The Texas Rangers spent little time in getting ready for their upcoming season, starting their preparations less than twenty-four hours after their World Series victory parade. Left-hander Andrew Heaney, who moved to the bullpen during the postseason, made the decision to stay with the team for an additional year. The Rangers also decided to keep playoff closer José Leclerc, a reliever, because they understood how important he was.

Heaney was given until Saturday at 4 p.m. CT to make up his mind about exercising his 2024 season option or opting out. He received a $12 million base pay plus an extra $3.5 million in performance bonuses in 2023. Heaney pitched 147.1 innings, falling just eight outs short of a benchmark that would have raised his 2024 salary to $20 million. In the end, he decided to take a $13 million base pay for the next season, with the option to get performance bonuses at different inning totals. Leclerc will get $6.25 million in 2024, a little more than the $6 million he made in 2023.

Heaney started 28 games for the Rangers throughout the season, which was second only to Jon Gray in that regard. That being said, he mostly filled in as a reliever in September and the postseason.

The Rangers now feature Nathan Eovaldi, Max Scherzer, Dane Dunning, Gray, and Heaney in their starting lineup going into 2024. It is anticipated that Jacob deGrom, who is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery, won’t be available until later in the season. Following the World Series, both Martín Pérez and Jordan Montgomery, who was the team’s best starter in the second half of the season, became free agents.

Leclerc, who turns 30 in December, lost the closer position early in the season but saw his velocity pick up during the course of the campaign. He had a 1-1 record, four saves, and a 3.29 ERA in 13 bullpen appearances for the Rangers during the 2023 playoffs. His 13 postseason appearances are tied for the third-highest total for a single playoff run in MLB history.