Texas Rangers News: Adding Old and New Faces To The Lineup

The Texas Rangers have had a solid week, as they added Robinson Chirinos on Tuesday, then Todd Frazier on Sunday.

Robinson Chirinos, who will be 35 at the beginning of the 2020 season, is returning to the Texas Rangers on a one year $5.75 million deal, with a $1 million buyout after the season, or a $6.5 million team option for 2021.

After struggling in his final season with the Rangers in 2018, he signed with the Astros and put together a solid season in 2019, while the Rangers catching situation was abysmal during the season.

Chirinos will be a significant upgrade at catcher for the Rangers in 2020, as it will be extremely hard for him to be worse than what they had last year. He will be the starting catcher in 2020, with Jose Trevino likely splitting time with him behind the plate.

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Now on to the other acquisition, Todd Frazier will be 34 once Opening Day arrives for the Texas Rangers, and hit .251 across 133 games with 21 home runs for the New York Mets in 2019. Texas and Frazier agreed to a one year, $5 million deal that includes a team option for the 2021 season that is worth $4.25 million.

He can play two positions for the Rangers, at either first or third base, which keeps doors open for them to make other moves not only this off-season, but for future off-seasons, as his deal is a pretty good move for the Rangers, as it is both inexpensive and on the short-term.

The important question that everyone has been asking is what the move means for other acquisitions that the Texas Rangers have been linked to, such as Nolan Arenado and Nicholas Castellanos.

Here is what Jared Sandler thought about the acquisition of Frazier for the Rangers:

For some of the Rangers fans that are complaining about the move, this should put them at ease. He is a solid righty bat for a lineup that has been lefty heavy over the past few years. The most important part of what Sandler said, is that the move likely won’t impact how the Rangers pursue Castellanos and Arenado.

The move was one that the Rangers know that they were making in order to cover their backside in the event that they missed out on both of the aforementioned players, as they at least have one player that they will be able to fill a hole in their lineup at third if they do not acquire either of the two players, or as a luxury if they acquire one of them.

What do you think of the Texas Rangers offseason so far?

• Published on 01/13/2020 at 13:01 PM
• Last updated at 01/13/2020 at 09:16 AM