What Offseason Moves Did Texas Rangers Make As Spring Training Begins?

The Texas Rangers head to spring training in Surprise, Ariz., without the big moves they’ve made the past two offseasons.

Few expected the Rangers to be the highest bidder for Jacob deGrom last offseason.

Two offseasons ago, the Rangers were massive spenders on shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien.

This offseason? Not so much. The Rangers have a roster built around long-term commitments and young players that are under team control for the next few years. If the Rangers were interested in augmenting with a big-money deal, it’s clear that the Rangers were hampered by the uncertainty around their local TV deal, which is now resolved for 2024.

That resolution doesn’t rule out a late move while in Arizona. But entering spring training, here are the Rangers’ significant offseason moves: free agents who signed Major League deals with the team.

Texas Rangers Offseason Moves

Here is a list of the players the Texas Rangers signed to MLB deals during the 2023-24 offseason.

P David Robertson

The Rangers signed the reliever to a one-year deal in late January. He has 175 career saves. Last season with the New York Mets and Miami Marlins, he went 6-6 with a 3.03 ERA and 18 saves, as he took over as closer with the Mets in the wake of the season-ending injury to Edwin Diaz.

Robertson’s flexibility could be useful to the Rangers. José Leclerc is likely to get first crack at being the closer. Robertson could be their insurance policy.

OF Travis Jankowski

The former first-round pick became a fan favorite last season and the Rangers managed to bring him back on a one-year deal.

Jankowski was almost released at the start of the season, but an injury to Leody Taveras allowed the Rangers to keep him. He became a great spot starter and fill-in when outfielders were injured. He batted .263 with one home run and 30 RBI, along with a team-leading 19 stolen bases.

He figures to the Rangers’ fourth or fifth outfielder on Opening Day.

C Andrew Knizner

Knizner signed a one-year deal in early January. The Rangers lost both Mitch Garver and Austin Hedges in free agency, so the back-up position behind Jonah Heim is open.

He played parts of five seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, where he batted .216. Last season he batted .241 and hit a career-high 10 home runs and 31 RBI in 70 games.

He’ll compete with holdover Sam Huff for the primary backup job. The Rangers carried three catchers for much of last season, so it’s possible that both could make the team.

P Tyler Mahle

The Rangers signed the former Minnesota Twins starter to a two-year deal and he will miss the first half of the 2024 season as he continues his rehab from Tommy John surgery. The same is true for deGrom and Max Scherzer, the latter of which is recovering from a herniated disc.

Mahle has a career record of 33-41 in seven MLB seasons after breaking in with the Cincinnati Reds in 2017. His best season was with the Reds in 2021, where he went 13-6 with a 3.75 ERA in a MLB-leading 33 starts.

The Rangers expect Mahle to be ready to pitch later this season.

P Kirby Yates

The reliever was the first free-agent the Rangers signed to a Major League deal this offseason, as he inked a one-year deal.

Yates could be a potential closer for the Rangers, though his best season was in 2019 with the San Diego Padres, where he recorded a career-high 41 saves and was named a National League All-Star. Yates has only 19 other saves in his nine-year career. Last season with the Atlanta Braves, he went 7-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 61 games, striking out 80 hitters in 60 innings.

He figures to be a set-up man for whoever earns the closer’s job.

Langford Challenging for Opening Day

You can find Matthew Postins on X @PostinsPostcard.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and X.