Texas Rangers: Who’s on the books for the 2022 season?

Texas Rangers President Jon Daniels made it clear during exit interviews that the Rangers have permission from owner Ray Davis to spend at retail value to lure free agents to Texas.

According to FanGraphs.com, the Rangers estimated final payroll in 2021 was approximately $98M.

In 2022, the MLB Luxury Tax payroll must remain at or below $210, 000,000.  The estimated 2022 payroll for the Rangers currently stands at approximately $52M.

Here is a look at the Texas Rangers 2022 salary obligations

Active Players

The Texas Rangers currently only have eight players signed for the 2022 season.

Jose Leclerc (RP)

2022 Salary: $5,250,000

Jose Leclerc is currently the highest paid player on the Rangers in 2022.  Unfortunately, Leclerc is recovering from surgery and will not be ready to start the season with the Rangers. The Rangers have club options for 2023 ($6M) and 2024 ($6.25M) on Leclerc.  If he is healthy, there is no doubt that the Rangers will honor the remainder of his contract.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa (SS)

2022 Salary: $4,9000,000

Isaiah Kiner-Falefa is the reigning MLB Gold Glove Award winner at 3B.  He moved to SS in 2021 and was even better.  In 2023, Kiner-Falefa will enter his final year of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent in 2024.

Matt Bush (RP)

2022 Salary: $900,000

Matt Bush was injured for most of 2021.  Between a rehab assignment and pitching for the Rangers, Bush only pitched a total of 7.0 innings.  Bush did however, finish the 2021 campaign healthy.  After 2022, Bush has two years of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent in 2025.

Ronald Guzman (1B)

2022 Salary: $1,000,000

After a meniscus tear in his right knee, Ronald Guzman spent most of 2021 on the 60-day injury list.  After 2022, Guzman has two years of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent in 2025.

Willie Calhoun (OF/DH)

2022 Salary: $1,600,000

Willie Calhoun missed a significant amount of time due to injury in 2021.  Calhoun only played 75 games for the Rangers and he regressed from career high’s in many offensive categories.  Calhoun did however, seem healthy to finish out 2021.  Calhoun also has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining before he can become a free agent in 2025.

Jharel Cotton (RP)

2022 Salary: $1,200,000

Jharel Cotton pitched well out of the bullpen for the Rangers in 2021.  Working out of the bullpen for the first time in his MLB career, Cotton made 23 relief appearances for Texas.  After 2022, he has two years of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent in 2025.

Brett Martin (RP)

2022 Salary: $1,100,000

Brett Martin has been a mainstay in the Texas bullpen for the last three years.  He made a career high 66 relief appearances and earned 11 Holds for the Rangers.  After 2022, Martin has three years of arbitration eligibility remaining before he can be a free agent in 2026.

Taylor Hearn (SP)

2022 Salary: $1,100,000

A strong second half may have earned Taylor Hearn a spot in the 2022 starting rotation.  Hearn made 11 starts and pitched in 42 games for the Rangers in 2021.  He also pitched in a career high 104.1 innings for Texas.  Like Martin, Hearn has three years of arbitration eligibility remaining before he can be a free agent in 2026.

Texas Rangers: Not Eligible For Arbitration

The Texas Rangers currently have 10 players who do not have enough service time to file for arbitration.  Each of their salaries are yet to be determined for 2022.

Adolis Garcia (OF)

2022 Salary: TBD

Adolis Garcia was the MVP of the Rangers in 2021.  Garcia broke the Rangers rookie record when he hit 31 home runs.  The Rangers control Garcia’s rights until 2027.

Joe Barlow (RP)

2022 Salary: TBD

Joe Barlow finished the season as the Rangers closer.  He pitched in 31 games in relief and went 11/12 in save opportunities.   The Rangers control Barlow’s rights until 2027.

Dane Dunning (SP)

2022 Salary: TBD

In 2021, Dane Dunning started 25 games for the Rangers.  Dunning has a bright future in the starting rotation with the Rangers.  The Rangers control Dunning’s rights until 2027.

Jonah Heim (C)

2022 Salary: TBD

Jonah Heim played 82 games in his first full season in MLB.  Heim hit 10 home runs for the Rangers in 2021.  The Rangers control Heim’s rights until 2027.

Nathaniel Lowe (1B)

2022 Salary: TBD

Nathaniel Lowe played 157 games in his first full season in MLB.  He collected 18 HR and 72 RBI in 2021.  The Rangers control Lowe’s rights until 2027.

Spencer Patton (RP)

2022 Salary: TBD

Spencer Patton returned to the Rangers in 2021 after pitching for four seasons in the (NPB) in Japan.  Patton pitched in 42 games out of the bullpen for the Rangers in 2021. The Rangers control Patton’s rights until 2026.

Jose Trevino (C)

2022 Salary: TBD

Jose Trevino played 89 games with the Rangers in 2021.  He set career highs in HR (5) and RBI (30).  The Rangers control Trevino’s rights until 2026.

Kolby Allard (SP)

2022 Salary: TBD

Kolby Allard pitched in 32 games, 17 starts, with the Rangers in 2021.  Allard achieved a career high with 104 strikeouts.  The Rangers control Allard’s rights until 2026.

Nick Solak (2B)

2022 Salary: TBD

Nick Solak played 127 games for the Rangers in 2021.  He set career highs in almost every offensive category, including 2B (18), HR (11), and RBI (49).  The Rangers control Solak’s rights until 2026.

Jonathan Hernandez (RP)

2022 Salary: TBD

Jonathan Hernandez sustained an injury during Spring Training and was placed on the 60-day injury list.  He did not pitch in 2021 and will not be ready to start the season.  The Rangers control Hernandez’s rights until 2026.