Winter Meetings: 3 reasons behind the Texas Rangers slow news offseason

Bally Sports bankruptcy is causing issues for the Texas Rangers

We have written about this before, but I want to emphasize it again. The fact that Bally Sports may drop the Texas Rangers is no doubt reshaping how the Texas Rangers are attacking this offseason. Texas gets $111 million annually from Bally Sports. If Bally Sports drops Texas because they cannot afford to pay that then it drops to $0 from Bally Sports. They would have to negotiate a media rights deal over the next three months or be broadcast by MLB and paid by MLB a lower amount than what Bally would have paid them.

Chris Young had a call with the media last week to preview the upcoming Winter Meetings and he acknowledged the difficulties that not knowing about their media rights was having. He said,

There’s an impact on the organization; there’s uncertainty about what the rights fees are and will be going forward . We obviously have a responsibility to be financially prudent

This could end up being a win in the long-run, but right now it is impacting what Texas can do this offseason. They already have been reported as being out on Shohei Ohtani(ESPN Plus subscription required) by Jeff Passan. They want to bring back Jordan Montgomery, but the cost might be too much for Texas. If they cannot afford Montgomery then it stands to reason they would likely be out on Josh Hader as well.

Texas will be on TV in some fashion in 2024. Fans do not need to worry about that. The uncertainty about who will be broadcasting them will likely stop them from being able to properly fill the holes on this roster. Texas will likely be playing with those guys who have something to prove and will be willing to sign for less. It will be guys like Frankie Montas and Michael Wacha in the rotation. It will be players like Hector Neris or Andrew Chaffin in the bullpen.

Luxury Tax payers for a second season

Texas is luxury tax payers for the 2023 season. Ray Davis will happily write that check to Major League Baseball. It resulted in a World Series championship. The penalties increase to 30% tax for a team over the luxury tax for a second season. Everything is back at 0-0 heading into 2024. I am sure the message has come down from ownership to try and get under the tax heading into the season.

Texas cannot go past $237 million in team payroll if they are to stay away from becoming two time luxury tax payers. Fangraphs has Texas already at around $220 million in payroll for 2024. They likely have around $15 million to sign free agents this offseason. It will take some creativity by Chris Young to be able to spread that money around and still fill the holes on the roster.

Texas will likely still pursue free agents, but also be active in the trade market. I expect Chris Young to explore every avenue this week in Nashville to improve this roster. Texas is trying to do something that no team has done since 2000 and that is repeat as World Series champion. He is doing that while also trying to stay under the luxury tax.

No need to sign a high-priced free agent

Texas could be competitive for the best free agents. Most I am sure would love to come and play for the team that just won the World Series. Lots of players make their offseason home in Texas. The lack of a state income tax also makes playing in the state very attractive for free agents. Chris Young looks at this roster of returning players and likely does not see a need to add major pieces to the team.

The starting lineup for 2024 potentially could see everyone except for Mitch Garver return. If Texas did not do anything Sam Huff would likely be starting in the DH role. Evan Carter would be your Opening Day left fielder. I am sure that at some point in 2024 Wyatt Langford would make his debut for Texas. Texas has the ability to stay content in the lineup and not commit more resources there.

The rotation does have five starters heading into Spring Training. Nathan Eovaldi, Max Scherzer, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney, and Dane Dunning. They will have Cody Bradford as a depth piece with Owen White and Jack Leiter waiting in the wings at Triple-A Round Rock. Texas I am sure would like to add more depth. Just because Texas will enter Spring Training with five starting pitchers does not mean they will make it to Opening Day with five starting pitchers. Chris Young always says that a team can never have too much pitching.

The bullpen needs more depth, but if they did nothing it would still be a good bullpen. Jose Leclerc as the closer, Josh Sborz setup, Jonathan Hernandez in the 7th, Bradford long relief, Brett Martin and Brock Burke as your left-handed options, Grant Anderson in middle relief. Then they could probably call up someone like Antoine Kelly or Marc Church to give them some depth. There are always non-roster options that are brought to camp that could win jobs as well.

Chris Young sees all that has been built the last three to four seasons and is not content with what Texas has. There is also not a sense of desperation to add pieces to the roster. Texas will have conversations with free agents. They will most likely not participate in bidding wars that go beyond what they are comfortable spending. That is what happens when a team wins a World Series and returns nearly everybody from that roster. The pressure to win is not nearly as high as it was before.

Just remember this time last year Texas was trying to build a roster that could have a winning record and end the six-season stretch of losing seasons. Now, Texas is trying to build a roster that can repeat as World Series champions. The bar has been raised and a new standard has been established. Texas is not just looking to sign players they are looking to sign the right kind of players that can add to the clubhouse culture of winning.

Texas may not have as much money as before due to the Bally Sports situation, and they may be constrained by the luxury tax, but they will still put together a reputable team that will have the ability to repeat as champions.

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