Rangers should consider nabbing this versatile Phillies infielder who could be on the non-tender block

The Texas Rangers have several players under team control vying for the full-time gig at second base in 2027. Ezequiel Duran, Cody Freeman, and Justin Foscue are all good candidates to fill the position next season. Still, you can never have too many talented middle infielders in case of injury, and if they don't come to terms with Nicky "Knocks" Lopez over the winter, there is another attractive option in Bryson Stott, who could be non-tendered by the Phillies.

The Phillies were just eliminated from the postseason in the wild-card round by the Braves, and Stott is in his final year of arbitration. He made $5.9 million in 2026, so the Rangers could get him at a reasonable price should they want to go that route.

Bryson Stott is a versatile, athletic player who could fit Rangers' new direction

At 29 years old, Stott is already a 5-year MLB veteran and has played no fewer than 147 games dating back to 2023. He is a left-handed hitter with gap power who will occasionally run into one and get to jog around the bases.

He is a career .256 hitter and is coming off a season when he slashed .256/.334/.401, spanning 602 at-bats in the middle of the Phillies lineup. He also hit a career-high 36 doubles to go along with 10 homers and a career-best 67 RBIs, with more walks than he has ever had (62).

What stands out the most about Stott is his exceptional plus defense and plus baserunning. According to Baseball Savant, he ranks in the 95th percentile in fielding range. He also ranks in the 98th percentile in baserunning.

Stott has excellent speed and stole 24 bases last year. He had 32 steals in 2025. He is a legitimate threat to swipe a bag every time he gets on base. Last season, outside of Evan Carter and perhaps Wyatt Langford, the Rangers didn't have that type of weapon on the base paths.

Stott finished the regular season going 4-24 (.167) and is coming off a difficult early playoff ouster going 2-12 with a .308 OPS in three games versus the Braves, so he certainly didn't leave a particularly good taste in the mouths of Phillies GM Preston Mattingly, the son of interim manager and Yankees legend, Don Mattingly.

The Phillies are in a state of flux right now and could look to shed some salary. Stott is projected to get a raise up to $9.2 million in arbitration, which may be too rich for Philadelphia's blood, given the big contracts for Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Nola, and many others dragging down their books.

Chris Young stated that he wants to make the Rangers' roster younger, more durable, and more athletic. Stott fits that bill. He could platoon with Foscue at second, and this year he also played some third base, where he flashed the leather. His speed and durability could let Skip Schumaker manage the way he prefers.

If there was a time to pry a guy that Skip Schumaker and the organization can count on to play top-level middle-infield defense and bring consistency at the plate every day away from Philadelphia, this offseason could be the right time to strike.

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