The Texas Rangers’ pitching staff has seen significant changes this offseason.
Several key players from last year’s roster, including starting pitchers Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, and Max Scherzer, have entered free agency. The bullpen also lost important members like Kirby Yates, David Robertson, Andrew Chafin, and Jose Leclerc.
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heane
So far, Eovaldi is the only one from that group to remain with the Rangers, signing a three-year deal worth $ 75 million. Meanwhile, Scherzer, Yates, and Leclerc have all signed with new teams—Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland Athletics, respectively.
As for the remaining free agent pitchers, Chafin was linked to the New York Yankees, but with their recent re-signing of Tim Hill, they might not be looking for another reliever. Robertson, perhaps the top available reliever, has been loosely associated with a few teams in need of late-game support.
Heaney’s market activity has been relatively quiet. His performance in 2024 wasn’t impressive, finishing with a 5-14 record and a 4.28 ERA over 160 innings with 159 strikeouts. While durability has been an issue for him at times, he has made at least 30 appearances in three of the last four seasons, mainly as a starter, but also contributing in 16 relief appearances.
With spring training just around the corner, it’s surprising he remains unsigned. Though not an ace, Heaney has the potential to be a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter for various teams, which makes his free agency notable given the constant demand for starting pitchers.
Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report speculates that he might join the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, providing depth to a starting rotation in need of reinforcement after losing Max Fried and Charlie Morton to free agency with the Yankees and Baltimore Orioles, respectively. Additionally, there are uncertainties surrounding their ace, Spencer Strider, and his recovery timeline.
With Ian Anderson and Grant Holmes as backend starters not meeting expectations, adding Heaney could ease the team’s dependence on them. While Chris Sale had a Cy Young-winning season and Reynaldo Lopez performed well in 2024, concerns linger about their ability to maintain that form after previous injuries.
In summary, Heaney could bring valuable support to the Braves, potentially helping to resolve some uncertainties within their rotation and perhaps even replicate the success Sale and Lopez found after joining the team.
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