The 2017 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 6th installment, players from the 2017 team will be examined. (All stats used were extracted from baseball-reference.com)

After losing the ALDS to Toronto in 2015 and 2016, Texas slipped to 3rd place in the AL West with a 78-84 record in 2017.  This would be the first of five consecutive losing seasons for the Rangers.

2017 Texas Rangers starting pitching

Martin Perez was in his 6th season with the Texas Rangers in 2017.  Perez led the Rangers with 32 starts, pitched 185.0 innings, and went 13-12 with a 4.82 ERA.  Perez pitched one more season 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.

Andrew Cashner signed a one year free agency contract to pitch for the Rangers in 2017.  Cashner had an 11-11 record in 28 starts, finished 166.2 innings, and had a 3.40 ERA.  Cashner was granted free agency at the end of the season and pitched parts of two seasons in Baltimore and finished his MLB career in 2019 with Boston.

Cole Hamels was in his 3rd season in Texas in 2017.  In 24 starts,  Hamels had a record of 11-6, and a 4.20 ERA.  Hamels pitched part of one more season 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.

Yu Darvish was in his 5th season in the starting rotation for the Texas Rangers in 2017.  Darvish represented Texas in the 2017 All-Star game.  Darvish pitched 137.0 innings in 22 starts before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in July.  Before the trade, Darvish had a record of 6-9 with a 4.01 ERA.  Darvish has also pitched for the Chicago Cubs and is a current member of the San Diego Padres.

Nick Martinez returned to the 2017 starting rotation after only pitching 38.2 innings in 2016.  In 23 games, including 18 starts, Martinez had a 3-8 record in 111.1 innings, and a 5.66 ERA.  Martinez was granted free agency after the season, and decided to continue his career in Japan.  Martinez pitched three seasons in Japan and in July 2021, Martinez won a silver medal representing Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics.  Now 31, Martinez is back in the bigs with the Padres.

A.J. Griffin was in his 2nd and final season in Texas in 2017.  In 18 games, including 15 starts, Griffin had a 6-6 record, and a 5.94 ERA.  Griffin 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.

2017 Texas Rangers bullpen

Alex Claudio was pitching in his 4th season in Texas in 2017.  In 70 games, including one spot start, Claudio pitched 82.2 innings, had a 4-2 record, a 2.50 ERA, and 11 saves.  Claudio pitched one more season 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.

Tony Barnette was in his 2nd season in Texas in 2017.  In 50 relief appearances, Barnette pitched 57.1 innings, had a record of 2-1, a 5.49 ERA, and two saves.  Barnette pitched one more season 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.

Matt Bush was in his 2nd season pitching out of the bullpen for the Texas Rangers in 2017.  In 57 games, Bush pitched 52.1 innings, had a record of 3-4, a 3.78 ERA, and 10 saves.  Now 36, Bush  is once again healthy, and will make a bid for a job in the Rangers bullpen in 2022.

After 12 relief appearances as a rookie in 2016, Jose Leclerc became a full-time member of the bullpen in 2017.  In 47 appearances, Leclerc pitched 45.2 innings, had a 2-3 record, 3.94 ERA, and two saves.  Leclerc had Tommy John surgery in 2020 and is expected to return to the Rangers bullpen by mid-season in 2022.

After a late season trade in 2016, Jeremy Jeffress was in his 2nd partial season in Texas in 2017.  In 39 games, Jeffress finished 40.2 innings, had a record of 1-2, and a 5.31 ERA.  Jeffress was traded back to Milwaukee before the 2017 trade deadline.  After leaving Texas, Jeffress pitched parts of three seasons in Milwaukee and one season for the Chicago Cubs.  Jeffress signed with Washington for the 2021 season, but was released during Spring Training.  Jeffress pitched in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball last year and at 34, is currently a free agent.

Keone Kela was in his 3rd season in Texas in 2017.  In 39 games, Kela pitched 38.2 innings, had a record of 4-1, with a 2.79 ERA, and two saves.  Kela pitched part of one more season 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.

Sam Dyson was in his 3rd season with Texas in 2017.  In 17 relief appearances, Dyson pitched 16.2 innings, had a record of 1-6, with a 10.80 ERA.  After his disastrous start to 2017, Dyson was traded to San Francisco in June.  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.

Jake Diekman was in his 3rd season with Texas in 2017.  In 11 relief appearances, Diekman pitched 10.2 innings, had a record of 0-0, a 2.53 ERA, and one save.  Diekman pitched part of the 2018 season in Texas before being 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.

At 32, Austin Bibens-Dirkx was pitching in his 1st MLB season in 2017.  In 24 games, including six starts, Bibens-Dirkx pitched 69.1 innings, had a record of 5-2, with a 4.67 ERA.  Bibens-Dirkx pitched one more season for the Rangers in 2018.  Bibens-Dirkx pitched parts of 2019 and 2020 with the Texas AAA team in Nashville before pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers AAA team in Oklahoma City in 2021.  He is a current member of Sultanes de Monterrey of the Mexican League.

2017 Texas Rangers position players

Robinson Chirinos was the primary catcher for the Texas Rangers in 2017.  Chirinos was in his 5th season with Texas.  In 88 games, Chirinos hit for a .255 AVG, 17 HR, and 38 RBI’s.  Chirinos played one more season 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.

Mike Napoli returned to Texas for his final MLB season in 2017.  Napoli primarily played 1B for the Rangers.  In 124 games, Napoli hit for a .193 AVG, with 29 HR, and 66 RBI’s.  Napoli is currently the quality assurance coach for the Chicago Cubs.

Rougned Odor was the starting 2B for Texas in 2017.  Odor was in his 4th season playing for the Rangers.  Playing all 162 games, Odor hit for a .204 AVG, 30 HR, 75 RBI’s, and 15 SB.  Odor played three 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 2017.  Andrus was in his 9th season playing with Texas.  Andrus played 158 games and hit for a .297 AVG, with a career best 20 HR, 88 RBI’s, and 25 SB.  Andrus would play three 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.

Joey Gallo primarily played 3B and 1B for Texas in 2017.  This was Gallo’s third season with Texas, but his 1st full season in MLB.  In 145 games, Gallo hit for a .209 AVG, with 41 HR, 80 RBI’s, and seven SB.  Gallo played parts of four more seasons in Texas before being traded to the New York Yankees before the trade deadline in 2021.

Delino DeShields was the primary LF for the Rangers in 2017.  It was in his 3rd season with Texas.  In 120 games, DeShields hit for a .269 AVG, with six HR, 22 RBI’s, and 29 SB.  DeShields played two more seasons for the Rangers before being traded to Cleveland.  In 2021, DeShields played AAA in the Rangers organization before being purchased by Boston then Cincinnati.  Now 29, DeShields is currently a free agent.

Carlos Gomez primarily played CF for Texas in 2017.  It was his 2nd season playing with the Rangers.  In 105 games, Gomez hit for a .255 AVG, with 17 HR, 51 RBI’s, and 13 SB.  Gomez was granted free agency after the 2017 season.  After leaving Texas, Gomez played one season in Tampa Bay and one season for the New York Mets.  In January 2020, Gomez announced his retirement from professional baseball.

Nomar Mazara was in his 2nd season as the starting RF for the Rangers in 2017.  In 148 games, Mazara hit for a .253 AVG, with 20 HR, and 101 RBI’s, and two SB.  Mazara played two 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.

Shin-Soo Choo was the primary DH for Texas in 2017.  It was in his 4th season playing with the Rangers.  In 149 games, Choo hit for a .261 AVG, with 22 HR, 78 RBI’s, and 12 SB.  Choo played three more seasons in Texas before moving back to Korea to play in 2021.  Choo is a current member of the SSG Landers of the KBO.