The Texas Baseball Report

Texas Rangers Offseason Updates
, , ,

Texas Rangers Offseason News

As the 2024 MLB offseason begins, all eyes are on the Texas Rangers as they prepare for another year in pursuit of championship success. This article will provide up-to-date insights on the team’s latest developments, from potential player moves and contract negotiations to coaching changes and player development. Whether it’s blockbuster trades, free-agent signings, or…

Rip Griffin
9–13 minutes
,

As the 2024 MLB offseason begins, all eyes are on the Texas Rangers as they prepare for another year in pursuit of championship success. This article will provide up-to-date insights on the team’s latest developments, from potential player moves and contract negotiations to coaching changes and player development.

Whether it’s blockbuster trades, free-agent signings, or strategic shifts, we’ll cover everything Rangers fans need to know as they look forward to the next season. Stay tuned for regular updates on all the moves shaping the Rangers journey to remain competitive and build on their legacy in MLB.

Rangers Trade Nathaniel Lowe to Nationals for Robert Garcia

December 22, 2024 – The Texas Rangers have announced the acquisition of left-handed pitcher Robert Garcia from the Washington Nationals in a trade that sends first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to Washington.

Garcia, 28, had a strong 2024 season, appearing in a career-high 72 games—all in relief—while posting a 3-6 record with a 4.22 ERA across 59.2 innings. His 72 appearances tied him for the fifth-most among MLB left-handed relievers last season. Garcia was a key contributor in the Nationals’ bullpen, leading team relievers in strikeouts per nine innings (11.31) and ranking second in both strikeouts (75) and appearances while placing fourth in innings pitched.

Opposing hitters struggled against Garcia, as he held them to a .237/.288/.323 slash line, left-handed batters faring even worse at .226/.291/.301 and managing just one home run against him. The Rangers will look to capitalize on Garcia’s effectiveness, especially against left-handed hitters, as they bolster their bullpen for the upcoming season.

Texas Rangers Sign Hoby Milner

December 20, 2024 – The Texas Rangers have signed left-handed pitcher Hoby Milner to a one-year Major League contract for the 2025 season. The team designated right-handed pitcher Owen White for assignment to clear a spot on the roster.

Milner, who will celebrate his 34th birthday on January 13, delivered a solid 2024 season with the Milwaukee Brewers. He compiled a 5-1 record and a 4.73 ERA over 64.2 innings pitched in 61 games, including one start. Among Brewers relievers, he tied for the most strikeouts (62), ranked second in appearances (60), and recorded the second-best strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.43).

Early in the 2024 season, Milner was particularly effective, posting a stellar 1.66 ERA across his first 22 outings, totaling 21.2 innings. On June 25, he made his first and only career start as an opener against the Rangers at American Family Field, pitching two innings with two hits, one earned run, no walks, and two strikeouts. With this move, the Rangers add a versatile and experienced southpaw to their bullpen.

Texas Rangers Sign Jacob Webb

The Texas Rangers are thrilled to announce the signing of right-handed pitcher Jacob Webb to a one-year Major League deal for the 2025 season!

Webb, 31, had an outstanding 2024 season with the Baltimore Orioles, setting personal records with 56.2 innings pitched and 58 strikeouts. He posted a solid 3.02 ERA, a 2-5 record, and notched 2 saves across 60 appearances from the bullpen.

A proven reliever throughout his five-year MLB career, Webb has consistently delivered on the mound. He boasts an impressive career record of 12-10 with a 2.98 ERA, six saves, and 186 strikeouts over 187 innings in 192 games. His journey includes stints with Atlanta (2019-21), the Los Angeles Angels (2023), and Baltimore (2023-24).

Webb is also in an elite company: among pitchers with 190+ appearances since 2019, he’s one of just 20 players who have maintained a sub-3.00 ERA over that stretch. The Rangers are excited to add his skill, consistency, and experience to their bullpen for the upcoming season!

Texas Rangers Acquire Jack Burger

The Texas Rangers have announced the acquisition of infielder Jake Burger from the Miami Marlins. In exchange, the Rangers sent infielders Max Acosta, Echedry Vargas, and left-handed pitcher Brayan Mendoza to Miami.

Burger, 28, had an impressive 2024 season, hitting .250 with 29 home runs and 76 RBIs across 137 games. He led the Marlins in several key categories, including hits (a career-best 134), runs (68), and home runs. From July onward, Burger hit .278/.336/.553/.889 over 295 at-bats, adding 22 home runs—ranking third in the National League for that period, behind only Shohei Ohtani (28) and Eugenio Suárez (24). He was a finalist for the National League Silver Slugger at the utility position. He was named the Marlins’ Most Valuable Player by the South Florida chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

A four-year MLB veteran, Burger has a career of .251/.305/.483/.789 slash line, 72 home runs, and 185 RBIs over 344 games with the Chicago White Sox (2021-23) and the Marlins (2023-24). Since 2023, his 63 home runs are tied for 15th in MLB, and his .573 slugging percentage against fastballs ranks 9th in the league.

The departing prospects bring significant promise to the Marlins. Acosta, 22, hit .288/.353/.425 with 11 home runs and 53 RBIs over 104 games with Double-A Frisco Rough Riders in 2024. Known for his defensive versatility, Acosta logged starts at shortstop, second base, and designated hitter last season. A Caracas, Venezuela native, he signed with the Rangers as an international free agent in 2019.

Vargas, 19, spent 2024 with Single-A Down East, where he hit .276/.321/.454 with 14 home runs, 24 doubles, and 48 RBIs. Primarily a shortstop, Vargas has also played second and third base. Originally from Azua, Dominican Republic, he joined the Rangers as a non-drafted free agent in 2022.

Mendoza, 20, shone on the mound in 2024, combining for a 5-4 record with a 2.32 ERA and 109 strikeouts across 101 innings between Single-A Down East and High-A Hickory. The Venezuelan left-hander signed with Texas as a non-drafted free agent in 2021 and has shown strong potential in his three professional seasons.

Texas Rangers Bring Back Nathan Eovaldi

December 10, 2024 – The Texas Rangers are reportedly set to bolster their rotation with a familiar face, agreeing to a three-year, $75 million contract with veteran right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Although the team has not officially announced the deal, Eovaldi has been a key part of their pitching staff over the past two seasons.

Eovaldi, who turns 35 in February, entered free agency after declining his $20 million player option. The option, vested after he surpassed 300 combined innings pitched during the 2023-24 seasons, was part of the two-year, $34 million agreement he signed with the Rangers in December 2022.

Eovaldi delivered consistent results throughout that deal, posting a 3.72 ERA and tallying 298 strikeouts across 314 2/3 regular-season innings. Fans can look forward to seeing him in action as the Rangers aim for continued success in 2025 and beyond.

Texas Rangers Sign Free Agent Kyle Higashioka

December 2, 2024 – The Texas Rangers have signed catcher Kyle Higashioka to a two-year deal, securing his services for the 2025 and 2026 seasons, with an option for 2027. Higashioka, known for his strong defense and power at the plate, brings valuable experience and skill to the Rangers.

In 2024, Higashioka, 34, played for the San Diego Padres, hitting .220 with 17 home runs and 45 RBIs in 84 games—career-best numbers in several categories. His defensive contributions included a 20% caught-stealing rate, ranking fourth among National League catchers with at least 75 starts.

Before joining San Diego, Higashioka spent 16 years in the New York Yankees organization, making his MLB debut in 2017 after a decade in the minors. He was the longest-tenured player with the Yankees when traded to the Padres in December 2023 as part of the deal that sent Juan Soto to New York. During his time in the Bronx, Higashioka built a reputation for clutch performances, appearing in four postseasons since 2020 and catching two historic games: Domingo Germán’s perfect game in 2023 and Corey Kluber’s no-hitter in 2021.

Over his eight-year MLB career, Higashioka has a .212 batting average, 57 home runs, and a strong track record in catcher framing, ranking seventh in the league for framing runs since 2019.

Rangers Sign RHP Luis Curvelo to an MLB Contract

November 13, 2024 – The Texas Rangers have announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Luis Curvelo to a Major League contract.

Curvelo, who recently turned 24 on October 21, will aim for his MLB debut. In 2024, he posted a 4-0 record with 3 saves and a 2.57 ERA over 66.2 innings in 49 relief appearances for Double-A Arkansas in the Mariners organization. Curvelo excelled in several categories among Texas League pitchers, ranking first in holds (14), second in appearances, third in WHIP (0.86), and eleventh in ERA. His strong performance in August earned him the Mariners Minor League Pitcher of the Month, allowing just one earned run across 11.1 innings with two saves in 11 outings.

Curvelo initially joined the Mariners as an international free agent in 2018. Over six minor league seasons, all with Seattle, he has compiled a 21-8 record, 10 saves, and a 3.51 ERA across 294.2 innings in 189 games (4 starts). Curvelo’s 189 appearances rank second among Mariners minor leaguers since 2018, while his 334 strikeouts rank eighth, and his 1.13 WHIP rank ninth. He’s also played in the Venezuelan Winter League, suiting up for Lara in 2022-23 and Caracas in 2024.

This signing brings the Rangers 40-man roster to 37 players.

Texas Rangers Hire Skip Schumaker as Senior Advisor, Baseball Operations

November 13, 2024 – The Texas Rangers have hired former Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as Senior Advisor for Baseball Operations.

Schumaker, 44, most recently managed the Miami Marlins for the past two seasons (2023-24). His impressive 2023 season with the Marlins, where he led the team to an 84-78 record and secured their fourth postseason berth in franchise history, earned him the National League Manager of the Year award. Before his managerial role in Miami, Schumaker held various coaching positions in the Major Leagues: he was Bench Coach for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2022 and Associate Manager (2020-21) as well as First Base Coach (2018-19) for the San Diego Padres. Additionally, he served as Assistant to Baseball Operations and Player Development for San Diego from 2016-17.

Schumaker had an 11-year MLB career as a former player with a .278 batting average, 28 home runs, and 284 RBIs across 1,149 games. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals (2005-2012), Los Angeles Dodgers (2013), and Cincinnati Reds (2014-15). Schumaker was a key contributor to the Cardinals 2011 World Series victory, posting a .381 batting average in 11 postseason games. Originally from Torrance, California, Schumaker was drafted by St. Louis in the 5th round of the 2001 MLB Draft out of the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Josh Smith Wins First Silver Slugger Award

November 12, 2024 – Texas Rangers infielder Josh Smith has been honored with the 2024 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award for the American League utility position. The announcement was made Tuesday night during a televised ceremony on MLB Network.

Smith delivered career-best numbers across nearly every offensive category in 2024. He hit .258 with a .337 on-base percentage and a .394 slugging percentage, with 13 home runs, 62 RBIs, 46 walks, 67 runs, 135 hits, and 30 doubles. His performance ranked him among AL leaders in being hit by pitches (5th, 18), doubles (tied for 17th), and on-base percentage (18th). He excelled with runners in scoring position, batting .315 with a .409 on-base percentage, placing him in the top 15 AL players in key RISP metrics. Against left-handed pitching, Smith’s .286 batting average was the fourth-highest among AL left-handed hitters, trailing only Yordan Alvarez, Steven Kwan, and Nathaniel Lowe.

Smith’s versatility was on full display in 2024, as he played a career-high 149 games, starting 135 at various positions: third base (76), shortstop (41), designated hitter (13), left field (4), and right field (1). He took over third base for 69 of the 102 games while Josh Jung was on the injured list from April to July. Smith also reached base in 109 of his 135 starts, including a stretch of 17 consecutive games from mid-April to early May.

Main Image Credit: DETROIT, MI – APRIL 16: A detailed view of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game logo patch sewn onto a Texas Rangers baseball hat sitting in the dugout during the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 16, 2024, in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

One response to “Texas Rangers Offseason News”

  1. How Roki Sasaki Could Transform the Astros and Rangers Pitching Rotations in 2025 – The Texas Baseball Report

    […] potential move to MLB has sparked interest from multiple teams, including the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers, who have been linked to Sasaki at one point or another this offseason. Here’s how Sasaki’s […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Trending

Discover more from The Texas Baseball Report

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading