The Rangers missed the playoffs for the third straight year in 2019, but with a new ballpark set to open next season, it appears they’re serious about returning to contention immediately. The Rangers gave right-handed starter Kyle Gibson a three-year, $30MM guarantee last week, though that deal could pale in comparison to the highest award they dole out this winter. The club’s in pursuit of the best free-agent position player on the market in third baseman Anthony Rendon, as it met with him and agent Scott Boras in Houston on Sunday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. The Rangers haven’t made a contract offer yet, per Grant, but “several executives” have indicated they’re the favorites to sign him, Bob Nightengale of USA Today sports tweets.
Signing Rendon would likely mean doling out a guarantee well above $200MM, though it could help the Rangers’ cause that he’s a Texas native. Rendon’s by far the best unsigned third baseman in the game, but between their interest in him and Josh Donaldson, it’s clear the Rangers are serious about finding their first great option at the position since potential Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre retired after the 2018 season.
Texas, however, isn’t just considering a splash at the hot corner. Rather, the Rangers could pick up yet another high-profile starter even after signing Gibson. It’s “believed” that they’ve recently met with free-agent right-hander Zack Wheeler, according to Grant. Wheeler, who could cost around $100MM in free agency, would add another formidable arm to a rotation that has taken an obvious step forward with the acquisition of Gibson. Those two would presumably join Mike Minor, Lance Lynn and Kolby Allard to give the Rangers a rather imposing top five heading into 2020.
To sign Wheeler for the rotation would suggest a trade brings the 3B. If Rendon is signed there might not be dollars for a top SP. So it sounds like they are playing both scenarios to give themselves options. I am hoping they can trade for the Yankee 3B and sign Wheeler. I just wonder what it will take to make that Yankee deal.
Andujar isn’t the Rangers answer for 3B. Yankees would ask too much for him, and his defense at third is so poor he’ll likely end up a 1B/DH. Easy pass.
The Yanks would “fleece” the Ranger front office.
While I don’t think much of the Rangers front office either, Daniels has actually made some pretty good trades of late. Chris Martin trade, Jurickson Profar trade, Keone Kela trade, Peter Fairbanks trade. The Cole Hamels trade was awful though. Also, Daniels has done pretty well with his free agent signings. Where they really stink is drafting and developing young talent. Nobody’s worse at hitting on 1st round picks than the Texas Rangers.
Everyone else does, too.
They have plenty to sign both. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be in the top 8 payrolls in MLB specially when they have 2 formidable starters. Go sign either Rendon or Donaldson and Wheeler or Cole. Cole and Donaldson would be more realistic. But yes, the Rangers should be able to add between 70-80MM in payroll this year.
only way is if they find a suitor for choo contract
What contract? 1yr 21MM? The Rangers can easily add 70-80MM in payroll if they wanted to. No reason for them not to be in the top 8 in payroll in MLB.
Feel bad for Rendon. You’ll leave a three headed monster in Scherzer, Stras and Corbin only to end up in a hitter’s park with average pitching on your roster. Wishful thinking that he’d stay in DC, however I can appreciate him leaving everything on the field night in and night out. Thanks Rendon for the ‘ship this year. You’ll always be a fan favorite in DC considering the professionalism you brought to the table.
This year he would play in a hitters park if he signs and next year who knows. No one knows how the new park will play hitters park, pitchers park or neutral. He did a great job for the Nats.
the park opens this next season dude
200 million and he’ll adjust just fine
No one knows how this new park is going to play. It could be pitcher friendly
How is being in a hitter’s park a bad thing for a hitter?
I would never feel bad for a person making 200 million and having a ring.
Feel sorry for cancer victims. Not a wealthy baseball player who is about to get a 300 million dollar contract.
He hasn’t left the Nats yet. I still have hope we resign him.
bigger question is why he’d leave the Nats, where’s he’s beloved and not expected/required to be a vocal leader, to go to a club looking for a “franchise face.” He’s not ever going to be that guy, and I doubt he’d thrive in a place where he had that pressure. He didn’t even like having to get his picture taken at the Nats Youth Academy. He could get all the money he ever needs to stay in DC and never have the extra pressure of having to be the guy, notwithstanding that he is the guy. Nats fan respect his quietude.
Why would he leave the Nats? His agent. Pretty much all Boras clients simply follow the money.
Rangers are moving to a new ballpark. This whole hitters park thing is irrelevant now.
I wouldn’t say that Allard is imposing, exactly.
He pitched to good results after being traded…But good for Allard, it is really hard to truly develop when youre being yo-yo’ed up and down from AAA, and then being moved back and forth from starting to the pen..Then, ultimately, he just kept getting passed over in AAA, leaving him lacking confidence and wondering if he would ever get another shot..
Getting traded was absolutely the best thing for Allard and for his career. One of the few win-win trades in baseball. The Braves got Martin for their playoff run, and ultimately for a couple more seasons, and the Rangers got a young and talented SP in Allard that DESPERATELY needed a change of scenery..
When he can maintain his FB velo around 92, and then mix in his excellent secondary pitches, Allard is a very solid back of the rotation starter on a competitive team..He is no longer the same guy that was miserable, wasting away in AAA, consistently getting skipped over…
Martin is a free agent (unless he just resigned) so it was a pure rental.
He re-signed a couple of weeks ago
Cool. Missed that. Was hoping he would come back to Texas.
He gave up 11 earned runs in 8 innings for Atlanta in 2018. He had no reason to be moved up from AAA after those 8 innings. He just wasn’t going to break through to the majors with Atlanta.
Rendon has nothing left to prove in Washington. The Lerners aren’t giving him $250M. The Rangers will, and that shiny new ballpark must be accompanied by shiny new players. Mark my words, if Texas signs Rendon, they will hold one of the two Wild Card slots next year.
Are Soto, Scherzer, Stras, Turner joining him in TX to make that statement hold? He’s really, really good, but really worth one-eighth (or less) the price of that shiny new stadium?
I agree he’s a good prospect. but he’s not imposing.
The group as a whole, not just Allard. Read it again.
Imposing top five. Read it again.
and yet none of this will probably happen
Kolby don’t even begin to think about becoming the next Wainwright, think more along the lines of Doyle Alexander lol.. Just messing around to the all too serious folk and best of luck to you in TX and the rest of your career.
Get rendon, but it won’t make us a WC team, if we want that, we have to trade choo… If we can dump his contract on a team like the yanks, in return of a dustpan…fine, but then we use choo’s money to go get wheeler. Then we can move santana to CF, Maz to right, and Gallo to left, then we can dh calhoun. BOOM then we have a WC team.
Maz belongs in AAA till he can prove otherwise. You need (want) Gallo’s gun in RF and (unfortunately….defense) Calhoun getting everyday reps in left..his bat plays. I do believe you are correct though, with Santana in CF.
A Rendon signing should not preclude a Wheeler signing or Andujar trade or both. Really a Rendon signing should key a Wheeler signing if the FO feels that this kicks open the window.
Gallo’s defense isn’t bad, and the only reason maz would be in the majors is because of the rangers not having the funds. I don’t think maz belongs in the majors either, but if it has to be done it can.
Santana is a terrible defender in CF and should not play that position. It will again be DDS with Santana taking over for Stinky when he sucks again.
Uh…there is no way a team takes on Choo’s salary or anything close! pipedream
I don’t understand why people try to trade Choo all the time. Has Texas ever even tried to trade Choo?
Yes they made an offer for Greinke at the winter meetings last year and choo was in it.
No, Choo is not a bad player, he has been the rangers lead off hitter for years. Even though his contract is bad, he still put up numbers that are worth 15 million dollars. If the rangers have to include a prospect with choo to dump his contract then fine. He puts up a great OBP, and he always seemed to get on base the very first AB of every game. There was a stat that came out last season about Choo getting on base in the first AB of each game, he had a .500 OBP in the first AB of the game. And what did that lead to, the rangers scored most of their runs in the 1st inning last year. Choo is more valuable than people think, so if you think that choo isn’t worth 21 million, you aren’t wrong… but you damn sure aren’t right.
Choo is down to 1 year on his contract. The need to trade him has passed. The club already knows his salary is coming off the books next year and can plan accordingly. Offer 5 million less than market rate in year 1 and 5 million more than market rate in year 2. Choo isn’t impeding anything at this point.
No way Santana plays CF full time next year. It will be Delino as a bridge to one of the kids, hopefully Leody Traveres.
Keep Choo if the Rangers can acquire a top caliber player in Rendon. Rendon’s bat in the lineup can only take the pressure off the rest of the lineup. Choo I believe will excel with Rendon behind him.
Mazara needs to be gone as well.
What contract? 1yr 21MM? The Rangers can easily add 70-80MM in payroll if they wanted to. No reason for them not to be in the top 8 in payroll in MLB.
“Potential” Hall of Famer? An all-time great defensive third baseman with 3,000 hits and nearly 500 HR is more of a surefire Hall of Famer. A slam dunk, if you will. Absolutely 100% certain to be inducted, and probably on his first ballot… I suppose his candidacy is technically “potential” until he’s actually inducted, but such a word implies uncertainty. There’s no reason to be uncertain.
And I’m saying this as a non-Rangers fan.
What helped him is just how good he was late in his career, with the rangers.
I think the reason “potential” is used is because he is on the list of steroid users from way back when, the same as David Ortiz. I think that list is enough to prevent him from being a 1st ballot HOF guy in the eyes of voters. I would vote him in 1st ballot but these self righteous writers may not.
Do some research…beltre is known for having passed every drug test in his career.
Did I say he failed a drug test? No, I said he was on the list of “users” that obviously doesn’t count as a failed test but tainted some folks in the eyes of voters.
Rendon had a 6.3 fWAR in 2019. Donaldson had a 6.1. I get he’s older, not well liked in Arlington, and is often injured but the smaller commitment both financial and in contract length to Josh make so much more sense for a team that is starving for pitching. There are hardly ever true aces in free agency, much less more than one. I think it would be a huge mistake to splurge on a position player over an ace. A fireable offense perhaps!
Donaldson absolutely did not have a 6.1 fWAR.
Well bWAR would suggest that he did. Haven’t checked the others though.
I’d be happy to go Donaldson instead. I like the idea of a shorter term deal. I’m concerned we’ll have another mess in 4-5 years with Rendon if we take him. His Decline + a potential logjam with Jung, Wendzel, Apostel, etc.
Signing Wheeler and Rendon would fill a very serious need for the Rangers at both SP and 3B. May cost the franchise around $300 million for both of them, but it will be damned well worth it.
One player doesn’t make or break your season. Stop it with that nonsense. These stupid organizations paying $200 million for one player is downright dumb! Why the hell would any logical person think that hampering your organization financially for years will make you a World Series champ? Look at the Rays for crying out loud. Stop paying these players and start paying multiple players. Some of you are just plain stupid.
Nats just won the series.
Paid Scherzer 200+ mill
Paid Strasburg 175 mill
Offered Harper 300 mill
Offered Rendon 200+ mill
Guess they didn’t get the memo
Did I miss something? Did the Rays win a World Series?
How do you get Rend-o’w’n out of Rendon? Or how do you get Rond-own out of Rondon? It would just be intriguing to know where the ‘w’ comes from in the pronunciation when there isn’t one.
It’s called Spanish, dude
Nope. There’s no “own” pronunciation in the “don” part of his last name in Spanish lol.
Just like “Don” in English that’s as close of a pronunciation in Spanish as it gets.
What a money game. He’s agitating his former team to pull off the best deal out of them. He might as well go see all the teams!
Are the airport employees on strike? Time for John Middleton’s jet to take off into the friendly skies.
Rendon may be worth it for the first few years. Paying players $20-$30 million (close to $40 in Rendon’s case) a year into their late 30’s does not work out for many teams. Has Choo who is the other Boras client on the Rangers been worth $21 million a year? Not many are. Would be nice if teams stop buying what Boras is selling.
Report is that he only wants a 5 year contract so the back end won’t be quite as bad.
5 years would be good. Rendon would turn 34 in year 5 so not likely the team would be paying for declining years.
This was my only prediction
Rendon to Rangers
Rangers have money and opening a new stadium. They have a vacancy at third. He is from Texas and it might keep him around longer than not.
might be more attention than he wants…
Less attention in Texas than in LA
doubtful. LA is full of stars. He could do his job and get lost. That team is more worrisome than the Rangers to Nats fans for exactly that reason. Plus, the Rangers want to win and will pay to win. There’s also the AAV piece: Both LA and Rendon seem reportedly want a shorter deal with higher AAV. Still hope DC signs him, but won’t be surprised with a Dodgers deal
Good for Allard. Kid deserve a chance at the big league lvl and I think he’s gonna he a solid pitcher for years. The fact he’s pretty much locked to be their #3 is perfect for them.
Probably #5 for now but I agree. I love to watch him pitch. He’s good, works fast & defense loves it, and has a ‘Give me the ball’ attitude at all times. Doesn’t make excuses on mistakes. Love to watch him play.
He will be our #5 and a very solid one.
Rangers will get Rendon, Angels will get Cole. Astros and A’s are good. Another last place finish for the M’s.
Angels will not outbid everyone else for Cole. As far as Anthony goes it will be another Alex situation if they get him three years from now trade him because they can’t afford him.