These 3 free agents could help the Texas Rangers in 2021

RHP Sergio Romo

I know what you might be thinking: what would the Texas Rangers be doing shopping around in the reliever market?

After all, a rebuilding franchise typically doesn’t need relievers.

Every team needs some sort of late-inning option, though, even if just temporarily.

You really could just insert any free agent reliever below the top-tier names in this scenario, so we selected submarining righty Sergio Romo.

Romo, a former World Series champion with the San Francisco Giants, brings all kinds of closing experience to the table.

With the Minnesota Twins in 2020, the soon to be 38-year-old right-hander posted a 4.05 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 20 innings pitched (24 appearances).

For the Rangers, Romo would represent a leader and mentor for a very young bullpen unit that includes names like Taylor Hearn, Demarcus Evans, Jose Leclerc, Jonathan Hernandez and others.

The former World Champ would also represent a valuable trade chip for the July 2021 trade deadline should he pitch well.

One way for the Rangers to acquire prospects in hopes of bolstering their farm system during this rebuild is by taking on veteran relievers like Romo who have had past success and flipping them to contenders during the summer.

It’s not an infallible strategy, but with Romo being 38, he’ll likely only command one-year offers. This would definitely fit Texas’ budget and timeline.

A half-season of Romo’s leadership in the bullpen and then acquiring prospects for him in July? That’s what the savvy front offices do. The Texas Rangers should follow suit.