff meetings over the next two weeks: Is Drew Robinson's development best served by being around major league players and their routines or by playing every day in the minors? Playing mostly second and center field this spring, Robinson has outplayed the other candidates for a bench spot. But he's only 24, has never appeared in the majors and could figure in the mix as an everyday player in 2018. So, what to do? For now, he gets the nod. But expect the Rangers to look around for a backup infielder who could be a stopgap while Robinson plays every day in the minors to ready himself should the need arise to replace a player on the DL.

Outfielders (5): LF Ryan Rua, CF Carlos Gomez, RF Nomar Mazara, OF-DH Shin-Soo Choo, OF Delino DeShields

Changes: None

The skinny: The best development this spring has been the play of the three-headed left field platoon. Rua has had a really mature approach at the plate. Jurickson Profar has expanded his repertoire to include center field while tearing things up at the plate in the WBC. And Delino DeShields has recaptured the speed he lost last year. Who knows if that carries over to the season, but it has been exceptionally encouraging.