Complete Offseason Guide, Predictions for the Texas Rangers

Emotions in Texas are running high after the Rangers dropped a thrilling Game 5 in the American League Division Series to the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-3. You can be sure that, as you're reading this, there's a Rangers fan calling for radical change in Arlington.

But let's not forget: The Rangers weren't supposed to be playing meaningful baseball in October, having been written off after Yu Darvish's UCL tore and were left for dead when August rolled around as they sat three games under .500 (50-53) and eight games back in the AL West.

The Cole Hamels trade? It was made with 2016 in mind, not to spur an unlikely run to a division crown. But the Rangers defied the odds, winning the division and taking a heavily favored Toronto squad to five games.

While the ending is disappointing, the Rangers can hold their heads high—not only for how they performed on the field, but for how their prospects for continued success in 2016 and beyond stack up. Will changes be made? Of course. But they're not likely to be as widespread as some would believe.

What follows is a look at the decisions the team is going to have to make when it comes to the roster—and some reinforcements that could be welcomed.

Payroll Breakdown

LM Otero/Associated Press

Jon Daniels

With 10 players under contract at a cost of nearly $120 million, a number of players due raises through arbitration and a handful of its own free agents to re-sign, Texas figures to eclipse its 2015 Opening Day payroll of $141.7 million rather easily this winter.

Just how far above that mark the Rangers are willing to go will ultimately dictate how busy the offseason is for general manager Jon Daniels, who could go a number of routes in his attempts to improve a roster that, for the most part, isn't going to look all that different in 2016.

Arbitration-Eligible Players

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Mitch Moreland

Players Headed for Arbitration (2015 salary)

• RHP Anthony Bass ($725,000)
• C Robinson Chirinos ($518.290)
• C Carlos Corporan ($975,000)
• LHP Jake Diekman ($535,500)
• C Chris Gimenez ($507,500)*
• 1B/DH Mitch Moreland ($2.95 million)
• 2B/SS Jurickson Profar ($509,500)
• RHP Tanner Scheppers ($515,200)
• RHP Shawn Tolleson ($519.700)
• C Bobby Wilson ($700,000)

While Texas' list of arbitration-eligible players is long, working out new deals with those the team wants to keep should be relatively painless.

Robinson Chirinos is a horrific pitch-framer, but he's familiar with the pitching staff and offers average production behind the plate. With Jorge Alfaro no longer an option, having been traded to Philadelphia, keeping the 31-year-old around on a one-year, $1.25 million deal makes sense.

Mitch Moreland is coming off the best season of his career and is due a substantial raise, but his mediocre glove at first base and Joey Gallo's need for playing time make him an odd fit with the Rangers. The two sides agree on a one-year, $5.75 million deal, but Moreland could still be used as trade bait.

Shawn Tolleson winds up with a nearly $2 million raise after emerging as the team's closer, while Jurickson Profar, who hasn't played in two years, re-signs for the same salary.

*Chris Gimenez's salary information courtesy of Spotrac.

Texas' Own Free Agents and Players with Options

LM Otero/Associated Press

Yovani Gallardo

Potential Free Agents

• OF/1B Kyle Blanks
• RHP Yovani Gallardo
• RHP Colby Lewis
• 1B Mike Napoli
• RHP Ross Ohlendorf
• OF Drew Stubbs
• OF Will Venable

Texas figures to keep either Yovani Gallardo or Colby Lewis, not both, and you can make a strong case for both. While Gallardo is younger and the premier talent, he's also going to command a multiyear deal that pays him $12 million to $15 million annually.

That seems like an expense the Rangers don't need when they'll have Yu Darvish, Cole Hamels, Derek Holland and Martin Perez filling out the rest of the rotation in 2016, with Chi Chi Gonzalez, Phil Klein and Anthony Ranaudo in reserve.

Despite winning 17 games and leading the Rangers with 204.2 innings of work (his second consecutive year leading the club), Lewis isn't going to command significant attention as a free agent and figures to be far less expensive to keep. He sticks around on a two-year, $15 million deal.

Mike Napoli rediscovered his groove in Texas, hitting .295 with a .908 OPS after looking lost at the plate in Boston. That he's an excellent defender at first base and a productive right-handed bat only increases his value for a Rangers club that is short on both.

Entering his age-34 season, this is likely his last shot at a multiyear deal—and there's not much on the free-agent market at first base after former Ranger Chris Davis. The Rangers appreciate that, and the two sides agree on a two-year, $26 million deal with a mutual option for a third year.

Potential Free-Agent Targets

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Matt Wieters

Texas doesn't need to chase after the top-level starting pitchers available, and with first base and the outfield corners spoken for, it doesn't have anywhere to stick the biggest bats on the market. Still, we can't truly take the Rangers out of the conversation until those players have signed elsewhere

Ultimately, Texas figures to target a number of free-agent relievers to bolster a bullpen that could use some help. Here are some of the names the Rangers could be linked to once free agency begins:

• Tyler Clippard, RHP: The two-time All-Star is at his best in a setup role and is familiar with the AL West, having spent part of the 2015 season in Oakland.

• Darren O'Day, RHP: He has quietly become one of the game's elite non-closing relievers, pitching to a 2.07 ERA and 0.96 WHIP with 402 strikeouts over 400 innings since 2009. He's better against right-handed batters but has become adept at shutting down the opposition from either side of the plate.

• Joakim Soria, RHP: Soria was terrific during his previous stint with the Rangers, and his ability to successfully fill multiple bullpen roles would make him a tremendous addition. He could have his eye on a ninth-inning opening elsewhere, but a reunion can't be completely ruled out.

• Matt Wieters, C: Probably unlikely and a risk as he was nothing special in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, but the chance Wieters could return to his All-Star ways, two years removed from the procedure, makes him an intriguing potential addition. That he's a switch-hitter doesn't hurt.

Potential Trade Targets

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Drew Storen

The Rangers could dabble in both the free-agent and trade markets to bolster the bullpen, as there are a handful of quality relievers teams could move.

Keep in mind: There's no indication any of the players listed below are readily available...yet. But once the playoffs are over and the offseason kicks into high gear, they could be.

• Jake McGee, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays: While he's still highly effective, McGee figures to land a salary around $5 million through arbitration this winter, an expense the financially strapped franchise may deem too expensive for a non-closer.

• Brian Matusz, LHP, Baltimore Orioles: This southpaw was the subject of trade rumors for much of last offseason and could be once again this winter. A $5 million salary for a LOOGY may be too expensive for an Orioles club that has multiple key free agents it needs to re-sign.

• Reese McGuire, C, Pittsburgh Pirates: Still developing but already great behind the plate, the 20-year-old McGuire is blocked in Pittsburgh by Francisco Cervelli. Should the Bucs part ways with Pedro Alvarez, Mitch Moreland could be an attractive replacement—with McGuire Texas' target.

• Drew Storen, RHP, Washington Nationals: Washington figures to move Storen after replacing him as closer in two consecutive seasons. He's a reliable veteran who can fill a multitude of late-inning roles.

Unless otherwise noted/linked, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs; all payroll and salary information courtesy of Cot's Contracts.

Want to talk Rangers' offseason plans or anything baseball-related? Hit me up on Twitter: @RickWeinerBR.