ARLINGTON - A year ago, the Texas Rangers got a late start on the offseason. They were a bit preoccupied, you know, with playoffs and the World Series. There was a parade somewhere in there, too. Guess nobody can multitask anymore.
Anyway, when they were finally able to start focusing on their needs, this is what they found: Nothing but spare change in the cupboard and a still-smoldering fire in the belly of their bullpen.
About that, we’re not sure any team has ever done such precise and efficient work as Chris Young and company did in addressing the bullpen. Spent less than $10 million. Got a pair of 30-somethings in Kirby Yates and David Robertson. Worked out OK. When they pitched in the same game, the Rangers were 43-5. If there was ever perfection in terms of free agency value, these moves might be it.
Now: Do it again. All across the roster.
As the Rangers get ready for the long offseason, the challenge in front of newly-minted President of Baseball Operations Chris Young (and whoever may eventually end up as his GM), is to move like the Rangers did with the same efficiency of the Yates-Robertson signings. The only twist is the Rangers are presented with this challenge in virtually every area of the roster.
That’s the first question Young has to answer Tuesday when the Rangers publicly wrap up 2024 and start to move on to 2025. Exactly where to start?
With a lineup that went from the best in the AL to the bottom five in the majors? With a rotation that ranked in the bottom tier of baseball and is probably losing its two most reliable members? In the bullpen, where the Rangers are likely to lose their seventh-, eighth- and ninth-inning guys?
You can make an argument that any of the three deserve the most attention. Which is a lot to ask of anybody. And, oh, since this is an Olympic year, we might as well add a degree of difficulty. A full Ray Davis Twist. The payroll is likely to drop below the club-record, luxury tax-laden $250 million that this 78-win team cost.
Which leaves us one question for Young at his offseason primer press conference Tuesday (don’t hold us to the one-question limit, Chris, it was just a figure of speech).
The question: Where do you start?
Here’s a look at what the Rangers must tackle in every area.
The rotation: Name a seemingly important stat. Doesn’t really matter which one. Innings. ERA. WAR. The Rangers rotation ranked in the bottom third of the majors in all of them. And from this the Rangers are likely to lose their two most reliable starters (Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney) and 96 of the 160 games in which they didn’t just say the heck with it and roll an opener out there.
Right now, if you were describing the pool of starters, it would be: Wading. Or Kiddie. It’s a depth joke. Jacob deGrom is back, but he’s going to be 37 and will undoubtedly be on an innings count. Kumar Rocker’s ascent was a bright spot on the year, but he’ll be on an innings count, too. Who knows what to expect from Tyler Mahle, who pitched 12 innings after Tommy John surgery and then disappeared for the final month of the season. Jon Gray has seven stints on the IL in three seasons with the Rangers. Cody Bradford was impressive when he was healthy, but missed three months with a rib issue. Jack Leiter? Sounds like a mystery writer. So far he reads like one, too. Just don’t know what the outcome will be.
The Rangers need to add at least one reliable starter to the mix and add multiple options. The good news: They’ve plumbed these depths well in recent years. If there is a store that sells Jose Ureñas, the Rangers could use a tri-pack.
The bullpen: Yates was the best pitching free agent signing of the winter, regardless of team, converting 33 of 34 save chances with a 0.83 WHIP for $4.5 million. He’s going to make at least double that. Robertson is going to make about the same.
You are looking at $20 million to bring back a closer who will be 38 on Opening Day and a setup man who would be 40 two weeks later. The Rangers might be able to afford one, but probably not both. And either way there is risk.
In addition, José Leclerc, who pitched the seventh inning and is the longest-tenured current Ranger, will be free and Josh Sborz, so integral in the playoff run in 2023, is going to see shoulder specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache this week. Lot of roles with holes.
The lineup: The biggest drop-off from 2023 was on the offensive side where the Rangers went from third in MLB in OPS to 23rd (.686) for the biggest year-over-year drop in OPS in franchise history. That added up to 198 fewer runs. Everybody, save for utility man Josh Smith, saw declines in performance.
The Rangers did not hit fastballs as a team, which is troubling, since it’s the most common pitch. Some of that could be fixed internally if Josh Jung and Evan Carter, both good fastball hitters, are healthy, but based on their track records, that’s no guarantee. More troubling: It’s a career-long trend for Adolis García, who is due to make $9.25 million next year.
The Rangers have a decision to make on Nathaniel Lowe, who doesn’t hit as many homers as you’d like from a first baseman, and is headed for a third trip through arbitration. He’s going to go above $10 million, but that’s probably still a bargain for a guy who has put up OPS numbers of .749 or better every year he’s been in the big leagues. Lowe’s .762 OPS this year was second to Corey Seager.
You know who else has been consistent? Leody Taveras. He posted a .641 OPS, right in line with the .664 mark for his career. Sometimes consistency isn’t an asset. Taveras, a switch hitter who can’t hit lefties, profiles best as a platoon guy. A platoon guy whose salary will go to nearly $5 million in arbitration next season.
The best that could be said of Taveras’ season: At least it wasn’t Jonah Heim’s season. Heim, too is eligible for arbitration and will see his salary jump above $5 million. It’s a bargain for a guy who was an All-Star and Gold Glove winner; it’s too much for the worst offensive player in baseball. He was the former in 2023; the only thing that kept him from officially being the latter in 2024 was that his .602 OPS in 491 plate appearances was 11 shy of qualifying for the leaders.
There are any number of places the Rangers can start this offseason. But wherever they start, they’ll still have more to do. A lot more to do.
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