Texas Rangers Rank as Premier Free-Agent Destination, Behind Just Dodgers

Bleacher Report analyzed all 30 MLB clubs as free-agent destinations, with the World Series champion Texas Rangers trailing only the Los Angeles Dodgers.

When it comes to free-agent destinations, the Texas Rangers didn’t traditionally have “it.”

Arlington wasn’t exactly a mecca for baseball stars looking to make a move. Sure, there were exceptions. Nolan Ryan and Alex Rodriguez come to mind.

But playing for the Rangers didn’t have the same allure as the New York Yankees or Los Angeles Dodgers or San Francisco Giants or Boston Red Sox.

Corey Seager and Marcus Semien are two high-profile free agents who signed with the Rangers.

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Well, the times, they are changing. Even before the magical World Series run of 2023, the Rangers were making serious inroads in bringing top-flight talent to North Texas.

Sure they had to pay – a half-billion dollars to Corey Seager and Marcus Semien before the 2022 season, for example – but doesn’t every team spend big to sign the best? The Rangers also signed Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and manager Bruce Bochy, among others, coming off a sixth consecutive losing season.

Free agents were buying in even before the franchise won its first Fall Classic. So how about now? Are you paying attention, Shohei Ohtani?

Texas is the place to be … and others have noticed.

Bleacher Report has ranked all 30 clubs as free-agent destinations for the 2023-24 offseason. The criteria used included Payroll Situation, Contention Timeline and Quality of Life.

The Rangers, once just another MLB outpost, are higher on the list that the Yankees, Giants, Red Sox, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros. Actually, the champs trail only the Dodgers.

Here’s the rationale from Bleacher Report:

Bleacher Report: Texas Rangers

Reasons why the Rangers are an attractive destination for free agents.

Payroll Situation

• 2023 Payroll: $214 million
• Projected 2024 Payroll: $204 million

The Rangers are World Series champions in large part because of their recent willingness to take big swings in free agency, and they may have more in store.

“I expect the Rangers are going to be aggressive this offseason,” Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic said during an appearance on Foul Territory on Monday. “They are going to be emboldened by their World Series triumph.”

The Rangers haven’t had much money come off their books, but it may not matter. Especially if they reel in Shohei Ohtani, next year figures to be a new high mark for the club’s payroll.

Contention Timeline

• 2023 Record: 90-72, 2nd in AL West and World Series champions
• Farm System Rank: 6

The Rangers are contenders, alright. And if they do add a big-name free agent, he’ll join a cast of stars that already includes Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Adolis García.

Where there is room for concern is with their aging, expensive pitching staff. But the strength of the club’s farm system is a nice counterweight here, especially since we already know what top prospect Evan Carter can do.

Quality of Life

• Stadium: Globe Life Field since 2020
• 2023 Attendance: 2,533,044 (16th)
• Cost of Living vs. New York: -58%
• Highest State Tax Rate: 0.0%

You know, the absence of income taxes in Texas and the general affordability of Arlington might explain why the Rangers have had so much success attracting free agents. They also play in the newest stadium in MLB, where attendance is sure to rise after this year.

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The Rangers apparently have a significant free-agent advantage compared to the rest of the American League West. Bleacher Reports rankings for the division: Los Angeles Angels (14), Seattle Mariners (15), Astros (16) and Oakland Athletics (30).

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