IMAGE: Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws to first base for an out during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. \/ David Frerker \/ Imagn Images<\/div>\n
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With pitchers and catchers set to report in just two weeks, the Texas Rangers find themselves in an intriguing position. A handful of notable free agents are still unsigned, and as the clock ticks toward spring training, their markets are shrinking fast. That\u2019s where Texas, currently in cost-cutting mode, could find real value.<\/p>\n
The Rangers are projected to carry a $218 million payroll into the season – a notable drop from recent years. But that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re out of the mix for impact players.<\/p>\n
In fact, the longer these free agents remain available, the more likely it is that Texas can strike a deal on its terms. Whether it\u2019s rotation depth, outfield insurance, or a power bat at DH, there are still names out there who could help – and help soon.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a closer look at four free agents whose markets have cooled, but who suddenly make a lot of sense for the Rangers.<\/p>\n
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Zac Gallen, RHP<\/strong><\/p>\nLet\u2019s be clear: Zac Gallen isn\u2019t a bargain-bin pickup. Even with a slower market, he\u2019s still likely to command a decent salary – maybe on a short-term, high-AAV deal.<\/p>\n
But the fact that he\u2019s still unsigned this late in the offseason is telling. And for a team like Texas, which is trying to balance contention with payroll discipline, that opens a door.<\/p>\n
Gallen\u2019s 2025 season wasn\u2019t his best, but his track record speaks volumes. Since 2021, he\u2019s been one of the steadiest arms in the game, logging 20+ starts every season and making 34, 28, and 33 appearances the last three years. That kind of durability is rare – and valuable.<\/p>\n
With a career ERA of 3.58, over 1,000 strikeouts, 66 wins, and a 20 WAR across seven seasons, Gallen offers more than just innings. He brings frontline-caliber stuff. Plug him into a rotation that already includes Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jack Leiter, and MacKenzie Gore, and suddenly you\u2019re looking at a group that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the AL.<\/p>\n
Yes, the price has to be right. But if Gallen is open to a short-term reset deal, Texas should be making that call.<\/p>\n
\nAustin Hays, OF<\/strong><\/p>\nThis one might be the cleanest fit of the bunch. Austin Hays brings versatility, experience, and a right-handed bat that could balance out the lineup. And with Evan Carter still working his way back from injury, the Rangers could use some insurance in the outfield.<\/p>\n
Hays, 30, put together a solid 2025 campaign with the Reds, hitting .266 with 15 homers, 64 RBIs, and a 105 OPS+ over 103 games. He split time between left field and DH, but he\u2019s played all three outfield spots over his eight-year career – and that flexibility could be crucial if injuries pop up again.<\/p>\n
Now, Texas does have some internal options. The offseason additions of Sam Haggerty and Michael Helman give the Rangers some depth, and if they replicate their 2024 form, they could more than hold their own.<\/p>\n
But Hays offers a higher floor – and a proven track record. If the price continues to drop, he\u2019s a name worth watching.<\/p>\n
\nMarcell Ozuna, DH<\/strong><\/p>\nMarcell Ozuna has long been linked to the Rangers in rumors, and here we are again – only now, the fit is a little more complicated.<\/p>\n
At 35, Ozuna is strictly a designated hitter, and Texas already has $18.5 million committed to Joc Pederson in that role. But Pederson is entering spring training on shaky ground, and the Rangers may not be able to count on him to hold down that spot all year.<\/p>\n
Ozuna\u2019s 2025 numbers weren\u2019t flashy – a .232 average with 21 home runs, 68 RBIs, and 94 walks in 145 games – but he still posted a .355 OPS and showed he can contribute in a full-time DH role. He\u2019s not the same force he was a few years ago, but he\u2019s still a dangerous bat, especially if used strategically.<\/p>\n
Given his age and recent decline, Ozuna\u2019s price tag is likely below his $13 million valuation. If the Rangers are looking for a veteran bat to push Pederson or provide midseason insurance, Ozuna could be a low-cost, high-upside play.<\/p>\n
\nNick Martinez, RHP<\/strong><\/p>\nHere\u2019s one that makes more sense the longer you look at it.<\/p>\n
Nick Martinez, a former Rangers draft pick, has quietly become one of the more versatile arms in the league. Over the last two seasons with the Reds, he\u2019s made 82 appearances – about half of those as a starter – and has shown he can thrive in both roles.<\/p>\n
His 2025 wasn\u2019t quite as sharp as his 2024, but Martinez still posted some of the league\u2019s best walk and hard-hit rates. At 35, he\u2019s not a long-term solution, but he\u2019s exactly the kind of arm that can stabilize the back end of a rotation – or slide seamlessly into a bullpen role.<\/p>\n
If Texas brings him in, he\u2019d likely compete with Jacob Latz for the fifth starter spot. And whoever doesn\u2019t win that job would likely shift into a swingman role, similar to what Latz handled last year. That kind of flexibility is invaluable over a 162-game grind.<\/p>\n
\nThe Bottom Line<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Rangers aren\u2019t shopping at the top of the market this winter – and that\u2019s by design. But that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re out of the mix for impact talent. As the market tightens and free agents start to feel the pressure, Texas is in a position to strike smart, strategic deals.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s a frontline starter like Gallen, a versatile outfielder like Hays, a veteran bat like Ozuna, or a flexible arm like Martinez, the Rangers have options. And if they play their cards right, they could add meaningful depth without blowing past their budget.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IMAGE: Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws to first base for an out during the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park…. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":147333,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-147358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\n
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