Predicting where the Rangers’ top four free agents will sign this offseason
After winning their first World Series in team history, the Texas Rangers must turn the page and begin planning for next season.
Fortunately, the majority of the Rangers’ skilled core is still under contract through 2024. However, a few crucial players will be free agents this winter and may be on their way out.
Assuming they leave, here’s a guess at where Texas’ top four free agents will sign this offseason.
1. Jordan Montgomery – Boston Red Sox
After coming up big for the Rangers down the stretch and in the playoffs, Jordan Montgomery is going to be a hot commodity this offseason. He rose to the occasion in October by going 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA, proving he has what it takes to dominate on the game’s biggest stage.
The lefty’s big month came on the heels of an impressive regular season, too. Montgomery went 10-11 with a 3.20 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over a career-high 188 2/3 innings this year, splitting time between the Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals.
The Boston Red Sox are in desperate need of starting pitching and are primed to spend this offseason. They already seem to be zeroing in on Montgomery, as they met with his agent during the first day of GM meetings.
Montgomery’s appeal to the Red Sox makes sense. Montgomery, who threw for the New York Yankees from 2017 to 2022, is already well-known among them. Montgomery pitched effectively in New York, going 22-20 with a 3.94 ERA and 8.6 K/9 over six seasons with the Yankees, so we know what he’s capable of in a major market.
The veteran southpaw turns 31 next month, but given on his overall track record, AL East experience, and postseason past, he appears to be a strong fit for Boston. His profile is similarly comparable to that of former Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester, which may sway Boston’s decision to sign him.
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Rangers draft notebook: 13 of the top 14 players have now signed; Danny Santana will return to Minnesota for the first time since the trade.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The Rangers saved roughly $1 million in bonus pool by signing their first two draft picks, Texas Tech’s Josh Jung and Baylor’s Davis Wendzel, below slot value, giving the team flexibility in signing the rest of its draft class. The Rangers were able to cash in on that extra capital in just one day.
The Rangers signed four draft picks on Thursday, spending roughly $2 million in signing bonuses to do so.
Sixth-round pick Cody Bradford, an Aledo High School graduate and the 2018 Big 12 Pitcher of the year at Baylor signed for a bonus of $700,000, which is $415,800 over the slotted bonus value for the 175th pick. Bradford had a 3.86 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 1771/3 innings during his Baylor career. That included three starts in 2019 before he was sidelined with thoracic outlet syndrome rib removal surgery.
The other three players the Rangers signed Thursday were high school prospects selected after the 10th round, which means there was no slot value for them, but they had a signing bonus limit of $100,000 unless a team had leftover money from the bonus pool for its first 10 picks. The Rangers needed to use that financial flexibility with them.
Combined, the Rangers spent $1.285 million on 11th-round pick Nicholas Lockart ($400,000), 12th-round pick Gavin Collyer ($585,000) and 18th-round pick Marc Church ($300,000).
The Rangers have signed 13 of their top 14 draft picks. The only exception is seventh-round pick Brandon Sproat, who reportedly chose to honor his commitment to Florida rather than sign with the Rangers.
Santana’s Minnesota return: Danny Santana is having his best season since he hit .319 in 430 plate appearances with the Minnesota Twins as a rookie in 2014.
This weekend he’ll be making his first trip back to Minnesota since the Twins traded him to the Braves in May 2017.
This year has been a resurgence for Santana. He entered Thursday’s start against the Los Angeles Angels hitting .297 with 25 RBIs and nine home runs, the most of his career. Since that rookie season he hadn’t hit above .240.
“A lot of them [in Minnesota] wanted to see me like I was in my first year with them,” Santana said Thursday through a translator, “so I’m happy they’re going to see me that way.”
The Rangers are happy to have Santana, who has emerged as a go-to, versatile player for manager Chris Woodward. Santana has played all three outfield positions and every infield position except catcher and third base, a position he’s been taking ground balls at, Woodward said, just in case he’s needed.
“The beautiful thing is he wants to play every day,” Woodward said, “and I think he’s earned the right to play more, but he’s really understanding of his role. He’s not going to ever complain. He’s just a true team guy, a true team-first guy, and that’s provided a huge amount of value for us.”
Miller waived: The Rangers placed right-handed pitcher Shelby Miller on unconditional release waivers on Thursday, three days after he was designated for assignment. Every team will have a chance to claim him and take on his contract. If he goes unclaimed, he’ll become a free agent. Miller had an 8.59 ERA in 44 innings two years after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
