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Texas Rangers: Top Five Offseason Priorities

By Bobby Mueller

Mar 14, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; A Texas Rangers cap sits in the dugout against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 14, 2015; Peoria, AZ, USA; A Texas Rangers cap sits in the dugout against the San Diego Padres at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 13, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view a Texas Rangers baseball hat and glove during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeated the Twins 11-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 13, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; A view a Texas Rangers baseball hat and glove during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Rangers defeated the Twins 11-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

Despite two straight division titles, the Rangers have plenty of offseason decisions to make in their quest to be competitive again next year.

The Texas Rangers have made the playoffs five times in the last seven years, including four AL West titles. At the beginning of this run, they went to back-to-back World Series, losing both. They’ve been less successful in the playoffs in the other three years, but they’ve had a good run.

To continue that run the Rangers have some big decisions to make this offseason. They have a core of players to build around in catcher Jonathan Lucroy, second baseman Rougned Odor, shortstop Elvis Andrus, third baseman Adrian Beltre, and outfielder Nomar Mazara. Lucroy has a team option for $5.25 million that is a no-brainer for the Rangers to pick up. Odor is still in pre-arbitration. Andrus is signed through 2022 and Beltre is signed through 2018. Mazara will be in just his second year in the big leagues in 2017. The other hitter the Rangers have control of is Shin Soo Choo, who is signed through 2020. He had an injury-marred season last year that saw him struggle for the second time in his three years with the Rangers.

Along with those players above who are expected to be regulars are a few position players the team still has control over who will likely get playing time in 2017—outfielders Delino DeShields and Ryan Rua, infielder/outfielder Jurickson Profar, and catcher Robinson Chirinos. Perpetual prospect Joey Gallo is learning to play first base in the off-season.

Then there are the team’s free agent position players, which includes the two Carloses (Beltran and Gomez), Mitch Moreland, and Ian Desmond. Decisions will have to be made regarding these players.

The starting rotation has Cole Hamels (signed through 2018) and Yu Darvish (signed through 2017) as the two aces who should be reliable front-end starters. Derek Holland (club options for 2017 and 2018) and Martin Perez (signed through 2017) can fill out the #3 and #4 spots in the rotation, but neither pitcher was particularly good last year. Holland’s club options are for $11 million in 2017 and $11.5 million in 2018. Perez will make $4.4 million in 2017, with a club option of $6 million in 2018. Longtime Ranger Colby Lewis is a free agent.

The bullpen is almost entirely made up of pitchers still under team control for bargain prices, including closer Sam Dyson, who won’t be eligible for arbitration until 2018. The Rangers bullpen was cheap but not particularly good in 2016. Lucas Harrell and the team’s closer in 2015, Shawn Tolleson, recently cleared waivers and were assigned to AAA. The team will have decisions to make on other relievers who really struggled in 2016.

With all that in mind, here are the Texas Rangers’ top five offseason priorities.

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