The 2023 season was a dream in every way for a Texas Rangers franchise that finally claimed its first championship. But the 2024 season has been much closer to a nightmare.
In a prime example of the famed "World Series hangover," the Rangers have slumped all season, losing nine of their last 12 games to fall to 55-64 overall. With just a month and a half to play, the Rangers are 8.5 games out of postseason position, essentially dead on arrival.
Because of uncertain revenues due to their local broadcast partner's parent company going bankrupt, the Rangers had little money to spend in the offseason. They banked on their 2023 roster to repeat its success, and that gamble is failing.
Despite very few marquee acquisitions in the offseason, the Rangers made one perfect signing in the bullpen. Due to the current structure of the waiver system in Major League Baseball, though, one insider believes Texas may be best served by cutting that reliever loose.
According to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, the Rangers may consider placing several of their veteran pitchers on waivers to save money before the August 31 deadline, including All-Star closer Kirby Yates.
"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," Rosenthal said.
Yates, 37, has been one of the most valuable relievers in all of baseball this season, and one of the Rangers' best players, period. He owns a 1.04 ERA across 42 appearances, is a perfect 20-for-20 in save opportunities, and strikes out 12.9 batters per nine innings.
Any team with hopes of a postseason berth would love to have a pitcher like Yates on their staff, which means the teams with the best record in baseball would be unlikely to get a chance at claiming him.
In a similar situation last season, the Los Angeles Angels placed six players on waivers in late August, three of whom were claimed by the Cleveland Guardians, who were five games out of playoff position at the time. Cleveland finished 76-86, 11 games out of the postseason.
It may not be the best look for the league if the defending world champs throw in the towel to save money. But the rules currently allow it. The Rangers simply must decide if the negative optics are worth the financial benefits they would reap.
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