Kirby YatesJohn Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Notable Free Agents: RHP Nathan Eovaldi, LHP Andrew Heaney, RHP Max Scherzer, RHP Kirby Yates, RHP David Robertson, RHP José Leclerc, RHP José Ureña, LHP Andrew Chafin, OF Travis Jankowksi
- Relief Pitching
- More Relief Pitching
- MORE RELIEF PITCHING
Biggest Question: Can they revamp the bullpen?
Of the 13 pitchers who logged at least 40 innings for the Texas Rangers in 2024, only four—Dane Dunning, Jon Gray, Cody Bradford and Jacob Latz—remain in the organization.
The good news is there are already reinforcements for the starting rotation on the roster.
Each of Jacob deGrom, Tyler Mahle and Kumar Rocker made just three starts in 2024, but all three should be regulars in 2025, alongside Gray, Dunning and Bradford. (Yes, a six-man rotation, which is probably the best bet, given the injury history of deGrom and Mahle and Rocker’s limited experience.)
Jack Leiter’s nine-appearance audition in 2024 was disastrous, but the 2021 No. 2 overall pick could be a factor in the rotation, too.
But there is some serious work to be done in this bullpen with all of Yates, Robertson, Leclerc and Ureña now free agents.
As things stand, it seems Latz is the closer, with 54.2 innings pitched and a 3.46 ERA in his career?
With Josh Sborz as the primary setup man after missing most of 2024 with a shoulder injury? It’s not pretty.
If they can restock that ‘pen in a big way, though, they have more than enough offensive firepower to get back in the postseason mix—provided those bats stay a little healthier this time around.