Rangers should target this ex-Orioles All-Star

Beggars can not afford to be choosers. While it may be foolish to label the Texas Rangers as the kind of team without options, it may benefit them to look at some under-the-radar free agents who could offer surprising results.

Despite facing a myriad of injuries over the course of his career, former Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means could be a unique fit for the Texas Rangers. He has shown an ability to be an All-Star caliber arm, but must be given another chance to show he can experience a renaissance.

The free agent southpaw has dealt with two elbow rehabs over the past couple of years. He has made only 10 starts since the beginning of the 2022 campaign due to his ailments.

It is certainly worth wondering what Means' market value would be if he was healthy. At the moment, he is projected to return at some point in 2025 or towards the beginning of 2026.

Rangers should target this ex-Orioles All-Star

"I’m going to take it day by day and try to do the best I can to get it back, and get it right this time,” Means said in June. “I still want to pitch and I’d like to fail on the field before I give it up. I feel like if I go out there, I can still pitch, and I still feel really confident in my ability.”

The 31-year-old was named in All-Star in 2019, but it could be argued that his finest hour came in 2021. Across 26 starts and 146.2 innings, he posted a 3.62 ERA and struck out a career-high 134 batters.

That same season, Means ranked in the 96th percentile in BB% and the 71st percentile in Average Exit Velocity. It could be argued that these two stats illustrate the lefty's floor. At the very least, he is the sort of pitcher who can limit both hard contact and walks.

While Means will probably not be ready to pitch instantly, he could serve as a needed safety net in the event that Kumar Rocker or Jack Leiter are not ready for primetime. Even if the Rangers go after top-end arms, it still may be smart to take a low-cost chance on a player looking for another chance.