Texas Rangers Have Decision to Make on Free-Agent Reliever Aroldis Chapman

The Texas Rangers need bullpen help, but should the World Series champions retain free agent reliever Aroldis Chapman?

The Texas Rangers are looking for bullpen help this offseason. In spite of having one of the worst conversion rate for saves in the regular season, the Rangers got enough out of their bullpen to win their first World Series.

General manager Chris Young reiterated the need for bullpen help during the MLB general managers meetings in Scottsdale earlier this week.

But would the Rangers entertain bringing back one of their free agent relievers?

Aroldis Chapman was solid in the postseason, but likely won't get a chance to close for the Rangers in 2024.  / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, Sports Illustrated ranked the Top 50 free agents on the market. The article also projected where each of those free agents would end up.

One of the free agents ranked was Aroldis Chapman. The article also predicted that Chapman would end up back in Arlington next season.

Really? Here is SI’s logic:

Chapman still ranks in the 99th percentile or better of fastball velocity, whiff percentage, strikeout percentage and expected opponents’ batting average. He also, however, ranks in the 5th percentile of chase rate and 2nd percentile of walk rate. Hitters basically sometimes choose to see whether Chapman’s waning control will gift them a free trip to first base. But he never blew a lead for the Rangers while serving as José Leclerc’s setup man during the playoffs, and may have earned another shot at closing somewhere.

The Rangers acquired Chapman from the Kansas City Royals at the end of June and after a dominant start, the ride wasn’t exactly smooth.

With the Rangers he went 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 30 appearances, with six holds and four saves in seven opportunities. By the end of the regular season he was Leclerc’s set-up man, along with Will Smith.

In the postseason he pitched in nine games and had a 2.25 ERA with six strikeouts and five walks. It’s that walk rate that might scare off the Rangers in an attempt to retain him.

Will Rangers Spend Big Again?

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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