Texas Rangers 2024-2025 Offseason Thread

[Kelleyman]

I think you are making an unnecessary requirement in thinking we have to have what you refer to as a natural CF on the 26-man roster in addition to Carter and Langford.

And Harris does have 67 games in CF. We once put Ian Desmond out there as a starter with no experience and he did very good.

I like Carter in CF a lot more than Langford. But my concern is for injury time him.

The loss of a healthy Carter is much more than people relalize
Without him the WS and moreso thr ALCS may not have been won

 

[Kelleyman]

Probably Smith and Duran should be considered the 4th and 5th OF unless we sign Hays. I mainly brought up Harris as someone who could play CF as a result of injuries. I think Carter and Langford would both have to be hurt for him to get any substantial playing time in CF, and even then, he would probably be on the bench unless he does something to impress Bochy.

Harris starts the year in Round Rock IMO

 

[Kelleyman]

Prediction
We will get a closer and likely one more bat. Not sure about 8th inning guy. Hope Church does well and is a solid roster addition
They might let Garcia take the 8th

 

[Kelleyman]

Wake up guys we signed Joc
And we ain’t done

Winning the off-season is not the season but legit Wizard moves here and within a budget.

Eating steak with a hamburger budget

Owners across baseball kicking themselves and questioning their GMs. Why didn’t you do this??

 

[saddles]

From Buster Olney:

Joc Pederson's deal with the Texas Rangers: 2 years, $37 million, with an opt-out after the first year. A perfect fit for their lineup.

 

[saddles]

So, what I get from that, is that CY thought it would take more than 6 days to complete anything they were working on. So, maybe we should expect something between the 20th and the 24th.

CY is definitely getting things done in that timeframe. I hope 2 late inning guys are next.

 

[saddles]

Eating steak with a hamburger budget

Lol. I wouldn't call our budget a hamburger budget. We are going to end up just under the luxury tax threshold.

 

[Kelleyman]

From Buster Olney:

Joc Pederson's deal with the Texas Rangers: 2 years, $37 million, with an opt-out after the first year. A perfect fit for their lineup.

Was hoping closer to 13.5 per year. Hate to say but wonder if Duran is on trading block
CY not messing around tho

 

[saddles]

They will probably either go with Gray as an unproven closer or they will have to trade him to be able to afford a closer and an 8th inning guy.

 

[saddles]

Was hoping closer to 13.5 per year. Hate to say but wonder if Duran is on trading block
CY not messing around tho

Yes, they overpaid for him according to previous estimations.

 

[scotsman#1948]

From Buster Olney:

Joc Pederson's deal with the Texas Rangers: 2 years, $37 million, with an opt-out after the first year. A perfect fit for their lineup.

wonder who they DFA to open a spot for him

 

[saddles]

From MLBTR:

With Pederson now in the fold, RosterResource projects the Rangers for a payroll of just under $217MM for 2025, and that figure jumps up to just over $229MM for luxury tax purposes. That leaves around $11MM left for the club to work with before the first luxury tax threshold, which it was reported earlier this winter that the club hopes to duck under next year. While the rotation was addressed by bringing back Nathan Eovaldi and the lineup appears to be in good shape at the moment, the club still appears to be a piece or two short in the bullpen even after adding Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Robert Garcia. It’s possible the Rangers could look to follow the example they laid out in the deal that sent Lowe to D.C. in exchange for Garcia and deal a potential trade candidate like Leody Taveras, Dane Dunning, or Jon Gray in a deal that bolsters their relief corps while also freeing up payroll space that could help them land a proven closer such as Kirby Yates or David Robertson, both of whom pitched well for the Rangers in 2024 but elected free agency last month.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Yes, they overpaid for him according to previous estimations.

In my opinion just about everyone is overpaid. LOL!

 

[WastinSomeTime]

A little something from MLB Trade Rumors on Pederson:
Since making his second career All-Star appearance in 2022 as a member of the Giants, Pederson has slashed a fantastic .262/.365/.485 with a 135 wRC+. That figure leaves him with the 16th-highest wRC+ in baseball among qualified hitters over the past three seasons, and he’s sandwiched comfortably between Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Jose Ramirez on that leaderboard.

Given that he’s provided superstar-caliber offense on the cheap to multiple teams in recent years, it may seem somewhat surprising for Pederson to wind up with yet another relatively short-term deal that guarantees him less than $20MM per year. That discrepancy is primarily due to Pederson’s extremely limited profile. While he’s a phenomenal hitter who rakes against right-handed pitching, his profile features a massive platoon split and he’s typically been at his best throughout his career when he sits against same-handed pitching as much as possible. He’s a career .210/.300/.330 (78 wRC+) hitter against left-handed pitching and even in the past three seasons has floated a pedestrian 104 wRC+ against southpaws.

 

[saddles]

This makes for a good 20 minute listen. Carlos Calazzo and Ben Badler really like Walcott, Rocker and Rosario.

 

[Kelleyman]

I think you are making an unnecessary requirement in thinking we have to have what you refer to as a natural CF on the 26-man roster in addition to Carter and Langford.

And Harris does have 67 games in CF. We once put Ian Desmond out there as a starter with no experience and he did very good.

I would like it if they worked Zeke in CF. Seems durable. Just don’t know if it would come easily for him

 

[saddles]

From Buster Olney:

Possible Rangers lineup in 2025:
2B Marcus Semien
SS Corey Seager
RF Adolis Garcia
DH Joc Pederson
3B Josh Jung/Josh Smith
LF Wyatt Langford
1B Jake Burger
C Heim/Higashioka
CF Carter/Taveras

 

[saddles]

That Buster Olney suggested lineup leaves room for only one more bench player. That really needs to be Duran due to his position flexibility. With the two new guys being weak defensively it is very important to have two guys like Smith and Duran on the bench. In fact, I wouldn't mind Taveras being replaced by someone who can play both in the IF and the OF.

I guess Duran will be the only backup 1B with Smith being the emergency third 1B.

 

[saddles]

From Jamey Newberg:

Deeds adds this: “With Pederson now in the fold, RosterResource projects the Rangers for a payroll of just under $217MM for 2025, and that figure jumps up to just over $229MM for luxury tax purposes. That leaves around $11MM left for the club to work with before the first luxury tax threshold.” Evan Grant (Dallas Morning News) views it slightly differently, suggesting the Pederson deal only puts the CBT number at about $223 million, which would leave $18 million to play with and still avoid the tax.

Either way, Texas isn’t done At the very least, there is a closer, and probably a set-up man, to add to the bullpen Whether the Rangers can manage both with that $11 million, or even 18 million, seems fiscally challenging. Perhaps another contract (Jon Gray or Leody Taveras) will be moved, just as Lowe’s was.

 

[Kelleyman]

From Jamey Newberg:

Deeds adds this: “With Pederson now in the fold, RosterResource projects the Rangers for a payroll of just under $217MM for 2025, and that figure jumps up to just over $229MM for luxury tax purposes. That leaves around $11MM left for the club to work with before the first luxury tax threshold.” Evan Grant (Dallas Morning News) views it slightly differently, suggesting the Pederson deal only puts the CBT number at about $223 million, which would leave $18 million to play with and still avoid the tax.

Either way, Texas isn’t done At the very least, there is a closer, and probably a set-up man, to add to the bullpen Whether the Rangers can manage both with that $11 million, or even 18 million, seems fiscally challenging. Perhaps another contract (Jon Gray or Leody Taveras) will be moved, just as Lowe’s was.

Who is right with salary space available is key

They need a closer for sure so not sure they can afford at the lower number. Something has to give