The Texas Rangers have fallen well short of expectations this season.
After winning the World Series last October, the Rangers were expected to be one of the American League's top teams. However, things have gone south for Texas.
The defending World Series champions are 58-68 on the season, 11 games back in the American League West and 12.5 games back in the Wild Card race.
However, they'll likely look to bounce back into contention in 2025. Zach Rymer of Bleacher Report listed them as a potential fit for left-hander Blake Snell.
"This is the final year under contract for Max Scherzer and Andrew Heaney, and Nathan Eovaldi could also test the open market if he gets the 29 innings he needs to turn his $20 million option for 2025 into a player option," Rymer wrote. "If so, that would leave [GM Chris] Young with three big holes to fill in the rotation after Jacob deGrom, who's nearing his return from Tommy John surgery. And if he was to convince ownership to cut a big check for Snell, it would be a familiar story."
Texas may ultimately need Snell if they want to contend in 2025. It looks likely that Eovaldi's vesting option will turn into a player option, which would mean he would test the free agent market again.
But Snell would give them a second former Cy Young to go alongside deGrom, and with deGrom healthy, Texas will be in a good position to add a piece like Snell.
The veteran left-hander got off to a rough start in 2024 with the San Francisco Giants, but he has since lowered his ERA to 3.67 on the season.
It appears likely that the 31-year-old will ultimately be opting out of his contract with the Giants this winter. If Texas were to sign him, it would show a commitment to winning and changing the fortunes of the franchise, one that will have had seven losing seasons dating back to 2017.
Perhaps the recent title could be enough to sell Snell on the Rangers. We'll see if they ultimately decide to pursue him.
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