Texas Rangers Offseason Outlook
The Texas Rangers have missed the postseason in each of the last two seasons after their World Series run. They’ll now proceed into the offseason with a to-do list to buck that trend.
Their free agency decisions — both internal and external — will help determine that. We’ll break down the club’s pitching outlook this week. Today’s topic: their own relief pitchers.
Relief Pitchers Overview
Overview: The Rangers need to rebuild their bullpen for a second consecutive offseason. They’ll return only two high-leverage arms — left-hander Robert Garcia and right-hander Cole Winn — next season. The former was demoted from his closer role midseason. The latter continuously gained trust as the year progressed.
Both are in the pre-arbitration pool while right-hander Jacob Webb, who finished with a 3.00 ERA in 55 games, is eligible for arbitration. It remains indetermined whether left-hander Jacob Latz will operate as a starter or reliever. Rookie right-handers Luis Curvelo and Marc Church may fight for roster spots in camp.
Significant Holes to Fill
That leaves significant holes to fill. The Rangers had a top-five bullpen in baseball last season despite the fact that they committed just north of $15 million to the group. It was a stroke of roster construction genius as the Rangers largely prioritized veterans who didn’t throw hard and could be flexed through each of the late innings. They still converted just 56% of their save opportunities — a mark which ranked sixth-worst in baseball — and were struck by levels of overuse and injuries as the season bore on.
Key Players to Retain
The big fish: Shawn Armstrong. The 35-year-old became the bullpen’s most valuable arm by season’s end and stepped into the de facto closer role to finish the year. He posted career highs in innings (74), strikeouts (74), saves (9) and value (1.4 WAR, per FanGraphs) in his 11th big league season. He was nearly unhittable vs. right-handed batters and threw effectively in the seventh-through-ninth innings.
Armstrong has a high-leverage gig in the Texas bullpen if retained. It could be as part of a closer rotation if the Rangers don’t pursue an established one. It could be in the same flex role he pitched as last season. His clubhouse presence — which bridged gaps between various position groups and players of all ages — is a valuable one, too, as manager Skip Schumaker will prioritize culture in his first season.
He’s never made more than $2 million in a single season and should be due for a pay raise this winter. It still shouldn’t break the bank. His average annual salary, per Spotrac, is expected to be worth $3.9 million next year. That would’ve ranked 27th among all relief pitchers in baseball last year.
Middle Relief Options
The middle man: Phil Maton. The Rangers traded for three pitchers at the July 31 trade deadline. Maton, who had a 3.52 ERA in 23 games, performed the best of the trio. His track record (a 3.33 ERA since the 2022 season) suggests that the soft-throwing right-hander can remain dependable in a quasi setup role.
He’s projected to be worth $7 million per season next year, per Spotrac, but signed with the St. Louis Cardinals this spring for just $2 million. The Rangers haven’t paid a full-time relief pitcher as much money as that first figure in a single year since closer Joe Nathan earned $8 million in the 2013 season. The total he pitched at this season — or, even, a marginal bump — would be considerably more realistic for the Rangers to pay.
Value Picks
The value pick: Hoby Milner. The Fort Worth native was the team’s most reliable bullpen arm last season until he wasn’t. He yielded a 2.35 ERA in 46 innings before the All-Star break but had a 6.66 ERA in 24 1/3 innings after it. The bulk of that downturn came in September when he cleared his career high for innings in a single season (70 1/3) and allowed 11 earned runs in his final 11 games.
It might keep the left-hander from a larger payday than he could’ve been eligible for had he sustained his first-half performance. He finished the season with a 3.84 ERA and, according to Baseball Reference, a -0.6 WAR for a second-consecutive season.
The Rangers, if they choose to retain Milner, will need to decide if his end-of-year performance was largely related to overuse or if there are larger signs of decline afoot. He signed a $2.5 million deal with Texas last winter and could be in line for a similar contract this time around. The 34-year-old has value as a specialist vs. left-handed hitters and could still be of use to the Rangers if deployed correctly.
Ohtani pitched six-plus innings of shutout ball and hit three home runs as Los Angeles swept the Brewers to return to the World Series.
The Rangers assembled a nice bullpen without spending much last offseason, but their lack of a true closer was costly.
Conclusion
The Texas Rangers have a long offseason ahead of them, with many decisions to make regarding their relief pitchers. They will need to decide which players to retain, and which ones to let go. They will also need to explore external options to fill the holes in their bullpen. With the right moves, the Rangers can build a strong bullpen and return to the postseason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who are the key relief pitchers for the Texas Rangers?
A: The key relief pitchers for the Texas Rangers are Shawn Armstrong, Phil Maton, and Hoby Milner.
Q: What is the current state of the Rangers’ bullpen?
A: The Rangers’ bullpen is in need of rebuilding, with significant holes to fill. They
