Rangers history signing injury-riddled pitchers points toward adding this fixer upper

While this name doesn't necessarily pop off the screen as much as it used to in the late 2010s, the left-handed former All-Star John Means weirdly fits the bill for what the Texas Rangers have been attracted to in free agency over the years.

Coming off just 10 starts over the last three seasons, who made history with his no-hitter almost perfect game in 2021 is on the free agent market after the Cleveland Guardians declined his $6 million option on November 8.

Means, 32, has battled over his career including two Tommy John surgeries with the most recent one being during the 2024 season that cut his season only four games. He signed with Cleveland prior to 2025 with the expectation he'd pitch for them but never did.

The Rangers who have been known to take chances on injured pitchers, have the opportunity to attempt a career rebound for Means at a cheap price.

Means fits Rangers track record of injury-riddled starters

It wasn't that long ago when Means was the talk of Major League Baseball. His breakout season in 2019 was only his second season in the league and seemed to be destined for a great run of success.

That year, Means was a first-time All-Star, going 12-11, with a 3.60 ERA, 121 strikeouts and allowing just 38 walks in 155 innings of work spread out through 31 games. All of that while the Baltimore Orioles were in the middle of a horrendous 54-108 season with Dylan Bundy leading the rotation in innings pitched.

His performance so a bit of a dip during the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season but bounced back as the Orioles Opening Day starter in 2021 and finished the year with a 3.62 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 26 starts. But that started the decline.

In April 2022, he was diagnosed with an elbow strain and underwent his first Tommy John surgery after only two games. Means returned late in 2023 for four games but experience unfortunate luck in 2024 after just four games and a trip to the IL with yet another Tommy John surgery.

Outside of the signing players who end up later having arm injuries, which is a given nowadays, the Rangers have made it part of their track record to sign players with history of arm issues to connect their rotation for cheap.

Most recently it was two seasons ago when Texas signed Tyler Mahle to a two-year deal while he was rehabbing from Tommy John and in the past it was Mike Minor in 2017 and Lance Lynn in 2019. Many more of past through the halls of Arlington before and after as well.

Means is that arm project Rangers are searching for

While they don't have the pitching whisperer Mike Maddux anymore, the Rangers still are looking to find cheap alternative ways to bolster a rotation that is mostly set in stone for 2026.

Highighted by Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovalid, Jack Leiter and Cody Bradford, there will need to be additional arms added this winter to get a full scope at the capabilities of the staff during spring training.

This is where Means comes into play. Maddux had a great track record of turning around struggling veterns or young arms over the years. Most notable the positive production Texas got from Mahle, Leiter and the rebounding lefty Patrick Corbin last season.

Despite just making 10 starts over the last three seasons, Means has a 2.88 ERA with 33 strikeouts, eight walks and a 0.95 WHIP. While his seven rehab starts didn't show promising results, doesn't mean there wasn't progress.

The most intriguing aspect for President of Baseball Operations Chris Young and owner Ray Davis' standpoint is the cheaper price tag associated with Means. Just because the Guardians turned down his $6 million option for 2026 doesn't mean that the 32-year-old will request much more than that in free agency.