Could the Rangers target Willson Contreras this offseason as the Cardinals rebuild?

At this point last year, the Rangers were about to wrap up their ALDS sweep over the Orioles. They went on to beat the Astros in the ALCS and take care of the Diamondbacks in the World Series. But that is not the case this October.

This fall is different for Texas, as the team fell short of the postseason and finished 78-84. In order to recapture that glory in 2025, the Rangers will need to make some adjustments. The offense underperformed all season long, and chances are they're going to need a bat.

The Rangers are obviously going to be affected by the Bally Sports situation, so they might need to make a trade in order to upgrade the roster. Perhaps they could make a deal with the rebuilding Cardinals and pick up Willson Contreras. Josh Jacobs of Redbird Rants had listed Texas as a team that could use the slugger.

Could the Rangers target Willson Contreras this offseason as the Cardinals rebuild?

To be clear, yes, the Rangers already have Jonah Heim as their catcher, so they would either have to make Contreras the full-time designated hitter or have the two of them alternate between catching and serving as the designated hitter.

But the Rangers do have some interesting young pieces that the Cardinals might be interested in. Here is a potential trade package.

Contreras would give the Rangers a big bat to help bolster the lineup. They'll have pitching issues to resolve as well, but Contreras can help them take care of their offensive needs.

Losing Cody Bradford wouldn't be ideal, but the Cardinals are going to want controllable pieces that are Major League ready, and Bradford is somebody that could help them right away. Texas already has a third baseman in Josh Jung, and they also have Josh Smith who can play the position, so there isn't really a spot long-term for Gleider Figuereo, which is why including him in a potential deal makes sense.

This deal could help the Rangers take a step towards being back in contention next year. They'll definitely want to make it back to the postseason after winning it all last year, and the Cardinals are a team they could make a deal with as they each try to put 2024 behind them.

It was certainly a long and disappointing season for Texas, but simply adding a few solid pieces could get them back on the right track for 2025 and beyond.