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GM’ing the Texas Rangers into the 2023 World Series

ByChris Bachman|
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 02: A detail view of a Baby Shark in the Commissioner's Trophy during a parade to celebrate the Washington Nationals World Series victory over the Houston Astros on November 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. This is the first World Series win for the Nationals in 95 years. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 02: A detail view of a Baby Shark in the Commissioner's Trophy during a parade to celebrate the Washington Nationals World Series victory over the Houston Astros on November 2, 2019 in Washington, DC. This is the first World Series win for the Nationals in 95 years. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 28: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets pitches in the first inning of game 2 of a double header against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 28: Noah Syndergaard #34 of the New York Mets pitches in the first inning of game 2 of a double header against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field on September 28, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Into the future!

I told you I was cheating on the *day* part. I hop into my time machine and fast forward to the end of the 2022 season. The team fought but was still just 78-84. I buy out Myers contract for $1 million, and with Hosmer’s lower $13 million salary reduced even further by the Padres/Brewers it comes in at $5 million. This starts us off at a $109 million payroll going into the offseason.

5. Extend Matt Olson

Olson is due about $12 million through arbitration in 2022 and has 1 more year to go of who knows what. It doesn’t matter because you extend the gold glover on a 7 year/$224 million deal. The infield is set through 2028 baring injury or degraded performance.

6. Sign Noah Syndergaard

Here’s to hoping the DFW native has a bounce-back year coming off Tommy John surgery. He’s only tethered to the Angels for 1 year and it’s an important one for his career. At 31 years old, You can compare what he would get to the likes of Robbie Ray, Kevin Gausman, and Marcus Stroman. A 5 year/$125 million deal should get this done. That is more than the prior mentioned Cy Young Winners. This of course is contingent on him playing at a high level AND staying healthy. Mike Clevinger and Chris Bassitt would be candidates as well.

7. Trade Isiah Kiner-Falefa

One of the few shining spots and bastions of hope in these dark years is sent off.  After the signings of Semien and Seager and the emergence of Jung, his purpose is better suited as a trade candidate to help the depleted farm system. It’s not that IKF isn’t needed or wanted because he very much is. He could help in a multitude of ways and would be valuable here but this is a business decision. He only has one more year of team control at this point before another team would be able to steal him away. Tyler Henderson touched on this subject and his trade proposal with the Yankees is a good one.

This isn’t an easy decision to be made but it is a necessary one. Medina is a flame thrower who can hit triple digits but struggles with command. He COULD be a starter but will likely end up as a reliever.

Selvidge is the less-heralded prospect here but is more likely to end up at the starter. He fits the profile the Texas Rangers want, a rising prospect who seems to be figuring things out. This will be important if the team is to compete.

The 2023 Texas Rangers

Finally, with a payroll of ~$167 million the Texas Rangers are ready to compete for a spot in the big stage. Ideally, Jack Leiter is a quick riser and makes his presence known during the ’23 season. Josh H. Smith is also called up to play in the outfield. Finally, Sam Huff is back in a Rangers uniform after cleaning up his approach a bit. He still strikes out a ton but manages to get on base more and continues to hit mammoth homers.  The line-up and rotation could look like (with accompanying 2021 stats):

  1. Seiya Suzuki, CF   .317/.433/.636 – 38 home runs*
  2. Corey Seager, SS   .306/.394/.521 – 16 home runs**
  3. Marcus Semien, 2B   .265/.334/.538 – 45 home runs
  4. Matt Olson, 1B   .271/.371/.540 – 39 home runs
  5. Josh Jung, 3B   .326/.398/.592 – 19 home runs***
  6. Sam Huff, DH   .246/.317/.496 – 16 home runs***
  7. Robert Hassell, LF   .302/.393/.470 – 11 home runs***
  8. Josh H. Smith, RF   .309/.429/.535 – 13 home runs***
  9. J. Heim/J. Trevino, C
  • Noah Syndergaard
  • Cole Winn
  • Jon Gray
  • Jack Leiter
  • Dane Dunning

*- NPB

**- 95 games

***- Minor Leagues

It does decimate the current farm system. The top 6 prospects either graduate or are traded. There also isn’t too much more to spend. However, this team can stay together for years. Suzuki would be the first to become a free agent after the 2026 season. Jon Gray is the first pitcher to depart after the 2025 season. Those can be filled in a multitude of ways, keeping this team competitive for the next 5-10 years.

This, after all, is a dreamt-up scenario. In a world where most things work out (I did miss on Kershaw and Gallo) I feel this is as good a plan as any to get them back into the Winter Classic. Of course, there are a million ways to get there, this way is mine (kinda). What additions or subtractions would you like to see?

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