Texas Rangers: Three free agent options still available this offseason

If the Texas Rangers still plan to make a notable big league move, which available free agents represent the best fits for the 2020 season.

It still feels like the Texas Rangers still have at least one more notable move up their sleeve this offseason despite a busy winter thus far. The rotation is all but set after Texas brought in a trio of starters headlined by Corey Kluber to compliment Mike Minor and Lance Lynn. The bullpen has few sets pieces, but plenty of young pitchers and veterans alike set to compete for roles. However, the offense still could use some help and because of the strategy the Rangers have used to this point, there is flexibility in figuring out which players fit into a somewhat lackluster lineup. If the Rangers want to add one more piece and opt to go the free agency route, here are three possibilities still available on the free agent market…

OF Kevin Pillar

Entering the offseason, Kevin Pillar wasn’t on any free agent lists because his leap into the vast unknown of the offseason came when the San Francisco Giants surprisingly non-tendered the veteran despite a string of consistent seasons in the outfield. Now he hits free agency looking to join his third team in a year and a half after he spent the first eight seasons of his pro baseball career with the Toronto Blue Jays.

At only 31, Pillar still is in the midst of his career and is capable of being an impact player. His value dipped slightly last season posting a 1.5 fWAR, the first season in five years his fWAR was not a 2.0 or higher. But he was still productive with the bat hitting .259 in 161 games and hitting 21 home runs. His OPS floats year to year somewhere near the .700 mark which is respectable but his wRC+ last year was just 85, the 12th lowest among qualified hitters.

Pillar has always made his name for his defensive ability though, a plus at all outfield spots. His UZR/150 in center field dropped to its lowest point in his career last year at -1.6 but he is still thought of as one of the better center fielders available. For the Rangers, they currently are slotted to have Danny Santana in center field next season and while expectations are that he will improve, his spot in the lineup is generated from his bat, not his glove. Pillar should be a cheaper option that Puig and could give the Rangers a nice four outfielder rotation with Pillar commanding significant time in center, but also filling in for Calhoun and Gallo at the corner spots when needed.

INF Wilmer Flores

While the first two names listed are outfielders, Wilmer Flores would be a signing that could help bolster the infield if needed. The 28-year old originally signed with the New York Mets as an international free agent when he was 16 and has since methodically climbed the ladder of professional baseball. He made his big league debut with the Mets in 2013 and since the 2014 season, has been mostly a big league mainstay.

In 2019, Flores played for the Arizona Diamondbacks and featured in 89 games for the NL West club. He was impressive at the plate hitting .317 with an .848 OPS and finished the season with a 1.1 fWAR, impressive for his limited game time. He’s a career .268 hitter that could add some right-handed cover to the Rangers overly left-handed lineup.

Defensively, Flores has over 1000 career innings at all four infield positions although recently, he’s predominantly played first or second base. He’s not a stellar defender, but unlike the first two names on this list, Flores would not be an everyday player but rather a right-handed platoon with Ronald Guzman at first base, who could also fill in at other roles if needed. He’s young enough that he might be worth the risk hoping that his time in Arizona wasn’t a one off. He’d be fairly cheap and would add good depth to the Rangers roster.