The Texas Rangers banked on internal improvement at the trade deadline, adding only catcher Carson Kelly and lefty reliever Andrew Chafin and subtracting righty Michael Lorenzen . Since then, they have gone 3-9, all but falling out of contention and raising the question of whether they will place players on waivers later this month in an attempt to save money. Advertisement The mere thought might seem preposterous for a franchise coming off a World Series title.
Rangers ownership, however, has exercised financial caution since last offseason, citing uncertainty in the team’s future local television revenues. Clubs would save only about one-sixth of players’ remaining salaries in 2024 if they dump them before the Aug. 31 deadline for playoff eligibility.
But say the Rangers succeeded in purging four potential free-agent pitchers — lefty Andrew Heaney and righty relievers David Robertson , Kirby Yates and José Leclerc . They would pocket almost $6 million. It’s possible not all of those pitchers would be claimed.
Righty Nathan Eovaldi, who has a 3.05 ERA in 79 2/3 postseason innings, almost certainly would be, and the Rangers could take a chance by exposing him to waivers as well. Eovaldi will be owed about $2.
7 million Aug. 31. He needs to pitch only 36 more innings to vest a $20 million player option for 2025 but likely could land a larger guarantee as a free agent.
The Rangers, if they embarked on a waiver purge, could redirect some of their savings toward re-signi.