Texas Rangers: Should They Bring Back Rafael Palmeiro?

Earlier this week, news broke out that Rafael Palmeiro is looking to make a comeback into baseball. Not as a coach, but as a player. Apparently, he’s serious about it and is confident he can still play effectively at the age of 53. The former Texas Ranger and Baltimore Oriole last played in 2005. His career did not end in a positive way.

There’s no doubt the Texas Rangers are forever grateful for everything Palmeiro gave while he was playing in a Rangers uniform. Despite the way his career ended, the Rangers have no ill feelings on him whatsoever. Not only the Rangers franchise but the fanbase, too. In Arlington, Palmeiro is without a doubt a beloved name in Arlington. That’s never going to change.

Palmeiro insists he’s still good shape and believes there’s no doubt that he can successfully make a comeback into baseball. However, truth be told, the Rangers don’t have a use for him. Texas needs players with futures not pasts. In other words, the Rangers honestly have no use for Palmeiro. At least not for right now. But in the future, it’s likely they’ll bring him in as a coach once he gains an interest in coaching baseball and when the Rangers have an opening suitable for his caliber.

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While Texas can’t bring him back as a player nor a coach at the moment, there is, however, another way to bring him back to be part of the organization again. It’s a unique way. They can induct him into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame. Palmeiro has been inducted into the Hall of Fames of Mississippi State University and Mississippi Sports. He’s also an inductee of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. His addition to the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame would certainly mean a lot to him. He’s earned his spot. As a member of the Rangers Hall of Fame, he’ll join teammates Juan Gonzelez, Ivan Rodriguez, Michael Young, Rusty Greer, Kenny Rogers, and Nolan Ryan.

Palmeiro’s entry to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame has been so difficult for him because of the whole steroid-taking scandal that ultimately ended his career in a very negative and heart-breaking way.

While he swore under an oath that never took any steroid of any sort, it’s still made it difficult for him. Palmeiro truthfully does deserve to be in the MLB Hall of Fame as he’s considered one of the greatest baseball players in history. No doubt, the Rangers have plans to fully honor him and give back to everything he gave for the fans and for the organization.