Where Can Guardians Find Them?

0 0 3 minutes read

The Rangers watched four key signings hit the open market to begin the 2024-25 offseason. Nearby Kirby Yateswho proved to be a bargain on a one-year, $4.5MM deal, reached free agency on the sidelines. David Robertson, Jose Leclerc again Andrew Chaffin (who had a club option declined). These four were the Rangers’ top four picks late into the second half of the season.

Beyond the difficulty of retaining any of the coveted free agents and/or rebuilding the entire relief team, Texas has faced financial problems. Resigning Nathan Eovaldi and improving a system that has struggled badly against fastballs were both priorities. Eovaldi cost more than most expected entering the offseason, benefiting from an aggressive rookie free agent market to a three-year, $75MM deal. Slugger Joc Pederson he likewise cost a solid $18.5MM-per-season in his two-year deal. Like Eovaldi, that increased expectations.

Texas decided to pay and replace the bullpen in one fall, trading the last two years of control of the club for the first baseman. Nathaniel Lowe to the Nationals in exchange for five seasons of lefty control Robert Garcia. The 28-year-old’s 4.22 ERA last season isn’t particularly exciting, but a great 29.9% strikeout rate and a sharp 6.4% walk rate show improvement in the ERA department going forward.

Some of the Rangers’ bullpen deals are more economical in nature. Texas has brought an old friend Chris Martin returned to a one-year, $5.5MM deal earlier this month. They had the advantage of being Martin’s hometown club, who took an interest in him in the final season of his career; announced that he expects to retire after the 2025 season and reportedly turned down another offer elsewhere to play out his final year closer to home. Free agents Hoby Milner (another Fort Worth area) Shawn Armstrong again Jacob Webb signed for $2.5MM, $1.25MM and $1.25MM, respectively.

At the time, the free agents saying goodbye to the Rangers seemed to be in high demand. Leclerc commanded $10MM guaranteed on a one-year deal with the A’s. Yates has reached a tentative agreement with the Dodgers, although the financial terms are unclear and he has yet to commit. An aggressive market for late-season weapons figures to allow Robertson to cash in on an eight-figure salary. Chafin has received interest from the Yankees and Cubs at various points this winter and is certainly talking to other teams as the reliever market heats up. Only last week, we saw Tanner ScottYates, Paul Sewald again AJ Minter reach free agent deals. Markets for Carlos Estevez again Kyle Finnegan they pick up. The Cubs are talking to the Astros about it Ryan Pressly.

Yates’ deal with the Dodgers struck a chord with many Rangers fans who hoped they could bring back the 37-year-old as the final piece of the bullpen’s rebuild. Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young, however, indicated that while the door is still open for a replacement, the team’s long streak is almost over.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday that the Rangers have not made a formal offer to Yates, aware of where his market was headed while facing salary cap restrictions. According to Grant, if the Rangers add to the fold, they may have to come through the trade market. They are about $6MM over the luxury tax threshold, per Utility plan, and staying under that $241MM cutoff is said to be a top priority for the Rangers.

It’s always possible they could strike gold on another Yates-sized restoration project; Kendall Graveman again Scott Barlow they are among the buyout candidates with some track record as a successful late inning reliever. Generally speaking, though, if the Rangers want to add a solid lockout option, they won’t get it for less than $6MM in free agency.

With that in mind, let’s explore some potential options for Young, GM Ross Fenstermaker and their staff as they scour the market in hopes of adding another top pick.