The Texas Rangers are aiming for a strong rebound in 2025 after a disastrous title defense plagued by injuries and underperformance, particularly in their pitching staff. This spring, they have already lost Jon Gray to injury and have signed former Nationals starter Patrick Corbin as a replacement. The signing was first reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post and Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
“Patrick Corbin to Rangers. MLB deal. $1M-plus guaranteed (a little over a million), plus a few million in incentives,” Heyman reported. Nightengale added an injury update, stating, “The Texas Rangers sign veteran left-hander Patrick Corbin to a one-year deal while placing starter Jon Gray on the 60-day injured list with a broken wrist.”
Corbin completed a six-year, $140 million contract with the Nationals last season. His strong performance with the Diamondbacks earned him that deal, but his time in Washington was disappointing. He led MLB in losses in 2021 and 2022 and topped the National League in defeats in 2023. Since 2021, he has posted a combined bWAR of -4.0.
Who better for the Rangers to take a chance on in their bounce-back season than a pitcher who also needs one? Corbin will play a crucial role in helping Texas get off to a strong start in 2025.
The Rangers need a healthy season from their rotation
Late last season, the Rangers welcomed back Jacob deGrom from Tommy John surgery. Though they were already out of playoff contention, his return provided a spark of hope for the fanbase in an otherwise disappointing year. Now, deGrom is just days away from completing a healthy spring and making an early-season start for Texas.
When healthy, deGrom has been one of the most dominant pitchers of his generation. However, injuries plagued his final years with the Mets and his time with the Rangers, preventing him from staying on the field. With Jon Gray already sidelined, Texas will rely on Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter, and Nathan Eovaldi to round out the rotation.
Gray landing on the injured list is a setback for the Rangers, but Corbin has a chance to step in and fill the void. Without the weight of his massive Nationals contract, he may be able to rediscover some of his old form and contribute solid innings. His last strong season came in 2019, though even his playoff performance that year was inconsistent. This move is a low-risk, high-reward gamble for Texas and could allow Corbin to finish his career on a high note.
The Rangers will kick off the 2025 MLB season against the Red Sox on March 27.
