Rangers plan 2025 budget change that will infuriate fans

There is likely not a single fan base that would want to receive this news.

A recent report indicated that one of Texas Rangers owner Ray Davis’ top priorities this winter is to get under the $241 million luxury threshold and reset the team’s penalty level. The proposed plan comes one year removed from winning a World Series title.

Of course, the team’s initial decision to “spend big” was successful. After signing Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Jacob deGrom. The club also embraced notable salaries in trades and made smaller deals for players like Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney. All of these decisions ultimately helped the Rangers win the franchise’s first title, but it seems as if ownership is now ready to be more financially conservative after a rough 2024.

They paid just $1.8 million for their first year of penalty in 2023. This year’s total has not yet been determined, and while the price may not be currently daunting, the 2025 iteration could be too much to bear.

With as many as 10 players potentially becoming free agents this winter, Texas will have to decide what aspects of the roster they want to prioritize. General manager Chris Young has said that bringing back Eovaldi or Heaney will be a priority for the front office, but it is not known which arm would be more financially friendly.

Rangers plan 2025 budget change that will infuriate fans

These conversations are made more interesting by the fact that the Rangers are also going to have to reshape their bullpen. David Robertson, Kirby Yates, and Jose Leclerc are likely departing.

Given Texas has starters such as Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter waiting to take on more responsibility, it is worth wondering if they would pass on an opportunity to re-sign Heaney or Eovaldi in favor of chasing cost-effective bullpen pieces.

Players such as Jon Gray, Dane Dunning and Leody Taveras could all be moved in an effort to free up money and allow for greater flexibility. Whether or not Texas chooses to take this route may depend on their faith in younger talents like Leiter, Rocker, Evan Carter, and Wyatt Langford.

Fans never want to be told that their team is going to “be careful” with the budget. But, it is not as if the Rangers have not shown a willingness to spend in the past. It will be interesting to see how this offseason plays out, and if there is a larger plan looming that could keep Texas in contention for years to come.