2 moves Rangers must make after Max Scherzer surgery update

The Texas Rangers reinvented how a baseball team can win a championship in the modern age, using the perfect blend of big spending, star chasing and player development. Balance reigned supreme in 2023. Perhaps most impressive about Texas’ first ever title win, however, was that it came without an effective Max Scherzer.

The four-time Cy Young battled through injuries and rust while posting a rough 6.52 ERA in three postseason appearances. Though, he did throw three scoreless innings in the clinching Game 5 versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. Other guys like Mr. Clutch himself Nathan Eovaldi, Jordan Montgomery and reliever Josh Sborz came through to compensate for Scherzer’s limitations.

But can the organization trust the same to be done for at least the first half of the 2024 campaign? The 39-year-old underwent surgery for a herniated disc and will be sidelined until approximately June or July of next year. His lengthy recovery process leaves a glaring hole for the front office to address.

Fortunately, this bad news drops in the heart of the offseason, giving general manager Chris Young and company plenty of time to pivot. The only question is, how big will they go?

We have our own feelings on the matter. Let’s look at some of the most practical and enticing routes for the Rangers to take in MLB free agency following this major Max Scherzer injury update.

Rangers must re-sign Jordan Montgomery
Being without Scherzer for a significant chunk of time portends that more setbacks and struggles will likely follow. He is at the end of a Hall of Fame career, with Father Time already on his back. A full return to form is difficult to envision, and so too is the Rangers winning another World Series without at least two reliable front-end starters.

This franchise is not one to be content. One celebratory parade should only fuel the hunger for more, which means a strong response is now necessary. The Rangers must either retain one of their most prominent October heroes or trade for another ace.

They know what they have in Jordan Montgomery. He has found success in multiple places and thrived in a chaotic playoff atmosphere. His market value is arguably higher than his worth, but that is just a hard fact of professional sports these days. Continuity can be an essential ingredient when crafting a formula for sustained excellence, particularly in a pitching rotation.

Montgomery, who turns 31 at the end of the month, has a 3.68 ERA in 141 games pitched and has been one of the best at his position over the last year-and-a-half. Losing the southpaw in free agency puts the organization in a potential bind, one that would force it to target someone with an even more impressive résumé.

Trade for Corbin Burnes if Montgomery signs elsewhere

This does not have to be a contingency plan. The Rangers have the farm system to complete a deal for the former Cy Young, despite the Milwaukee Brewers’ current stance. They could also pair Corbin Burnes with Jordan Montgomery, but that is not realistic with both Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer collecting hefty checks while on the shelf (Mets are handling most of Scherzer’s contract, though).

But Texas cannot enter the 2024 season without at least one of these hurlers. Burnes earned his third consecutive All-Star selection in what actually a down year for him (3.39 ERA and 200 strikeouts). Although he scuffled against the Diamondbacks in the National League Wild Card Series, the 29-year-old is a superb playoff pitcher.

The moment shouldn’t be too big, and an elite offense could frighteningly make this right-hander even more dangerous. Chris Young is surely mulling over this blockbuster scenario.

Rangers should reunite with Matt Moore in MLB free agency

Scherzer’s absence, along with the ongoing recoveries of deGrom and newly-signed starter Tyler Mahle, can put additional strain on the bullpen. With Aroldis Chapman possibly leaving in free agency, Texas has every incentive to pursue another left-handed reliever.

After being ravaged buy injuries, Matt Moore has found his niche in the bullpen. He recorded a sensational 1.95 ERA for the Rangers in 2022 and followed it up with a 2.75 ERA with the Los Angeles Angels, Cleveland Guardians and Miami Marlins in 2023. A reunion, which would be the third Arlington stint for Moore, makes a lot of sense for both parties.

The former All-Star has a golden opportunity to contend for a title and be a key force in Bruce Bochy’s pen. This team survived its depth issues long enough to pop open the champagne in November, but being proactive can ensure that the American League runs through the champs once more in 2024.