Only a few years ago, teams throughout MLB were studying how the Texas Rangers captured the 2023 World Series. The Rangers have since returned to taking notes themselves.

The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers have been playing in the World Series since Friday. It is an unusual matchup between two small market teams at a time when MLB owners and the MLB Players Association are fighting over the financial future of the sport.

While those sides attempt to divide billions of dollars, Tampa Bay and Milwaukee are pursuing the first World Series title in their respective franchise histories.

The Rangers should pay close attention. President of baseball operations Chris Young wants his roster to become younger and more athletic, which likely means making it less expensive.

The Rays and Brewers built winning teams despite limited budgets. This approach also means neither organization can retain every player indefinitely.

Neither team has many players entering free agency after the season. However, one Brewers reliever could become an ideal addition to the Texas bullpen for 2027.

Antonio Senzatela is not technically a free agent yet. The Colorado Rockies traded him to Milwaukee during the season, leaving the Brewers responsible for his $14 million team option.

Milwaukee is highly unlikely to exercise that option, particularly with a potential labor stoppage looming.

The right-hander spent many years as a starter for Colorado before eventually moving to the bullpen after a forgettable 2025 season in which he posted a 6.65 ERA and 1.84 WHIP in 130 innings across 30 appearances (23 starts).

He rebounded with solid work for the Rockies and Brewers in 2026. Senzatela went 11-5 with a 4.05 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 73.1 innings over 57 appearances, recording four saves and 11 holds.

He’s pitched 1.2 innings over two postseason appearances, giving up one unearned run on three hits.

Senzatela’s ability to handle several different assignments should make him appealing to the Rangers. Senzatela can start, work one inning out of the bullpen or cover multiple innings when a starter leaves a game early.

He should attract a robust market despite being 31 years old. Even so, Texas could likely sign him for less than the amount he would receive if Milwaukee exercised his team option.

Senzatela would give the Rangers something every pitching staff needs throughout a long season: adaptability. He would not require one permanent assignment to provide value, allowing the team to use him according to injuries, workloads and individual matchups.

His previous experience as a starter means he understands how to pace himself and navigate a lineup more than once. His time in relief has also required him to adjust quickly, enter games without extensive preparation and attack hitters immediately.

That background could help stabilize a bullpen that may need pitchers capable of covering several outs rather than being restricted to one specific inning. It would also give manager Skip Schumaker another option when the rotation creates an unexpected opening.

Senzatela has already demonstrated his willingness to accept a different role after spending much of his career as a starter. That flexibility, combined with a potentially reasonable contract, makes him a practical target for Texas in 2027.