Which Texas Rangers will return in 2024? A look at the contract status of every player

The Texas Rangers are the 2023 World Champions.

Now that the parade crowd has dispersed, is it too early to look ahead to the 2024 team and beyond?

How many of the players who competed against the Arizona Diamondbacks will be on the roster when spring training begins in mid-February in Surprise, Ariz.?

Unlike decades earlier when players had long tenures, pro sports rosters now churn and turn over quickly.

The Rangers will be no different. Several players have already filed for free agency. Sure, some of them could return. There are several big contracts on the books (Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Max Scherzer among them). Several players will get big raises through arbitration (Adolis Garcia, Nathaniel Lowe, Jonah Heim among others).

More the a couple of dozen are under team control as their major league experience doesn’t yet earn them arbitration or big contracts.

With the exception of a few pieces, the 2024 Rangers could look a lot like the 2023 Rangers. Injuries, which are invariable, will impact the team. However, as the offseason begins, here’s a look at the 2023 Rangers, players’ contract status and their probability of being at Globe Life Field on March 28 when the Rangers open the 2024 season and raise their World Series flag.

World Series participants

PITCHERS

▪ Cody Bradford, 25

Under team control

▪ Brock Burke, 27

Arbitration eligible, projected $1.1 million

▪ Aroldis Chapman, 35

Elected free agency

▪ Dane Dunning, 28

Arbitration eligible, projected $3.4 million

▪ Nathan Eovaldi, 33

$17 million; vested option for 2025

▪ Jon Gray, 32

$13 million; free agent in 2026

▪ Andrew Heaney, 32

$13 million, could opt out for free agency

▪ José Leclerc, 29

$6.25 million option to return

▪ Jordan Montgomery, 30

Elected free agency

▪ Martin Perez, 32

Elected free agency

▪ Josh Sborz, 29

Arbitration eligible, projected $900,000

▪ Max Scherzer, 39

$43 million contract (New York Met swill pay $20.83 million), part of 3-year, $130 million deal; free agent in 2025

▪ Will Smith, 34

Elected free agency

▪ Chris Stratton, 33

Elected free agency

CATCHERS

▪ Mitch Garver, 32

Elected free agency

▪ Austin Hedges, 31

Elected free agency

▪ Jonah Heim, 28

Arbitration eligible, projected $3.6 million

INFIELDERS

▪ Ezequiel Duran, 24

Under team control; eligible for arbitration in 2026

▪ Josh Jung, 25

Under team control; eligible for arbitration in 2026

▪ Nathaniel Lowe, 28

Arbitration eligible, projected $8.8 million

▪ Corey Seager, 29

$35 million; part of a 10-year $325 million contract (2022-31)

▪ Marcus Semien, 33

$26 million; part of a 7-year $175 million contract (2022-28)

▪ Josh Smith, 26

Under team control, arbitration eligible in 2025

OUTFIELDERS

▪ Evan Carter, 21

Under team control

▪ Adolis Garcia, 30

Arbitration eligible, projected $6.6 million

▪ Robbie Grossman, 34

Elected free agency

▪ Travis Jankwoski, 32

Elected free agency

▪ Leody Taveras, 25

Arbitration eligible, projected $2.4 million

Non-Series participants

PITCHERS

▪ Grant Anderson, 26

Under team control

▪ Matt Bush, 37

Arbitration eligible, projected $2.1 million

▪ Jacob de Grom, 35

$40 million; part of five-year $185 million contract expires in 2027 with an option for 2028

▪ Jonathan Hernandez, 27

Arbitration eligible, projected $1.4 million

▪ Ian Kennedy, 38

Elected free agency

▪ Zak Kent, 25

Under team control

▪ Jake Latz, 27

Under team control

▪ Brett Martin, 28

Arbitration eligible, projected $1.28 million

▪ Jake Odorizzi, 33

Elected free agency

▪ Yerry Rodriguez, 26

Under team control

▪ Owen White, 24

Under team control

▪ Cole Win, 23

Under team control

POSITION PLAYERS

▪ Jonathan Ornelas, 23

Under team control

▪ Dustin Harris, 24

Under team control

▪ Sam Huff, 25

Under team control; Arbitration eligible in 2025

▪ J.P. Martinez, 27

Under team control

▪ Brad Miller, 34

Elected Free agency

Note: The Star-Telegram gathered this information from several sources, including Major League Baesball, Texas Rangers, Cot’s Baseball Contracts, MLB Trade Rumors.