The Texas Rangers brought in Bruce Bochy with the intention of building a big-spending, championship-caliber team — and that plan paid off with a World Series title in 2023. However, the two seasons since haven’t gone nearly as well. Now, under new manager Skip Schumaker, the organization faces a new directive: get younger, get cheaper, and clean up the payroll.
That won’t be easy. Even after several roster moves this week, president of baseball operations Chris Young still has tough decisions ahead. According to Spotrac, the Rangers have about $149.7 million committed to just six veteran players. Including arbitration and pre-arbitration salaries, their projected total payroll sits around $191.9 million — and that’s before any new additions. Clearly, Texas can’t stand pat after missing the playoffs in back-to-back years.
Those six players — Jacob deGrom, Corey Seager, Nathan Eovaldi, Marcus Semien, Joc Pederson, and Kyle Higashioka — make up the team’s veteran core. Pederson ($18.5 million) and Higashioka ($6.75 million) are likely to stay put, thanks to cost efficiency and recent production. Seager remains the team’s offensive anchor, earning every bit of his $32.5 million salary, while Eovaldi’s $25 million price tag fits his status as a front-line starter.
That leaves deGrom and Semien as the most uncertain cases. DeGrom, 38, rebounded nicely in his first full year post–Tommy John surgery, earning an All-Star nod before fading late in the season and surrendering too many home runs. With two years and $38 million per season left on his deal, the Rangers must decide whether to keep him in the rotation or explore trade possibilities.
Semien, 35, continues to start slow each season before heating up, but with three years and $75 million remaining, Texas could also look to move him to create financial flexibility.
Exactly how much the Rangers intend to trim remains unknown, but moving expensive veterans might be necessary to meet ownership’s financial goals.
This week, a dozen Rangers became free agents — including pitchers Merrill Kelly, Danny Coulombe, Phil Maton, Tyler Mahle, Hoby Milner, Chris Martin, Jon Gray, Patrick Corbin, and Shawn Armstrong, along with position players Donovan Solano, Dylan Moore, and Rowdy Tellez.
Meanwhile, six players were reinstated from the 60-day injured list to the 40-man roster: Nathan Eovaldi, Josh Sborz, Cody Bradford, Evan Carter, Marcus Semien, and Sam Haggerty.
The team also signed pitcher Declan Cronin to a minor league deal, claimed Willie MacIver (catcher) and Michel Otañez (right-handed pitcher) off waivers, and outrighted Dustin Harris and Billy McKinney to Triple-A Round Rock after both cleared waivers.
All told, Texas enters a pivotal offseason — one that could define how they transition from an expensive veteran team to a younger, more sustainable contender.
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