Texas Rangers 2024-2025 Offseason Thread

[saddles]

From Jamey Newberg:


Among the non-tenders around the league who jumped out at me as potential free-agent targets for the Rangers:

• OF Austin Hays (Phillies): I’m very intrigued by this one. As discussed at length in the left field and center field entries in my roster-building series (see below), it would make a lot of sense for the Rangers to bring in both a strong right-handed hitter to pair with Evan Carter and a late-inning defensive replacement — assuming they want someone at a lesser cost than Leody Taveras — who can step in if Carter is pulled for a pinch-hitter against a tough southpaw reliever. Hays could fill both roles.
  • He hit .354/.405/.537 (.941 OPS) in 90 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers in 2024. For his seven-year career, he has an OPS of .800 against lefties (.719 against righties).
  • The 29-year-old was an All-Star — as well as a Gold Glove finalist (as a left fielder) — in 2023 with the Orioles.
  • Trading for him — which is something I’m sure Philadelphia exploreed — was probably not an attractive option given that Hays’s arbitration projection called for a $6.4 million contract.
  • This one is worth keeping close tabs on. Hays will surely look for an everyday role, but if one doesn’t materialize, he’d conceivably have an opportunity here for a significant role that could make a deal attractive to both sides.
• Relievers with recent closer experience:
  • RHP Jordan Romano (Blue Jays)
  • RHP Kyle Finnegan (Nationals)
  • RHP Adbert Alzolay (Cubs) — though he’ll miss most of the 2025 season after August 2024 Tommy John surgery
• Potential leverage relievers:
  • LHP Colin Poche (Rays) — Flower Mound native
  • RHP Brent Honeywell (Dodgers)
  • RHP Dillon Tate (Blue Jays)
  • RHP Tanner Rainey (Nationals)
  • LHP Hoby Milner (Brewers)
  • RHP JT Chargois (Mariners)
  • RHP Jacob Webb (Orioles)
• Rotation depth:
  • RHP Cal Quantrill (Rockies)
  • RHP Griffin Canning (Braves) — barely; he came over on Halloween for OF Jorge Soler
  • LHP Patrick Sandoval (Angels) — expected to miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after June 2024 Tommy John surgery
• Outfield options:
  • OF Ramon Laureano (Braves) — perhaps a fallback to Hays; .869 OPS against lefties in 2024 (.802 career) and can play all three outfield spots
  • OF Dylan Carlson (Rays) — switch-hitter historically better against lefties
  • OF Mike Tauchman (Cubs)

The ones I am interested in are Austin Hays, JT Chargois and Jacob Webb. If we signed those 3 guys along with 2 guys as good or better than Yates and Robertson, for the pen, I would consider the offseason a success.

 

[saddles]

Former Ranger, Rico Carty, passed away at the age of 85.