3 free agents Texas Rangers could sign without draft pick compensation
Michael Conforto
2021 was a down year offensively for Conforto, as he posted a .729 OPS and 101 OPS+ with the bat, along with 14 home runs. Those numbers are roughly league average. Not great for someone entering a walk year. But with draft pick compensation off the table, taking a gamble on the former Met might not be a bad idea.
Conforto is a solid player, and he plays a decent right field (better than Castellanos, at least). From a defensive standpoint, Conforto fits the Texas Rangers better than Castellanos does. It ultimately depends what the team is prioritizing more in free agency.
The Corey Seager and Marcus Semien signings seem to indicate a preference for more offensive-minded players, though it should be noted that the Rangers had one of the best defensive outfields in baseball in 2021. Because of the lineup upgrades already made, perhaps Conforto is the way to go for the outfield. He’d also come cheaper than Castellanos, and oh did we mention, no draft pick?