Big-name signees give Rangers hope
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers went on a record spending spree after losing 102 games last season, with the blockbuster signings of All-Star middle infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to long-term deals accounting for the bulk of the more than half-billion dollars committed to new players.
Texas also signed righthander Jon Gray, who will be the starter on opening day, and made other key additions after getting to spring training.
“You know, jumping from 60 wins to 100 wins is probably unrealistic,” General Manager Chris Young said, but adding they aren’t ruling anything out with expanded playoffs.
While the Rangers should be better, they have been in a rebuilding mode and still have to depend on many young pitchers in the back half of the rotation and in the bullpen. Texas used a record 26 rookies in 2021, its fifth consecutive season with a losing record.
“Some teams take the approach of building a young core over two or three years. They develop and get to the big leagues to get their feet wet, they go through the learning curve, and then they add kind of the impact players,” team president Jon Daniels said. “We chose to add the impact players a year before that. We thought that the influence that these players have on our team, in the clubhouse, on the field, would accelerate that process.”
Fourth-year manager Chris Woodward said the culture in the Rangers clubhouse has been good, even when the win-loss record wasn’t, and should only get better with the additions of veterans like Seager, Semien, Gray and outfielder Kole Calhoun.
“So the next point … that’s creating that expectation to win every day,” Woodward said. “That’s the thing that we haven’t had, and I’m excited to bring that in there.”
NEW LOOK
Along with World Series MVP shortstop Seager ($325 million/10 years) and second baseman Semien ($175 million/ seven years), the Rangers have a new top battery with Gray ($56 million/four years) and catcher Mitch Garver, who was acquired from Minnesota when supplanted shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa was traded at the start of spring training.
The 30-year-old Gray was 53-49 with a 4.59 ERA in seven seasons pitching home games in Colorado. The 31-year-old Garver hit 13 home runs with 34 RBI in 68 games for the Twins last season, when he needed surgery after taking a foul tip to the groin area. He hit 31 home runs in 93 games in 2019.
Versatile Brad Miller could be the starting left fielder after signing a $10 million, two-year deal at the start of spring training. He hit 20 home runs for Philadelphia last season, and has started at every infield and outfield position in his career.
Lefty starter Martin Perez got $4 million to rejoin Texas after three years away. He spent his first seven big league seasons (2012-18) with the Rangers.
ROOKIE TO WATCH
Third baseman Josh Jung, the eighth overall pick in the 2019 draft, was going to have a chance to make the big league roster this spring before surgery in February to repair a torn labrum in his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Jung could be available as a DH late in the season. He hit .326 with 19 home runs and 61 RBI in 78 games combined at the Double-A and Triple-A levels last year.