After the Texas Rangers emerged victorious in the 2023 World Series, focus is now shifting to the 2024 MLB summer. Often, strengthening vulnerable positions through free agency is necessary to win the championship. The Rangers added important pieces to their championship-winning team when they signed free agents Marcus Semien, Jacob deGrom, and Corey Seager. Despite missing most of the 2023 season due to injury, DeGrom is anticipated to make a comeback in 2024.

Ahead of the 2024 campaign, a number of excellent players who are about to become unrestricted free agents have the potential to make a big difference. Josh Hader, a bullpen pitcher who rebounded well from a difficult 2022 campaign in 2023, is one of these athletes. In 61 games with the San Diego Padres, Hader finished with a 2.4 WAR, a 1.28 ERA, and a 1.1 WHIP. Hader is one of the best relief pitchers in baseball, so a team may win big with his contract. Which team should sign him, and where will he sign? are still unanswered questions.

If Hader wants to go for another title, the Texas Rangers, who just won the World Series, would be a tempting option. The Rangers’ bullpen performed poorly in the regular season despite their achievements. With a 2.68 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, Jose LeClerc had a good year, although he made more bad saves than good ones. The starting closer, Will Smith, had a rough postseason and an uneven regular season. Josh Sborz and Aroldis Chapman had uneven regular seasons but excelled in the postseason. The Rangers’ bullpen did get stronger throughout the postseason, but Hader’s addition would strengthen it even further and increase their chances of winning the pennant again.

The Seattle Mariners are another possible destination for Hader. Having traded away Paul Sewald, their closer, they needed a consistent player to close out games. Matt Brash and Andres Munoz both had chances to win games, but they weren’t very good. Munoz made 13 of 16 save attempts, but his strikeout-to-walk ratio and WHIP might have been better. Brash found it difficult, by contrast. Hader would be an invaluable addition to the Mariners’ bullpen and could greatly increase their chances of success if they had a quality lineup and starting pitching staff.

A pitcher like Hader may strengthen certain spots in the bullpens of the Rangers and the Mariners. It will be interesting to see which team seizes the chance to go after and possibly sign one of the top relief pitchers in the game as the 2024 MLB summer draws near.