The Texas Rangers are entering this offseason with more questions than answers-especially when it comes to payroll flexibility. But if they’re serious about staying in the championship conversation, there’s one bold move that could change everything: making a run at Bo Bichette.
Now 27, Bichette has become the crown jewel of this winter’s free agent class. And with reports indicating he’s open to a full-time move to second base, his value just skyrocketed for teams looking for both elite talent and positional fit. For a Rangers squad that just dealt Marcus Semien and now has a glaring hole at second, the timing couldn’t be better.
The Dodgers Blueprint: Big Talent, Bigger Creativity
Here’s the thing: yes, the Rangers are facing some payroll constraints. But that doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. If anything, it’s a chance to get creative-and there’s no better example of that than the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Over the past few seasons, L.A. has leaned heavily into deferred money, committing over $1 billion in future payments across nearly 10 players. The headliner, of course, is Shohei Ohtani’s eye-popping $700 million deal, which includes a staggering $680 million in deferred payments.
That’s not a typo. The Dodgers will be shelling out $102 million in deferred money in 2038 and 2039 alone.
Sounds wild, right? But it’s working. That financial maneuvering helped them build a roster deep enough to win back-to-back World Series titles-something we haven’t seen since the Yankees' dynasty at the turn of the century.
How Texas Can Make It Work
So why can’t the Rangers do the same? Right now, they’ve only added about $10 million in new contracts this offseason, with $7.25 million of that going to catcher Danny Jansen. That’s not exactly swinging for the fences.
Sure, the books are cleaner than they’ve been in a while-some unproductive deals are off the payroll-but the roster still needs work. And while the front office has said they plan to fill second base internally, let’s be honest: plugging in a utility guy or unproven bat isn’t going to cut it if Texas wants to contend.
Bichette would be a game-changer. He brings a potent bat, playoff experience, and now, the positional versatility to slide right into that second base vacancy.
The key here is structure. If Bichette is open to deferrals-even partial ones-the Rangers could craft a deal that gives him the $200+ million payday he’s looking for, without front-loading the contract and blowing up this year’s payroll.
Add in an opt-out clause a few years in, and both sides get flexibility. Bichette gets security with the option to re-enter the market if things don’t go as planned, and the Rangers get a cornerstone player without compromising their financial structure in the short term.
Championship Windows Don’t Stay Open Forever
The Rangers aren’t in rebuild mode. They’re in win-now mode.
The core is still strong, the fanbase is energized, and the AL West remains wide open. But windows close quickly in this league, and standing pat isn’t going to keep Texas in the mix.
Bo Bichette might not be the obvious move given the payroll situation-but he could be the right one. With a little creativity and a willingness to think like the Dodgers, the Rangers could turn a financial pinch into a long-term payoff.