The Rangers just won their first World Series championship, and they might get even better this offseason.
Audacy MLB insider Jon Heyman wrote in the New York Post recently that the Rangers are one of the three favorites, along with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, to sign the biggest free agent in MLB history in Shohei Ohtani this offseason.
"They got a taste of winning, are unafraid to spend, and made their first cut six years ago. Word is they were ready to go for Ohtani at midseason."
Former general manager Jim Bowden, now with The Athletic, made his offseason predictions in a column that was published Tuesday and predicted that Ohtani would land with the Rangers.
"Ohtani will surprise many by signing with the world champion Texas Rangers. The contract includes incentives, escalator clauses and award bonuses that will make him the highest-paid player in the history of the sport. The Dodgers and Mariners finish as the runner-ups in the Shohei sweepstakes."
Mike Bacsik, a former Rangers pitcher and co-host of the K&C Masterpiece on 105.3 The Fan, gave his thoughts on the chances of Ohtani ending up in Texas when he joined Shan, RJ and Bobby on Tuesday.
"I'm way too optimistic. I think he's going to be a Ranger," Bacsik said. "This is my thought process ... I've not heard from anybody with the Rangers that they are going to do this or that. I'm pretty certain from the people I heard from back around mid-July until the Angels made the trade with the White Sox (and took Ohtani off the trading block). The Rangers were going to offer a package that was going to be (very competitive) if Ohtani hit the trade market. I don't know the players (the Rangers were willing to offer in the trade) ... If you're willing to offer (four of their top 10 prospects) for a two-month guy ... and the Rangers were from what I understood. If the Rangers were willing to do that, then they were willing to offer Ohtani half a billion dollars."
According to several MLB insiders, Ohtani's contract is expected to land around $500 million despite the expectation that the two-way superstar will be limited to designated hitter duties in 2024 after undergoing elbow surgery on his pitching arm.
Bacsik also gave his thoughts on why he believes 'it's ripe now for Clayton Kershaw to become a Texas Ranger.'