The Rangers have placed outfielders Robbie Grossman and Travis Jankowski on outright waivers, reports ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel. Both are free agents at season’s end. Grossman and Jankowski can continue to play for Texas while on waivers, as neither was designated for assignment prior to his placement. However, outright waivers are irrevocable, so if either player is claimed when the 48-hour waiver period expires on Saturday, he’ll head straight to his new club with that team taking on the remainder of his contract.
In Grossman’s case, that’s the final 30 days of his prorated $1.5MM base salary — about $242K overall. For Jankowski, who’s on a $1.7MM base, the price would jump to about $274K. Either player would be postseason-eligible for a new team if claimed. If either goes unclaimed, he can remain with the Rangers and does not need to be removed from the 40-man roster. Waiver priority is determined based on the reverse order of MLB-wide standings and — unlike the now-defunct August trade waiver system — is not league-specific.
Grossman, 34, started the season with the White Sox but was traded to Texas just a few weeks into the year. He’s slashed a combined .225/.333/.318 between the two teams — production that’s about 9% below league-average, by measure of wRC+. That looks at his overall production this season, however, and his production is skewed by sub-par output against right-handed pitching. Against lefties, the switch-hitting Grossman has been has typically productive self: .279/.388/.430 (136 wRC+) in 103 plate appearances.
Grossman has made a career out of tormenting left-handed pitchers. He’s usually more productive against righties than he has been this season, but a strong split against lefties has been a hallmark throughout his career. Dating back to his 2013 MLB debut, Grossman’s ultra-patient approach has resulted in a .282/.382/.427 batting line versus lefties, with the switch-hitter drawing a free pass in nearly 14% of his plate appearances from the right side of the dish. A playoff contender seeking a boost against left-handed pitching could definitely have interest in Grossman’s track record and 2024 production against lefties — and the minimal acquisition cost can’t hurt his chances of being claimed, either.
No team is going to claim the 33-year-old Jankowski for his bat. He’s turned in a bleak .195/.257/.234 batting line in 167 plate appearances, rendering him as one of the league’s least productive players at the plate. That said, Jankowski is an above-average defender across all three outfield spots who ranks in the 84th percentile of MLB players in terms of sprint speed.
Jankowski hasn’t been productive at the plate this season, but he’s only a year removed from a decent showing. He hit .263/.357/.332 for the Rangers’ World Series-winning club last year — including a solid .269/.365/.333 slash against right-handed pitching. Jankowski is a typical speed-and-defense focused fourth outfielder who can provide a late-game defensive replacement and/or pinch-running weapon off the bench for a new club. He’s 8-for-9 in stolen base attempts this season and went 19-for-20 in 2023.
That Jankowski catch last night was nuts
He went and got that ball!
Fantastic catch. Not begone, Travis!
Man you make the catch of the year one night and the next day get placed on waivers. Doesn’t seem right!
Literally won them the game, then see ya.
ag4t
“Literally won them the game, ”
Nope. Baseball doesn’t work like that.
That’s a 3 run HR if he misses it. The Rangers won by one. That catch won them the game. We can discuss the overused literally, but this catch was the difference.
ag42
That catch was PART of the difference
The runs the Rangers scored obviously helped them win too.
DodgerBro, why do you argue everything? For reals yo
KC
I only argue the things that are wrong. And I don’t argue ALL of those
If it seems like a lot, that’s on the commenters here ar MLBTR
A nickels worth of free advice Bro- if “everybody” is the problem, then it’s probably just you. And if all posters here are wrong or lame… why would you stay? You seem spoiled by the Dodgers payroll Bro
KC
“if “everybody” is the problem, then it’s probably just you”
1) I didn’t say “everybody”. So, you’re wrong
2) Why on earth would you think that other people being wrong, is MY problem?
“You seem spoiled by the Dodgers payroll Bro”
How so?
Ima nope out, peace
KC
Typical MLBTR comment
Makes a stupid statement and can’t back it up.
Giving you the benefit of the doubt, you realized that it was a stupid statement but lacked the integrity to admit it.
Run along. You’re a waste of my time.
Don’t waste your time arguing with him, Kash. He is severely lacking in self awareness and thinks he’s right about everything. One of those immature little boys who always has to have the last word, which in his mind makes him “right”
100 Willie, keepin it real
Come on, KC
Show the slightest bit of integrity and answer this question
““You seem spoiled by the Dodgers payroll Bro”
How so?
Or be a coward and sling an insult that you can’t back up.
No one cares who you mute, there’s no need to make an announcement. And the majority of people here disagree with you…the thumbs up speak for themselves.
All you’re doing is proving my point with every subsequent comment. Just let it go, try and be the bigger person for once and walk away from the conversation.
My interpreter is betting that he can’t, Willie. 😉
KC
Typical internet blowhard.
No substance at all to anything you say
Muted
There’s tons of substance here Bro, you just don’t like getting dunked on! When are you finally going to mute me?? Lol
That’s not the case at all. The Rangers are trying to do their vets a solid and let them catch on with a contender for a pennant chase.
trog: A contender? He’ll end up with the Sox again and join them in their journey to oblivion.
“Then see ya”…It’s the life of a fringe baseball player. It evens out 6+ years from now, when he becomes an asst. Gen Mgr or a television sports broadcaster. Save your sympathy for disabled children, little old ladies and wounded military vets like I do. P.S it was a really good catch and he’s a useful depth player.
That’s why he’s out, we’ve officially entered tank-mode
Didn’t JHey hit a walk off for the Dodgers the night before he was let go?
I thought the same thing.
It’s a part of the business. Seems cold and cruel sometimes but that’s what it is.
Gives him a chance for a contender to pick him up while he’s in the news. Underrated player with speed, will be a good pickup for someone if they have a spot.
“Underrated player”..He’s as good(or better) than players like Randall Grichuk, Trent Grisham, Michael Taylor or Joey Gallo. I’ll take him for system depth all 7 days of the week.
It also allows him to get picked up by a potential contender this year. It’s time for the team to play the younger guys.
Thats why they call em september callups.
Let’s go time to tank
We’re ensuring nobody gets hurt for 2025, so maybe deGrom will make 5 inning starts.
Maybe bench our best players at the end.
Go polish yer bling with yer tears!
Haha better luck in ’25 bruv, you’ve got a solid core to root for next year!
At least we won a ring. Good luck to you peeps in San Diego, we hope you finally win one, too.
I’m so jellyyyy
*starts bawling*
They both have something in the tank. Team going nowhere. As they said in the 1990s: It just doesn’t matter, It just doesn’t matter!
I want the Rangers to keep Janky. His defense is awesome. I think he can work on his offense and improve for next season.
“Improve for next season”. They can still get him back. That’s Travis’s best, most singular talent; he’s always ready, willing and available.
According to my friend Camden with his ability to draw walks and steal bases he can win a MVP.
I love these “cut and paste”…
Jank > Johnson
Man that just gross, man
I’m going to give Robbie some career advice, and recommend he give up switch hitting.
I’m mostly joking, but you do wonder when the splits are THIS pronounced, if he considers it. Right handed he is a legit major league player, above average even.
I’m sure he considers it and is just worse in bp, but could also be stubborn. Random thoughts
That’s an interesting idea, Big Hurt.
Going from switch-hitting to being a lefty-only hitter certainly changed the trajectory of Cedric Mullins career just a few years ago.
Thanks for the Mullins tidbit, I had forgotten how bad he was right handed. It’s probably too late for Grossman at 34 lol, but interesting nonetheless.
Guys like JD Martinez are still lingering out there on their bat alone as right handed mashers. Grossman could buy himself a few more years and a few more nice checks if he were to do that and be successful. Especially not being a DH only guy as of now. It’d be cool to see
Part of the game. Preparing for next season.
There should be no comma before “either,” you hack. Fire Adams.