MLB Insider Sees Texas Rangers as Potential Free Agent Slugger Option

Texas Rangers Recently spent a lot of money on three free agents – buddy Corey Seagersecond baseman Marcus Semien and pitcher Jacob deGrom.

Will Texas blow up its budget because of the fourth? Unlikely, but one MLB insider from Athletic does not exclude this.

Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden recently ranked the top 45 free agents this offseason and, one might suspect, the New York Yankees outfielder. Juan Soto took first place.

Bowden estimates that Soto’s age and ability could make him the second-highest paid player in MLB history behind Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who signed a $700 million contract last offseason. He suggests Soto could receive a 15-year contract worth between $550 million and $650 million.

He believes most of the major teams in the market will be interested in him, including the Yankees and their cross-town rival New York Mets. None of these franchises remember to spend money. He believed those two teams were the best fits for Soto, along with the Toronto Blue Jays. All three teams were interested in Ohtani last year before he signed with the Dodgers.

The Rangers fall into the “other teams may emerge” category, along with the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals.

It’s hard to imagine the Rangers spending big on Soto, especially if team owner Ray Davis is focused on keeping the team under the luxury tax threshold since Dallas Morning News reported.

The first level of luxury tax spending is $241 million. Seager is entering the fourth year of a 10-year, $325 million contract, Semien is entering the fourth year of a seven-year, $175 million contract and deGrom is entering the third year of a five-year, $185 million contract.

The Rangers are also unsure about their TV situation. They know what they are will not cooperate with Bally Sports and its parent company Diamond Sports Group in 2025, MLB announced earlier this month. The Rangers are reportedly trying to create their own television network, but could also use MLB to distribute their games.

In any case, the bad days of the former Bally deal, reportedly worth more than $100 million in rights royalties a year before DSG filed for bankruptcy, are over.

This fact alone could make any prosecution of Soto untenable.