The Texas Rangers are well in control of the American League West. They are closing in on their second-consecutive Western Division championship. The fans are sitting back enjoying the final stretch of the season. The Rangers front office, however, is already thinking about next season. Jon Daniels put together an optimal lineup this season and the Rangers are set up to make a deep run in the playoffs. If Daniels wants to continue the team’s success he will have to make some big decisions this off-season.
Texas Rangers Offseason Decisions
Easy Off-Season Decisions
Two players that have been nothing short of amazing this year for the Texas Rangers are Ian Desmond and Jonathan Lucroy. When Jon Daniels signed Desmond in the off-season few fans had high expectations for him. Desmond proved them all wrong by becoming an All-Star, and leading the Rangers to a 5.5-game lead in the west after the first half of baseball. Ian Desmond is a must re-sign for the Rangers. Jon Daniels must re-sign him before he hits the market, or another team will come in, and scoop him up in free agency.
Jonathan Lucroy was acquired by the Rangers at the trade deadline. Jon Daniels has a luxury here. Lucroy has a team option available for next season. It comes at a cheap price of $5.25 million allowing the Rangers to spend money on other positions. The option would buy the team some time to negotiate something more long term down the road. This is a win for both parties. Lucroy is another must sign, and the team option will allow both sides to end up happy for a long time.
Tougher Off-Season Decisions
Daniels faces some tougher personnel decisions for players like Mitch Moreland, Colby Lewis and Carlos Gomez. Mitch Moreland has been a staple for the Rangers for many years, but now they have to make a decision on Moreland. Waiting in the wings is Joey Gallo who is becoming more and more primed be traded or called up by the organization. The time is up on the Gallo experiment, and Daniels will have to make a decision soon. If he re-signs Moreland then he can trade Gallo. Yet, if he lets Moreland hit the free agency market it is a sign that Gallo will be with the big league squad next season. Moreland is going to want more money especially with Prince Fielder now gone. He is in more of a supply-and-demand scenario. Now all Daniels has to do is decide if Moreland is worth more to the club than Gallo’s potential.
Another player that has been a fixture with the Rangers for years is Colby Lewis. Lewis has missed most of the season due to injury, and he isn’t getting any younger. While he could still be a solid fifth pitcher in the rotation, the Rangers could probably do better in finding a younger replacement for him. Colby is a fan favorite and they would be disappointed to see him go.
That last player that Jon Daniels may have a tough time deciding on whether to re-sign or not is Carlos Gomez. Sure, Gomez’s sample size with the Rangers is small, but they are much better than his dismal numbers with the Houston Astros. Yet the change of scenery has seemed to do Gomez good. Should Gomez keep his high rate of play up through the postseason then Daniels decision to resign him will be much easier. Who knows, maybe he has found another Desmond situation.
Cut Ties with Beltran
The easiest decision that Jon Daniels has to make is regarding Carlos Beltran. Beltran was traded to the Rangers from the New York Yankees at the trade deadline. He was having a stellar year for the Yankees, and the Rangers got him in a steal of a trade. That being said, his price tag will be to lofty for the Rangers. They can put that money to better use somewhere else. Fans shouldn’t expect to see him in a Rangers uniform next year.
While fans are sitting back enjoying their cold beer, hot dogs and nachos, you can bet that Jon Daniels is already analyzing his team along with the pending free agents on other teams. Fans have no need to fret, though. Jon Daniels is one of if not the best general manager in all of baseball. He is on the verge of building a dynasty in Texas and won’t stop until that happens.
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