During his year-end press conference, Rangers GM Chris Young told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that team owner Ray Davis, who Young described as “frustrated,” had committed to increasing the team’s payroll this offseason, with the goal of improving the team’s pitching staff. Grant also notes that Davis may want to see another bat added to the lineup as well.
The Rangers 2022 payroll clocked in at over $142MM, an increase over 2021 of roughly $48MM. For 2023, Texas has about $85MM committed in payroll, though this does not include arbitration-eligible players such as Mitch Garver. Still, this should leave the Rangers with over $50MM available even before factoring in any increases in payroll, allowing the team plenty of flexibility when searching for additions this offseason.
The Rangers will need every additional resource they can get if they want to compete in 2023. The team lost 94 games in 2022 even after making a major splash in free agency this past offseason by adding both Marcus Semien and Corey Seager to their infield. While Texas committed significant dollars to that duo, their other additions were far less impactful, with Kole Calhoun struggling mightily in 125 games this season, Garver missing most of the year with forearm issues, and their big pitching acquisition, Jon Gray, pitching to an ERA+ of just 99. Martin Perez was a revelation this season, but the Rangers will have to re-sign him this offseason for that to matter for them in 2023, and Young says the team expects to meet with Perez’s agents next week.
Also on the docket for the Rangers next week is a continuation of their managerial search. While the Rangers have already interviewed interim manager Tony Beasley, Young said they would begin interviewing external candidates next week. While Young did not specify any names, he did speak highly of former Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who he played under with the Padres in 2006. Bochy, who won the 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Series with San Francisco, would provide the Rangers with a more experienced manager as they move on from Chris Woodward, who had no managerial experience prior to his stint with Texas, which began in 2019. In addition to Woodward, president of baseball operations Jon Daniels was fired earlier this season, though it is unclear if the Rangers will look to add another GM to their front office to assist Young.
It’s no surprise that improving the team’s pitching is a priority for Young this offseason, as the starting rotation in Texas was a disaster in 2022. Of the nine players to start more than two games for the Rangers this season, just two of them had a season better than league average by ERA+: Perez and Matt Bush. Bush was traded to the Brewers at the trade deadline in exchange for Mark Mathias and Antoine Kelly. As previously mentioned, Perez is a pending free agent, leaving the Rangers with no players under contract for the rotation next year who had a better than average season in 2022. Gray can still be counted on as a member of the rotation, and the Rangers are likely to allow youngsters Dane Dunning, Spencer Howard, and Glenn Otto compete for the final spot in the rotation. That still leaves 3 spots in the rotation vacant, however, so they’ll need to make multiple additions even if they re-sign Perez.
Both Clayton Kershaw and Jacob deGrom are expected to hit the free agent market this offseason, and have been rumored previously to have interest in playing in Texas. While the Rangers certainly have the payroll space available to acquire one of them, it’s an open question whether either ace would want to move from a club already contending for a championship to a much more uncertain situation with the Rangers. Looking down the market at less flashy options, Chris Bassitt, Jose Quintana, Tyler Anderson, and Nathan Eovaldi are among the mid-rotation options who clubs have counted on to start playoff games in the past. While an ideal offseason would surely involve signing an ace, even the acquisition of a pair of solid, playoff-caliber mid-rotation starters to pair with a re-signed Perez would represent a substantial improvement in the rotation for Texas.
While the Rangers offense is not as desperate for an overhaul as the rotation, there’s still clear room for improvement. The infield is largely in good shape, with Seager, Semien, and Nathaniel Lowe all capable of all star caliber production and top prospect Josh Jung having made his MLB debut this season. Behind the plate, the Rangers are also likely set, with some combination of Garver, Jonah Heim, and Sam Huff likely to handle the catcher position next year. The outfield, however, is in desperate need of improvement. While Adolis Garcia has proven himself to be a quality regular and Leody Taveras has looked acceptable in 99 games this season, the Rangers have little else in the way of outfield help currently on the roster.
Outside of a surprise bid for the services of Aaron Judge, Brandon Nimmo represents the top of the outfield market for Texas. That being said, Nimmo will likely receive a great deal of interest due to the lack of quality two-way center field options available, so the Rangers may need to explore other options. Andrew Benintendi, Joc Pederson, and Mitch Haniger are among the quality regulars available on the free agent market this offseason. The Rangers could also explore the trade market, where Ian Happ, Ramon Laureano, and Bryan Reynolds are among those who could be made available this offseason.
Another potential solution in the outfield could be a reunion with Joey Gallo. Gallo struggled mightily after the Rangers traded him at last year’s deadline, posting an 84 OPS+ in 184 games between the Yankees and the Dodgers since the trade. Gallo has had great success with the Rangers in the past, however, earning all star appearances in both 2019 and 2021. Prior to being traded, Gallo spoke very highly of the Rangers and indicated he would like to stay in town long term. With the Rangers in desperate need of outfield help, and Gallo looking for a comfortable place to bounce back this offseason, a reunion could make a great deal of sense for both sides.
If an organization can’t develop pitching they aren’t going to be successful buying it.
Pay big bucks for name pitchers, when when they go bad and need help to making adjustments……
How many name pitchers did the Padres overpay in money and trade capital to get? How many are pitching as well as they did before the Padres got them? The Padres aren’t the only example.
Umm… the Red Sox are historically awful at developing starting pitching. They pretty much won their last four WS with bought/traded for starting pitching.
they just fired everyone of their minor league pitching coaches, it was past time to clean house.
With all due respect, a lack of spending wasn’t the problem with the 2022 Texas Rangers. They dropped half a billion to bring in Seager and Semien this past offseason. It might help to spend more, but as it is with any team, it’s more about how you spend the money.
MisterB_71;
Seen this dozens of times every decade since free agency came about. The agents love it when a frustrated owner of a team going nowhere decides to spend money by giving players at their peak multi-year contracts. Those teams might have a good year here or there, but sooner or later they hit a wall and have to dump salaries by paying part of the players salary or attaching quality prospects to get another team to take on the bad contracts.
The place to start is by building the organization so that they can find good players and make them better. Very few do that anymore.
Semien + Seager came through on their sides of the deal, they had zero depth to cover Kole Calhouns bad year, their prospects simply didn’t perform in their first taste of MLB to the level of a contender.
It’s kinda crazy to look at this team and see how they lost 94 games, they had so many good players having good years. Woodward stunk as manager, that was true, but if you said the Rangers would get 11 WAR combined from Semien+Seager this year, you’d think they’d have won 94.
Look at their record in 1 run games. That’s all you need to know.
For those inquiring minds…Texas Rangers (5-23, worst in true baseball history) in 1 run games
Perfect example of how you can’t transform a team from bad to good simply by spending on big names.
I’ve said that many times. If 1 or 2 elite superstar players can’t carry a mediocre team to excellent results. If they could, the angels would ride trout and ohtani to world series every year
Can anyone see the Rangers making a run at Judge. ?
Lots of cash they like to spend. Semien, Seager, Judge , Garcia , Jung you got a gauntlet there , lotta fun
Depends if Judge wants to join a lifetime loser team, or the Dodgers, who are posed to dominate the postseason for the next several years.
Judge would probably prefer SD to Texas too. Also Judge in the NL with those parks, yes. We do need Judge playing in Denver more often!
NO State tax matters…
Keep telling yourself state tax matters. Extreme Florida man Manny Machado says hi.
State tax doesn’t matter when the player is in the stratosphere of Judge. The contract will provide multi-generational wealth regardless of the state that Judge plays in.
Also, state income tax is paid based on where the games are played and not on home domicile. So, Rangers players are paying state tax in any taxing state where they’ve played road games. Further reducing the state income tax impact are property taxes. I’d assume that Judge would buy a palatial mansion in North Texas – he’s going to pay much higher taxes on that in non income tax states.
But taxes aside, players of Judge’s stature are looking for the highest AAV contract to document their accomplishments. They are also looking for a stable winning organization in a region that values the sport of baseball. The last part is why Judge, Verlander, Degrom will never wear a Texas uniform.
And in the End , the only uniform that counts has a $ on the front , and the name Benjamin on the back !
Lifetime loser team, and your an A’s fan who lives in the UK? Lol, okay mate
The Oakland A’s have 4 rings, the A’s franchise has 9, 3rd most all-time, are you ok?
Where are the Rangers rings? Please show me…
How many pennants do the a’s have this millinium? Context is key
How many of those rings were you alive to see?
Keep living in the past, you sound like a cowboys fan.
I remember back in the early 90’s the A’s were almost always the second game of the ESPN double-headers when they were at home. Rickey, the Bash Brother, Eck, Dave Stewart, the A’s were fun to watch but bragging about rings when they have won 1 since the 1970’s ended (and even that was 33 years ago) is silly at this point
There isn’t a team Judge wouldn’t make better, but organizations also have to properly deploy their resources. The Rangers have at least shown a willingness to spend and improve their team recently, so in that sense you can’t rule them out. There should be 20 or more teams trying to sign Judge, especially in an environment where HRs are now more difficult. That increases the value of true power hitters like Judge. The exceptions to taking a run at Judge would be teams such as he Reds, Royals, and Pirates, or Cleveland and Rays. The former are consistently poorly run organizations and the latter are well-run teams that have a different but successful talent-acquisition path. It’s likely Judge remains a Yankee for one simple reason: both sides want it to happen.
The Rangers need to focus on improving pitching and overall depth, either by trade or free agents. Probably both.
Agree on pitching part. But disagree on depth. The depth is there, but need to decide who’s starting and building block at what position. Outfield, you’ve got garcia, taveras, bubba, white that can play immediately. With Carter and zavala coming in 2ish years. Infield touve got lowe, semien, seager, jung with depth of Duran,and smith. With foscue and acuna ready in 2ish yrs. And catching theyve got Garver, heim, huff, villoria, and they new guy they just got. Unless, they can pull of a ridiculous move like signing judge, then pitching us ALL they should worry about. And on pitching I say resign Moore. And let Moore, burke, Hernandez, and leclerc handle bulk of BP work. Resign perez. And go after kershaw and Verlander or 2 yr deals for $70-80m dollar contracts. So that porter, Leiter, white, and rocker can have some time, have great role models, and room for them to pitch when they’re ready.
THIS.
Wrong Chris Young linked
That always happens.
Trade Leiter & Rocker for Bieber
Why spent millions and millions when you can’t pitch
Why reply when you don’t read the article. It literally states in the first paragraph that the increased spending is to address their pitching.
Just wasting money if they do. They’re nowhere close and that division is like the NL West with the Dodgers, the Astros own everyone.
by $50.00?
They did it last season and look where it got them. They need to spend on starting pitching. No need to spend on offense.
Rangers need help in the OF. They should definitely ink Judge. Maybe 8 year 400. Then pitching. Rangers are big market, they should operate in the 200 million payroll range.
The Rangers would b better suited spending the $ on multiple starters and finding a mid level OF. Pitching is by far their greatest weakness. Judge seems a luxury they can’t afford if they are serious about contending.
Yes, the Rangers do exist in a big population market – but they are not a big market revenue team.
The Rangers cable TV deal is very much middle of the pack. That deal pays somewhere between $80m to $90m per year – but that money is kicked into MLB’s revenue sharing. The Rangers own 10% of that regional network – which shields some of that. Compare that to Seattle (smaller population market). They have a cable contract worth around $120m per year and they own 60% of their regional network- so they keep much more than Texas.
The cable tv deal combined with, to put it nicely, lukewarm attendance would most likely mean that the Rangers would be in 4th place in their division in revenue (maybe 3rd given the Astros cable TV struggles). They are not small market by any means, but they are definitely not big market for MLB purposes.
I don’t see Kershaw leaving the Dodgers, maybe if the Rangers were closer to a championship caliber team but definitely not now. I really don’t see deGrom in Texas either.
Noah Syndergaard make sense and we know they really want to keep Martin Perez. Maybe add an Eovaldi or a Rodon to that mix.
I would sign Benintendi to play LF and Joc to DH. Non-tender Garver and try to bring him back on a cheaper deal or let him walk. Garcia/Lowe/Seager/Semien/Heim are solid. Jung at 3B and Taveras in CF and keep Bubba Thompson as the 4th Outfielder
At some point the libertarians who think Texas is a mecca are going to have to fold up shop and admit they were wrong, its a hellish place to live and doesn’t even deserve MLB teams, all they can do is win by cheating – typical Texan style, like GWB.
You just need a burp and a bottle
Ok….
Syndergaard is flashing some concerning signs. His velocity now sits in the low 90’s and he has below average swing and miss stuff. He looks like a 4.50+ era pitcher.
Rodon is an injury nightmare. He’s averaged 100 IP the last 5 or 6 seasons with serious shoulder and elbow problems. Buyer beware.
I’m expecting 4 years/108 million for Nate Eovaldi. Go get him, Chris.
I expect Rangers to be players for deGrom.
assuming the rangers gm is trans-racial?
The Rangers are not coached well. They didn’t go far enough when they dumped their pitching coaches a few days ago. They should have blown out the entire coaching staff. Allow the new manager to bring in all of his own guys.
Furthermore, Beasley didn’t earn the chance for a managerial interview. He should be fired as well.
This team needs a culture change.
I assume a GM is obligated to say that the team plans to be competitive next season in these type of post-mortems. But the reality is that the Rangers will not be competitive until they build a roster around their own developed players. They haven’t done that in the last decade and there’s no sign it’s happening in ’23. The rebuild is very much still ongoing there.
The Rangers are doing what the Rangers are good at….pouring cash on a dumpster fire of an organization.
I think Texas will exceed $142mm next year. I think they will trade for a #3 starting pitcher and sign 1-2 quality starting pitchers. They also must find a reliable closer.
They might bring Gallo back since stacking defenders on one side of the INF / OF is no longer allowed.
This team will be a wild card team next October.
He’ll still k 180x,