The Texas Rangers had an ambitious offseason in 2021-22, but failed to make any gains in the AL West. In a stacked division, Texas won just 68 games and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. Since the end of last season, the Rangers hired former World Series champion manager Bruce Bochy to provide a steady prescience in the dugout. But, that’s the only notable move made by Texas this winter.
Related: 2022-23 MLB Offseason Recap: Toronto Blue Jays
Notable Additions
- RHP Jacob deGrom
- RHP Nathan Eovaldi
- LHP Andrew Heaney
- RHP Jake Odorizzi
The Texas Rangers finished the 2022 campaign in the bottom half of the league in many pitching statistical categories. Texas’ front office intended to change that this winter, and did so in a flurry of moves. The marquee acquisition made by Texas was the signing of two-time NL Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom. deGrom has battled injuries in each of the last two seasons, but one can’t deny what the right-hander can do when healthy. The flamethrower ranks first in baseball in K% (44.0%) and second in ERA (1.90) since the start of 2021 (min. 150 IP).
deGrom will be joined by former Red Sox hurler Nathan Eovaldi. The hard-throwing pitcher has multiple weapons at his disposal, and his above-average control should be welcome on a Rangers team that walked the fourth-most (581) batters last season.
Texas also inked LHP Andrew Heaney in free agency. Heaney, along with deGrom and Eovaldi, are set to join Jon Gray and Martín Pérez in what will be a very different Rangers rotation in 2023.
Notable Subtractions
- OF Kole Calhoun
- INF Charlie Culberson
- 2B Andy Ibáñez
- LHP Matt Moore
- 2B Nick Solak
Another positive of the offseason for Texas was that the Rangers were not subject to many losses. The Rangers were able to keep LHP Martín Pérez around for another season, after the lefty accepted a qualifying offer in November. However, Texas did lose LHP Matt Moore to free agency this winter. The former All-Star starter excelled with the rangers in a relief role, as the lefty struck out 83 over 74 innings and pitched to a 1.95 ERA.
Texas also dealt infielder Nick Solak to the Reds. The infielder hit just .207/.309/.329 over 35 games last season.
A Recap
Texas spent over $450 million in the 2021 offseason to secure infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Even though both — as well as a number of others in the Rangers’ lineup like Nathaniel Lowe and Adolis Garcia — performed well, Texas won just 68 games. Pitching killed Texas’ chances of competing for a playoff spot in 2022, but the Rangers did a fine job of addressing that weakness.
Flush with starting pitching and middle infield depth in the farm, it’s not out of the question that Texas may further add to its roster in the coming weeks. With several tough teams in Houston and Seattle in the AL West, the Rangers may need all the help that can be had in order to make it back to the MLB Playoffs for the first time since 2016.
