AL West 2023 Preview: Texas Rangers
Major League Baseball is set for opening weekend. Inside the Rangers previews the Texas Rangers as Opening Day approaches.
Texas Rangers
2022 Record: 68-94, fourth place, AL West (38 games behind Houston).
Manager: Bruce Bochy (2,003-2,029, first season with Rangers, 25 seasons overall).
Free Agency Losses: P Matt Moore (Los Angeles Angels), OF Kole Calhoun (Seattle Mariners).
Free agency gains: P Jacob deGrom (five-year contract worth $185 million), P Nathan Eovaldi (two-year contract worth $34 million), P Andrew Heaney (two-year contract worth $25 million), P Martín Pérez (one-year qualifying offer worth $19.65 million), OF Robbie Grossman (one-year contract worth $2 million), P Will Smith (one-year contract worth $1.5 million).
Trades: Acquired LHP Jake Odorizzi for RHP Kolby Allard; traded RHP Dennis Santana to Atlanta Braves for cash; traded 2B Nick Solak to Cincinnati Reds for cash.
Projected Lineup in Field: C Jonah Heim, 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 2B Marcus Semien, 3B Josh Jung, SS Corey Seager, LF Robbie Grossman, CF Leody Taveras, RF Adolis García, DH Mitch Garver.
Projected Starting Rotation: Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Martín Pérez, Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney.
Outlook: Both Rangers owner Ray Davis and general manager Chris Young said they were “tired of losing” after last season. The first step was to hire Bochy, one of the few managers with more than 2,000 career wins. Players talked in the clubhouse during Spring Training about the instant credibility he brought to preparation.
“It’s amazing anytime someone with Bruce’s track record, you know a future Hall of Famer, getting him to believe in this project and kind of come out of retirement it speaks volumes,” Brad Miller said.
The next step was to get pitching. The Rangers made it clear they wanted to get more experience in the rotation. Retaining Pérez was critical, though costly. But the financial commitment to deGrom is unprecedented in Rangers history when it comes to pitching. He’s here for the long haul. Eovaldi and Heaney are on short-term deals, with the idea that the young pitching stock the Rangers have in the minor leagues will be ready soon.
deGrom knows the spotlight is on him and he knows he has one job.
“The goal is to try and put up zeroes,” deGrom said after his first spring start.
The rotation is set. If all five of these mature pitchers (each is 30 or older) can avoid injury, the staff has potential.
The everyday lineup is set. The one open job going into spring was left field, and Grossman put together a great camp that allowed him to get Bochy to say he would get the “lion’s share” of the playing time by mid-March. As much as the Rangers like Bubba Thompson and his glove and speed, they worry about his bat. Taveras won’t be ready for Opening Day, and that may open a spot for Thompson, at least temporarily.
The bullpen was probably the most competitive part of Spring Training and, at times, the most vexing position group to get good information from Bochy. Much of that had to do with him getting to know players he had only seen on tape.
But Bochy is happy with where his team is heading into Opening Day.
“This is a very talented ballclub,” Bochy said. “But it comes down to playing cohesively and playing together.”
What to Watch? The Rangers want to win and be competitive now. That’s the goal. That’s been the goal of the entire offseason. You don’t hire Bochy and spend money on deGrom to be average. The Rangers will get significant tests in March and April, starting with defending National League champion Philadelphia on Opening Day. The Rangers get a set at the World Series champion Houston Astros and another series at home with the New York Yankees. We’ll know a lot about the Rangers come the beginning of May.
More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:
- Jose Altuve Injury Potentially Helps Texas Rangers Playoff Chances
- MLB Plan for Television Texas Rangers
- Why did Bochy Tab deGrom for Opening Day?
- Bally Sports Southwest to Televise Nearly All Rangers Games
- Texas Rangers to Wear Nike City Connect Jerseys for First Time
- Texas Rangers Unveil Exciting New Ballpark Food
- Texas Rangers Terminating TV Rights if Bally Sports Goes Bankrupt
- Rangers Believe They're as Good as Astros, Dodgers
- Rangers Rotation Set Behind Jacob deGrom
- Rangers Must Lock Up Two Big Stars Before Season
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
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