3 Rangers players we'll be glad are gone in 2024 and 2 we wish stayed
The Rangers had some roster turnover this offseason.
![Texas Rangers catcher Mitch Garver (18) hits a fly ball](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4935,h_2775,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_752,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/132/01hqxcejgf4ewsf8z887.jpg)
The Texas Rangers will be looking to duplicate their success from 2023 with another World Series championship. Bruce Bochy, in his first year at the helm, led the Rangers to their first-ever World Championship and the future Hall of Famer hopes to improve his eventual standing among the greatest to ever do it by hanging another banner at Globe Life Park.
But the Rangers have undergone a bit of a makeover this offseason. While Adolis Garcia, Corey Seager, and Marcus Semien will be back with the club in 2024, several players were lost to free agency this winter.
Though not every player will be missed, there are a couple of players Rangers fans would've preferred to see return to Arlington in 2024. Which three players are Rangers' fans glad to see go, and which two do the fanbase wish had stuck around to help the team repeat?
3 Rangers players we'll be glad are gone in 2024 and 2 we wish stayed
Rangers fans will be glad to be rid of Aroldis Chapman
Chapman is one of the more polarizing pitchers Major League Baseball has ever seen. Chapman has been elite in times throughout his career, while also crumbling under the pressure in big moments. The lefty struggled during the ALDS against the Baltimore Orioles last fall. Despite not allowing an earned run during the series, the flamethrower issued four walks in under two frames.
Chapman was a trade acquisition midway through last season after the southpaw inked a one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals during the 2022-23 offseason. He looked dominant prior to the trade, but couldn't maintain it after coming to Texas. Chapman posted a 1.69 FIP prior to the deal and a 3.36 FIP after the transaction. The southpaw didn't allow a single homer to leave the yard while pitching in Kansas City, but allowed 1.2 home runs per nine innings after joining the Rangers.
It's hard to say that Texas won't miss the high number of strikeouts that Chapman provided in 2023, but the left-hander blew three saves in seven attempts and will be heading into his age-36 season -- that's not good enough to justify bringing him back to Arlington in 2024.
Chapman inked a $10.5 million deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this offseason to make his departure official.
The Rangers can't repeat as World Series champions without Will Smith
The Rangers' chances of repeating as World Series champions took a tremendous hit this offseason after Will Smith left in the free agency. In turn, the Kansas City Royals are now a lock to take home a World Championship after coming to terms with the left-handed reliever.
Smith has been a member of the past three World Series champions. The southpaw was in the Atlanta Braves bullpen in 2021, served as a reliever for the Houston Astros in 2022, and was, of course, part of the Rangers relief corps last season.
Obviously that's more coincidental than anything else, but if KC takes home the Commissioner's Trophy in 2024, every major league team will be lining up to sign Smith next winter. Though his numbers weren't tremendous last season, having a veteran left-hander with experience closing out games, and doing so in the postseason, is something that can't be taken for granted. The Rangers will miss Smith more you know heading into the upcoming season.
Mitch Garver's bat will be difficult to replace
Mitch Garver plays a premium position, albeit sporadically, and posted a 134 OPS+ last season. That's not something you replace easily. Garver signed a two-year agreement with the Rangers' AL West foe, the Seattle Mariners, this offseason.
Obviously, the Rangers have Jonah Heim taking most of the reps behind the dish, and the vacancy at DH will now allow Bochy to offer more playing time to a player like Justin Foscue, but there's no denying that Texas will miss Garver's bat in 2024.
The Rangers found an upgrade over Austin Hedges
Austin Hedges is lauded for his defensive skillset. It's what helped him to earn a $4 million contract this offseason with the Cleveland Guardians. But outside of his 2018 season with the San Diego Padres, Hedges has been a below-average hitter.
As a catcher, Hedges can get away with being a marginal hitter. More than any other position, catcher is one that will afford a player to ability to be an elite defender while also barely treading water at the plate. But Hedges needed a life guard to jump in and save him after posting a 27 OPS+ last season. Hedges was a trade deadline acquisition who only got into 16 games for Texas in 2024.
The Rangers, however, improved their backup catcher position this offseason after signing former St. Louis Cardinals backstop Andrew Knizner to a free-agent deal. Not only was Knizner a pupil of Yadier Molina, but he also posted a 92 OPS+ in 2023.
Parting with Robbie Grossman was a no-brainer after Evan Carter's emergence
Robbie Grossman is a fine platoon outfielder. The veteran, who's still a free agent, had great success against left-handed pitchers in 2023. Grossman posted a .953 OPS against southpaws with 15 extra-base hits and a .536 slugging percentage. But Grossman only hit .206/.304/.329 off right-handed hurlers, making him virtually unplayable once a left-handed starter exited the game.
The Rangers also have a highly-skilled, young outfielder in Evan Carter who might be the odds-on favorite to take home the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2024. After the lighting the world on fire during the Rangers' World Series run last season, the 21-year-old has carved out an everyday role heading into the upcoming season and made Grossman expendable.
manual