The 2021 MLB season hasn't even ended yet, and the offseason rumors are already starting to trickle in. One of the latest comes from MLB Network's Jon Heyman, who's reporting that the Rangers would be among the teams interested in signing All-Star shortstop Carlos Correa:
Correa is coming off one of the best seasons of his career, and at just 27 years old, is in the heart of his career's peak. Among qualified shortstops in 2021, he ranks 3rd in fWAR (5.5), 5th in wRC+ (133), 7th in slugging (.480) and 9th in ISO (.203). His strikeout rate (18.2) was the lowest it's been since his 2015 rookie season, and under 20% for the first time in almost four years. If his current numbers hold, he'll also set a career-high in BB% (11.7) and defensive WAR (9.3).
It goes without saying that Correa would be a significant upgrade for the Rangers' offense. Entering the final three games of the season this weekend, Texas ranks dead last in OBP (.294), 29th in OPS (.669) and batting average (.232), and 28th in slugging (.361).
Rangers general manager Chris Young was asked recently on 105.3 The Fan about the organization's plans for the coming offseason, particularly about how the club plans to court big-ticket free agents after having one of the worst records in baseball the last two seasons.
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"I certainly hope it's not a long shot. I don't view it as a long shot," Young said on the GBag Nation in response to a question about how he would qualify the team's chances of acquiring talent. "I expect us to be very active in the free-agent market. Over the next few weeks (we're) going to assess our direction, our needs, and how we see this playing out over the next several seasons. ... I think it's a strong free-agent market, and I'm excited for the Rangers to participate in it, and we expect to be very active. And I think this is going to become a very desirable destination for players to come (to). Our hope is to create a winning environment that other players see and want to be a part of. I believe in it and we'll continue to build (the roster) with the right players that fit what we're doing."
This winter's free agency class is loaded with talent, as Correa will be joined by shortstops Trevor Story and Corey Seager, as well as other marquee players such as Kris Bryant, Freddie Freeman, J.D. Martinez and Nicholas Castellanos.
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