With the Texas Rangers not qualifying for the postseason, looking back on a disappointing 2024 season is underway.

Despite the Rangers’ 78-84 record there were still plenty of positives to pull from a season that failed to meet expectations.

Let’s hand out some Rangers awards to see which Texas players made the most of a rough 2024 season.

CY Young – Kirby Yates

Not many people probably thought that a 37-year-old reliever who signed a 1 year $4.5 million contract would be the team’s best pitcher but that just about sums up the 2024 Texas Rangers.

Kirby Yates was one of baseball’s elite relievers in 2024 as he fired 61.2 innings to the tune of a 1.17 ERA.

After struggling mightily from the closer position in 2023, Yates took the opportunity and ran with it putting up 33 saves.

Following a pair of seasons in which he struggled in Atlanta, the Hawaii native put forth one of his best seasons yet.

Usually, I’d lean towards a starter when picking a CY Young but the Rangers rotation was much of a revolving door in 2024 with no one that really stood out.

That’s not to take away from what Yates did this season because he without a doubt earned it after having one of the best seasons we’ve seen from a Rangers closer this decade.

Yates will be hitting the open market this winter after certainly boosting his value after a strong season.

With age being such a factor, it’ll be interesting to see the length of his next contract and if the Rangers are willing to offer him a multi year deal.

There is no doubt that Chris Young and the Rangers front office need to revamp their bullpen prior to the 2025 season.

Certainly, there is a link between Yates and what the Rangers need to do in their bullpen for next season.

Kirby Yates could very well find himself back in a Texas Rangers uniform as they took to make it back to the postseason.