This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
ARLINGTON — The Rangers ruled the winter over the previous two offseasons, with the free-agent signings of Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jacob deGrom.
Things have been mostly quiet this offseason. The signings of reliever Kirby Yates and starter Tyler Mahle are the only moves that the Rangers have made so far. Despite the lack of movement, Texas is in a good place going into the new year, with a number of returnees in both the lineup and on the pitching staff.
- MLB Hot Stove Tracker | Rumors
Three players from the 2023 squad have signed with new teams: Martín Pérez (Pirates), Will Smith (Royals) and Chris Stratton (Royals). But the Rangers still have their eyes on other free agents, as well as targets on the trade market.
Here’s an outlook for the Rangers going into the new year:
Biggest question to answer before Spring Training
How will the rotation look?
The Rangers theoretically have already won the 2024 Trade Deadline with three starting pitchers — deGrom, Max Scherzer and Mahle — returning from injury in the second half of the season. But the rotation in the first half is looking mighty thin.
The Rangers’ season-opening rotation lines up with Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Dane Dunning, Andrew Heaney and Cody Bradford. Prospects Owen White, Zak Kent and Cole Winn are waiting in the wings. It’s a fine rotation, but if any of the top five arms gets hit with a substantial injury, it could cause trouble.
