It’s no secret the Texas Rangers were abysmal at closing out games in 2017. If they would have been just league average, they would have finished four games better and finished 82-80. Minnesota, the second wildcard team, was 85-77. If the Rangers had a bit more luck and were a bit more healthy, the playoffs would have been very realistic.
Having a good closer has become more crucial in today’s MLB, which is why free agent closers are demanding so high of a price on the market. The Rangers need to sure up the rotation, the bullpen, and the outfield, so paying such a high price for a closer doesn’t seem likely.