Texas Rangers: One last off-season report card and analysis

The MLB offseason report cards are out, and baseball fans are eager to see what baseball reporters wrote about their team’s free agency moves. The Texas Rangers had an interesting report card entry from Bleacher Report’s Martin Fenn.

Fenn’s analysis of what the Rangers did was pretty interesting, to say the least. Fenn gave the team a C for their offseason grade.

Here is what Fenn said about the Ranger’s offseason moves.

"“The Rangers were stuck between wanting to field a competitive team and needing to rebuild. The result was more of a retool.”"

Let’s see what Fenn had to say about the Ranger’s offseason moves, and what I thought about each of the moves he mentioned.

Fenn’s Analysis 

To start off, he mentioned that the Rangers were smart enough to get rid of Lance Lynn for Dane Dunning. He’s a very good pitcher in his mid 20’s with an amazing arsenal of change-ups and sinkers to get opponents out.

The Texas Rangers had an off-season that teetered between “competitive” and “rebuild”.

There are not a lot of times when a team will be able to get a guy like Dunning at his age. Texas Rangers President of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels did the right thing by trading Lynn for him.

Daniels and new GM Chris Young also solidified the starting rotation by signing Japanese pitcher Kohei Arihara and former Braves pitcher Mike Foltynewicz. He also brought in veteran Ian Kennedy to audition for the closer role.

The big offseason move Fenn talked about was Rangers fan favorite Elvis Andrus getting traded for Oakland Athletics OF Khris Davis, C Jonah Heim, and RHP Dane Acker.

Daniels basically cleared Andrus’ huge contract so the Texas Rangers will have more money to sign a big-name free agent next offseason (Trevor Story?).

In the meantime, Khris Davis is a solid veteran outfielder they are getting in return that can help mentor the younger players on the team. Davis showed he can still make an impact on the field, and will most likely make the opening day roster.

I was also surprised that the Rangers were able to get the Athletics eighth-best prospect. Heim will most likely be the backup catcher this season to Jose Trevino this season.

My Analysis and Conclusion

Grade: C+/B

Overall, I do agree with Fenn’s statement that this off-season was more of a retool, but I think the Rangers deserve a grade in the C+ to B range.

First, the Rangers unloaded Andrus’ contract in order to make a free agency run in 2021. It allows the Rangers to go after Trevor Story and other big-name players next offseason.

If they can get rid of Odor at the trade deadline this year, that would be a really good move as well. That would free up even more money to go after other players next offseason.

Secondly, they managed to get Heim from the Athletics, which gives the Rangers three great catchers. Heim might become the best player out of this trade for the Rangers.

And lastly, the 2020-21 free agent signings give the Rangers’ top prospects another year in the minors to work on making the 40-man roster next season.

Top prospects such as Josh Jung, David Wendzel, and Steele Walker can stay down in the minors one more year to improve and possibly get called up during this season.

So while the Rangers’ offseason seemed quiet to most fans this offseason except for the Andrus trade, this year’s activity could set the Texas Rangers up for success down the road.

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