Texas Rangers — Bracing For Breakthrough

The Rangers won it all in 2023 but then faded into obscurity for the next two seasons. They finished at 81-81 in 2025 but showcased promising young bats and a defense-first philosophy that kept them competitive. The Rangers won it all in 2023 but then faded into obscurity for the next two seasons. They finished at 81-81 in 2025 but showcased promising young bats and a defense-first philosophy that kept them competitive. Adolis Garcia is gone, promising a new direction for the Rangers in 2026, one way or another.

The offense hovered around the bottom of the league, but the pitching put up some of the league’s best numbers. They lead the league in team ERA and WHIP, and ranked 3rd in opponents’ batting average. Jacob DeGrom returned to his old form, as he stayed healthy and posted a 12-8 record with a 2.97 ERA (12th) and a WHIP of 0.92 (2nd).

The Rangers were also the best defensive team in baseball in 2025, committing the fewest errors in the league

Biggest Needs
Consistent offensive production from the bottom third of the order.

The Rangers are hoping that Evan Carter can return to rookie season production and need good seasons from their other young stars Wyatt Langford and Josh Jung if they want to compete. There were reports that there was friction in the clubhouse with Marcus Semien, which led to him being traded to the New York Mets. Hopefully, with Semien gone, Corey Seager and the Rangers can find their championship DNA again

The Rangers have quietly been busy this offseason, mostly on the defensive side. They landed MacKenzie Gore, Jordan Montgomery and Alexis Diaz among others, to ensure they stay steady on the mound. They did make some noise on the offensive side of the ball acquiring Brandon Nimmo and Danny Jansen. I don’t, however, think that either guy can match the production left by Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim respectively. But maybe they’ll surprise us. Neither are exciting, but both are sturdy. The Rangers could probably use that.

Our Take
While not favorites, the Rangers have upside if their lineup takes a collective step forward. Their organization has made a choice in terms of identity: pitching and defense. The rotation is set up to be fun: some combination of DeGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Gore, Montgomery, and former top prospects Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker.

Texas’ season will all come down to if the offense can back them up. Their lineup is fun on paper, but can they stay healthy and produce? That’s the BIG question, but the front office seems to be ready to get back to October.