Robinson Chirinos spent six years as a backstop for the Rangers and many assumed this winter he would spend a seventh year in Arlington as Texas held a relatively cheap option for his services and Chirinos had been a productive hitter as far as catchers go during his time in Texas.
Instead, Texas veered off course and decided to prioritize defense at the position and signed Jeff Mathis to take Chirinos’ spot on the roster and elevated Isiah Kiner-Falefa to a more prominent role behind the plate.