Gray's eyes on starting, but 'no big deal' if Rangers' plans change
Kennedi Landry
@kennlandrySURPRISE, Ariz. -- Jon Gray's goals for 2025 include pitching 200+ innings and collecting 200 strikeouts, something he¡¯s never done in a full season.
Those goals aren¡¯t out of the realm of possibility for a starting pitcher, but it clearly signals something about Gray: that he's still a starting pitcher.
Rumor and reports had been floating throughout the offseason about the Rangers potentially using Gray -- who is in the final year of a four-year, $56 million contract -- as a closer this season. It¡¯s easy to see the temptation.
The 33-year-old has been electric in small sample sizes out of the bullpen. During the 2023 postseason, he allowed one run across 5 2/3 relief innings against the Astros and Diamondbacks. He also allowed one run in seven innings of relief during the '24 regular season.
But he¡¯s still a starter. Gray said he hasn¡¯t been approached by manager Bruce Bochy, pitching coach Mike Maddux or president of baseball operations Chris Young about the possibility, though fans and friends have asked him about the rumors.
"No one¡¯s mentioned it,¡± Gray said. ¡°If that comes up, no big deal. I think they know that I¡¯ll be OK with doing something like that. If the time comes for it, yes, absolutely. I think it'd be fun. There¡¯d be a small adjustment here and there, but I've done it before. It's not like it'd be insanely new. I think if it comes to that position, it means our team's doing really good and we can be better."
Bochy said that he hasn¡¯t really thought about the possibility as the club enters Spring Training, adding that Gray¡¯s biggest contribution to the team right now is being a starter and eating innings.
"We know that's always there, but right now, we're just thinking of him as a starter,¡± Bochy said. ¡°[Gray closing], it's not in our focus right now. During the season, as always, you make adjustments. I'm not saying that we plan on doing it, but you've got to figure ways to make a team better. That's a nice quality to have for Jonny, I think, I think he kind of liked it too, but now he's right now, he's a starter.¡±
And Gray is still a pretty good starter, though he¡¯s struggled with a few injuries throughout his Rangers tenure. During his three years in Texas, the most innings he pitched was 157 1/3 in 2023. He missed most of the postseason that year before returning during the ALCS.
Last season, Gray landed on the injured list on three separate occasions, two because of groin strains and the final time because of a right foot neuroma that ended his season on Sept. 3. He had surgery shortly thereafter.