Three Pitching Free Agents the Texas Rangers Should Consider

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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 16: Pitcher Gio Gonzalez #47 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches during the first inning of Game Four of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on October 16, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

As 2018 comes to a close, the Texas Rangers still have plenty of free agent pitching options to bolster their rotation for 2019.

The Texas Rangers have already made a number of offseason pitching acquisitions to bolster their rotation next year including the signing of prominent free agent Lance Lynn. Despite this, they still have options to try and make their starting rotation as competitive as possible for 2019 and the years beyond.

HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 16: Dallas Keuchel #60 of the Houston Astros reacts in the third inning as a play is reviewed against the Boston Red Sox during Game Three of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 16, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

LHP, Dallas Keuchel

Dallas Keuchel is probably the first free agent name that registers with Rangers fans beyond Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Keuchel has been a thorn in the Rangers side for years pitching for in-state and division rivals, the Houston Astros.

Keuchel is coming off a decent 2018 campaign for Houston that saw him make 34 starts and throw over 200 innings. His fastball has seen a drop in velocity over the past couple of years but at 31, he’s still an effective pitcher with a few good years ahead of him. He’s never been a strikeout machine but relies on generating soft contact and ground balls to get outs.

For Texas, having a chance at signing Keuchel stems around selling the lefty on the future of the club. Having played for a World Series contender and winner over the past few seasons, the current state of the Rangers doesn’t offer much draw for Keuchel. However, Texas is poised to have a successful future with the state of their lower level minor league prospects and the young talent currently in the club. If Texas can bring in Keuchel, it means they can develop a frontline starter and have an effective rotation moving forward.

There is a big stumbling block to signing Keuchel though and that’s his contract demands. He and his agent, Scott Boras, are reportedly seeking a 5-year contract that is a major turn off for big league teams and the dominant reason he hasn’t signed yet. If Texas can get him to sign a 4-year contract, preferably worth between $20 million and $21 million a year I think this is a great opportunity. Any longer or more per year and it’s probably not worth it.

LHP, Gio Gonzalez

If Keuchel is a no-go but Texas still wants a starter to slot in as their number three guy, Gio Gonzalez represents a good veteran option. Gonzalez is no longer the frontline starter he once was for the Nationals but he still has the ability to be effective for a couple of more seasons.

Gonzalez spent 2018 with the Nationals before being dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers. The biggest sample size came with the Nationals where he made 27 starts throwing 145.2 innings. He’s no longer the strikeout guy he once was but still is crafty and can generate some decent soft contact. With Washington, he had an elevated WHIP of 1.531 which is concerning but not so much so that it’s not worth still considering.

Once arriving in Milwaukee he was markedly better albeit in just 5 starts. His 2.13 ERA in 25.1 innings but his WHIP jumped way down to just 0.947 despite the small sample size. He does have the second highest WAR of free agent starters still available with a 2.0 trailing only Dallas Keuchel’s 3.6 last season.

Gonzalez is 33-years old so a 4-year deal like Keuchel would get isn’t much of an option. However, I think Texas could try and get Gio on a 2-year deal with a team option for a 3rd season. They’d have to include a substantial buyout for that 3rd-year option to get Gonzalez to agree. Something along the lines of Anibal Sanchez’s deal that is 2 years worth $19 million would be a good starting point. If Texas and Gio can agree to 2 years, $17 million with a $10 million club option for a third season, I think that would be of benefit to both clubs.

SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: Derek Holland #45 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on September 18, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

LHP, Derek Holland

Ahh yes. Dutch Oven. A Rangers’ fan favorite that could be in a position to return to the club where he got his start in the MLB. Holland has never been a frontline starter that we may have loved to see him become but he could be the perfect option to take over that 3rd starter role.

Holland is coming off an impressive year with the San Francisco Giants in which 30 starts and threw nearly 175 innings. His ERA jumped down from 6.20 in Chicago in 2017 to 3.57 in 2018 showcasing that he still has the stuff to be an effective pitcher. He saw a resurgence in his strikeout rate as well in 2018 get nearly a strikeout per inning for the Giants.

It’s pretty well assumed that both the Rangers and Holland would be open to a reunion in 2019 and that he would make a great addition as the club transitions to this new ballpark. At only 32, Holland could also come in on a multi-year deal.

Holland probably won’t command even the money that Gio Gonzalez will despite having arguably as good a year last season. I’d be willing to see Texas bring in Derek on a 3-year contract worth around $15 million over the life of the contract. Even in the final year of that deal, he should still be effective enough to be a back-end starter on a good team.

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