After winning the World Series last year, the Texas Rangers are in an ideal spot to attract significant talent to bolster the roster.
On the first day of the International Signing period, the Rangers signed three prospects who may provide talent for the upcoming season.
Outfielder Paulino Santana, shortstop Curley Martha, and shortstop Yolfran Castillo agreed to terms with the Rangers Monday. The three players add to several moves the Rangers have made this offseason.
Unsurprisingly, the Rangers have targeted pitching in the offseason, as that was the weak point in the World Championship run last season. Already, Texas has agreed to terms with lefty Brock Burke and right-handers Dane Dunning, Josh Sborz, and Jonathan Hernandez.
The Rangers have also added depth on minor league contracts, signing Shane Greene, Johnathan Holder, and Austin Pruitt. All three are right-hand pitchers.
Recent reporting from The New York Post indicates that the Rangers are still the front-runners to attract Shohei Ohtani as a free agent. The Post believes that the Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the San Francisco Giants are the leaders to lock up the talented two-way player from the Los Angeles Angels.
Ohtani is recovering from UCL surgery due to an injury suffered last August. He successfully underwent surgery to reinforce the ligament in his elbow of his pitching arm in November and expects to be ready for designated hitting duties by the start of the 2024 season. The surgery will prevent Ohtani from pitching until 2025.
Except for reliever Kirby Yates, the Rangers have taken a patient pace in the offseason to build out the roster. A significant reason behind the caution is the financial uncertainty over television deals. The company currently holding the rights, Diamond Sports Group, is negotiating with Major League Baseball over how to handle the television rights of several teams, including the Rangers. The two sides are scheduled for a hearing on January 19 to resolve local broadcasting rights disputes.
