The Texas Rangers have wrapped up business with their remaining arbitration-eligible players, reaching agreements with Josh Smith, Jake Burger, Josh Jung, and Ezequiel Duran. While the financial details haven’t been made public yet, the key takeaway here is that the Rangers continue their long-standing tradition of settling matters before they ever reach the arbitration table.

This latest round of deals closes the book on a group of nine arbitration-eligible players the Rangers had on their radar back on November 21 – the league’s deadline to tender contracts to players who are under team control but not yet under contract. Since then, they’ve come to terms with utility man Sam Haggerty and made the decision to non-tender four others: Adolis García, Jonah Heim, Josh Sborz, and Jacob Webb.

For fans keeping score at home, this continues a decades-long streak – the Rangers haven’t gone to an arbitration hearing with a player since 2000. That year, the club and first baseman Lee Stevens couldn’t agree on a deal.

But even that situation turned out to be a footnote. Stevens never suited up for Texas that season, as he was shipped to Montreal in a spring training three-team trade that also involved Brad Fullmer heading to Toronto and David Segui – along with some cash – landing in Arlington.

The Rangers’ front office has made it a point to avoid arbitration showdowns, and that consistency speaks volumes about how they handle player negotiations. It’s not just about avoiding courtroom-style drama – it’s about maintaining relationships and a sense of stability within the clubhouse. Locking in Smith, Burger, Jung, and Duran ahead of arbitration deadlines keeps that streak alive and gives the Rangers a clearer picture of their roster and payroll heading into spring training.