Texas Rangers 2024-2025 Offseason Thread

[Kelleyman]

That is very good. Perhaps the market not being very hot (so far) will allow Texas to be able to bring back Yates and snag at least one of the other guys. I could just envision Texas with a stable of late-inning relievers along the likes of Yates-Scott-Gray-Webb absolutely shutting down teams in October along the way to WS title #2.
If Texas does go that far and solidifies the pen to such a degree, I'm VERY confident they can make another deep run through the playoffs.

Would be nice to get a couple high leverage pitchers to fit within budget.
Have to think pitchers come first unless we unload a contract

 

[saddles]

Would be nice to get a couple high leverage pitchers to fit within budget.
Have to think pitchers come first unless we unload a contract

I think they will probably have to unload a contract to get that second high leverage reliever.

 

[saddles]

From the MLBTR mailbag:

Kevin asks:

What big bat is Texas actually looking at?

John asks:

I’m curious about Kirby Yates and David Robertson, both were great on the Rangers last year. Who would you rather give a free agent contract to?

A few days ago, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News wrote:

“With the Rangers wanting to keep the payroll below the CBT threshold of $241 million, they only have about $27 million to work with to add another two or three bullpen arms and the left-handed bat that Young would like. In order to make a bigger splash in the bullpen or with the bat (perhaps Joc Pederson), it may require the Rangers to create a little more financial flexibility. And the trade for Burger sure seems to make Nathaniel Lowe’s expected $10 million arbitration salary stand out. It might make sense to move Lowe and reallocate the money to other still-pressing needs.”

Low-power first basemen have long been unappreciated, and Lowe is no exception. The reason I use the wRC+ stat all the time is that it gives proper weights to each offensive event – singles, doubles, triples, home runs, walks, and HBPs – while also adjusting for the player’s home ballpark (100 is average).

Despite hitting ten fewer home runs, Lowe arguably outhit Christian Walker this year, given Lowe’s 121 wRC+ against Walker’s 119. Lowe bats left-handed and is a pretty good deal at less than $11MM for his age-29 season.

But Evan Grant knows what he’s talking about, so we have to assume the Rangers are considering shipping out Lowe to free up payroll and bring in a new first baseman/DH. Pederson is more of a DH-only player, so he’d push Burger mostly into a full-time first base role if Josh Jung is healthy and hitting. If not Pederson, I could see the Rangers pursuing Josh Naylor or Cody Bellinger.

As for Yates vs. Robertson, that’s a tough one. You can really make a good case either way based on their 2024 seasons. Based on the quality of contact Yates allowed (or lack thereof), he really did deserve a sub-2.00 ERA. Yates was very hard to barrel up and posted a huge 35.9 K%. Robertson wasn’t far behind in K% (though with fewer swinging strikes), showed better control, throws a bit harder, and was clearly better in 2023.

I’d lean Yates, who spent a couple of years with the Padres as one of the best relievers in baseball from 2018-19 and returned to form in 2024. Yates had pretty good control prior to having Tommy John surgery in March of 2021, so I wonder if he can tamp down the walks a little bit from this year’s 11.8% rate.

 

[saddles]

37 days and about an hour before the Sasaki signing deadline.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Looks like the Yankees are getting Bellinger.

 

[saddles]

Looks like the Yankees are getting Bellinger.

Yep, so if we trade Lowe it will have to be somewhere else.

 

[scotsman#1948]

Yep, so if we trade Lowe it will have to be somewhere else.

there aren't many teams that are going to trade for Lowe unless we throw in a couple of decent prospects

 

[Kelleyman]

Yep, so if we trade Lowe it will have to be somewhere else.

Yanks can still use a 1B but I want solid pitching if we move Lowe

 

[saddles]

From Baseball America:

Projected 2028 Lineup​

Catcher: Malcolm Moore (24)
First Base: Nathaniel Lowe (32)
Second Base: Marcus Semien (37)
Third Base: Josh Jung (30)
Shortstop: Corey Seager (34)
Left Field: Wyatt Langford (26)
Center Field: Evan Carter (25)
Right Field: Sebastian Walcott (22)
Designated Hitter: Justin Foscue (29)

No. 1 Starter: Kumar Rocker (28)
No. 2 Starter: Alejandro Rosario (26)
No. 3 Starter: Winston Santos (26)
No. 4 Starter: Jack Leiter (28)
No. 5 Starter: Cody Bradford (30)
Closer: Emiliano Teodo (27)

Listed below are the prospects with the best tools within the organization. To go directly to Texas Top 10, click here.

Best Tools​

Best Hitter for Average: Justin Foscue
Best Power Hitter: Sebastian Walcott
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Justin Foscue
Fastest Baserunner: Cam Cauley
Best Athlete: Cam Cauley
Best Fastball: Emiliano Teodo
Best Curveball: David Davalillo
Best Slider: Kumar Rocker
Best Changeup: Alejandro Rosario
Best Control: Alejandro Rosario
Best Defensive Catcher: Cooper Johnson
Best Defensive Infielder: Cam Cauley
Best Infield Arm: Sebastian Walcott
Best Defensive Outfielder: Alejandro Osuna
Best Outfield Arm: Alejandro Osuna

 

[scotsman#1948]

Yanks can still use a 1B but I want solid pitching if we move Lowe

Yanks are looking at Alfonso and Walker. Lowe would be around their 10 or 12 option

 

[saddles]

there aren't many teams that are going to trade for Lowe unless we throw in a couple of decent prospects

That doesn't have to be the case at all. If we want a whole lot back in return then that would be the case, but we do not need that kind of a trade. We certainly wouldn't have to pay a team to take him, if that is what you are implying.

 

[saddles]

Yanks can still use a 1B but I want solid pitching if we move Lowe

I would just want a fair trade. To me, we wouldn't be trading him to get what the present roster needs. To me, we would be trading him to free up money to get what the present roster needs. What we get in return for him would just need to be someone of value, most likely a couple of prospects. I doubt we would luck out and find a team with a need at 1B and a surplus of big league relievers.

I imagine the Yankees will look to free agency for a 1B, now that they have made the Bellinger trade. They could just use him at 1B, also.

 

[Kelleyman]

Texas Rangers 2025 MLB Prospects Chat

We're answering your questions about Rangers prospects and the state of the Texas farm system today at 2 p.m.

www.baseballamerica.com

MILB Ranger prospect chat

 

[saddles]

When someone in the national media mentiins Lowe as a trade candidate, they speak as if Lowe could bring back a decent return. Nothing great, but decent nonetheless. No one comes close to implying that the Rangers would have to give him away or add to the trade just to make someone want him.

The Rangers don't have to trade him at all, but there does seem to be a market for him, based on the rumors.

To be fair to Lowe, he wasn't the biggest offensive culprit last year, but he does have a contract that could be moved to create additional room in the budget. There are other guys in that category as well, but I haven't seen any rumors about either of them, yet.

 

[saddles]

Former Ranger, Julio Borbon, has been named the new first base coach for Milwaukee. Congratulations, Julio!

 

[DT LUNA]

Former Ranger, Julio Borbon, has been named the new first base coach for Milwaukee. Congratulations, Julio!

A blast from the past.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

A blast from the past.

Definitely had some speed.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Leaks rarely come from the Rangers, and that’s fine.

So, don’t expect them to confirm their potential involvement for right-hander Corbin Burnes or the likelihood that they have talked to the Yankees about a trade involving first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. A Lowe trade was made possible by the trade for Jake Burger.

The Rangers want to add to their bullpen and recognize how vital a shutdown back-end pieces are. They would love, of course, to have free agents Kirby Yates, Tanner Scott or Carlos Estevez at closer in 2025, but they aren’t going to say that to any media.

So, local media has to pick their spots and deftly ask questions. For instance, rather than ask about their reported interested in outfielder Joc Pederson, last week a reporter asked what the Rangers’ interest level is in an additional bat.

“We feel really good about where our lineup is right now. Every position is basically accounted for,” president of baseball operations Chris Young said. “Does that mean things could change? Yes. Does that mean we’re actively looking of pursuing things? It does not.”

He then followed with another caveat, saying that it’s his job to put the best team on the field. That would suggest that trading Lowe is
a possibility if it means creating financial wiggle room for a proven closer.

Yes, the Yankees are looking at proven first basemen. Yes, none of the marquee free-agent closers have signed. Neither has Pederson.

Something will break loose in the next few weeks. If all goes according to their plan, the Rangers will be the ones who break the story.

 

[saddles]

Baseball America’s Top 10 Rangers Prospects

Kumat Rocker
Sebastian Walcott
Alejandro Rosario
Emiliano Teodo
Winston Santos
Malcolm Moore
Yolfran Castillo
Jack Leiter
Dylan Dreiling
Alejandro Osuna

 

[Kelleyman]

Baseball America’s Top 10 Rangers Prospects

Kumat Rocker
Sebastian Walcott
Alejandro Rosario
Emiliano Teodo
Winston Santos
Malcolm Moore
Yolfran Castillo
Jack Leiter
Dylan Dreiling
Alejandro Osuna

They like Kumar and Walcott a lot. The rest they are not enthused about. Will be interesting to see how Moore and Dreiling do this year