3 Rangers Who Will Be Replaced By Free Agent Signings

2. Jon Gray

Another player who should be replaced is starting pitcher Jon Gray.

On paper, it didn't seem like Gray had the worst season last year, going 9-8 with a 4.12 ERA across 29 starts. At the same time, his play in August and September concerns me. In his final 7 starts to end the regular season, the 32-year-old went 0-2 with a putrid 6.67 ERA before winding up on the 15-day injured list with forearm tightness.

Even though he returned to end the postseason on a high note, I just can't bring myself to trust another season of Gray. For starters, it didn't help that he lowered Texas' championship probability by 0.4% according to Baseball Reference. That isn't a huge number, but at the same time, no team wants a player that worsens their title aspirations.

Gray has also finished with an ERA over four in three of the last four seasons as well as in six of the first nine to begin his MLB career. That's not exactly the type of play that matches the $13 million he'll be making over the next two seasons.

If a pitcher-needy team is willing to take on his contract, the Rangers should move him in favor of a cheaper free-agent option. As long as it's a bottom-of-the-arm rotation that can limit walks while pitching 5-to-6 innings, Texas' situation will be better.

Again, Gray wasn't the worst starter in the majors, but replacing him will make the pitching staff significantly better.