MLB Rumors: Texas Rangers Looking To Add To Outfield
The Texas Rangers destroyed the competition in the pre-lockout free agency period, spending half a billion dollars on an All-Star infield. But their outfield? That's a little more "uncertain".
Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports that the Rangers "could use help at every outfield position," and are focused on the free agent and trade market to shore things up. "A free agent outfielder capable of playing center or left could drastically change the dynamics. There is a need for more help."
Adolis Garcia is the one incumbent in the Texas OF. He blasted onto the scene in 2021, with 31 home runs and 90 RBIs, while earning himself an All-Star berth, and a 4th place finish in the AL Rookie of the Year voting.
However, a disappointing second-half saw Garcia bat .211 and hit only 11 of those 31 HRs. His defense was top-notch however, with 16 defensive runs saved, playing mostly in center and right field.
Who joins Garcia in the Texas OF?
The rest of the outfield is a crapshoot, as the Rangers picked up 33-year-old Kole Calhoun to compete for one spot, and Nick Solak, usually a 2nd baseman, is penciled in at the other. Calhoun has had some good years in the majors, but had a dreadful OPS+ of just 81 last season (19% below league average) and has batted just .230 in his last two years in Arizona.
Grant mentions free agent Michael Conforto as an "all-in" target for the Rangers, while suggesting that more modest possibilities include former Ranger Delino DeShields, Jake Marisnick and Juan Lagares, as well as Mike Tauchman, who spent part of 2021 in San Francisco with new Rangers bench coach/offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker.
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