The Texas Rangers did not want to be back in the MLB Draft lottery for a while after winning the 2023 World Series. A year later, however, they found themselves back among the teams vying for the No. 1 overall pick.
The Rangers weren’t so lucky, as they ended up with the No. 12 pick overall Tuesday afternoon at the MLB Draft lottery at the winter meetings in Dallas.
The Washington Nationals were awarded with the No. 1 selection, followed by the Los Angeles Angels and the Seattle Mariners.
The Rangers were ranked eighth in lottery odds at 2.45% but dropped four spots. Two teams with worse odds than Texas leap-frogged it in the order, as Seattle (0.53%) moved from No. 15 to No. 3 and St. Louis (0.82%) moved from No. 13 to No. 5.
Two teams — the Chicago White Sox and the Athletics — were not eligible for the No. 1 pick after picking there in the past two seasons. They were Nos. 10 and 11 respectively.
Texas selected No. 30 in the most recent draft, thanks to their World Series title. The Rangers selected Stanford catcher Malcolm Moore.
The last time the Rangers drafted in the lottery portion was in 2023 when it selected outfielder Wyatt Langford out of Florida. He made the Opening Day roster this season and was one of the better rookies in MLB last season.
The last time Texas had the No. 12 overall pick was in 2006 when it selected pitcher Kasey Kiker out of Russell County High School in Seale, Ala. He never reached the Majors.
The Texas Rangers enter the winter meetings Monday in Dallas looking to upgrade their bullpen and add some starting pitching depth.
The Rangers’ everyday lineup for 2025 appears pretty set. However, to fulfill some of their roster goals, the Rangers might have to consider parting ways with some of that everyday lineup.
Earlier this week, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that Texas is considering trading first baseman Nathaniel Lowe. Considering is one thing; doing it is another. Given Lowe’s value to the Rangers, departing with him might ultimately be a non-starter.
But here are three reasons why the Rangers might consider it.
Lowe is arbitration eligible for the second year and per MLB Trade Rumors, he could receive a one-year deal worth more than $10 million. In today’s game, that’s not a big problem. But the Rangers are in a bit of a financial crunch.
They’re the only team in baseball without a television deal for 2025 and it’s unclear when the Rangers will have one. It also isn’t clear how much revenue a new television deal will generate. With large amounts of money committed to pitcher Jacob deGrom, shortstop Corey Seager, and second baseman Marcus Simeon, every penny counts.
In addition to this year’s salary, the Rangers control Lowe through the 2026 season. If he produces at his 162-game average of .272 with 21 home runs and 72 RBI, his arbitration bill will go up next offseason.
The Rangers may wish to get off a train of escalating costs.
Lowe is valuable to the Rangers. For the past three years, he’s been one of the most productive first basemen in the game. He worked diligently on his defense to position himself to earn his first Gold Glove in 2023.
If he’s valuable to the Rangers, that could make him valuable to other teams. Multiple teams need a first baseman. Lowe’s value could help bring the Rangers the starting pitching or relief help that they know they need.
Sometimes, you have to trade quality to get quality.
The Rangers have an option at Triple-A in Blaine Crim. He’s been in the system for several years and he’s become a consistent 20-homer hitter at Round Rock.
With his average, his power, and his glove, he could be an option next season. He could emerge as the starter or he could tandem with a player like Ezequiel Duran, who has limited experience there, until one of them emerges as the starter.
It’s a risk, but it may be a risk the Rangers are willing to take — if they still have him next week.
That’s because they left him available for Wednesday’s Rule 5 Draft. If he’s selected by another team, that could scare the Rangers away from trading Lowe. If Crim is passed over, the Rangers could still use a Lowe trade as an opportunity to give Crim a shot — at least next season.
The Texas Rangers need a new closer and here are two names they should inquire about this week in Dallas.
The Texas Rangers had a great closer situation last season, even though it didn’t help them make the playoffs.
Kirby Yates was one of the best closers in the game and the Rangers got him on a bargain deal. They won’t be so lucky this time around, as Yates is a free agent again and has an All-Star season to lean on in negotiations. He’ll have more suitors this time around.
It’s not that the Rangers can’t bring him back. It’s just that it will cost Texas more next season. He won’t be the $4 million bargain he was in 2024.
With the winter meetings starting in Dallas on Monday, the Rangers will get a chance to talk with other teams and agents about options.
Here are two free agent closers the Rangers should consider talking with during the winter meetings.
The Washington Nationals opted to non-tender the 33-year-old at the roster deadline after they couldn’t work out a long-term deal. Finnegan was due an estimated $8 million in arbitration and the Nationals didn’t want to pay it going into an offseason where they only have $35 million on next year’s payroll.
Finnegan has been a workhorse for the Nationals the past four seasons, making at least 65 appearances in each year. His save total has gone up each of the last three seasons, to a career high 38 saves in 2024, along with a 3-8 record and a 3.68 ERA.
He made his first All-Star Game appearance this year and strikes out more than eight hitters every nine innings. He’s probably looking for a one-year deal and he probably won’t cost much more than Yates did a year ago.
Romano was another non-tendered closer at the deadline. Before last season, he put together back-to-back All-Star Game appearances in which he had 36 saves each season and won 10 games for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Last year he went on the injured list twice with right elbow issues and eventually underwent arthroscopic surgery for a right elbow impingement. Because of that he only pitched in 15 games with eight saves, a 1-2 record and a 6.59 ERA.
He has 105 career saves, strikes out more than 11 hitters per nine innings and, given last year, he could he had on a prove-it deal similar to what Yates received in 2024.
