Texas Rangers 2024-2025 Offseason Thread

[saddles]

From Robert Murray:

Compensation update: Free-agent reliever Chris Martin signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Texas Rangers, sources say. The deal includes a $1 million signing bonus.

Martin turned down a lot more money elsewhere to play for the Rangers, his hometown team that he grew up watching.

 

[saddles]

I noticed that too. Garcia has options as well but he may be one of the better pitchers

Still a SP logjam. And hard for me to see both Dunning and Gray in pen

I think Dunning is already penciled in fir a bullpen role. Gray probably has a starting job unless Rocker pitches significantly better than him in ST.

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Still a SP logjam. And hard for me to see both Dunning and Gray in pen

And most of those pitchers in the starting rotation are coming back from injuries and will probably have innings restrictions. So if they both are in the pen I'm guessing they will both be used as long relief/spot starters and get at least 100 innings each...

 

[scotsman#1948]

think we can forget about Tanner Scott. MLB Netword is reporting he wants an AAV at 20M.

 

[saddles]

think we can forget about Tanner Scott. MLB Netword is reporting he wants an AAV at 20M.

It sure would be nice to sign him and have a closer wrapped up for the next few years.

 

[saddles]

From Jon Morosi:

I’m hearing Rōki Sasaki has spoken with *at least* one team beyond the previously reported list of the Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Mets, Yankees, Cubs, and Rangers.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

GM Ross Fenstermaker says #Rangers are comfortable with the group of relievers they have signed. A closer is no longer a primary target, though the Rangers are open to adding a proven closer.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

GM Ross Fenstermaker says #Rangers are comfortable with the group of relievers they have signed. A closer is no longer a primary target, though the Rangers are open to adding a proven closer.

I hope this is just something to help in negotiations. If this is a serious sentiment then they are about to fail in addressing the biggest need of the offseason.

If they convince Gray to close it would help some, but it would still be somewhat of a failure. I don't mind going with Gray as long as we have someone with a lot of closing experience to be a backup plan. We certainly don't need to trade the next Cole Ragans for the next weak closer, like Chapman was.

 

[saddles]

From Shawn McFarland:

Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker is chatting with media now. He said they’ve done “the bulk” of their lifting in terms of the bullpen.

He said they believe they have multiple candidates to close games on the roster now. Chris Martin is “certainly in the candidate pool.”

 

[scotsman#1948]

From Shawn McFarland:

Rangers GM Ross Fenstermaker is chatting with media now. He said they’ve done “the bulk” of their lifting in terms of the bullpen.

He said they believe they have multiple candidates to close games on the roster now. Chris Martin is “certainly in the candidate pool.”

i think we've strengthened the 1-6 spots in the pen but if we stop here, we won't do much better than last year

 

[WastinSomeTime]

I am conflicted about Rocker starting at AAA or at the MLB level. He was pretty dominant at the minor league level at the end of the year so I am leaning towards him being one of our 5 starters. Definitely don't want him in the pen.

 

[saddles]

I am conflicted about Rocker starting at AAA or at the MLB level. He was pretty dominant at the minor league level at the end of the year so I am leaning towards him being one of our 5 starters. Definitely don't want him in the pen.

The good thing about them signing so many relievers is that both Rocker and Leiter will most likely remain starters. Hopefully, the same goes for Teodo.

Now, if they fail to sign a closer, all bets are off unless they announce that Gray will be given the opportunity to close.

 

[Kelleyman]

GM posturing as they get hopefully ready for Sasaki visit

 

[saddles]

GM posturing as they get hopefully ready for Sasaki visit

Hopefully, we will get a visit sometime within the next week.

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Fenstermaker said that starters who don’t crack the season in the rotation are candidates to work as multi-inning arms, too.

 

[saddles]

Verlander gets $15 million to continue to break down for the Giants. Lol

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Verlander gets $15 million to continue to break down for the Giants. Lol

Good place for him.

 

[saddles]

Although he hasn't played in awhile, Derek Holland has finally officially retired.

He is still one of my favorite Rangers of all time. He pitched the best game in Rangers postseason history in Game 4 in 2011. With any other manager he would have been the hero of Game 7, most likely, as well.

Thanks for the great memories, Derek. Enjoy your retirement.

 

[WastinSomeTime]

Although he hasn't played in awhile, Derek Holland has finally officially retired.

He is still one of my favorite Rangers of all time. He pitched the best game in Rangers postseason history in Game 4 in 2011. With any other manager he would have been the hero of Game 7, most likely, as well.

Thanks for the great memories, Derek. Enjoy your retirement.

I actually wish they would have let him finish out game 6. I know he gave up a HR in his 2 innings of work but his ball was exploding across the plate.

 

[saddles]

From MLBTraderumors.com:

The Rangers’ two-year, $37MM deal with slugger Joc Pederson was agreed to late last month and announced shortly before the New Year, but it seems full details of the arrangement weren’t made clear at the time. It’s already known that Pederson’s deal contains a mutual option for 2027 and that he can opt out of his contract following the 2025 season. However, the Associated Press reports that the Rangers can override Pederson’s opt-out by exercising that mutual option a year in advance. The contract also contains a no-trade clause, per the AP.

Effectively, if Pederson signals his intent to opt out, the Rangers can veto his return to the open market by agreeing to commit another two years and $37MM. It could become an even pricier commitment for Texas, though, as Pederson’s contract contains escalators that would boost his 2026-27 salaries up to $21.5MM in the event that he wins a Silver Slugger or is named to the All-MLB team (first or second team) at season’s end. That’d mean committing two years and $43MM to Pederson in order to override the opt-out. Paired with his $5.5MM signing bonus and $13MM salary in 2025, Pederson’s contract can max out at a hefty $61.5MM over three years if he turns in a big enough season.