Now that the World Collection has concluded with the Texas Rangers claiming the throne atop the MLB, it is time to stay up for the upcoming 2023 MLB offseason. The entire level of this endeavor is to say the trophy the Rangers simply gained, and to get there, generally meaning spending up in free company to assist a place of weak point. The Rangers landed a number of key gamers on their championship squad by free company. They signed Corey Seager away from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Marcus Semien away from the Toronto Blue Jays and in addition signed Jacob deGrom from the New York Mets. deGrom did get harm and missed many of the 2023 season, however he shall be again in 2024.

There are lots of high quality gamers poised to develop into free brokers in 2024, lots of whom might doubtlessly flip the tables of the 2024 season. A type of gamers is perhaps Josh Hader. After a topsy-turvy 2022 season, Hader stabilized and reemerged as among the finest reduction pitchers in all of baseball. In 61 video games, he posted a 2.4 WAR, a 1.28 ERA, and a 1.1 WHIP. He transformed 33 of 38 save alternatives for the San Diego Padres in 2023. Not solely is Hader among the finest closers within the league, however he is additionally in all probability the perfect reduction pitcher available on the market. The query is: who ought to signal him and the place ought to he go?

If Josh Hader needs to win a World Collection, signing with the staff that simply gained the factor is not a nasty place to start out. Texas’ run to the World Collection was outstanding, however they made it there regardless of their bullpen, not due to it. Though the Rangers’ bullpen performed a lot better within the playoffs, they didn’t play very effectively within the common season. Jose LeClerc, had a reasonably strong common season. His 2.68 ERA and 1.14 WHIP had been very strong marks, however he blew extra saves (5) than the variety of saves he really completed with (4) within the common season. LeClerc did make up for it by posting 4 massive saves within the playoffs throughout Texas’ World Collection run.

Will Smith, Texas’ major nearer in the course of the common season, didn’t do a lot in Texas’ playoff run. He solely pitched 3.1 innings and allowed 4 earned runs in that span. That adopted an uneven common season for Smith, the place he completed with a 4.4 ERA and blew 5 saves in 27 alternatives. It was comprehensible why the Rangers did not belief him within the playoffs and in the end determined to make use of him solely in spot moments.

Aroldis Chapman and Josh Sborz stepped up massive time for the Rangers within the playoffs, however they had been additionally inconsistent within the common season. Chapman posted a 3.72 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP since coming over to Texas from Kansas Metropolis on the commerce deadline. Sborz ended the common season with a 5.50 ERA. However at the least they stepped up when it counted. Within the playoffs, Sborz tallied a outstanding 0.75 ERA and 0.67 WHIP. Chapman wasn’t too far behind with a 2.25 ERA. The Rangers’ bullpen was an enormous query mark getting into the postseason, however these two, in addition to Jose LeClerc, quelled any considerations.

That also doesn’t suggest that the Rangers should not search for an improve, nonetheless. Josh Hader would additional bolster Texas’ bullpen and instantly put Texas on the forefront to repeat subsequent season. He’d be an important addition for the champions.

If one AL West would not land or pursue Josh Hader, perhaps one other one will. The Seattle Mariners had a high quality nearer in Paul Sewald, however they traded him to the Arizona Diamondbacks on the deadline. Historical past repeated itself, because the Mariners needed to watch a better they traded away make a run to the World Collection. That additionally occurred in 2021 once they traded Kendall Graveman to the Houston Astros, who misplaced within the World Collection by the hands of the Atlanta Braves.

The Mariners created a void for themselves as to who closes video games for them going ahead. Andres Munoz received the primary crack after the Mariners traded Sewald. Munoz was advantageous, however nothing particular. He did convert 13 of 16 save alternatives in the course of the common season, in addition to submit a 2.94 ERA. That is nice, however a 1.27 WHIP and a +3 strikeout per stroll ratio might be higher. Matt Brash additionally received some possibilities for the Mariners however he blew extra saves (5) than he transformed (4) and wasn’t higher than Munoz within the ERA (3.06) and WHIP (1.33) departments.

Seattle is loaded nearly in every single place else. Their hitting took off within the second half of the common season they usually have one of many higher beginning pitching staffs in baseball. However their bullpen is a piece in progress. Josh Hader would signify lots of progress.