3 Rangers Offseason Regrets That Could Prevent Repeating as World Series Champions
As Spring Training for the defending world champions gets underway and the offseason coming to an end. It is time to take a sober look at decisions by the Rangers front office as they move into the sustainability portion of the rebuild to avoid becoming the latest one-year wonder.
By Evan Starr
Coming off a World Series title win, interest in the Rangers' offseason was as high as ever almost to a fault. Blinded by the magical playoff run, which will last well into the 2024 regular season, the front office has dodged a lot of questions regarding their decisions over the winter months.
As players begin to report to Surprise, AZ options are starting to dwindle and the 2024 roster is starting to be set in stone.
Looking back over the 2023-24 offseason, the fear that it is going to end being filled with more regrets than wins is slowly becoming a reality.
#1: Allowing Jordan Montgomery to Stay on the Market
It is now almost March and Jordan Montgomery is still a free agent. The Rangers were the clear favorites to land Montgomery to a long term deal after the October the lefty had in a Ranger uniform. But one thing has rang true all offseason long that the Rangers are seemingly blind to is that Texas needs Montgomery more than Montgomery needs Texas.
Montgomery has drawn interest from several potential suitors and the Scott Boras client is in no rush to sign even after pitchers were scheduled to report. Texas is the clear best fit for Monty and has yet to come to the table with an offer to get him to spring training.
The longer he is on the market, the more likely another team swoops in and steals Montgomery's services leaving the Rangers with a questionable starting rotation at best.
Texas has drawn back from the money standpoint after back-to-back $200+ million offseason but needs to come correct in the case of Jordan Montgomery in order to give the Astros a run for their money in the AL West.
As long as Montgomery remains available, hope remains that he returns changing the complexion of this pitching staff. But that being said, if Texas fails to sign Jordan Montgomery, they are staring a major step back in 2024 dead in the eyes.