Top 10 Free Agent Signings in Texas Rangers History

Building a championship baseball team is a difficult task that the Texas Rangers have failed to accomplish in the 61 years the team has been in existence.  The Rangers won back-to-back AL Pennants in 2010 and 2011 and were defeated in both World Series.

There are three main ways to build a championship caliber team: 1) Make trades and deplete your farm system, 2) get lucky in the MLB Draft, 3) sign free agents in a fiscally responsible way.

Here are what I perceive as the Top 10 free agent signings in Texas Rangers history. (See the Top 10 Texas Rangers Trades from my Wednesday post last week)

The top 10 free agent signings in Texas Rangers history

#1- Nolan Ryan (Signed with the Texas Rangers from the Houston Astros, 1989-1993)

Nolan Ryan pitched his first game in the majors at the age of 19.  He played parts of five seasons for the New York Mets, winning a World Series in 1969.  After the 1971 season, Ryan was traded to the California Angels.  Ryan pitched eight seasons for the Angels and was an all-star five times.  After the 1979 season, Ryan was granted free agency and signed with the Houston Astros.  Ryan pitched nine seasons in Houston and was an all-star on two more occasions.  After the 1988 season, Ryan once again was granted free agency.

On December 7, 1988, Nolan Ryan signed a free agency deal to pitch for his hometown Texas Rangers.  According to baseball-reference.com, Ryan earned a salary of $1.8M for his first season in Texas.  During his five seasons with the Rangers, Ryan earned just under $14.5M.  In 1989, at the age of 42, Ryan represented Texas in his 8th and final all-star game.  During his time pitching for the Rangers, Ryan compiled a 51-39 record, a 3.43 ERA, and recorded 939 SO in 840.0 innings.  Ryan retired from MLB in 1993, at the age of 46.

For his career, Ryan pitched 27 seasons, compiled a 324-292 record, 5,714 SO, and seven no-hitters.  He had his #30 retired by the Angels, #34 retired by the Astros, and his #34 retired by Texas.  He was also enshrined into the Hall of Fame for each organization.  In 1999, Ryan was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame with 98.79% of the vote on the first ballot.