With Spring Training on the horizon, the Texas Rangers are shifting their focus to bolstering their pitching staff. This strategic move comes after a busy offseason, during which the team made significant changes to their roster. The Rangers' biggest move was acquiring Brandon Nimmo in a trade, a move that required them to part ways with Marcus Semien. Additionally, they signed catcher Danny Jansen to replace Jonah Heim. However, the team's recent revelation indicates that their primary focus is on strengthening their pitching depth.
According to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, the Rangers' top priority is to build a robust pitching staff. While they feel confident in their position players, they believe there are still areas to improve on the pitching side. The team's starting rotation currently consists of Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, Jack Leiter, and Kumar Rocker, with Jacob Latz also making some strong starts. However, the Rangers are open to adding more arms to the starting rotation through free agency.
The team has not yet targeted Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez, but there are several other notable pitchers available. Zac Gallen, Lucas Giolito, and Chris Bassitt are among the bigger names still on the market. While the Rangers have not been directly linked to these pitchers, their interest could change with the right offer. The team aims to return to their winning ways without undergoing a full-scale rebuild, and they believe that strengthening their starting pitching is crucial to achieving this goal.
Starting pitching is a critical component of the Rangers' strategy, and they are aware of the importance of depth, especially considering the history of injuries among their pitchers, notably deGrom. The team has also made efforts to strengthen their bullpen, signing Alexis Diaz and Tyler Alexander to compete for the closer role. The Rangers hope that one of these options will step up and establish themselves as their go-to closer in the ninth inning.
In summary, the Texas Rangers are strategically focusing on pitching to return to their winning ways. With Spring Training approaching, they are actively seeking to improve their starting rotation and bullpen, aiming to create a more balanced and competitive team for the upcoming season.
