The Texas Rangers have posted losing seasons each of the last three years, and they are apparently looking to address that problem this offseason.
According to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, the Rangers are interested in signing right-handed ace Gerrit Cole and third baseman Anthony Rendon this winter, two of the top players available on the free-agent market.
“The last couple of years, we really haven’t explored it,” general manager Jon Daniels said of signing top-tier free agents on Monday. “We didn’t feel it was the right time. This year, we are going to look at everything. Our goal is to get better, period. There are a couple of spots more [available] than others. We have signed [top free agents] before and at some point I have to suspect we will again.”
Of course, Cole seems like a long shot for the Rangers.
The 29-year-old Cy Young award candidate grew up in Southern California rooting for the New York Yankees, so the general consensus is that he will land with either the Los Angeles Angels or the Bronx Bombers this offseason.
Still, that obviously won't prevent Texas from trying, and when a pitcher as dominant as Cole becomes available, you have to at least throw your hat into the ring and see what happens.
Cole is coming off of a masterful 2019 campaign with the Houston Astros in which he went 20-5 with a 2.50 ERA, racking up 326 strikeouts.
Rendon might be a bit more realistic, although he is sure to command a hefty payday after slashing .319/.412/.598 with 34 home run and 126 RBI while helping the Washington Nationals win their first World Series this past year.
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