How Can the Texas Rangers Win the Offseason?

Although in the midst of the MLB playoffs, it’s never too early to get hyped for a potentially active Texas Rangers offseason.

Per rumors from a few weeks ago, the Texas Rangers could be a possible landing destination for either Kris Bryant or Willson Contreras. That would be a huge trade for Texas if acquiring either player, as they struggled mightily at third base and catcher this past season.

Now, on the flip side, the Rangers would have to give up a lot to receive either player. They would likely have to part ways with top prospects such as Hans Crouse and Leody Taveras, and possibly more (maybe Nomar Mazara to lessen the prospect blow?). But the risk is worth the reward. A great benefit for the Rangers if they were to add Bryant or Contreras is that both players have years of club control remaining, and therefore would not cost as much as other free agents at their respective levels.

Trading Mazara in the Bryant/Contreras deal would free up one of the Texas Rangers’ corner outfield/DH slots, but why stop there? If the Rangers feel confident enough in their veteran leadership, they could also deal Shin-Soo Choo and a low-level prospect in a salary dump to a team that wouldn’t mind taking his contract on with a prospect alongside. Such a scenario would allow Texas to spend more money during free agency.

There are a variety of ways that the Texas Rangers can go in free agency. If they manage to pull off the trade with the Cubs, they could acquire Contreras, and still make a play for Anthony Rendon to man the hot corner.

The Rangers could also make an all-out attempt to sign Gerrit Cole, regardless of who they would acquire from the Cubs, if anyone. Texas will more than likely make acquiring Gerrit Cole their main priority in the offseason. Though, if they fail to sign him, they could then shift their attention to Rendon and the trade market as a promising consolation.

Signing Cole, then making the major trade splash for a Kris Bryant or Willson Contreras would make a good lineup even better, and could upgrade Texas to a team capable of making a deep playoff run in 2020.

All that remains for the Rangers in a dream offseason scenario would be adding some bullpen depth on cheap/reasonable deals (similar to Shawn Kelley) to lock things up on that end.

The starting trio of Cole, Mike Minor, and Lance Lynn would give every opponent major fits, and Texas fans will be in hog heaven watching those guys take the mound on a regular basis with Kris Bryant in the field. These moves would be major splashes, which would help the Texas Rangers win the offseason.