Athletics easy free-agent option decision could present Rangers with prime Justin Foscue platoon partner

The Texas Rangers face a wave of uncertainty heading into the offseason. Chris Young has been mum on the payroll for 2027, but after Ray Davis directed cuts last season, it's hard to imagine the budget going up this winter. If that wasn't foggy enough, there's a lockout looming, and its conclusion may not be swift and may bring forth an entirely different labor environment (salary cap?).

What is known is that Texas has a bunch of holes that need to be filled. Until things settle, it would be prudent for Chris Young to find as much under-the-radar value as possible. One such source of value could come from an option decision that the rival Athletics will need to make in the coming weeks.

We're talking about the club option that the West Sacramento denizens have for 2022 NL Batting Champion Jeff McNeil. At $15.75 million, the penny-pinching A's are surely going to decline.

For the Rangers, that could be good news. Texas has Justin Foscue, who can be part of the solution at second base, but still needs help. Foscue entered 2026 facing a make-or-break season. He answered the bell with the opportunities he was given.

The 27-year-old was a monster against left-handed pitching. The righty-swinging slugger put up MVP-caliber numbers against southpaws, slashing .324/.395/.586. Unfortunately, against same-handed pitching, he turned back into a pumpkin, hitting .175/.212/.300.

Jeff McNeil could be the answer to the Rangers' Justin Foscue platoon partner question

Here's where McNeil comes in. The former New York Met hit just .264/.313/.368 with nine home runs in 2026, but that doesn't really tell the whole story. He had an abysmal first half, batting .226/.290/.302. However, over 59 games in the second half, he got red hot and hit .310/.342/.451.

That turn-back-the-clock stretch run from the 34-year-old fuels some hope that with a managed workload, he'll still be able to produce at a high level. Serving in a platoon could be just what the doctor ordered.

Against righties, McNeil hit .271, showing he's still got the contact skills that once made him such a valuable player, and further buoying hope that, if put in the right situation, he can thrive. Overall, he struck out just 11.3% of the time in 2026, which is nearly identical to his 11.8% career mark. Those bat-to-ball skills could be useful to the Rangers, who were one of the more strikeout-prone teams in 2026, coming in at 23%.

McNeil has a couple of other merits, too. His primary position is second base, but he can also play first and third, as well as the outfield corners. That versatility could take some of the pressure off Ezequiel Duran, especially if The Solution is called upon to fill in at one particular position for a lengthy period of time due to injury.

Lastly, McNeil isn't going to cost anywhere near the almost $16 million he made in 2026. Instead, on a one-year deal of $5 million or less, the Rangers can likely bring him into the fold. That would give Texas a cheap answer to one pressing roster question, as well as valuable depth, while keeping the majority of the funds available to revamp the bullpen, add more pop to the lineup, and potentially bolster the starting rotation.

Creativity is key, and if the Rangers are going to build a contender amid so much uncertainty, finding underrated players like this and getting them on the cheap is going to be paramount.

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