The Rangers should reunite with this late-game reliever before spring training starts

We are at the starting line of the 2025 Major League Baseball season and as players begin to line up and report to duty with their respective clubs there are still a handful of guys still are choosing their next team.

A handful of Texas Rangers free agents made their decision earlier this offseason: Nathan Eovaldi returned to Texas, Jose Leclerc to the Athletics and Kirby Yates signed with the defending champion Dodgers. But a couple of them are still choosing, including one veteran reliever who could make a massive difference for Texas.

It seems unlikely the Texas Rangers will make additional roster moves as pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Wednesday, but it might also be worth it to give David Robertson a call.

Do the Rangers even need David Robertson?

In my mind, signing Robertson couldn't hurt Texas. Matter of a fact, it could get them exactly where they want to go, another World Series trip.

It is honestly shocking that we are about to enter spring training and he is still on the market. Not only that, their hasn't been a lot of news or interest surrounding the 16-year veteran reliever this offseason.

Maybe it's Robertson's age, 39, that is keeping teams from making a commitment or that the asking price is too high. In my mind Robertson is worth it until he shows that he isn't anymore. In 72 innings of work last season, Robertson finished with a 3.00 ERA, 99 strikeouts, 1.11 WHIP and averaged 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings.

Robertson signed with the Rangers prior to the 2024 season with hopes of helping Texas in their pursuit to defend their title. His contract was a one-year deal with a mutual option after the first year, which he declined in the offseason.

I know the Rangers are dealing with salary issues and not wanting to go over the luxury tax so I can understand why they might be staying pat with the guys they have but they are short an established big league closer.

While he worked solely out of the seventh or eighth innings with Texas in 2024, Robertson's career has been as a closer, recording 177 games for seven different teams. Not only that, he is still a productive pitcher with a nasty four-pitch mix and a high strikeout percentage.

Most of this is just grasping on to one final straw to improve the team before spring training begins, but a proven big league closer is really what this team needs. Right now, they are going into the year with Chris Martin as the leading candidate to close games, who is a reliable reliever but only has 14 career saves.

Going out and making this move, even if it puts you over that luxury tax, is a move that would make fans understand that this team means business and other teams should watch out for Texas this season.