5 biggest losers from the 2020 MLB offseason
Texas Rangers
Rangers General Manager Jon Daniels entered the offseason with a bold, go-for-broke strategy in his pursuit of free agents. But he struck out on all his key targets.
First came third baseman Anthony Rendon. Rendon, after leading the Washington Nationals to a World Series title in October, seemed like an ideal fit for Texas. The former Rice University star is a native of Houston and would be returning home. Daniels, though, underestimated the market for his services. He offered Rendon a six-year deal worth less than $200 million; Rendon eventually signed with the Angels for seven years and $245 million.
Daniels’ next target was former AL MVP Josh Donaldson. But he missed out on him as well, with Donaldson joining the Minnesota Twins on a four-year deal in January.
Daniels was able to acquire two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber in a trade with the Cleveland Indians to anchor the Rangers starting rotation. Kluber, though, missed nearly all of the 2019 season after fracturing his forearm on a line drive. Even before the injury, Kluber looked anything but his Cy Young-caliber self. His ERA after seven starts stood at 5.80; his walks per nine innings rate, which was a league-leading 1.4 in 2018, ballooned to 3.8.
The Rangers have to hope that Kluber returns to his old form. If he does, it will salvage the club’s offseason. But if he doesn’t, the Rangers are heading toward a fourth consecutive season outside the playoffs.