The Texas Rangers are seemingly in a rough spot. They finished dead last in the AL West once again, a spot that they may not get out of any time soon. While the A’s face their usual financial concerns, and the Astros’ window may be closing, both teams are still better than the Rangers. Meanwhile, the Mariners just missed the playoffs and the Angels are finally showing a commitment to the pitching staff.
Despite a 60-102 record, the Rangers are not in as bad of a spot as they may appear to be. The roster has plenty of intriguing youth, and adding the right veterans to the mix could make this a surprisingly strong roster. As it is, general manager Chris Young has indicated that the Rangers will be active in the offseason as they look to push their timeline up by a year or two.
Three moves for the Texas Rangers
The Rangers had attempted to contend in the not too distant past. Their push for a postseason appearance in 2020 ended up being a disaster as virtually none of those moves worked out. But with a solid core and some intriguing youth, the Rangers could surprise with the right moves.
Let’s take a look at three moves that the Texas Rangers should make this offseason.
Fix the ninth inning
The Texas Rangers were able to get a surprisingly strong season from Ian Kennedy before flipping him to the Phillies at the trade deadline. Jon Barlow performed well in the closer role when given the chance, but he is not exactly proven. This is a potential opportunity for the Rangers to land an upgrade in their bullpen at a low cost.
Enter Roberto Osuna. The former Blue Jays and Astros closer missed most of the 2020 season due to an elbow injury that led to a recommendation for Tommy John surgery. He opted against the procedure, looking to rest and rehab the injury instead.
Although he was unable to attract any major league offers, Osuna did pitch in Mexico in 2021. He performed well, posting an excellent 1.09 ERA and a 0.811 WHiP over his 24.2 innings, notching 12 saves while striking out 27 batters with only three walks. Any concerns about his elbow should be over.
There are other concerns with Osuna. He had been suspended for 75 games for violating the league’s domestic violence policy back in 2018. However, the Rangers have experience with troubled players, such as Matt Bush and Josh Hamilton. They might be the perfect landing spot for Osuna.
If the Texas Rangers are serious about contending soon, they need to look at their bullpen. Roberto Osuna could be a perfect low cost lottery ticket.