4 pending free agents the Texas Rangers need to target this offseason

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After two straight offseasons with big signings and a very aggressive trade deadline this year, it appears as though the Texas Rangers are finally breaking through. Even with their current three game losing streak, the Rangers sport a 2.5 game lead in the AL West over the Astros thanks in no small part to having one of the best offenses in all of baseball.

Fans will have to wait and see if Texas has enough left in the tank to finish this division race off and put together a deep playoff run. However, this is also the time of the year where one needs to start thinking about what moves need to happen after the season for the Rangers to keep this train rolling along.

Here are 4 pending free agents the Texas Rangers need to target after the 2023 season

The Rangers certainly have a lot of 2024 payroll tied up in guys like Max Scherzer, Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Jacob deGrom, but their aggressive nature combined with some money coming off the books after this season seems to indicate that they are going to be major players yet again in the free agent market. This isn't a team with a lot of holes on their roster, but there are still some free agents that they could target to improve in some spots. Given recent history, expect Texas to be in on these names and more.

Let's take a look at 4 pending free agents the Rangers need to take a long look at this coming offseason.

Jordan Montgomery

This one feels a little bit like cheating because we know the Rangers are interested in Montgomery since they went through all the trouble of trading for him at the trade deadline this year in the first place. However, Montgomery's inclusion is an important one because it highlights the tenuous nature of the Rangers' starting pitching staff going into 2024.

With Martin Perez seemingly on his way out the door after a pretty rough 2023 season, the Rangers already seem to have a spot opening up in the rotation and it isn't like Andrew Heaney's spot wouldn't be easy to upgrade. When you factor that along with fact that both Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom have lengthy injury histories and Max Scherzer can't beat Father Time forever, there is a real need for stabilizing the Rangers' rotation going into 2024. Montgomery may not be sexy, but he puts up quality outing after quality outing, doesn't give up many walks, and is almost a lock to put up at least a 2-3 WAR season every year. That is exactly what Texas needs next season and they should definitely try to keep him around.

Jorge Soler

The Rangers' offense is just absurd and if they didn't make any signings to improve it this coming offseason, they would still be in great shape. However, one area that has stood out a bit in terms of lacking some production has been left field. Sure, Travis Jankowski has been fine at the plate and is a decent defender, but he hits for basically no power and his track record of hitting at all over the course of his career is suspect at best and he is set to be a free agent after this season, anyways. Evan Carter could easily force his way into this conversation from the minor league ranks, but the free agent market could provide an answer as well.

The outfield free agent market isn't the best this coming offseason, but one name that stands out as intriguing is Jorge Soler. Soler's hit tool is very much hit and miss, but no one doubts that this dude has some of the best raw power in the league. There would be a bit of a drop-off defensively to put it mildly, but adding Soler to this Rangers lineup would make it arguably the most dangerous lineup in all of baseball for opposing pitchers to navigate. Soler wouldn't be cheap, though, as he is going to have to pass up a $9 million player option for 2024 just to hit free agency in the first place.

Josh Hader

If you are looking for one marquee signing that the Rangers should take a shot on for 2024 and beyond, Josh Hader is the guy. Elite bullpen arms are just so important in today's game and when there is a guy that has posted a 0.82 ERA in 46 appearances this season and is a five time All-Star at the position, the Rangers need to take notice.

It is fair to look at Hader's tough 2022 season with a bit of worry, but Hader's track record the rest of his career should win out in that discussion. The guy misses a ton of bats, has played in a bunch of big games, and would anchor the Rangers' bullpen with Aroldis Chapman and Chris Stratton among others set to hit free agency after the season. Hader would be very expensive for a reliever (he is already making over $14 million in his last year of arbitration in 2023), but this is a bet worth making.

Keynan Middleton

Not every signing needs to be for a household name and the Rangers' bullpen is going to need some new faces in it. Overall, the unit has been one that could really use some love from the front office as they rank just 19th in fWAR in 2023 with a 4.60 ERA. One name to keep an eye on to provide some quality bullpen depth without breaking the bank too badly is the Yankees' Keynan Middleton.

Middleton isn't a widely recognizable name for many as he isn't closing out games, but there is a lot to like with his profile. Nearly all of his peripherals are very good to elite, he strikes guys out, and is a hard guy to square up for opposing hitters. While he wasn't having the best year for the White Sox in 2023, that seems to be largely attributable to that team being a dumpster fire of a situation and Middleton has pitched really well for New York in his seven appearances for them so far. Middleton won't be a bargain buy as a free agent, but he also shouldn't be prohibitively expensive as a non-closer without a lengthy track record of dominance. This is a bullpen arm the Rangers need to circle during the upcoming offseason.

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