Rangers place Taveras on outright Waivers

News came Sunday evening that the Texas Rangers had waived outfielder Leody Taveras, signaling the end of the development period Chris Young had given him.

Reports indicated the Rangers had been working on a trade that would require the receiving team to take on all of Taveras' remaining salary, but no teams were willing to meet the price sought by Young and the team's front office.

Under waiver rules, the 29 other Major League Baseball teams will have an opportunity to claim the 26-year-old center fielder. Claims are prioritized by standings, meaning the Colorado Rockies would have the first chance to claim him, followed by other teams with worse records. The Los Angeles Dodgers would have the last opportunity if no other teams claim him.

If a team claims Taveras, they will assume the remaining $3.25 million of his 2025 salary. However, if he goes unclaimed, the Rangers could opt to send him to Triple-A. Due to his service time, Taveras could then decline the minor league assignment and forgo the remaining 2025 salary.

Since being called up in 2020, Taveras played in 504 games for the Rangers. He served as the starting center fielder when the club won its first World Series in franchise history. When he debuted, he was primarily known for his defensive prowess. The club had hoped to continue developing his hitting in hopes he would become their long-term starting center fielder, but those wishes never materialized.

At his peak, Taveras was a 65th percentile hitter, which, combined with the Rangers' overall offensive struggles, was not an ideal combination. His career batting line is .240/.291/.370 with an 85 OPS+. As Taveras is still only 26, it is reasonable to expect a lower-tier team might take a chance on him, hoping to develop his skills into that of an everyday outfielder. Taveras still possesses strong fielding and baserunning abilities, offering potential value to a club.

Taveras' time in Texas was short-lived and, overall, underwhelming compared to the club's hopes for the switch-hitter. However, it cannot be denied that he consistently gave his best effort and was part of the starting lineup for a team that reached the pinnacle of the baseball world. He will also be remembered for the home run he hit off Justin Verlander in Game 1 of the 2023 American League Championship Series, a game the Rangers won 2-0, when few other Rangers found success against the right-hander.