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.

#2- Rafael Palmeiro (from Baltimore Orioles, 1999-2003)

Rafael Palmeiro started his MLB career in 1986 when he was a member of the Chicago Cubs.  After three seasons with the Cubs and one all-star appearance, Palmeiro was traded to Texas.  Palmeiro played five seasons and one more all-star appearance in Texas before he signed a free agency deal with Baltimore.  He played five seasons in Baltimore and one additional all-star appearance before signing as a free agent with the Rangers.  Palmeiro played five more seasons in Texas before he returned to Baltimore as a free agent, playing two years and then retiring at the age of 40.

On December 4, 1998, Rafael Palmeiro returned for a second tour of Texas when he signed a free agent deal to play for the Rangers.  According to baseball-reference.com, Palmeiro earned a salary of just over $8.8M during the first year of his deal.  During his five seasons with Texas, Palmeiro earned just over $44M.  In 1999, at age 34, Palmeiro represented Texas in his 4th and final all-star game.  During his entire 10 seasons with Texas, Palmeiro played 1,573 games, had 1,692 hits, 321 doubles, 321 home runs, 1,039 RBI’s, a .290 BA, and a .378 OBP.

For his MLB career, Palmeiro played 2,831 games, had 3,020 hits, 585 doubles, 569 home runs, 1,835 RBI’s, a .288 BA, and a .371 OBP.  Not only was Palmeiro a four-time all-star, he was a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, and won the Silver Slugger Award on two occasions.

#3- Adrian Beltre (from Boston Red Sox, 2011-2018)

Adrian Beltre started his MLB career at age 19 during the 1998 season.  Beltre spent seven years playing 3B for the Los Angeles Dodgers.  He was granted free agency after the 2004 season and signed with the Seattle Mariners.  Beltre spent five seasons in Seatlle before signing a one-year free agency deal with Boston.  Beltre made his first all-star appearance as a member of the Red Sox.  After 13 years in MLB, and one season in Boston, Beltre signed a free agency deal with Texas.  Beltre played eight seasons with the Rangers.  He represented Texas in the all-star game on three occasions.  After 21 years in MLB, Beltre retired at the age of 39.

On January 5, 2011, Adrian Beltre signed a free agency deal to play for the Texas Rangers.  According to baseball-reference.com, Beltre earned a salary of $14M during the first year of his deal.  During his eight seasons playing in Texas, Beltre earned $132M.  In 2014, at the age of 35, Beltre played in his 4th and final all-star game.  During his eight year career in Texas, Beltre played 1,098 games, had 1,277 hits, 239 doubles, 199 home runs, 699 RBI’s, a .304 BA, and a .357 OBP.

For his career, Betre played 2,933 games, had 3,166 hits, scored 1,524 runs, had 636 doubles, 477 home runs, 1,707 RBI’s, hit for a .286 AVG, and a .339 OBP.  Besides playing in four all-star games, Beltre was a five-time Glod Glove third baseman, won the Silver Slugger Award on four occasions, had his #29 Rangers jersey retired, and was enshrined into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.  Beltre should earn his spot in Cooperstown on the first ballot in 2024.

#4- Shin-Soo Choo (from Cincinnati Reds, 2014-2020)

Shin-Soo Choo started his MLB career in 2005 when he was a member of the Seattle Mariners.  After 14 games over two seasons, Choo was traded to Cleveland.  After seven years in Cleveland, Choo was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.  Choo played one season in Cincinnati before he was granted free agency.

On December 27, 2013, Shin-Soo Choo signed a free agent deal to play for the Texas Rangers.  According to baseball-reference.com, Choo earned a salary of $14M during the first year of his deal with Texas.  During his seven years with the Rangers, Choo earned $130M.  In 2018, at the age of 35, Choo represented Texas in his only all-star game.  In 799 games with Texas, Choo had 771 hits, scored 464 runs, hit 114 home runs, added 355 RBI’s, had a .260 BA, and had a .363 OBP.

For his MLB career, Choo played 16 seasons, played 1,652 games, had 1,671 hits, 339 doubles, 218 home runs, 782 RBI’s, a .275 BA, and a .377 OBP.

#5- Will Clark (from San Francisco Giants, 1994-1998)

Will Clark started his MLB career in 1986 when he was a member of the San Francisco Giants.  Clark played eight seasons for the Giants before he signed a free agency contract with Texas.  Clark played five seasons in Texas, parts of two seasons in Baltimore and part of one season in St. Louis before retiring from baseball at age 36.

On November 22, 1993, Will Clark signed as a free agent with Texas.  According to baseball-reference.com, Clark earned a salary of just under $4M during the first year of his deal with the Rangers.  During his five seasons in Texas, Clark earned over $26.6M.  In 1994, at the age of 30, Clark represented Texas in the all-star game.  It was his 6th and final time being named an all-star.  In 609 games in Texas, Clark compiled 686 hits, scored 381 runs, had 146 doubles, 77 home runs, 397 RBI’s, a .308 AVG, and a .395 OBP.

For his MLB career, Clark played 15 seasons, played 1,976 games, had 2,176 hits, scored 1,186 runs, had 440 doubles, 284 home runs, 1,205 RBI’s, a .303 BA, and a .384 OBP.  Besides playing in six all-star games, Clark was the NLCS MVP in 1989, a Gold Glove Award winner in 1991, a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner, the NL RBI winner in 1988, won the Golden Spikes Award in 1985, and is a member of the San Francisco Giants Wall of Fame.

#7- Colby Lewis (from Japan, 2010-2016)

Colby Lewis pitched his first game in the majors at the age of 22.  He started his career in Texas and pitched parts of three seasons for the Rangers before being selected off waivers by Detroit.  Lewis pitched one season in Detroit followed by one season in Oakland before he moved to Japan.  Lewis was extremely successful for two seasons in Japan and was free to sign with any team if he moved back to North America.

On January 19, 2010, Colby Lewis signed a free agency deal to return and play with the Texas Rangers, the team that drafted him in 1999.  According to baseball-reference.com, Lewis earned $1.75M to return to Texas.  During his six seasons with the Rangers, after Japan, Lewis earned $19M.  During his nine seasons in Texas, Lewis started 194 games, pitched 1,174.1 innings, had a 77-70 record, a 4.65 ERA, and 933 SO.

For his MLB career, Lewis pitched 1,215 innings in 11 seasons, compiled a 77-72 record, and had 961 SO.

#8- John Wetteland (from New York Yankees, 1997-2000)

John Wetteland pitched his first game in the majors at the age of 22.  He started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and pitched parts of three seasons in LA.  After the 1991 season, Wetteland was traded to Cincinnati who subsequently traded him to Montreal.  Wetteland pitched three seasons for the Expos before he was traded to the New York Yankees.  After two seasons and one all-star appearance in New York, Wetteland was granted free agency.

On December 17, 1996, John Wetteland signed a free agency contract with Texas.  According to baseball-reference.com, Wetteland earned a salary of $4.575M in his first season in Texas.  During his four seasons and two all-star appearances in Texas, Wetteland earned just over $23M.  In 248 relief appearances for the Rangers, Wetteland pitched 253.0 innings, had a record of 20-12, a 2.95 ERA, and was a perfect 150/150 in save opportunities.

For his 12 year MLB career, Wetteland had a record of 48-45, pitched 765.0 innings, had a 2.93 ERA, and earned 330 saves.  Besides being a three-time all-star, Wetteland was a World Series champion and World Series MVP, AL Saves leader, and AL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year in 1996.  In 2005, Wetteland was enshrined into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.

#9- Joe Nathan (from Minnesota Twins, 2012-2013)

Joe Nathan pitched his first game in MLB at the age of 24.  He started his career in San Francisco.  After parts of four seasons pitching for the Giants, Nathan was traded to Minnesota.  After seven seasons and four all-star appearances, Nathan was granted free agency.  Nathan pitched two seasons in Texas, two seasons in Detroit, part of one season with the Chicago Cubs and finished his career at age 41 back with San Francisco.

On November 21, 2011, Joe Nathan signed a two-year free agency contract to be the closer for the Texas Rangers.  According to baseball-reference.com, Nathan earned $7M per season plus a $500,000 buyout follwing season two.  During his two all-star seasons in Texas, Nathan pitched in 133 games finishing 129 innings, had a record of 9-7, had a 2.09 ERA, 151 strikeouts, and earned 80 saves.

For his 16 year MLB career, Nathan pitched 923.1 innings, compiled a 64-34 record, 976 strikeouts, and 377 saves.  Besides his six all-star selections, Nathan won the AL Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award in 2009, and in 2019 was enshrined into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.

#10- Vladimir Guerrero (from Los Angeles Angels, 2010)

Vladimir Guerrero started his MLB career at age 21 during the 1996 season.  Guerrero was a four-time all-star during his eight seasons in Montreal.  After the 2003 season, Guerrero was granted free agency and signed with the Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels.  Guerrero was an all-star during four of his six seasons with the Angels before he was granted free agency for a second time.  Guerrero signed a one-year deal with Texas then finished his career with a one year deal with Baltimore.  After 16 seasons in MLB, Guerrero made a final attempt after signing in Toronto but was unable to play a 17th season and officially retired at age 37.

On January 9, 2010, Vladimir Guerrero signed a one-year contract to be the Texas Rangers DH.  According to baseball-reference.com, Guerrero earned $5.5M to join the powerful Texas Rangers with the opportunity to win his first and only World Series.  The Rangers won the AL Championship but lost the World Series to the San Francisco Giants.  Guerrero was nominated for his 9th and final all-star appearance while playing in a Rangers uniform.  He played 152 games, had 29 home runs, knocked in 115 runs, and had a .300 AVG and .345 OBP with the Rangers.

For his career, Guerrero played 2,147 games in 16 seasons, had 2,590 hits, scored 1,328 runs, had 477 doubles, 449 home runs, 1,496 RBI’s, had a .318 BA, and a .379 OBP.  Besides playing in nine all-star games, Guerrero was the AL MVP in 2004, was an eight time Silver Slugger Award winner, and in 2017, Guerrero was enshrined into the Angels Hall of Fame.