Rangers sign Tyler Wade, Chris Martin, Anthony Veneziano, Jose Herrera, Andrew Velazquez, Danny Jansen, Alexis Diaz, Tyler Alexander

While the Rangers haven’t made any big splashes since the blockbuster Marcus Semien-Brandon Nimmo trade with the New York Mets, they have quietly improved their organization’s depth.

This month, the Rangers have signed catcher Danny Jansen to a two-year, $14.5 million deal, righty reliever Alexis Diaz to a one-year $1 million deal, righty reliever Chris Martin to a one-year, $4 million dealand lefty reliever Tyler Alexander to a one-year, $1.125 million deal. They’ve also added infielder Tyler Wade, lefty reliever Anthony Veneziano, catcher Jose Herrera and infielder Andrew Velazquez on minor league contracts.

“Tension” between star infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien led to blockbuster Brandon Nimmo trade with Mets

It appeared that the Rangers’ main motive for trading Semien to the Mets for Nimmo was to lower the annual payroll and improve offensively. However, earlier this month, MLB insider Jon Heyman said on Bleacher Report Live that the Semien trade was meant for “conflict” resolution and was a “clubhouse thing.”

Rangers only team without winning record to exceed luxury tax threshold this year

Nine teams, including the Texas Rangers, have exceeded the $241 million luxury tax threshold, according to The Associated Press. The Rangers are the only team without a winning record (81-81) to surpass the threshold. They owe $190,483 to MLB by January 21.

This marks the third straight year the Rangers have exceeded the luxury tax threshold, subjecting them to the highest escalator fees. The New York Mets, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies also surpassed the threshold for the third year in a row.

Rangers acquire Pirates’ first-round pick from Rule 5 Draft

The Rangers acquired right-handed reliever Carter Baumler from the Pittsburgh Pirates, who selected the righty from the Baltimore Orioles with the fifth overall pick in the Rule 5 Draft.

Baumler posted a 2.04 ERA with 46 strikeouts and 18 walks in 39 2/3 innings across three minor-league levels this past season. He reached Double-A, the highest level he has played in, last season, allowing no runs in 7 2/3 innings. Overall, Baumler has a career 3.05 ERA in 88 2/3 minor-league innings.

Phillies sign Rangers World Series hero Adolis García

The Philadelphia Phillies and former Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal. The Rangers non-tendered García last month in an effort to reduce payroll and reform their struggling offense, which ranked 26th in OPS (.683) last season.