If Not Now, What About Potential 2025 Free Agent Targets For Texas Rangers?

Looking ahead to 2025, the potential free agent market includes several pitchers who might interest the Texas Rangers.

The Texas Rangers have their sights set on winning in 2024. The reigning world champions might not have spent big this offseason, but they didn't have to after securing lucrative contracts the previous two years. 

General manager Chris Young could add a player or two before Opening Day, but it's clear Texas has a foundation in place to contend this spring. 

What about next spring? 

Could Young get aggressive and bring in another premiere name to make the Rangers the Los Angeles Dodgers of the American League? 

MLB.com released its top free agents at each position entering next offseason. The Rangers currently won't have to worry about losing talent, but they could look to upgrade several spots. 

Pitching always remains an area of concern; even with Jacob deGrom, 35, and Max Scherzer, 39, on the roster and expected to return from injuries this summer, neither is getting any younger.

One name to monitor? Former Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes looks to cash in with a career year in Baltimore after being traded by Milwaukee this offseason. MLB.com compared the move to when Texas traded for Cy Young right-hander Cliff Lee in 2010. 

"Burnes belongs atop the list as of now. Trading a healthy, recent Cy Young winner in his prime age years, just a season before he reaches free agency, is actually pretty rare. The best “recent” (and that’s using the term loosely) comp is probably the 2009-10 deal that sent Cliff Lee from the Phillies to the Mariners. Lee went on to finish seventh in the AL Cy Young voting (with the M’s and Rangers), helped Texas reach the World Series, then signed a mammoth deal (at the time, the third-largest ever for a pitcher) that returned him to Philadelphia." - MLB.com

As for bullpen help, Texas was interested in All-Star closer Josh Hader, but the Houston Astros coughed up a five-year extension at the 11th hour. Should the Rangers' bullpen issues continue in 2024, the Yankees' Clay Holmes could be a free-agent option. 

"In 154 2/3 innings over 153 appearances with the Yankees, the right-handed Holmes has logged a 2.50 ERA with 170 strikeouts against 47 walks and only six homers allowed. He’s in the 100th percentile in ground-ball rate (66.7%). Keep that up for another year, and he’ll do quite well for himself next offseason." - MLB.com 

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