Texas Rangers Helping Define Free Agency, Trade Market During MLB Offseason

The Texas Rangers won their first World Series earlier this month, and to no surprise that allows them to be highly competitive in both free agency and trades this offseason.

MLB.com ranked 13 teams that could define this offseason, and to little surprise the Rangers made the list.

After erasing the heartbreak of losing the 2011 World Series to the St. Louis Cardinals by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games, the Rangers are set to return a relatively stacked roster. Nearly every significant position player is under contract, with the exception of catcher/designated hitter Mitch Garver.

Most of the pitching staff will be intact, even though Jacob deGrom will miss most of the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The Rangers will likely chase after free agent Jordan Montgomery, who was a high performer after the trade deadline and throughout the magical postseason run.

With all of that in place, and a history of spending money on players like deGrom, shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien, it’s that logic that leads MLB.com to believe the Rangers could help define how the offseason unfolds:

Retaining Montgomery would itself be a significant signing in this market. But the Rangers will also be players for (Shohei) Ohtani. They’ve got Jose Leclerc, of course, but might explore the top end of a relief market (fronted by Josh Hader) in pursuit of a super 'pen. There’s already a ton of money on the books, of course, but Texas isn't expected to leave any stone unturned right now.

Two of the team’s top hitters, Semien and Seager, were named Silver Sluggers. The entire team won the first team Silver Slugger award. Semien and Seager are American League MVP finalists, along with Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani. The Texas middle infielders will learn if either will upset Ohtani for the award next week.

The Rangers also return three Gold Glove winners in Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim and Adolis García. Lowe recently got his Gold Patch and Heim recently participated in a Gold Glove meet-and-greet in New York City.

In addition to going after Hader, the San Diego Padres closer, the Rangers are rumored to be a possible destination for Philadelphia Phillies free-agent starter Aaron Nola.

This is a team poised to be a postseason player for a long time. Another great offseason would position them as a World Series favorite for 2024.

Predicting Ohtani Fit in Rangers Lineup

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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