The Texas Rangers intend to be champions in 2024. The defending world champions may not have made significant off-season purchases, but they were spared since they had signed large contracts the previous two years. It appears that Texas has a solid base in place to compete this spring, though general manager Chris Young may add one or two players before Opening Day. How about the spring of next year? Could Young adopt a more assertive stance and sign a top player to transform the Rangers into the American League’s Los Angeles Dodgers?
Prior to the next offseason, MLB.com revealed the best free agents at each position. For now, the Rangers won’t have to worry about losing talent, but they could try to make a few position upgrades. Even with 35-year-old Jacob deGrom and 39-year-old Max Scherzer on the roster and due to return from injuries this summer, pitching is still a problem. Just one name to keep an eye on? After being dealt by Milwaukee this summer, former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes hopes to make the most of his new home in Baltimore with a stellar season. MLB.com likened the action to Texas’ 2010 trade for Cliff Lee, the Cy Young Award-winning right-hander.
So far, Burnes should be at the top of the list. It’s actually rather uncommon to trade a healthy, recent Cy Young winner in his prime, a season before he hits free agency. The 2009–10 trade that brought Cliff Lee from the Phillies to the Mariners is arguably the finest “recent” (and I use that term loosely) comp. After helping Texas win the World Series and finishing seventh in the AL Cy Young voting (while playing for the M’s and Rangers), Lee received a massive contract that brought him back to Philadelphia and was at the time the third-largest ever for a pitcher.”
Regarding bullpen support, Texas expressed interest in All-Star closer Josh Hader; nevertheless, the Houston Astros unexpectedly agreed to a five-year agreement. Clay Holmes of the Yankees may be a free agent possibility in 2024 if the Rangers’ bullpen problems persist. “The right-handed Holmes has a 2.50 ERA in 154 2/3 innings over 153 appearances with the Yankees, with 170 strikeouts against 47 walks and just six home runs allowed. His ground-ball percentage of 66.7% places him in the 100th percentile. If he continues like that for another year, he’ll benefit much from the upcoming offseason.”