Rangers failure to act costs them cheap closer option after latest signing

In the attempt to rebuild their bullpen, the Texas Rangers spent all offseason adding a plethora of arms with a potential to make major contributions in 2025.

However, the Rangers still failed to find an established closer but grabbed a potential closer in Chris Martin to add with their internal candidates.

It's not like the team didn't have options on the free agent market. They could've reunited with one of last year's late-inning relievers in David Robertson, Jose Leclerc or Kirby Yates. They could have also decided to grab a top closer candidate in Kyle Finnegan. or Tanner Scott.

However, the closer they got to spring training, the higher their payroll got and ownership remained adamant to stay below the league's luxury tax of $241 million. They started to make small additions and as time passed, the bigger options slowly started to disappear off the market.

Which leads us to Tuesday afternoon when ESPN's Jesse Rogers shared on social media that Finnegan was returning to the Washington Nationals on a team friendly one-year, $6 million deal.

I'm sure Rangers' fans hearing the news had the same reaction as I did, "Why couldn't Texas commit to that deal?"

Ask anyone I am sure they would say despite filling in vital roster gaps: starting pitching, DH and power hitting. They failed to grab a closer and Finnegan certainly had to be on a list of targeted options heading into the offseason.

In 65 games for the Nationals last season, Finnegan recorded a 3.68 ERA, posting a 8.5 K/9 rate and 38 saves, the third most in Major League Baseball. In his five year career, he's recorded 88 saves which is 74 more than Martin who leads the pack for Texas.

I understand from a business standpoint that the owners are looking to maximize profits while keeping costs at a reasonable rate but that doesn't seem to be as simple when you own a Major League Baseball team. None of the 30 teams are ever unsuccessful year-after-year. In 2023, the Athletics made the least amount of revenue in 2023 at $24 million and Texas made the ninth-most revenue at $425 million, according to data from JP Morgan Asset Management.

However, how many times the budget constraints are mentioned it is also countered with their willingness to win. It's hard to criticize since they won a World Series two seasons ago but we all know that just winning one title isn't enough for the organization.

Which is why it blows my mind when there's have an established closer in Finnegan on the market, willing to sign for a cheap dollar amount such as $6 million and they let him go elsewhere.

It's possible Finnegan didn't want to come to Texas at all or there was no mutual interest in bringing him to Arlington. It's also possible that the internal options for the Rangers gives the coaching staff confidence and they didn't feel the need to spend any additional money.

Regardless, the Rangers better hope they find success at the closer role before it starts becoming a serious concern this season due to lack of production.