The 2016 Texas Rangers: Where are they now?

During the month of February, I am going to be posting a series called “Where are they now?”.  In this series, the rosters for the Texas Rangers teams will be investigated.  In the 5th installment, players from the 2016 team will be examined. (All stats used were extracted from baseball-reference.com)

After losing the ALDS to Toronto 3-2 in 2015, Texas won their second consecutive West Division title in 2016.  The team had a record of 95-67, good for a nine game lead over Seattle.  Once again, the Rangers played the Toronto Blue Jays in the ALDS.  Toronto defeated Texas 3-0 and a chance to play Cleveland in the ALCS.  Cleveland defeated Toronto 4-1 then lost the World Series to the Chicago Cubs 4-3.

Where are they now: 2016 Texas Rangers starting pitching

Cole Hamels was the ace that the Texas Rangers needed to take them to the next level in the playoffs.    In 32 starts,  Hamels led the Rangers with 200.2 innings pitched, had a record of 15-5, and a 3.32 ERA.  Hamels pitched parts of two more seasons in Texas before he was traded to the Chicago Cubs.  After leaving Texas, Hamels made 40 starts over parts of three seasons for two teams.  Hamels made a comeback attempt with the Los Angeles Dodgers in August 2021, but arm pain forced him to the 60-day injured list.  Now 38, Hamels is currently a free agent.

Martin Perez was in his 5th season with the Rangers  in 2016.  Perez led the Rangers with 33 starts, pitched 198.2 innings, and went 10-11 with a 4.39 ERA.  Perez pitched two more seasons for Texas before he was granted free agency after the 2018 season.  Perez pitched one season in Minnesota and the last two seasons in Boston.  Perez is currently a free agent.

A.J. Griffin was in his first of two seasons playing for Texas in 2016.  Griffins started 23 games for the Rangers, had a 7-4 record, and a 5.07 ERA.  Griffin pitched one more season in Texas before he was granted free agency after the 2017 season.  Griffin signed as a free agent with the New York Mets but was released before ever pitching another MLB game.

Colby Lewis was pitching in his final MLB season in 2016.  In 19 starts, Lewis had a record of 6-5 with a 3.71 ERA.  In November 2017, Lewis was hired to be a special assistant to the general manager for the Rangers.

Derek Holland was in his 8th season with the Rangers in 2016.  Holland pitched 107.1 innings in in 22 games including 20  starts, and had a record of 7-9 with a 4.95 ERA.  Holland was granted  free agency after the season and signed with the Chicago White Sox in December 2016.  Holland has also pitched for San Francisco, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh, and Detroit.  Holland is currently a free agent.

Yu Darvish missed the entire 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery and returned to the starting rotation in May 2016.  Darvish pitched 100.1 innings in 17 starts, and had a record of 7-5, with a 3.41 ERA.  Darvish pitched part of the 2017 season in Texas before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July.  Darvish has also pitched for the Chicago Cubs and is a current member of the San Diego Padres.

Where are they now: 2016 Texas Rangers bullpen

Sam Dyson was in his 2nd season with Texas in 2016.  In 73 relief appearances, Dyson pitched 70.1 innings, had a record of 3-2, with a 2.43 ERA, and 38 saves.  Dyson pitched part of one more season in Texas before he was traded to San Francisco.  Dyson pitched parts of three seasons with the Giants and was traded to Minnesota before the trade deadline in 2019.  Dyson pitched his final MLB game with the Twins in 2019 and is currently a free agent.

At age 30, Matt Bush was a rookie with Texas in 2016.  In 58 relief appearances, Bush pitched 61.2 innings, had a record of 7-2, a 2.48 ERA, and one save.  Bush just turned 36, and he is once again healthy and will make a bid for a job in the Rangers bullpen in 2022.

Prior to signing with Texas, Tony Barnette pitched six seasons out of the bullpen for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (NPB).  At 32, Tony Barnette was in his first of three seasons in Texas in 2016.  In 53 appearances, Barnette pitched 60.1 innings, had a record of 7-3, and a 2.09 ERA.  Barnette pitched two more seasons in Texas before being granted free agency following the 2018 season.  Barnette made two relief appearance with the Chicago Cubs in 2019 before announcing his retirement in January 2019.  Barnette is currently working in baseball operations and scouting for his former team in Tokyo, Japan.

Jake Diekman was in his 2nd season with Texas in 2016.  In 66 relief appearances, Diekman pitched 53.0 innings, had a record of 4-2, a 3.40 ERA, and four saves.  Diekman pitched parts of two more seasons in Texas.  Before the trade deadline in 2018, Diekman was traded to Arizona.  After leaving Texas, Diekman has pitched for three teams including the last three seasons in Oakland.  Now 35, Diekman is currently a free agent.

Alex Claudio was pitching in his 3rd season in Texas in 2016.  In 39 relief appearances, Claudio pitched 51.2 innings, had a 4-1 record, and a 2.79 ERA.  Claudio pitched two more seasons in Texas before he was traded to Milwaukee after the 2018 season.  Claudio pitched two seasons in Milwaukee and the 2021 season for the Los Angeles Angels.   In January, Claudio signed a free agent contract to pitch the 2022 season with the New York Mets.

Shawn Tolleson was in his 3rd season in Texas.  Tolleson pitched 36.1 innings in 37 relief appearances for the Rangers.  Tolleson had a 2-2 record with a 7.68 ERA, and 11 saves.  Tolleson  became a free agent after the 2016 season and made several unsuccessful attempts at comebacks from Tommy John surgery.  Tolleson formally announced his retirement before the start of Spring Training in 2019.

Keone Kela was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2016.  In 35 games, Kela pitched 34.0 innings, had a record of 5-1, with a 6.09 ERA.  Kela pitched parts of two more seasons in Texas before he was traded to Pittsburgh.  Kela pitched parts of three seasons in Pittsburgh before signing as a free agent with San Diego.  Kela was granted free agency after the 2021 season and is currently a free agent.

Where are they now: 2016 Texas Rangers position players

Robinson Chirinos was the primary catcher for the Texas Rangers in 2016.  Chirinos was in his 4th season with Texas.  In 57 games, Chirinos hit for a .224 AVG, nine HR, and 20 RBI’s.  Chirinos played two more seasons in Texas before electing free agency.  Chirinos played the 2019 season in Houston, then returned to split 2020 between Texas and the New York Mets.  In 2021, Chirinos played for the Chicago Cubs.  Chirinos is currently a free agent.

Mitch Moreland was the starting 1B for the Rangers in 2016.  Moreland was in his 7th season playing for the Rangers.  Moreland played 147 games and hit for a .233 AVG, 22 HR, and 60 RBI’s.  Moreland was granted free agency after the 2016 season.  After leaving Texas, Moreland has played five more seasons for three teams and is currently a free agent.

Rougned Odor was the starting 2B for Texas in 2016.  Odor was in his 3rd season in Texas.  In 150 games, Odor hit for a .271 AVG, 33 HR, 88 RBI’s, and 14 SB.  Odor played four more seasons in Texas before being traded to the New York Yankees in April 2021.  In November, the Yankees released Odor and he signed a free agent contract to play with Baltimore in 2022.

Elvis Andrus was the starting SS for the Rangers in 2016.  Andrus was in his 8th season playing with Texas.  Andrus played 147 games and hit for a .302 AVG, eight HR, 69 RBI’s, and 24 SB.  Andrus would play four more seasons in Texas before being traded to Oakland.  Andrus played his first season in Oakland in 2021 and will return to play for the A’s in 2022.

Adrian Beltre was the starting 3B for the Rangers in 2016.  Beltre was playing in his 6th season in Texas.  In 153 games, Beltre hit for .300 AVG, 32 HR, and 104 RBI’s.  Beltre played two more seasons in Texas and retired from MLB after the 2018 season.

Ryan Rua was the starting LF for Texas in 2016.  Rua was in his 3rd season playing for Texas.  In 99 games, Rua hit for a .258 AVG, with eight HR and 22 RBI’s.  Rua played his entire five year MLB career with the Rangers, ending in 2018.

Ian Desmond signed a one year contract to play CF for Texas in 2016.  Desmond represented Texas in the All-Star game.  In 156 games, Desmond hit for a .285 AVG, with 22 HR, 86 RBI’s, and 21 SB.  Desmond became a free agent after 2016 and played three seasons with Colorado.  Desmond sat out 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and is now a free agent.

Nomar Mazara was a rookie RF for the Rangers in 2016.  In 145 games, Mazara hit for a .266 AVG, with 20 HR, and 64 RBI’s.  Mazara played three more seasons in Texas before he was traded to the Chicago White Sox.  After leaving Texas, Mazara played one season with the White Sox and one season with Detroit.  He is currently a member of the San Diego Padres.

Prince Fielder was  the primary DH for Texas in 2016.  It was Fielder’s 3rd season playing for the Rangers.  In 89 games, Fielder hit for a .212 AVG, with eight HR, and 44 RBI’s.  Fielder played half of the season before announcing that a 2nd neck surgery would not allow him to continue playing baseball.