Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young has outlined the Rangers’ priority of amplifying their bullpen needs with an affordable market value. The Rangers have lost three relievers to free agency, with one already finding a new home. Jose Leclerc signed a one-year $10 million deal with the Athletics on Friday. Texas will also likely lose David Robertson and Kirby Yates to free agency. Both are still available and are veteran relievers.
The free agent market for relievers is heating up once again, as the top left-handed reliever Tanner Scott is officially off the market. Scott signed a four-year $72 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday. While Scott was an option for the Rangers, he likely would have been too expensive. Carlos Estevez is another option, but Spotrac projects his market value to be a three-year, $42,048,000 contract. His market value is outside of the Rangers’ price range. The team will likely explore more affordable options that remain on the market.
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Bullpen Additions for the Rangers to Consider
There are still numerous right- and left-handed free-agent relievers available for the Rangers to explore. But two names that would likely fit taking into account their price range would be right-handed relievers Kenley Jansen and Kyle Finnegan. Finnegan would also be a good fit as a closer if they are still looking to add one. According to Spotrac, Jansen’s market value is projected at a two-year, $29,495,052 deal and Finnegan’s market value is projected at a two-year, $24,947,250 deal.
Finnegan is a high-leverage reliever who has gained significant traction this offseason as a non-tendered player. He was an All-Star with the Washington Nationals last season. He sported a 3-8 record with a 3.68 ERA with 60 strikeouts across 63 2/3 innings pitched. Jansen has been recognized for his effective cutter, as well as his impressive strikeout rate. Last season with the Boston Red Sox, according to Baseball Savant, he had a strikeout rate of 28.4% and a solid xBA of .208. Jansen is also a four-time All-Star and a 2020 World Series winner with the Dodgers. In 2024, he sported a 4-2 record with a 3.29 ERA with 62 punchouts across 54 2/3 innings pitched.
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