Texas Rangers: The biggest disappointment of the Winter Meetings
By Ben Fadden
After there was a lot of talk about the Texas Rangers involvement in the big free agents, they struck out so they are easily the biggest downer of the Winter Meetings.
Gerrit Cole and Anthony Rendon were the two big fish in the free-agent market that was a possibility for the Texas Rangers to go out and sign. They fell out of the Cole market after his price skyrocketed after the Stephen Strasburg signing and they only offered Rendon a six-year deal that was worth less than $200 million.
With the Rangers opening a new ballpark there was excitement around the organization’s offseason plans, and it seemed like there was extras money that could have been spent on the big free agents, but they didn’t cash in.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
I did like the Kyle Gibson and Jordan Lyles deals before the Winter Meetings but they needed to improve their lineup this week or add another frontline starter and it didn’t happen.
They are reportedly out on Donaldson after his price is out of Jon Daniels’ comfort range, which was the backup plan if Rendon didn’t come to Arlington.
Well, now they must move to a Plan C which is to add to the rotation and offensive help. They are rumored to be in on Nicholas Castellanos, which is the best hitter remaining on the market. Nomar Mazara was traded to the Chicago White Sox, so they are down an outfielder.
The Rangers could swing a trade to bring Jed Lowrie and Dominic Smith to their new ballpark from the New York Mets but I don’t see that happening.
Next. Finding the odd man out in the Mets rotation. dark
There are still moves that could be made, but the 2019 Winter Meetings is going to be one to forget at least in the mind of Texas Rangers fans as they see Gerrit Cole go to the Yankees and Anthony Rendon go to a division rival for over $45 million more than they offered.