Texas Rangers: Two players due for contract extensions in 2020

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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 01: Texas Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels talks with the media following the announcement that the game between the Texas Rangers and the Los Angeles Angels has been postponed at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 01, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. The game was postponed following an announcement made by the Los Angeles Angels that pitcher Tyler Skaggs had died. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

While the season’s start has been put on pause, the Texas Rangers can focus their attention on planning contract extensions for a crucial pair of players.

Entering this offseason the Texas Rangers had a few priorities to take care of on the player personnel front. They needed to add some starting pitching, which they did. They needed to add some position help, which they also did, albeit to a degree below what they probably hoped at the start of the offseason. Along with the outside additions though, the Rangers had a few players within the organization who are in need of a contract extension. Or at least a decision on whether they fit the long-term plans of the club.

BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 08: Mike Minor #23 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 8, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

1. LHP Mike Minor (signed through 2020)

The known priority for the Rangers in terms of extensions is Mike Minor. Having signed a three-year, $28 million contract with Texas prior to the 2018 season, Minor was originally brought in as a high-priced flyer with hopes that he could have an effective return to the big league rotation. The value he’s provided since has far exceed the cost of the deal with Minor emerging as a legitimate top of the rotation starter.

After missing all of 2015 and 2016, Minor impressed in the bullpen for the Royals in 2017 which prompted the interest from Texas. In 2018, Minor had a successful foray back into the rotation making 28 starts for the Rangers posting a 4.18 ERA. In 2019, Minor formed a stellar top two starters with Lance Lynn who joined as a free agent last offseason. Minor finished the year with a 4.1 fWAR and a 3.59 ERA while throwing 200 innings for just the second time in his career.

What the Rangers and Minor will due regarding their long-term future has been debated to numerous ends. Last season it seemed likely that Minor could dealt at the Trade Deadline but when that came and passed, the attention turned to an extension. For a club like the Rangers, it seems unwise to let Minor leave next offseason for nothing. Texas is still at least a season away from being a legitimate playoff contender and letting a top-end starter leave for nothing in return would be a waste of an asset. Of course, the best scenario for the Texas Rangers is to ink Minor to a contract extension that keeps him in the rotation for at least a few more years.

Minor has stated that he’s open to a contract extension that would keep him in Arlington.
The 32-year old seems to have enjoyed his time with the Rangers and a long-term marriage would be beneficial for both parties. While projections show that Minor is likely to regress some in 2020, he should still factor in to the middle of the rotation for a few more seasons. Any extension will see Minor get a pay raise on the $9.5 million he’s due in 2020, but he shouldn’t command ace money. Texas needs to expedite a deal with Minor this year or they pretty much have to move him at the trade deadline.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 16: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the bottom of the fourth inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on July 16, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

2. OF Joey Gallo (signed through 2023)

The time-sensitive nature of Mike Minor is the reason why he should be the Rangers top priority for a contract extension this year. On talent and future value though, Texas should be making a long-term deal with Joey Gallo a crucial focus of the 2020 season. Gallo isn’t headed out the door anytime soon without an extension, but Texas would be wise to find a team-friendly extension that makes Gallo a Ranger for the majority of his career.

Gallo has always had the talent to become the face of the Rangers franchise and in 2019, he emerged as a potential superstar in the league. Despite a campaign limited to just 70 games, Gallo posted a career-high 3.3 fWAR hitting .253 with a .958 OPS. For the first chunk of the season Gallo was a potential MVP candidate and could be a dark horse for the award in 2020. Steamer projections for next season predict regression by Gallo but the organization seems to think the improvements he made at the plate last season are long-term changes.

Beyond his ability at the plate, Gallo emerged as a legitimate outfielder with plus-defensive ability. His time last season came predominantly in center field but he’ll get the starting job in right field moving forward. His defensive ability in right field gives him the potential to be among the best right fields in the game. He only has 128 career innings in right field but his 35.2 UZR/150 are signs of elite defensive potential.

With that in mind, it would make sense for Texas to invest in Gallo long-term. He’s the top talent in the organization and heading towards the prime of his career. Knowing that Texas has had trouble finding elite level talent recently, making sure Gallo is patrolling right field in Globe Life Field for the better part of the next decade would be smart business and would give Gallo the pay raise he deserves. In CBS Sports piece on the top 10 contract extension candidates in 2020, they linked Gallo with a deal in the neighborhood of Kyle Seager’s seven-year, $100 million contract.

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While the season’s start has been put on pause, the Texas Rangers can focus their attention on planning contract extensions for a crucial pair of players.

1. LHP Mike Minor (signed through 2020)

2. OF Joey Gallo (signed through 2023)

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