Rangers could find rotation help with 2 veteran free-agent pitchers still on the market

While the Texas Rangers are mostly set on the positional side heading into spring training, the pitching staff still needs some improvements and President of Baseball Operations Chris Young confirmed as much earlier this week.

Needing some depth in the rotation and bullpen, several under-the-radar options are still possible as we have officially reached less than one month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Surprise on Feb. 10.

ESPN's David Schoenfield lists three pitchers under the category of innings eaters and among teams listed as potential fits is Texas. One of those names includes former Red Sox Lucas Giolito. Here are the two others.

2 options to fill the Rangers starting rotation hole

Chris Bassitt, RHP

By the time Opening Day comes around, Bassitt will have turned 37 but really hasn't shown many signs of not being dependable. The 11-year MLB veteran is coming off three years in Toronto, where he started 95 games to the tune of a 3.89 ERA in a little over 500 innings of work.

He's made at least 30 starts over the last three seasons and at least 150 innings pitched over the previous four seasons. For a career, the 18.2 WAR right-hander is closing in on the 1,200 strikeout mark and just 17 wins away from 200 in his career.

Bassitt would easily slide into the Rangers' rotation behind Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom, which would not only give Texas extra depth but give Jack Leiter another vet arm to lean on and learn from.

Nick Martinez, RHP

As for Martinez, the 35-year-old was the Rangers' 18th round pick in 2011 and spent his first four big league seasons (2014-19) and then played four seasons in Japan.

When he returned to Major League Baseball he did two years in San Diego and then spent the last two seasons with the Reds. It was his time with Cinicinnati that he wore many hats, appearing in 82 games but only 42 as a starter. While his 2025 wasn't as strong as '24, he still recorded one of the league's best walk and hard-hit rates.

He as well could slide into the second half of the team's rotation but could also provide a long-relief role similar to the role Jacob Latz served in during the 2025 season.