The Texas Rangers have made some moves by signing first baseman Jared Walsh, infielder Matt Duffy, and left-hander Blake Taylor to minor league deals, all of which include invites to major league spring training. Walsh, Taylor, and Duffy are represented by ISE Baseball and TWC Sports, respectively.

Jared Walsh, at 30 years old, was once considered a key player for the Los Angeles Angels. He had an impressive performance in the shortened 2020 season with nine home runs, followed by 29 home runs the next year. During that time, he had a batting line of.280/.338/.531 and a wRC+ of 130, which means he was 30% better than the average hitter in the league. Although his defense wasn’t exceptional, his offensive skills were highly attractive.

However, Walsh has struggled to match that level of play due to injuries. In 2022, he had a disappointing season with a.215/.269/.374 slash line and was eventually sidelined by thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. He returned in 2023 but faced neurological issues like insomnia and headaches, as he discussed with Sam Blum of The Athletic in May. Last year, Walsh played in only 39 major league games, hitting just.125,.216,.279. He was placed on waivers twice before finally becoming a free agent in October.

While the Rangers already have Nathaniel Lowe at first base, they lack a specific designated hitter. If Walsh can overcome his recent health issues and regain his previous form, he could become a strong candidate to share the bulk of the DH at-bats and provide depth in case of a Lowe injury. If he performs well and earns a roster spot, the team could keep him for future seasons through arbitration, although he no longer has any options left.

Matt Duffy, aged 33, is a veteran utility player who spent the 2023 season with the Kansas City Royals. In 209 plate appearances, he had a.251/.306/.325 slash line for a wRC+ of 72. While his offense was below average, Duffy contributed with his defensive versatility, playing across all four infield positions and even making two pitching appearances on mop-up duty. He has also played left field in previous seasons.

The Rangers already have Nathaniel Lowe at first base, and their infield will be completed by Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, and Josh Jung. They also have infielders like Ezequiel Durán, Jonathan Ornelas, Josh H. Smith, and Justin Foscue on the roster, but Duffy adds veteran depth as a non-roster player.

Blake Taylor, 28 years old, has pitched in 92 major league games for the Houston Astros from 2020 to 2022. During this time, he had an impressive 3.06 earned runs per nine innings. However, his success may have been influenced by luck. His strikeout rate of 19.1% and walk rate of 12.6% were slightly worse than average, while his.249 batting average on balls in play and 79.3% strand rate were on the fortunate side. Metrics like FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and SIERA (Skill-Interactive Earned Run Average) suggest that Taylor’s ERA may not accurately reflect his performance.

In 2023, Taylor began the season on the injured list due to a left elbow strain. After a couple of weeks, he was activated and sent to Triple-A Sugar Land. In 35 appearances for the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, Taylor had a 5.15 ERA, a 14.9% strikeout rate, and a 13.1% walk rate. He was released in August.

The Rangers lost left-handed pitchers Aroldis Chapman and Will Smith to free agency, and they also non-tendered Brett Martin. Currently, their left-handed relief options include Brock Burke, Jake Latz, and Antoine Kelly, with Cody Bradford potentially joining if he is not in the starting rotation. Taylor will provide the team with non-roster depth and some major league experience. If he earns his way back to the majors, he still has one option year remaining.