10 free agent signings that would most impact the Texas Rangers

The free agent market is off to a running start and rumors are running rampant as players try to beat out the anticipated lockout. The Texas Rangers seem to be involved in just about every major free agent as well. They’ll have their pick from the pack as well, since they will be burning cash this winter, unlike some other teams.

I’ll be taking a look at the top targets for the Rangers this off-season. This isn’t a ranking based purely on talent, but rather a bit of a format for the off-season. It should be used in a dynamic way, with plan A targets towards the top. The biggest factor is the impact they’ll have on the team immediately, as well as the on the future plans.

10 free agent signings that would have the most impact for the Texas Rangers

1. Corey Seager, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story

Yea, this one may seem a bit of a cop-out by putting the 3 top short stops together but the plan for free agency starts with one of these guys. You can argue why each one should be the priority signing but the fact remains, one (maybe 2?) of these guys SHOULD be a Ranger in 2022. This is where you find your corner stone athlete to build upon. The emergence from the rebuild starts here with one of these studs.

2. Marcus Stroman

This may come as a surprise given Stroman isn’t talked about too much amongst the Texas Rangers faithful, but it shouldn’t be surprising.

The primary focus has been on, and rightfully so, Clayton Kershaw, but perhaps more love should go Marcus’ way.

Stroman will turn 31 in the early part of the 2022 seasons, so he wouldn’t be a young signing but he could be incredibly impactful. He’s looking for a five year/ $25 million AAV contract, and with the current starting pitching market pace, he could get close. It would be worth looking at him given his strong track record of success, durability and competitiveness. In 2021 he made 33 starts pitching to the tune of a 3.02 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP and 7.9 K/9. The average strike out rate may not seem like a high priced pitchers, but that’s because he’s elite about keeping the ball on the ground. Throughout his career he’s managed a 57.1% GB rate. In 2021 he allowed only 17 home runs in 179 innings. In comparison to a current rotation candidate, Kolby Allard allowed 29 home runs through 124.2 innings.

Keeping the ball in the park could play very well with the excellent defense the Rangers will deploy in ’22. Marcus Stroman’s only All-Star game was in 2019, but he could be on the verge of many more.

3. Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw comes in at number three on the list. There seems to be a decent amount of controversy over whether he should be a target given the amount of innings he’s accumulated and the injuries piling up. Some would even argue that he would never leave the organization he’s been with his whole career.

If he was to leave though, it seems most likely to come back to Texas to play for his hometown Rangers. Clayton Kershaw will go down in history as the greatest pitcher of his time and that could OBVIOUSLY be useful to Texas.

Even with injuries in 2021, he managed a 3.55 ERA, 1.02 WHIP with a 10.7 K/9 rate. All of which would make him by far the best pitcher on the Rangers staff. As far as what it would take to sign him remains to be seen. Some teams will see the injuries and innings and shy away, some will see the elite history and go for him. Perhaps he won’t want to leave LA for less than a four-year deal, either.

Whatever it takes to get him, the Texas Rangers should do it. He would bring leadership and experience to a young rotation core and help guide them into to future.

4. Javier Baez, Marcus Semien

Much like with the first selection, this is a bit of a cop-out ranking both Baez and Semien together. Though they are considered part of the “Big 5” shortstops, Baez and Semien are more of the tier 2 starters of the group.

Don’t be fooled though, they aren’t tier 2 players, just not in the same option class as the number 1 guys. Like the option 1 guys, they would be invaluable pieces, showing the seriousness the front office has promised for moving into a more competitive status. They would also most likely be your starting 2nd baseman instead of shortstop, since both have already made the transition.

In 2021 they both hit for a .265 average with Baez mashing 31 home runs and Semien walloping 45. Baez (28) is 2 years younger than Semien but both are looking for a contract in the same range of 5-6 years for $21-23 million AAV. Semien, is most likely to get the larger contract for the aforementioned 45 home runs and a 7.3 WAR as compared to a 4.5 WAR but Baez finished the season stronger with a .299 batting average and 9 home runs over his final 47 games with the Mets.

5. Seiya Suzuki

Suzuki lands pretty high on the list for a few difference reasons. At only 26 years old the Japanese slugger had another monster year in the NPO in 2021. He slashed .319/.436/.640 with 38 home runs over 133 games. His defense is above average as well in the outfield, a position of need, making him even more enticing. Now, in a typical ranking system, he would be bellow other OF options but one of the main factors in landing this high is the offseason plan. Suzuki is only expected to get a 4-5 year deal at $11-13 million per year, making him quite affordable.

If the Texas Rangers were to successfully land two other high priced targets this year, his affordable contact would be must have.

6. Nick Castellanos

Castellanos could very reasonably be higher on the list but comes in at 6. He is opting out of his contract in Cincinnati after a career year that saw him hit for personal bests in batting average (.309), and home runs (34).

He does play outfield like the aforementioned Suzuki and is more a of sure bet offensively but it’s his higher price tag that lowers him. Castellanos will be 30 years old for the ’22 season and is probably looking for a 5 year/ $125 million or more contract. That would put him out of play if the Texas Rangers were to sign a SS/Kershaw for example, meaning he would only become a priority if the team misses out on higher ranked targets.

Castellanos would still be an incredibly valuable player to obtain, though, as you can see by his numbers. For a team starved for offense like the Texas Rangers, this seems like a no-brainer.

7. Starling Marte

Marte, like Castellanos, could easily be ranked higher but falls to 7th on the list due to his seemingly poor fit for the Texas Rangers.

Marte is the premier outfield free agent and had another great year at the plate. He hit 12 home runs in 2021 while slashing .310/.383/.458 which is impressive but the real eye popping number is his career best OPS+ 132. Marte is also an excellent defensive outfielder managing center field. He also is a major threat on the base path having set to league mark of 47, which would fit Chris  Woodward’s aggressive base running approach.

Marte’s odd fit primarily comes because of his age. At 33 years old, the speedy Marte is already seeing a dip in velocity, limiting some of his defensive/base running attributes. He also seems to be gunning for a multi-year deal with and AAV of $20 million or more. That once again would make him only available it the first options have failed.

9. Jon Gray

Gray is the first pitcher to make the list following Kershaw. Gray may not be the most talented pitcher or have the highest ceiling on the market but Gray would be an integral signing. Gray could be had for a Texas Rangers’ favorite three year deal, but given he’s turned down a similar deal it might take a four year agreement. He would still run in the range of $12-14 million a year making him affordable enough to be a secondary singing.

Gray comes with a high hopes of meeting lofty expectations. Gray was the third overall selection in 2013 but has never met the expectations of being drafted that high. The career owner of a 4.59 ERA, he didn’t help his free agent case much by matching that ERA in 2021. He has managed to carry an ERA+ of over 100 in 4 of his 7 seasons, meaning he has consistently been better than average.

Signing him would be made difficult though if he looks for something similar to Eduardo Rodriguez, as his value comes is affordability with the prospect of improvement. He could be the next reclamation project i.e. Gibson/Lynn/Minor.

10. Kevin Gausman

Kevin Gausman makes the list (thanks to DeSclafani signing) just ahead of Cy Young award winner Robbie Ray.

Gausman had a fantastic year in the Bay Area, sporting a 2.81 ERA over 33 starts. Those 33 starts were  career high for him and perhaps it began to show as he faltered down the stretch. Nevertheless, Gausman was able to build on an improved 2020 season that saw him handle a 3.62 ERA. He lands higher on the list though primarily because he wont command as much as Ray. Though he would be considered a tier 1 option starting pitcher above Gray, he seems to split the line in monetary value. MLBTR recently predicted a 6 year/$138 million contract for Gausman.

I’m not sold on the idea he gets that large of a deal given most his success has come in the last years and his declined performance towards the end of 2021. However, he could still net a five year deal in the $21 million range. If signed, Gausman would be looked at to anchor a young and unknown rotation.

Honorable Mentions

These players would also be great free additions for the Texas Rangers

• Robbie Ray
• Kyle Schwarber
• Chris Taylor
• Steven Matz
• Avisail Garcia

All of the names should be or already are being considered by the Texas Rangers. After all, it wouldn’t take much to improve a 102 loss team. The trick is piecing together the signings, finding the value and targeting your needs properly. That is a task POBO Jon Daniels and GM Chris Young have set a high expectation for, and one that many will be keeping a keen eye on.