Texas Rangers: Three Ways to Improve The Team This Off-Season

Step 2: Acquire a legitimate closer

The Rangers bullpen has an a disaster this season. The lack of consistency from the pen has likely cost Texas a chance at the postseason. This off-season Jon Daniels needs to focus on fixing this bullpen.

Both relievers Sam Dyson and Matt Bush were unable to hold down the closer role. They collectively went 10 of 19 in save situations. Dyson was traded to San Francisco, and Bush was put back into a much more comfortable middle relief role.

The team is now going closer by committee until someone proves they can hold down the job. Lefty Alex Claudio has been getting most of the opportunities lately. He’s 5 of 7 in save chances and has done well considering the small sample size.

This off-season the Rangers must make a strong push for a legitimate closer. A pitcher like Wade Davis or Zach Britton. Whether it’s free agency or via trade the Rangers need to find a way to acquire an accomplished closing pitcher.

The rest of the bullpen will fall into place after that. The Rangers have a solid young reliever core with Claudio, Keone Kela, and Jose Leclerc. Adding a legitimate closing pitcher could be the final piece to the puzzle for the Rangers.