World Series hero García signs 2-year deal with Rangers
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ARLINGTON -- The Rangers signed star outfielder Adolis García to a two-year contract on Thursday, covering two years of arbitration.
García's deal guarantees him $14 million, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The deal can reach $20.25 million through a series of escalators including MVP finishes, plate appearances and All-MLB Team selections.
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The two sides were scheduled for an arbitration hearing Thursday, but this agreement means García won’t be arbitration-eligible until 2026, his final year of club control. The Rangers still have not gone to an arbitration hearing since 2000, which they won over Lee Stevens.
The 30-year-old slugger is coming off the most successful season of his career, featuring career-highs in home runs (39), OPS (.836) and barrel rate (16.1%). He then raised his game in the postseason. He homered in four consecutive games during the American League Championship Series and ended up taking home ALCS MVP honors for his record-setting performance.
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A strained oblique in Game 4 of the World Series brought a premature end to García’s season, but the Rangers wouldn’t have captured their first world championship without his clutch contributions.
García earned his second All-Star selection and his first Gold Glove Award in 2023. He had a slash line of .245/.328/.508 with career highs in home runs (39) and walks (65).
Acquired from the Cardinals in exchange for cash considerations prior to the 2020 season, García has recorded a .246/.305/.472 slash line over the past three seasons. That includes 97 dingers, 298 RBIs and 50 steals.
And García has only gotten better each year, particularly in his ability to control the strike zone and limit his chase rate.
In his first two years with the Rangers, García ranked in the bottom 20% of Major Leaguers in both walk and strikeout rate. In 2023, his walk rate was ranked in the 74th percentile. His chase rate was in the ninth percentile in 2022, but jumped to the 41st percentile in ‘23.
By increasing his plate discipline and maintaining his power, García has become a more complete player throughout the years.
More than anything, in his time with the club, García has been the heart and soul of a lineup driven by AL MVP candidates Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. His highlight-worthy defensive plays, combined with his bat flips and struts out of the batter's box have turned him from a late-blooming trade chip to an all-around fan favorite.
“I feel good, still very happy and proud of what the team was able to accomplish,” García said at Rangers Fan Fest. “I’m looking forward to next year and helping my team repeat it.”