Where Do Texas Rangers Rank In Free-Agent Spending So Far?
The Texas Rangers have definitely not spent money at the rate that they spent it the last two offseasons and a recent ranking of free-agency spending reflects that fact.
MLB Trade Rumors ranked free-agency spending by team at the start of the new year, and even though Texas has only spent $26.5 million as of now, it still ranks 12th in baseball.
It’s been a strange free agency, to say the least. The Los Angeles Dodgers have outspent everybody by a wide margin, handing out more than $1 billion in free agency, led by their $700 million contract to Shohei Ohtani.
Incredibly, the Philadelphia Phillies are No. 2 with $172 million spent on pitcher Aaron Nola, the club’s only expenditure so far.
In these rankings, a free-agency signing is defined as spending on players who were free to negotiate with teams after the Nov. 6 deadline and have signed guaranteed MLB deals.
These rankings do not include trades, contract extensions with current players, or minor-league deals.
The Rangers have signed two players so far, both after the winter meetings. Texas signed reliever Kirby Yates to a one-year, $4.5 million deal and starting pitcher Tyler Mahle to a two-year deal worth $22 million. Mahle is recovering from Tommy John surgery and won't be available until June or July.
The Rangers have lost four free agents, including pitchers Will Smith and Chris Stratton, catcher and designated hitter Mitch Garver, and catcher Austin Hedges.
The Rangers, of course, opened the bank vault in the 2021 offseason, signing shortstop Corey Seager to a 10-year, $325 million deal, which is a team record, and second baseman Marcus Semien to a seven-year, $175 million deal.
In the 2022 offseason, the Rangers committed $185 million over five years to pitcher Jacob deGrom, who has been out since June after Tommy John surgery.
The organization is also being cautious until it knows where its television situation stands in 2024. The Rangers are waiting to hear how much compensation they'll receive for the coming season from local rightsholder Diamond Sports Group, which is in bankruptcy court.
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