The biggest Lone Star State showdown ever: Why Texas will be rockin’ for Astros-Rangers
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Bradford Doolittle, ESPN Staff Writer
IF YOU’RE THE TYPE to take the long view on things, what could be the biggest series in Texas baseball history starts today at Globe Life Field, and the moment is more than a century in the making. The buildup began before the American League — in which the Texas Rangers and Houston Astros now play — even existed. After all, they’ve been playing baseball in The Lone Star State for a long time. A very long time.
The three-game series between the Rangers and Astros has 135 years of baggage behind it, dating back to the first incarnation of the Texas League, which began play in 1888.
Now, in September 2023, all eyes in baseball will be on Arlington. And why wouldn’t they be? The breakout Rangers led the division for most of the season behind a potent offense and an experienced rotation of veterans brought in via trades and free agency. Then the Astros, who overcame a so-so, injury-laden start, emerged into a three-way turnstile atop the West with the Rangers and upstart Seattle Mariners. This week, the last regular-season meeting between the two Texas teams this season, will be the last time we can be sure to see the in-state rivals go toe-to-toe with the stakes sky high.
• Winning the division is going to be huge for the postseason chances of the team that accomplishes it. The division flag in this year’s AL West means a first-round bye, as the AL Central champion is going to be the No. 3 seed. Thus, first in the West is the difference between a bye and division series home advantage, or ending up in a wild-card encounter as the road team.
• The matchup features some of baseball’s most exciting hitters. You have core hitters like Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez for the Astros; Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Adolis Garcia for the Rangers.
• In the dugouts, you have two future Hall of Fame skippers: Texas’ Bruce Bochy, looking for his fourth title, and Houston’s Dusty Baker, coming off his first. And the pair have plenty of personal history to boot. They first squared off as managers in 1995. As players, they faced each other on Sept. 7, 1978, when Baker homered for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 3-2 win over Bochy and Astros.
• If the pitching probable schedules hold, we’re headed for an epic matchup in the series finale, featuring two Cooperstown-bound aces. Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander began this season as teammates with the New York Mets but joined this rivalry, on opposite sides, at the trade deadline. This is a best-case scenario, though, and one that may be in jeopardy after Scherzer had to leave his last start early with forearm tightness.
• There is bad blood brewing. The last time the teams met, benches cleared. There weren’t any punches thrown, but Semien and Martin Maldonado were ejected after their back-and-forth preceded the near melee.
There’s no shortage of storylines. And so despite 135 years of history, it’s easy to make the case that, until these two teams meet someday in October, this series is the crescendo for the sport in Texas.
IN THE TEXAS LEAGUE starting in the 19th century, Dallas and Houston battled in different versions of the circuit over the decades. As the cities grew in size and national influence, and Major League Baseball turned its gaze westward in the late 1950s, it was inevitable that Texas would be on the docket. And so, the Houston Colt 45s joined the National League in 1962. Three years later, they were redubbed the Astros when baseball’s first indoor venue, the Astrodome, opened to much fanfare.
Up north, baseball fans in the Dallas-Fort Worth region had to wait until 1972, when the second incarnation of the Washington Senators moved into Arlington Stadium for big league ball.
At last, Texas had two major league clubs. But for the first two decades of their mutual existence, the Rangers and Astros existed more on parallel tracks than intersecting ones.
The origins of the Lone Star Series, or the Silver Boot Series as many still like to call it, traces back to a series of popular end-of-spring-training exhibitions that began in 1992. The highlight of the exhibitions was 1993, when more than 53,000 fans turned out at the Astrodome for the return of Nolan Ryan, once an Astro and then a Ranger, and forever the connective tissue between the two franchises.
The Silver Boot Series moved to regular-season play when the Astros and Rangers began meeting in interleague games beginning in 2001. That’s when the winner of the series began receiving — you guessed it — a Silver Boot Trophy. The bragging rights contests continued in that vein for more than a decade.
During the 42 seasons the Astros and Rangers played in different leagues, they made the playoffs in the same season just twice — 1998 and 1999 — but neither team won a playoff series in those Octobers. That’s the closest we ever came to an All-Texas World Series, a possibility that ended when Houston was moved to the AL West in 2013.
Instead of that ultimate Lone Star October moment, we got a brand-new intrastate division rivalry. With the Astros and Rangers now in the same division, competing for the same championships, the pieces were in place for the Lone Star Series to become one of baseball’s marquee matchups.
And sure enough, in 2015, the Astros and Rangers both made the playoffs in their third season as division rivals. That campaign featured a pair of key September series, including a four-game sweep by the Rangers in the middle of the month in Arlington that turned a 1½-game Texas deficit to a 2½-game lead. Texas never relinquished the lead. Yet, as with the clubs’ other concurrent postseason appearance, their seasons ended in the division series round and neither team reached the 90-win plateau during that campaign.
Since then, the rivalry has been more of a slow burn, mostly because the teams haven’t been in prime contention at the same time since that 2015 prequel.
Both teams were over .500 in 2016, when the Rangers won the division with a 95-67 record. But the Astros took a step back that season and weren’t really in the division race after early August.
After that, Houston went into dynasty mode. They’ve played in every ALCS since then, winning four pennants and two World Series. The Rangers, though, entered a prolonged rebuild, landing well under .500 six seasons in a row and finishing an average of 29 games out of first place, all while their cross-state rival was running roughshod over the American League.
Alas, as we know, you can’t force these things. The best rivalries happen organically, through a sequence of contentious encounters that, preferably, feature a little rancor, memorable personalities, and — most importantly — real stakes. For the Lone Star Series, the convergence of all those factors is this week.
Texas’ two teams, as mutually strong as they’ve been at any time since they became division foes, are meeting for the last time this season. They are in a neck-and-neck battle for the division race and crucial playoff position. The Rangers have been struggling of late, but they enter the matchup on the momentum of Garcia’s game-winning homer against Minnesota on Sunday.
You have two teams that don’t like each other, representing the two biggest metroplexes in the biggest state of the continental U.S. You have forecasts for scorching, 100-degree weather. And we get to finish it off hopefully with a showdown between two generational aces with a combined 467 career wins between them.
Given the status of the playoff races and the strength of these teams, it’s possible even bigger clashes lay in the offing — maybe even the first-ever Silver Boot playoff showdown. They might have to get a second boot for that.
For now, this is what we’re guaranteed. Astros and Rangers, for the last time this season. If all the pieces fall into place, it just might turn out to be the biggest series in Texas baseball history, 135 years in the making.
Just like that, the 2024-25 MLB hot stove has kicked off! We had a trade just one day after the Los Angeles Dodgers hoisted the World Series championship trophy.
All eyes this winter were on the top free agent, young slugger Juan Soto, who left the New York Yankees for a record contract with the New York Mets. But he’s not the only one who will make a splash in the market.
Which teams will go all-in to contend for a 2025 World Series title? Where will other top free agents like Alex Bregman land? And who will make the trades and deals that have everyone buzzing?
Below is a running list of notable transactions and updates from throughout the MLB offseason.
Free agency, trade grades | Top 50 free agents | Fantasy spin
Notable MLB offseason transactions
Feb. 5
Alonso returns to Mets
Slugger Pete Alonso and the New York Mets are in agreement on a 2-year, $54 million contract (with an opt-out after the first season), sources told ESPN on Wednesday, ending a lengthy free agency with a return engagement to the only team for which he has played. Story » | Grade »
Feb. 2
Tigers add to rotation with Flaherty signing
Right-hander Jack Flaherty and the Detroit Tigers agreed on a two-year, $35 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 30
Blue Jays land Scherzer on one-year deal
Right-hander Max Scherzer and the Toronto Blue Jays are in agreement on a one-year, $15.5 million contract, sources told ESPN on Thursday. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 29
Reds trade for late-inning arm
The Cincinnati Reds are finalizing a trade to acquire left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers from the San Francisco Giants, sources tell ESPN. Story »
Rays land infielder Kim
Infielder Ha-Seong Kim and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a two-year, $29 million contract that includes an opt-out after the first season, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Tigers further fortify bullpen with Kahnle
Right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $7.75 million contract, pending physical, sources told ESPN. Story »
Mets add hard-throwing Stanek to pen
Right-hander Ryne Stanek and the New York Mets are in agreement on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN. Story »
Jan. 28
Dodgers sign All-Star reliever Yates
Right-handed reliever Kirby Yates and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a one-year, $13 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Can get up to $14M with 55 games pitched. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 26
Cubs trade for veteran reliever Pressly
The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a trade to acquire closer Ryan Pressly from the Houston Astros, pending medical review, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 23
Braves land All-Star outfielder in Profar
Outfielder Jurickson Profar and the Atlanta Braves are finalizing a three-year, $42 million contract, sources tell ESPN.
Jan. 20
Blue Jays add Santander to outfield
The Toronto Blue Jays and outfielder Anthony Santander are in agreement on a five-year contract worth $92.5 million, giving the team one of the best hitters available this offseason after failed attempts to land a marquee free agent in recent years. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 19
Dodgers nab Scott for bullpen
The Los Angeles Dodgers have added left-hander Tanner Scott, arguably the best relief pitcher on the free agent market, agreeing to terms on a four-year, $72 million contract, sources told ESPN on Sunday. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 17
Japanese ace Sasaki picks Dodgers
Roki Sasaki, the prized Japanese pitching prospect who has had scouts drooling over his potential since high school, has chosen the Los Angeles Dodgers as his major league team, he announced on Instagram on Friday. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 16
Winker returns to Mets on one-year deal
Outfielder Jesse Winker and the New York Mets have agreed on a one-year deal, a source confirmed to ESPN amid multiple reports Thursday. Story »
Jan. 10
Blue Jays sign top reliever Hoffman
The Toronto Blue Jays announced they have signed right-handed reliever Jeff Hoffman to a three-year, $33 million deal. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 7
Giants add Verlander on one-year deal
Right-hander Justin Verlander and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract, sources told ESPN on Tuesday, continuing the future Hall of Famer’s career at age 42 in one of the pitcher-friendliest stadiums in baseball. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 6
Reds acquire Lux in trade with Dodgers
The Cincinnati Reds acquired infielder Gavin Lux from the Los Angeles Dodgers for a draft pick and an outfield prospect, the teams announced Monday, adding another prime-age hitter to a team that hopes to ascend in the National League Central this season. Story » | Grades »
Royals bring back pitcher Lorenzen
Right-hander Michael Lorenzen and the Kansas City Royals agreed on a one-year, $7 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Jan. 3
Dodgers land star KBO infielder
The Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement with Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim on a 3-year, $12.5 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 30
Nats sign Bell to one-year deal
The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with first baseman Josh Bell on a one-year contract worth $6 million, according to multiple reports. Story »
Dec. 29
Cubs and Marlins swap infielders
The Chicago Cubs acquired utility man Vidal Bruján on Sunday, sending first baseman Matt Mervis to the Miami Marlins in a swap of former top-100 prospects. Story »
Dec. 28
Burnes joins D-backs on $210 million deal
Right-hander Corbin Burnes and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a six-year, $210 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 27
Dodgers bring back All-Star outfielder Hernandez
Outfielder Teoscar Hernández and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a three-year, $66 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Tigers add Torres to infield on one-year deal
Infielder Gleyber Torres and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $15 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 23
McCutchen returns to the Pirates
Veteran slugger Andrew McCutchen is returning to the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team announced on social media. Story »
Buehler, Red Sox agree to 1-year deal
Right-hander Walker Buehler and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $21.05 million contract, sources told ESPN, sending the pitcher who secured the final out of the World Series this year to a team loading up on starting pitching as it pivots toward contention. Story » | Grade »
Rangers add veteran bat Pederson
Outfielder Joc Pederson and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a contract pending a physical, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Manaea returns to Mets on three-year deal
Left-hander Sean Manaea and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $75 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 22
Phillies bolster rotation with trade for Luzardo
The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired left-handed starter Jesus Luzardo from the Miami Marlins for two prospects, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN. Story » | Grades »
Nationals land 1B Lowe in trade with Rangers
The Washington Nationals on Sunday acquired first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the Texas Rangers in exchange for lefty reliever Robert Garcia. Story » | Grades »
Dec. 21
Guardians trade Naylor to D-backs, sign Santana
The Cleveland Guardians traded first baseman Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday and quickly replaced him, with sources telling ESPN that they agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with free agent Carlos Santana, bringing him back for his third stint with the team. Story » | Grades »
Goldschmidt, Yankees agree on 1-year deal
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a one-year, $12.5 million contract, sources told ESPN, pairing the former National League MVP and seven-time All-Star with the American League champion in the midst of a significant overhaul. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 20
Astros bring Walker to Houston
The Houston Astros and free-agent first baseman Christian Walker have agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN amid multiple reports. Story » | Grade »
Yanks ship Trevino to Reds for Cruz, Jackson
The New York Yankees traded catcher Jose Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds for right-hander Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson, the teams announced Friday. Story »
Red Sox add rotation arm
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $18.25 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story »
A’s land veteran infielder
Gio Urshela is in agreement with the Athletics on a major league contract, sources confirm to ESPN. Story »
Dec. 19
Phillies bolster outfield with Kepler
Outfielder Max Kepler and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a one-year, $10 million contract, pending a physical, sources tell ESPN. Story »
Dec. 17
Yankees land Bellinger in trade with Cubs
OF/1B Cody Bellinger has been traded from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees for right-handed reliever Cody Poteet, sources tell ESPN. (New York will also receive cash considerations.) Story » | Grades »
Dec. 16
O’s, Sugano agree on 1-year, $13M deal
Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a contract, the team announced Monday night, uniting one of the most successful Japanese pitchers of his generation with a team in need of rotation help. The deal is for one year and $13 million, sources told ESPN. Story »
Dec. 14
A’s acquire lefty Springs from Rays
The Athletics are acquiring left-hander Jeffrey Springs in a six-player trade with the Tampa Bay Rays, the team announced Saturday, continuing their push toward contention with a significant increase in their payroll as they head into their first season in Sacramento. Story » | Grades »
Dec. 13
Cubs land three-time All-Star Tucker in deal with Astros
The Chicago Cubs are acquiring Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker in exchange for third baseman Isaac Paredes, pitcher Hayden Wesneski and prospect Cam Smith, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story » | Grades »
Yankees get All-Star closer Williams from Milwaukee
The New York Yankees are acquiring closer Devin Williams from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-hander Nestor Cortes, infield prospect Caleb Durbin and cash considerations, sources told ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story » | Grades »
Dec. 11
Loáisiga returns to Yankees
Right-handed pitcher Jonathan Loáisiga and the Yankees have agreed on a one-year contract with a team option for 2026, a source tells ESPN. Story »
Red Sox trading for Crochet
The Boston Red Sox are acquiring left-hander Garrett Crochet in a trade with the Chicago White Sox for four highly-regarded prospects, sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Story »
Dec. 10
Marlins, Rangers agree to trade for Jake Burger
The Texas Rangers have agreed to a trade for power-hitting corner infielder Jake Burger, sources told ESPN on Tuesday. In exchange, the Miami Marlins will receive two shortstop prospects, Echedry Vargas and Max Acosta, and a young left-handed starting pitcher in Brayan Mendoza. Story » | Grades »
Eovaldi returning to the Rangers
Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi and the Texas Rangers are in agreement on a three-year, $75 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Guardians and Blue Jays complete trade
The Toronto Blue Jays are finalizing a trade to acquire three-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman Andres Gimenez from the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grades »
Yankees land Fried on $218 million contract
Left-hander Max Fried and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a eight-year, $218 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. It is the largest guarantee in baseball history for a left-handed pitcher. Story » | Grade »
Blue Jays sign pitcher Garcia
The Toronto Blue Jays and right-hander Yimi Garcia are in agreement on a two-year, $15 million contract, a source told ESPN on Tuesday. Story »
Dec. 9
Phillies add Romano to bullpen
Closer Jordan Romano and the Philadelphia Phillies are in agreement on a free agent contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Romano was nontendered by Toronto earlier this offseason. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 8
Mets sign Soto for MLB record $765 million
Superstar outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets are in agreement on a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources tell ESPN. It is the largest deal in professional sports history. Story » | Grade »
Conforto joins Dodgers on $17 million deal
Outfielder Michael Conforto joined the Dodgers on a one-year deal. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 7
Giants, Adames agree on 7 years, $182M
Shortstop Willy Adames and the San Francisco Giants are in agreement on a seven-year, $182 million contract, the largest outlay in franchise history, sources told ESPN on Saturday. Story » | Grade »
O’s land O’Neill
Outfielder Tyler O’Neill and the Baltimore Orioles are in agreement on a three-year, $49.5 million contract, a source told ESPN, filling a void created by the free agency of slugging outfielder Anthony Santander. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 6
Mets sign Holmes … as a starter
Right-hander Clay Holmes and the New York Mets are in agreement on a three-year, $38 million contract with an opt-out after the second year, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Jeff Passan on Friday night. Story » | Grade »
Rays add catcher Jansen
Catcher Danny Jansen and the Tampa Bay Rays are in agreement on a one-year, $8.5 million contract that includes a mutual option for a second season, sources tell ESPN.
Dec. 5
A’s sign Severino to franchise-record contract
Right-hander Luis Severino and the Athletics are in agreement on a three-year, $67 million free agent contract that is the largest guarantee in the franchise’s history, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 3
Red Sox add Chapman to bullpen
Left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a one-year, $10.75 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Dec. 2
Cubs sign pitcher Boyd to two-year deal
The Chicago Cubs have added Matthew Boyd to their rotation in their first big offseason move, agreeing to a $29 million, two-year contract with the veteran left-hander, sources confirmed to ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Mets add to rotation with Montas signing
Right-hander Frankie Montas and the New York Mets are in agreement on a two-year, $34 million contract, sources told ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 26
Dodgers make splash with Snell signing
Left-hander Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers are in agreement on a five-year, $182 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 25
Angels add to rotation in yet another move
Left-handed starter Yusei Kikuchi is in agreement with the Los Angeles Angels on a three-year, $63 million contract, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 22
Royals trade for position players
The Kansas City Royals traded right-handed pitcher Brady Singer to the Cincinnati Reds for infielder Jonathan India and outfielder Joey Wiemer, the teams announced on Friday. Story » | Grades »
Nov. 20
Cubs add reliever in deal with Guardians
The Chicago Cubs are acquiring right-handed reliever Eli Morgan in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians, sources tell ESPN.
Nov. 19
Mets get outfield help in deal with Rays
The New York Mets have acquired outfielder Jose Siri from the Tampa Bay Rays for reliever Eric Orze. Story »
Nov. 18
Martinez accepts qualifying offer to stay with Reds
Right-hander Nick Martinez accepted the Cincinnati Reds‘ $21.05 million qualifying offer, multiple outlets reported Monday. Story »
Nov. 14
Angels sign infielder Newman to one-year deal
The Los Angeles Angels and infielder Kevin Newman agreed to a one-year $2.5 million contract with a club option for 2026, the team announced . Story »
Red Sox add reliever Wilson
Left-hander Justin Wilson and the Boston Red Sox have agreed to a $2.25 million, one-year contract, according to multiple reports. Story »
Nov. 12
Angels sign d’Arnaud to two-year deal
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud and the Los Angeles Angels are in agreement on a two-year, $12 million contract. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 6
Hedges returns to Guardians on one-year deal
Catcher Austin Hedges and the Cleveland Guardians are in agreement on a one-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Story »
Angels add veteran arm to rotation
Kyle Hendricks is in agreement with the Los Angeles Angels on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Nov. 3
Royals re-sign Wacha to 3-year deal
Right-hander Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals are in agreement on a three-year, $51 million contract, sources tell ESPN. The deal includes a club option and can max out at four years, $72 million. Story » | Grade »
Oct. 31
Braves make first splash of offseason
The Atlanta Braves are trading outfielder Jorge Soler to the Los Angeles Angels and will receive right-hander Griffin Canning, sources tell ESPN. Story » | Grade »
Key MLB offseason dates
Dec. 9-12: Winter meetings in Dallas, Texas
Dec. 11: Rule 5 draft
Jan. 9: Deadline for teams and arbitration-eligible players to submit salary figures
End of January: Arbitration hearings begin
Feb. 22: Spring training games begin
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