Parting ways is never easy, but sometimes it’s a necessary step.
The Texas Rangers are about to face a pivotal offseason marked by significant changes. While the front office isn’t likely to engage in a complete rebuild, it’s fair to assume that these three players will not return for the 2025 season.
3 Texas Rangers Unlikely to Return in 2025
RHP Max Scherzer
Starting pitching will be a major focus this offseason, but it seems unlikely that the Rangers will prioritize keeping Scherzer. The 40-year-old made just nine starts in 2024, and with Jacob deGrom expected to return to full strength in 2025, Scherzer may not be in their plans.
Injuries and age are catching up with the three-time Cy Young winner, and although he may still have something left to offer, he is unlikely to command the kind of contract he once did. The Rangers might opt to pursue younger pitchers, like Nathan Eovaldi, instead of bringing Scherzer back.
LHP Andrew Heaney
Heaney’s future with the Rangers could hinge on how much the team trusts younger arms like Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker.
The 33-year-old had a solid 2024, posting a 4.28 ERA over 160 innings and ranking in the 83rd percentile for walk percentage. However, Heaney isn’t an elite starter, and Texas may prefer to rely on their younger pitchers for back-end rotation roles, especially since they’ll have other pressing needs to address, such as their lineup and bullpen.
RHP Kirby Yates
Yates, who earned his second All-Star appearance in 2024 with a 1.17 ERA and 33 saves, is likely to attract significant interest in free agency. After signing a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Rangers last offseason, Yates could be in line for a much larger deal this time around.
Even though he’s 37, a contending team that fell short in 2024 might offer Yates a deal that the Rangers can’t match. Texas will need to overhaul their bullpen this offseason, but Yates might end up priced out of their range.
Leave a Reply