The biggest news of the offseason was the 99-day work stoppage while owners and players negotiated a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Although Opening Day was delayed by about two weeks, they got it figured out in time to allow for a full 162 game season.
The second biggest news of the offseason was that the Texas Rangers’ front office actually spent some money. LOTS of money. Here’s a breakdown of the bigger moves that they made:
Texas Rangers Sign Two Franchise Infielders
The Rangers inked two franchise-changing type infielders, both to long-term deals. SS Corey Seager signed a whopping 10-year, $325 million deal, and 2B Marcus Semien signed a no-less-impressive seven-year, $175 million deal.
If you’re counting, that’s half a billion dollars spent on two players. Seager was the 2020 World Series MVP and Semien finished 3rd in AL MVP votes in 2021. There’s no doubt that if they play up to their potential, the money will have been well spent.
Texas Rangers Trade For Slugging Backstop
The Rangers traded fan-favorite SS Isaiah Kiner-Falefa to the Twins and received one of the best hitting catchers in all of baseball in Mitch Garver. Garver was the best offensive catcher in MLB by a long shot in 2019. Since then, he has struggled to stay healthy but is a masher when he’s on the field. He’s also an above-average defensive catcher and one of the best at pitch framing. With the additions of Seager and Semien, IKF became expendable and the Rangers did an excellent job trading him to fill a positional need.
Texas Rangers Improve Starting Pitching Through Free Agency
The Rangers have several good-looking, young arms that are about ready to make an impact at the major league level. Taylor Hearn, AJ Alexy, Glenn Otto, and Kolby Allard are all expected to pitch for the club in Arlington this season. To help those young arms come along, the Rangers went out and signed some veteran help.
Jon Gray signed a four-year, $56 million deal and was rewarded as the Rangers’ opening day starter. Prior to 2022 Gray spent his entire 7-year career with the Colorado Rockies, pitching better than his record indicates as a result of playing his home games at hitter-friendly Coors Field in Denver. The Rangers also went out and signed former Ranger Martin Perez to a two-year deal.
Texas Rangers Sign Other Key Additions This Offseason
Besides the big names mentioned above, the Rangers went out and got some other key free agents to help fill spots in their lineup. Notable signings include RF Kole Calhoun and IF/OF Brad Miller, who can play just about any position but will likely see time at LF and 3B. RP Greg Holland made the opening day roster, while fellow non-roster spring invitee INF Matt Carpenter did not. Carpenter, who is from the DFW area and played college ball at TCU, choose to accept a minor league deal with the Rangers for a chance to play in his hometown. He is starting the season at AAA Round Rock.
Texas Rangers 2022 Season Preview
With the Rangers spending spree this offseason, expectations are understandably high. But those expectations should be tempered a bit, considering this was a 100-loss team just last season.
Fans feel like the team has been rebuilding forever, but in reality, the Rangers won back-to-back division championships in 2015 and 2016. The years since then have been quite a struggle, however. Now, the front office has put together the 9th ranked farm system in major league baseball, and many of those young prospects are ready to break in and break out at the MLB level.
The team has acknowledged that 2023 is their goal for the team to compete for a playoff spot once again. For 2022, the goal should be an above .500 record. 85 wins seems like an attainable goal with the firepower they added to their lineup. The big question mark this season will be pitching. If the pitching can hold their opponents to around four runs per game, they will be successful. If that happens, the Rangers will score runs. If they don’t and finish below .500, general manager Jon Daniels might be looking for a new job.