Does Bally Bankruptcy Hurt Texas Rangers Free Agency Options?

The Texas Rangers are defending World Series champions, but they still have roster needs. General manager Chris Young said he has the financial resources to attract depth for the starting rotation and add to the bullpen. But will the club’s broadcast television rights issues with Ballys’ parent company Diamond Sports Group, limit Young’s checkbook? “There’s an impact on the organization; there’s uncertainty about what the rights fees are and will be going forward,” Young said during a Zoom teleconference Thursday. “We obviously have a responsibility to be financially prudent. That said, ownership has been amazing with the recourses they’ve provided us and are continuing to provide us, and we expect to be active in free agency.

During a court appearance two weeks ago, DSG suggested that it may drop its rights for the Rangers and Cleveland Guardians as a cost-cutting move to help navigate out of bankruptcy. The Rangers earned $111 million from its Ballys deal in 2023 compared to the Guardians’ $55 million. The Rangers’ 20-year deal

with Ballys, which bought out the rights from Fox Sports, started in 2011. If DSG drops the Rangers, the club will retain its broadcast rights for the 2024 season, which they could negotiate with another broadcaster. The snag, however, is whether the Rangers would still receive what they are owed from DSG. “There’s no deal with MLB, there’s no deal with the Rangers, we don’t know what (Diamond’s) intention is with respect to the Rangers,” a lawyer for the Rangers said in court. Young acknowledged the team won’t be spending as much as it has in the past two offseasons when they signed free agents Corey Seager and Marcus Semien in 2021, and then Jacob deGrom a year ago, but the current roster has fewer needs.

“One of the things about our team is we have a great returning core group, and we’re really looking for additions to shore up the team,” he said. “Probably not spending at the level that we’ve spent in previous off-seasons but we feel good about the recourses we have to field a team that will have a chance to go out and compete for a world championship again.” Free agency, of course, is not the only option for the Rangers. A trade could also help add pitching depth. “Certainly, adding a starting pitcher is a goal of ours. And addressing the bullpen, multiple spots in the bullpen, where we would feel good about adding via trade or free agency. Those are priorities for us,” Young said. “It takes two to make a trade, but we’re going to explore all ways to improve our club. I am comfortable with the recourse and the payroll that we’ll have and the ability to shore up the areas of need for our team