Editor's note: This is the first in a series of positional analyses by SportsDay's Rangers insider Evan Grant. SportsDay will break down each Rangers position in the coming week and consider who's on the roster, what worked/didn't work in 2016, and where to go from here.

Catcher

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin (55) scores a run -- the third run of a bases loaded, 3-run RBI triple hit by Troy Tulowitzki -- as Texas Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (25) catches the throw at home during the third inning in the Game 1 of ALDS at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas, Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. The play put the Blue Jays up 5-0 in the third inning. (Jae S. Lee/The Dallas Morning News) (Jae S. Lee / Staff Photographer)

On the roster

Jonathan Lucroy: $5.25 million club option for 2017

Robinson Chirinos: Arbitration eligible

Brett Nicholas: Pre-arbitration

What they did well

Hit for power, for one. The Rangers used five different players at catcher and got 27 home runs from the position, the most since Pudge Rodriguez left the team in free agency after 2002. It was the fourth highest total for a team's catching contingent in the majors. Overall, Rangers catchers put together a 3.5 WAR, according to fangraphs.com, sixth in baseball.

The overall stats, though, don't paint a full portrait of the position. It changed from a faceless platoon to one dominated by Jonathan Lucroy after he was acquired at the trade deadline. Lucroy gave the Rangers 11 homers in just 42 games and an .885 OPS, which would have ranked as his highest for a full season. Behind the plate, he's got the reputation of being superb at preparation, framing pitches and taking control of games.

The acquisition moved injury-riddled Robinson Chirinos from a below-average starter to a strong backup. In limited at-bats, Chirinos hit .364 (12 for 33) with five walks over the final six weeks of the season. In that same stretch, pitchers had a 3.56 ERA with him behind the plate. He was definitely an asset as a backup.

What they didn't do well

This is a bit concerning: Lucroy had a career-high eight regular-season passed balls (three with the Rangers) and two more in the postseason. The last of those allowed the tying run to score in Game 3 of the ALDS.

Due in part, perhaps, to the fractured forearm he suffered in the first week of the season which forced him to miss nine weeks, Chirinos didn't really find any kind of offensive rhythm until after it was too late and he'd lost the starting job. Rangers pitchers posted a 4.89 ERA with Chirinos behind the plate, higher than with any other catcher by half a run. One other thing: After throwing out nearly 37 percent of the runners who tried to steal against him in 2014, Chirinos has gone backwards. He threw out only six of 28 runners (21.4 percent) in 2016.

What's on the farm

In an early-season emergency Brett Nicholas proved that he was a capable third catcher, but there isn't a guy close to being ready to help significantly on the major league level. Jorge Alfaro, dealt to Philadelphia in the Cole Hamels deals, was supposed to be that guy. The next best hope is Jose Trevino, a sixth-round selection in 2014. Trevino, who spent 2016 at Class A High Desert, has displayed a well-rounded game behind the plate and has an above-average throwing arm. His slash line of .303/.342/.434/.776 looks pretty nice, but it also must be noted that was in the hitter-friendly Cal League. He is playing in the Arizona Fall League. Trevino will play at 24 in 2017, likely at Double-A Frisco. He's probably not an option until sometime around mid-season 2018, at the earliest.

What's on the market

Providing they tender Robinson Chirinos a contract in salary arbitration, the Rangers don't have any pressing needs here for the major league roster. They could use some insurance beyond just Brett Nicholas. They've had both Bobby Wilson and Chris Gimenez on two separate occasions over the last two years and both will likely be made free agents, available on minor league deals, again this winter. Don't rule out Dallas' Bryan Holladay, if Boston doesn't offer him arbitration, either. They should not be very active in high-profile catching this winter.

2017 outlook

For perhaps the first time since Ivan Rodriguez left after 2002, the Rangers should be able to consider the position an asset.

With Lucroy and Chirinos, the Rangers have legitimate 30-homer potential from the position.

In Lucroy, the Rangers have a sturdy front-line starter who should develop even more rapport with his pitchers after having a full spring training to work with them. He was essentially learning them on the fly after joining the Rangers in August.

One thing worth considering with Lucroy is this: NL pitchers who switch to the AL often have to go through an adjustment in which they must learn to mix more offspeed pitches in with their fastball. The same may be true for catchers. Lucroy is a fastball-heavy signal-caller. After Game 2 of the ALDS, during which Toronto crushed fastballs, Yu Darvish raised the possibility that the mix was too fastball heavy. He must also make blocking pitches a project, but with instructor Hector Ortiz on hand, that will be addressed.

Expect Chirinos to bounce back. He's a backup catcher on a championship team. He's now cast in that role.

The Rangers do need to add another depth option to the mix. The last two seasons, in which they've run through catchers like they were disposable razors, should reinforce that.

Twitter: @EvanPGrant