Rangers said to eye a mid-season power boost with veteran bat still on the market

As the Texas Rangers look for a way to get back into the pennant race, it appears that the team’s POBO is once again turning over every stone. With Wyatt Langford and Jake Burger out of the lineup for a little while, Chris Young might be looking at signing veteran outfielder J.D. Martinez. 

Martinez is currently a free agent after playing 2024 with the New York Mets. As the calendar moves ever closer to the trade deadline, Martinez is starting to get more attention from teams looking to add players without giving up prospect capital. The Rangers are among the most serious contenders, offering him a non-guaranteed contract, according to MLB Insider Jon Heyman.

Texas Rangers extend non-guaranteed deal to free-agent slugger J.D. Martinez

Earlier this spring, Heyman reported that Martinez was looking to sign with someone this season, saying he was "hitting and staying ready while waiting for a job." Now the Texas Rangers believe it’s time for him to come back to the Big Leagues officially. However, it’s unclear just how close the veteran outfielder is to returning. For now, he may be seeking a guaranteed Major League contract.

Should the Rangers find a way to land him in short order and get him back by the end of July, he could offer another power bat to a lineup that has had some offensive problems. Over his career, Martinez slashed 283/.348/.516/.863 with 331 home runs.

He’s only two years removed from a 2023 campaign where he blasted 33 home runs and drove in more than 100 runs for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Last year, he took a bit of a step back, hitting just 16 homers for the New York Mets.

Despite that less-than-impressive run last season, it appears the Texas Rangers think he could still at least be a decent bench option. Now it’s just a matter of convincing him to take the “prove-it” deal and come try his hand at hitting at Globe Life Field.