Texas Rangers Offseason Overview
The Texas Rangers will proceed into the winter with more questions than answers about their roster after a second consecutive season in which they missed the playoffs. They’ll now need to best determine how they can improve their roster (specifically an offense which regressed significantly for a second straight year) through the avenues of free agency and trades.
That brings us to the money. The tax threshold for next season is set at $244 million, though, because president of baseball operations Chris Young has already acknowledged that the team’s payroll is likely to drop this winter, that shouldn’t be a hurdle that will factor into the club’s plans.
The Rangers have north of $130 million in salaries guaranteed to players next season. That doesn’t include arbitration eligible players, contract renewals and any bonuses that might be paid out. Here’s what the contract situation of each player on the roster looks like as the offseason nears. Figures are courtesy of FanGraphs.
Expiring Free Agents
The Rangers will shed north of $50 million off of their books with a third of their major league roster set to hit the open market. The club has nine players that will enter unrestricted free agency and one that has an option. Designated hitter Joc Pederson can opt into a player option worth $18.5 million for next season or decline it and enter into free agency.
| Player | Age | 2025 Salary | Market Value (according to Spotrac) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DH Joc Pederson | 33 | $18.5 million | $5.3 million |
| RHP Jon Gray | 33 | $13 million | $5.3 million |
| RHP Tyler Mahle | 30 | $16.5 million | $5.3 million |
| RHP Merrill Kelly | 37 | $7 million | $15.7 million |
| RHP Chris Martin | 39 | $5.5 million | $6.7 million |
| LHP Danny Coulombe | 35 | $3 million | $4.3 million |
| LHP Hoby Milner | 34 | $2.5 million | $4 million |
| RHP Phil Maton | 32 | $2 million | $7.1 million |
| RHP Shawn Armstrong | 35 | $1.25 million | $3.9 million |
| LHP Patrick Corbin | 36 | $1.1 million | $5.4 million |
Arbitration Eligible Players
Here’s how arbitration works: The player and team exchange figures and either come to a salary agreement before a mid-January deadline or move to a hearing in which an arbiter will choose one side’s figure to determine the following season’s salary. Clubs can non-tender a player and immediately make them a free agent. Teams must tender (meaning agree to give a contract for the upcoming season) players on their 40-man roster with less than six years of service time before Nov. 21.
The Rangers have five players eligible for arbitration. Each are in their final year of eligibility before they qualify for free agency. They’ve not gone to an arbitration hearing in 25 years. They came to agreements with four of their six arbitration eligible players before last year’s deadline and traded the other two (first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and catcher Sam Huff).
Players who’ve accrued three or more years of service time are arbitration eligible.
Signed Through 2026 (and Beyond)
The Rangers have five post-arbitration players signed to major league contracts beyond this season that’ll combine to earn $131.25 million next year. They have just four players signed to contracts beyond 2026.
| Player | Age | 2026 Salary | Signed Through |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHP Jacob deGrom | 37 | $38 million | 2027 (with $37 million mutual option for 2028) |
| SS Corey Seager | 31 | $31.5 million | 2031 |
| 2B Marcus Semien | 35 | $26 million | 2028 |
| RHP Nathan Eovaldi | 36 | $29 million | 2027 |
| C Kyle Higashioka | 35 | $6.75 million | 2026 |
The Pre-Arbitration Group
This includes players not yet eligible for arbitration or unrestricted free agency. Or, in other words, any player on the Texas roster who isn’t listed above. Teams can choose whether or not to renew a player’s contract when they are pre-arbitration at salaries close to the league minimum. Players have limited leverage but cannot have their salaries reduced by more than 20% of what they made the season prior.
First baseman Jake Burger, third baseman Josh Jung and utility player Josh Smith will enter their final years with this status and become eligible for arbitration next offseason. Other players — including outfielder Wyatt Langford, right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter and left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia — each have at least two more seasons to play before they are eligible for arbitration.
Conclusion
The Texas Rangers face a critical offseason with many questions surrounding their roster. With a significant amount of money coming off the books, they will have the opportunity to reshape their team through free agency and trades. The team’s payroll is expected to drop, but this shouldn’t hinder their ability to make moves. As the offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see how the Rangers choose to address their needs and build a competitive roster for the upcoming season.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the tax threshold for the Texas Rangers next season?
A: The tax threshold for next season is set at $244 million.
Q: How much money do the Rangers have guaranteed to players next season?
A: The Rangers have north of $130 million in salaries guaranteed to players next season.
Q: How many players are eligible for arbitration?
A: The Rangers have five players eligible for arbitration.
Q: What happens to players who are not yet eligible for arbitration or unrestricted free agency?
A: These players are considered pre-arbitration and can have their contracts renewed by the team at salaries close to the league minimum.
