As baseball’s annual General Managers Meetings take place in Las Vegas this week, questions around the Rangers’ payroll continue to float around.
Texas president of baseball operations Chris Young hasn’t said much about a budget given to him by owner Ray Davis, though it is expected to be lower than recent seasons, especially due to what is coming off the books.
“My main thought is that we’re going to have a payroll that’s high enough for us to win,” Young told reporters in Vegas on Wednesday. “We’ve got a great core group in place. We are in a great position. We don’t have to make any moves to accommodate payroll or to buy payroll flexibility, so to speak. But we’re expecting to win with whatever number we have. I’m very confident we’ll be able to put together a very good team, whatever the payroll number is.”
So how do the Rangers improve, payroll notwithstanding?
Young will have to rebuild almost the entire bullpen once again. Starting pitching is always a priority for every team, but especially the Rangers in the Chris Young era. It gets cloudier after that.
The offense will continue to be built around superstar shortstop Corey Seager. Texas is also hoping for health from young stars like Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford.
But for an offense that severely underperformed two years in a row, Young and Co. will have lots of decisions to make with names like Adolis García and Jonah Heim, who are both well into their respective arbitration years.
By season’s end, the Rangers ranked 25th in wRC+ (92), 26th in slugging (.381), 26th in batting average (.234), 26th in on-base percentage (.302), 22nd in runs (684) and 23rd in walk rate (8.0%).
Change is obviously going to be an option.
“We love the position-player group we have, and we’ll have to evaluate if there are ways to improve that group,” Young said. “Our obligation is to put the best team together that we possibly can. Unfortunately, as is the nature of baseball, sometimes you have to make tough decisions on players that you love, that have been part of the core group.
“I don’t think you’re going to see wholesale changes where we flip out nine position players, but I think that change can be good. Every team will go through change. No team is going to bring back the exact same roster. Who that is, I can’t tell you, but I just say we’re open-minded in terms of personnel.”
One thing is abundantly clear — the past two Rangers seasons have been incredibly disappointing and frustrating.
Whether there are financial constraints or not, Young intends to return to the postseason and compete for another World Series.
“This game is about winning,” Young said. “I’m a competitor. I played the game. I know that these players don’t get to play the game forever. My goal is that anybody who puts on the Texas Ranger uniform has a chance to compete for a championship. It’s our job to help them do that.”
