In an attempt to bolster their chances to repeat in 2024, the Texas Rangers are expected to target the best closer in the game in MLB free agency.
It has only been a week since the Texas Rangers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games to win the franchise’s first World Series title. Yet, there is never any rest for the weary in professional sports, and the new defending champions must now shift gears and begin their plans for 2024.
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Throughout the team’s history, the Rangers have proven they are willing to be bold in the free-agent market each winter. And after several signings from recent offseasons proved to be hugely important in their 2023 championship run, there is no reason to expect Texas to tighten their purse strings in the coming months.
In recent weeks, the organization has actually been linked to a potential pursuit of two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. The connections make sense since the Rangers are always willing to spend big on the open market, and being a part of a winning culture is allegedly high on the Japanese star’s wish list.
MLB execs expect Texas Rangers to prioritize Josh Hader in free agency
However, it seems that many around MLB believe the Rangers will make a different player a top priority in free agency. On Sunday, USA Today MLB insider Bob Nightengale wrote about the Rangers’ approach to the offseason and revealed what star player executives fully expect to be in a Texas uniform in 2024.
“The Rangers’ bullpen concerns could also suddenly disappear with the signing of free-agent closer Josh Hader,” Nightengale wrote. “It’s hard to find a single executive who isn’t predicting that Hader will ultimately be a Ranger.”
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Hader has risen to become, arguably, the best closer in the sport after earning All-Star honors in five of his nine years in the league. During stints with the Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres, he has posted 165 saves and has had four years with 30 or more, including 33 in 2023.
- Josh Hader stats (2023): 33 saves, 1.28 ERA, 1.101 WHIP, 85 SO, 56.1 IP
Hader’s 33 saves on a losing Padres team is three more than the Rangers had as a team this past season. Despite winning 90 games this year, only three teams had fewer saves than Texas in 2023.
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