While the Rangers have done a lot of work to build their bullpen up, it still seems like there’s something to be done before spring training begins.
While the Rangers have done a lot of work to build their bullpen up, it still seems like there’s something to be done before spring training begins.Alongside general manager Chris Young , Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy responds to a question from reporters during a post season wrap up press conference at Globe Life Field in Arlington, October 1, 2024.
says he’s still having fun. Wouldn’t be managing the Rangers in 2025 if he wasn’t. Feels better than he has in years, maybe not the best shape of his life as he approaches his 70th birthday, but certainly better than he did“I’m good with where I’m at right now,” Bochy said Saturday morning ahead of a Q&A session at Rangers Fanfest at Globe Life Field, avoiding the question. “We’ll see where we are at.”Which is Bochese for “let’s focus on this coming season, not the next” and “better check with the wife before I make any long-term plans.” All of which was totally expected. At this stage, it’s going to be a year-to-year deal. No sense in thinking too far down the road. Don’t expect any Bochy answers on the 2026 season until the upcoming one is done. In the meantime, he’s still got plenty to occupy his mind, starting with sorting throughthat, to hear Bochy talk, might still be under construction. The Rangers have already added five experienced relievers to the bullpen. How about a sixth, namely somebody with significant closing experience?For all the targeted moves the Rangers have made this season, they still haven’t added anybody with significant ninth-inning experience. They could still use one. The five relievers the Rangers have added — Chris Martin, Robert Garcia, Jacob Webb, Shawn Armstrong and Hoby Milner — combined for five saves last year. That was just about a busy week forlast year. If you want to go 15 deep on the Rangers’ current bullpen options, there are 32 career saves. Yates had 33 saves a year ago. In 34 attempts. The point: The Rangers have done a lot of work, but it still seems like there is something to be done before they go to spring training in a little over three weeks. “I’m not sure is ever done,” Bochy said. “He’s constantly looking for anything that will make this club better. He’s always talking baseball, not just with us, but with the other clubs. So I can’t say that he’s done.”Said Young: “I feel really good about the work we’ve done and the additions we’ve made. I feel like we’ve got a really strong group of guys. It’s our job to seek ways to continue to improve it. The guys we’ve signed have certainly improved our bullpen from where we started the offseason. There are some that are capable of pitching at the back of the bullpen as well, but over the course of the season, we’re going to need more than what we currently have.”“Some of that’s going to need to come internally with our player development, and some of it may be externally, but it’s our job to continue to look for ways to upgrade.” The Rangers don’t really need to look. Yates sent a video accepting his Pitcher of the Year award at Friday night’s awards banquet. Looked hale and healthy from Hawaii. He’d have looked even better accepting it in person as a signed player rather than a free agent. Alas, at the moment, the math isn’t quite mathing. While the Rangers have been more aggressive than expected this winter, they still don’t want to beIf they go above $241 million, they will have to pay a 50% tax on the overage. Just as significantly, if they go over the CBT threshold this year, then they’d face a 50% tax on any overage next year, too. At some point, it makes sense to reset their tax clock, get below the threshold and reduce potential penalties for the next season to 20%.At the moment, the Rangers’ CBT payroll is estimated at $234 million, according to Baseball Prospectus, leaving them with about $7 million in room before tax territory. And the going rate for experienced late-inning relievers appears to currently be at least $10 million annually. Baltimore signed Andrew Kittredge for $10 million for a year at the outset of the week. The New York Mets signed A.J. Minter for two years at $11 million per season later in the week. Oakland added former Ranger José Leclerc for $10 million, too. Add another $10 million to the Rangers’ payroll — unless you move another contract — and you’ve entered the tax bracket. It doesn’t add up at the moment. On the other hand, if the Rangers can move Jon Gray as he enters the final season of a four-year deal, it could create up to another $13 million worth of cushion. Move Leody Taveras and it’s $5 million in savings. Of course, that doesn’t account for the fact that both could have significant roles with the 2025 Rangers, but those are the kinds of choices a team has to make when it’s in this slot. It’s also worth noting the Rangers were able to remake the back of their bullpen on the fly in 2023, getting Aroldis Chapman and Chris Stratton along the way to fix a disastrous group. It’s also worth noting it cost them Cole Ragans in the process. Moral: Yes, fixing a bullpen in season is doable; but at what potential cost? “We’re just staying open-minded,” Young said. “I can’t speak to what’s happened in the the last few days. But we’re just going to stay open-minded.”Healthy again, Texas Rangers prospect Anthony Gutierrez has his eye on powerClick or tap here to sign up for our Rangers newsletter.Evan has covered the Rangers since 1997. He has twice been named one of the top 10 beat writers in the country by the AP Sports Editors. His passions outside of covering baseball are his wife, Gina, his two step kids, two crazy dogs & barbecue. Let's not discuss the cat. Evan graduated from Georgia State University, but oddly is a Georgia fan.
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