World Series Champions, Texas Rangers 2023-2024 Offseason Thread

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

Building A Foundation: Texas Rangers Win 2023 MLB Organization Of The Year — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America

Following a World Series title just two years after losing 102 games, the Texas Rangers are Baseball America's 2023 Organization of the Year.

www.baseballamerica.com

The article is not behind their paywall.

 

[saddles]

 

[saddles]

The doom and gloom from Evan Grant:

Which brings us to the financial constraints, “constraints” being a relative word. The Rangers opened last season with a payroll of about $219 million, which ranked 10th in the majors. They will open 2024 with a higher payroll. They already have a little more than $220 million accounted for in 2024. The luxury tax threshold is $237 million. By all accounts, owner Ray Davis is fine bumping up against the threshold, but would like to avoid guaranteeing he’ll pay a 30% penalty before the season begins. Adding payroll at the deadline makes the tax sting a little less.

So, do the math. The Rangers have somewhere in the $13-15 million range to spend to stay under the tax. Funny thing: That’s the going rate these days for a short-term, back-end-of-the-rotation fix. Luis Severino signed a one-year deal this week and former Ranger Nick Martinez signed for two; both of them averaged $13 million.

Short story: If the Rangers want to find a semi-reliable starter to act as depth for Max Scherzer, still nursing a season-ending back injury, Nathan Eovaldi, Dane Dunning, Jon Gray and Andrew Heaney, they better prepare to spend most, if not, all of their available dollars on a starter.

Here, innings matter. Given their rotation’s injury history, they’ll need to find somebody to probably give them about 125-150 innings. Don’t have to be perfect. The offense can cover up a lot of blemishes. Need evidence? Martín Pérez went 10-4 last year, despite a 4.45 ERA, which ranked 36th among the 51 AL pitchers with at least 120 innings. Innings matter.

And Pérez might be as good a place as any start on a list of potential affordable fixes. He made $19.65 million last year but will take a significant cut going forward. He wants to be a Ranger. Most significant: He’s pitched 120 or more innings six times in his career. Has moved between the rotation and bullpen, too. Yes, he was an afterthought in the postseason, but he was a key part of getting the Rangers there.

Who else might be a fit? Here are some options:

Michael Wacha: The former Aggie has pitched between 124-134 innings in each of the last four 162-game seasons. He worked with Mike Maddux in St. Louis. But he’s also 25-6 with a 3.27 ERA over the last two years. He’s liable to see a big bump off his $7.5 million 2023 salary and might get multiple years.

Lucas Giolito: Take out the COVID-19-shortened season and he’s got five straight seasons of at least 160 innings. That’s workhorse-level these days. That also might get him a longer-term deal. But he’s compiled a 4.88 ERA the last two seasons with 65 home runs allowed. Could make buyers wary.

Frankie Montas: Upside play. Montas was limited to 40 innings over the last two years because of a shoulder injury that required surgery. He was throwing 96 mph before the injury, which is attractive, but could he be counted on for innings necessary?

Sean Manaea: In a hybrid role with San Francisco, he gave the Giants 114 innings and had a career-high strikeout-per-nine innings rate (9.8) and a low average exit velocity (88.9 mph). He also has five seasons of at least 140 innings.

Is it a sexy list? No. Then again: The Rangers don’t need sexy, they need utility.

Utility isn’t the most expensive or first thing to fly off the shelf at this time of year. It may take a bit before the Rangers find their fit.

 

[Duane1952]

The doom and gloom from Evan Grant:

Which brings us to the financial constraints, “constraints” being a relative word. The Rangers opened last season with a payroll of about $219 million, which ranked 10th in the majors. They will open 2024 with a higher payroll. They already have a little more than $220 million accounted for in 2024. The luxury tax threshold is $237 million. By all accounts, owner Ray Davis is fine bumping up against the threshold, but would like to avoid guaranteeing he’ll pay a 30% penalty before the season begins. Adding payroll at the deadline makes the tax sting a little less.

So, do the math. The Rangers have somewhere in the $13-15 million range to spend to stay under the tax. Funny thing: That’s the going rate these days for a short-term, back-end-of-the-rotation fix. Luis Severino signed a one-year deal this week and former Ranger Nick Martinez signed for two; both of them averaged $13 million.

Short story: If the Rangers want to find a semi-reliable starter to act as depth for Max Scherzer, still nursing a season-ending back injury, Nathan Eovaldi, Dane Dunning, Jon Gray and Andrew Heaney, they better prepare to spend most, if not, all of their available dollars on a starter.

Here, innings matter. Given their rotation’s injury history, they’ll need to find somebody to probably give them about 125-150 innings. Don’t have to be perfect. The offense can cover up a lot of blemishes. Need evidence? Martín Pérez went 10-4 last year, despite a 4.45 ERA, which ranked 36th among the 51 AL pitchers with at least 120 innings. Innings matter.

And Pérez might be as good a place as any start on a list of potential affordable fixes. He made $19.65 million last year but will take a significant cut going forward. He wants to be a Ranger. Most significant: He’s pitched 120 or more innings six times in his career. Has moved between the rotation and bullpen, too. Yes, he was an afterthought in the postseason, but he was a key part of getting the Rangers there.

Who else might be a fit? Here are some options:

Michael Wacha: The former Aggie has pitched between 124-134 innings in each of the last four 162-game seasons. He worked with Mike Maddux in St. Louis. But he’s also 25-6 with a 3.27 ERA over the last two years. He’s liable to see a big bump off his $7.5 million 2023 salary and might get multiple years.

Lucas Giolito: Take out the COVID-19-shortened season and he’s got five straight seasons of at least 160 innings. That’s workhorse-level these days. That also might get him a longer-term deal. But he’s compiled a 4.88 ERA the last two seasons with 65 home runs allowed. Could make buyers wary.

Frankie Montas: Upside play. Montas was limited to 40 innings over the last two years because of a shoulder injury that required surgery. He was throwing 96 mph before the injury, which is attractive, but could he be counted on for innings necessary?

Sean Manaea: In a hybrid role with San Francisco, he gave the Giants 114 innings and had a career-high strikeout-per-nine innings rate (9.8) and a low average exit velocity (88.9 mph). He also has five seasons of at least 140 innings.

Is it a sexy list? No. Then again: The Rangers don’t need sexy, they need utility.

Utility isn’t the most expensive or first thing to fly off the shelf at this time of year. It may take a bit before the Rangers find their fit.

I wouldn’t mind Wacha

 

[saddles]

I wouldn’t mind Wacha

I would much rather have Hader than any starting pitcher.

 

[Duane1952]

I would much rather have Hader than any starting pitcher.

Me too. I would like to see them sign Hader. And trade for Devin Williams.

 

[saddles]

Evan has been way off in what he thought the Rangers would do in the offseason before. He could be really wrong again.

 

[Kelleyman]

I though the payroll was about 203 million

 

[saddles]

I though the payroll was about 203 million

In my original post on this thread I estimated we would be $21 million below the threshold. Of course, I had to estimate the amount for arbitration guys and the pre-arb guys. I guess I missed it by about $7-8 million.

 

[Duane1952]

I sure hope they don’t bring back Perez.

 

[saddles]

If they are hurting for payroll as much as Evan says, and I doubt they are, but if they are, they could trade for a young inexpensive starting pitcher and turn around and trade Jon Gray and/or Anthony Heaney

 

[saddles]

Anthony Heaney

Dear spellchecker, it is not "Anthony." It is "Andrew."

 

[scotsman#1948]

Rangers To Be Less Active In Free Agency

The Rangers have made plenty of headlines in each of the past two offseasons. After signing Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jon Gray …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

according to CY we are not going to spend like we have the last 2 seasons but nothing there says we aren't going to spend to get what we need through free agency or through trade. i believe we will be involved in a couple of trades over the next couple of days plus several free agent signings. nothing grandiose like 2021-22 or 2022-23 off seasons but sufficient to address needs

 

[saddles]

Rangers To Be Less Active In Free Agency

The Rangers have made plenty of headlines in each of the past two offseasons. After signing Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jon Gray …

www.mlbtraderumors.com

according to CY we are not going to spend like we have the last 2 seasons but nothing there says we aren't going to spend to get what we need through free agency or through trade. i believe we will be involved in a couple of trades over the next couple of days plus several free agent signings. nothing grandiose like 2021-22 or 2022-23 off seasons but sufficient to address needs

Yes, there is a huge difference between what CY said and only being able to sign Martin Perez.

 

[saddles]

If the Rangers bring in a closer and 2 other quality bullpen arms, I will be satisfied. If they want to get creative and do more, that's fine.

I would still sign Brandon Woodruff though. Give him a 2 year deal with the bulk of the money due in 2025.

 

[scotsman#1948]

Yes, there is a huge difference between what CY said and only being able to sign Martin Perez.

Perez?

 

[saddles]

Perez?

That is one of the names suggested by Evan Grant, in the article I quoted, as someone the Rangers could afford to sign.

 

[scotsman#1948]

Guardians will listen to offers for Emmanuel Clause

 

[saddles]

Guardians will listen to offers for Emmanuel Clause

Guardians Open To Trade Offers On Emmanuel Clase

The Guardians are open to trade offers on two-time AL saves leader Emmanuel Clase, though a deal seems unlikely. Read why at MLB Trade Rumors.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

"Clase could arguably command an even larger haul, potentially netting the Guardians multiple top-100 prospects and/or young MLB-ready players."

That is a very steep price.