Texas Rangers Morning Rundown: Houston has a problem, thanks to a former Rangers infielder

Andy Ibanez’s bases-clearing double gave the Tigers a late lead in Game 2 of the American League wild-card series with the Astros, and Detroit held on to advance in the MLB postseason.

Players just don’t get much more friendly than Andy Ibanez, a Cuban defector who landed with the Rangers and never lived up to their expectations. He reached the majors and hit his first career homer with the Rangers, but their future didn’t include him.

That’s not an oversight. As good of a person as he seems to be, he’s not better than any of the Rangers’ infielders.

The Tigers plucked Ibanez off of waivers after the 2022 season, and he has been in Detroit since. As of Tuesday, he now has hero status in the Motor City.

Detroit is moving on in the American League playoffs thanks to Ibanez, whose bases-clearing double Tuesday in the eighth inning lifted the Tigers past the Astros, 5-2. Detroit swept the best-of-3 series at Minute Maid Park.

The loss snapped the Astros’ streak of seven straight appearances in the American League Championship Series and extended their home postseason skid to six games. Four of those came last October to the Rangers in the ALCS, including Games 6 and 7.

The early exit might be only the beginning of a long offseason for the Astros. Third baseman Alex Bregman is a free agent this offseason, and right-hander Justin Verlander’s future in Houston is in the air.

Losing Bregman would hurt the Astros the most. He hasn’t been able to replicate his 2019 season, in which he helped get the Astros to the World Series before they lost to Max Scherzer and the Nationals.

Bergman wasn’t bad this season. He topped 20 homers for the third consecutive season and finished with a 4.6 WAR. That’s pretty good.

The Astros have spent money in the recent past. Second baseman Jose Altuve signed a five-year extension in March, and he has lobbied for the Astros to keep Bregman. But they will also eventually have to come up with deals for Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez.

Verlander was limited by injuries this season but is planning to pitch in 2025. That sounds just like his former Detroit teammate, Max Scherzer. Maybe both end up back with the Tigers.

If you can’t beat them — and the Astros couldn’t — join them.

Numbers are in

MLB Trade Rumors wasted no time disseminating its annual projections for salary arbitration. The Rangers don’t have many cases ahead, but they could be hefty.

Topping the list is first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, who MLBTR projects will earn $10.5 million. That’s a raise of $3 million. It’s worth noting that Lowe and the Rangers settled at $7.5 million for this season, a million less than MLBTR projected.

The Rangers will have to weigh if Lowe brings enough value offensively. He missed nearly a month early in the season and was slow to get going, which limited him to 16 home runs. He walks a lot and

Josh Sborz is projected to receive only a minimal raise to $1.3 million after an injury-plagued season.

Next up are Jonah Heim ($4.8 million), Dane Dunning ($4.4 million) and Leody Taveras ($4.3 million). They didn’t have good seasons, and their 2025 roles are under review.

Heim will be back. The Rangers want to see if he can bounce back, both at the plate and behind it, and they seem to be giving him the benefit of the doubt after a heavy 2023 catching load and a short offseason.

Dunning was the Rangers Pitcher of the Year in 2023 for a selfless season in which he led the team in innings after opening in the bullpen. His numbers tumbled this season, along with his velocity amid some shoulder issues.

The Rangers are in no position to be shedding pitchers.

They really aren’t in a position to be shedding outfielders, either, with questions about Evan Carter still unanswered. The Rangers believe Carter has a handle on his back issues, but he lost a year of development in 2024 and isn’t a finished product.

Taveras has a role on a winning team, maybe as a platoon player or fourth outfielder. The Rangers paid their fourth outfielder, Travis Jankowski, $1.7 million this season. Taveras is better, but the Rangers likely want to save on his 2025 salary.

The non-tender deadline, for those wondering, is Nov. 22.

Coaches returning

President of baseball operations Chirs Young said on Tuesday at the season-ending presser that he expects manager Bruce Bochy’s coaching staff to return in full, barring any teams with coaching openings raiding the staff. Some duties might be shifted around, Young said.

Bochy said that the coaching staff shared ideas on what they need to do better for 2025, including on the hitting front. Bochy said that the Rangers’ troubles with the fastball can be addressed in spring training by changing routines and the work being done.

That would fall on offensive coordinator Donny Ecker and hitting coach Tim Hyers. Their task is a big one: figuring out how Adolis Garcia, Heim and Taveras, among others, can improve.

The Marlins and White Sox have managerial openings, and Rangers associate manager Will Venable has been a candidate for past jobs. Though he would seem to be the heir to Bochy, Venable might be made an offer he can’t refuse, and the Rangers would not stand in his way for a managerial post.

ICYMI …

The Rangers’ season ended Sunday, but DLLS hasn’t taken a day off of its coverage of the 2023 World Series champions. We have been podcasting for an hour each afternoon, and that will continue throughout the offseason. I’ve been writing each day and will write most days this offseason. If you aren’t a DLLS Diehard member with all access, join here. Links to some of our latest content is below, in case you missed it.

T.R.’s Memoirs: On Pete Rose

Tuesday Rundown: Financial matters

Blame all around

Jacob deGrom’s 2024 finale

Finishing strong

Doggy video!

Me, not knowing quite what to do with all of this time at home now that the Rangers’ season is over. Enjoy.

Mood.. 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZF3kM1HVJ2

— Buitengebieden (@buitengebieden) October 1, 2024

Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com