ARLINGTON
The Keg of Truth about the Texas Rangers is since winning the 2023 World Series, they are the biggest disappointment in Major League Baseball, barely eclipsing the New York Mets.
The Rangers have reasons, but no good excuse, for failing to miss the playoffs over the past two seasons. Outfielders they counted on to produce didn’t. A bullpen they needed to be above average was not.
The Rangers start their season on Thursday in Philadelphia with a fan base not sure if hoping is the best course of action, or resorting to their previous ways of zero expectations is the wise decision. They’re not winning the World Series in ‘26, but if they miss the playoffs, everyone gets an F for “What would you say you do here?”
Like most teams that are labeled as “pretty good,” the Rangers are loaded with the “If he ….,” and “We think that …” entering the season. This starts with an outfield has to do produce offense, a group of relievers that must hold leads, and a designated hitter who is something more than a designated out.
Rangers’ outfield needs key piece from the 2023 World Series team
The Rangers are putting Evan Carter, whose production throughout the 2023 playoffs is a major reason they won the World Series, in center field and are counting on him. Because they have to.
Carter’s inability to stay healthy is one of the major reasons why this outfield became so problematic in each of the past two years. After playing in only 45 games in 2024, he was limited to 63 last season.
Carter, 23, has suffered a fractured wrist, but the back injury that required surgery is the biggest concern for the player and the team. Once a back goes, it can be hard to make it cooperate again. The Rangers keep issuing all of the necessary optimism about Carter’s health, but a bad back is a bad back for a reason.
“Evan is a tremendous center fielder, defensive wise,” Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young said on Monday before the team’s home exhibition game. “He can really run it down. It keeps Wyatt (Langford) and (Brandon) Nimmo in the corners, and we feel that gives us the best outfield coverage with that set up.”
After a solid rookie year in ‘24, Wyatt Langford’s production didn’t make a major jump in ‘25. Too much was expected of Langford immediately, but this will be his third season and, for the Rangers to improve, his bat must pop.
“It’s crazy expectations on him. I’ve already said what I think he can be and will be, when that’s going to happen I’m not sure,” Rangers first-year manager Skip Shumaker said this week. “What he has shown early in his career is elite speed-power combination. He’s going to become an even better hitter average wise and OPS combined at some point in his career, I’m hoping it’s this year.”
The other spot will be filled by Nimmo, who was acquired in the Marcus Semien trade. Nimmo replaces Adolis Garcia, who will forever be beloved for what he did in 2023; but Garcia was all or nothing.
Nimmo, 32, has been a reliable everyday player for the last four years, and if he does this season in Texas what he did with the Mets, this is a big upgrade for the Rangers.
“It’s how do we build a roster that complements one another and has less volatility, more stable skill sets,” Young said. “Maybe we don’t have the high moments, or exciting moments, that maybe a player like Adolis offered, but we have consistency that we are going to need day-to-day, and Brandon Nimmo is going to offer that.”
Do the Rangers have a designated hitter?
Handed a two-year, $37 million deal in December 2024, DH Joc Pederson was a bag of nothing in 2025. He only played in 96 games, and when he did play he didn’t do much. Nine home runs from a DH is awful.
When your DH is a bottom-of-the-order hitter, your lineup has major problems. His performance at the plate was reflective of an offense that was one of the worst in the league, and ultimately the reason the team finished only .500 despite a pitching staff and defense that were among the best in the game.
The Rangers are committed to giving Pederson another chance, but do not expect his leash to be more than 45 games.
“Joc has been a great player over the course of his career,” Young said, “and I know that’s still in there.”
Do the Rangers have a closer?
If the Rangers “close” the way they did in 2025, expect pain. The pitching staff blew 38 leads, and finished 21-29 in one-run games.
They did the closer-by-committee thing, and it was a mess. The team’s 29 blown saves tied for the second most in 2025
This season, they will go with veterans Chris Martin and Robert Garcia. Veteran Jacob Latz will be a setup pitcher again, but he may ultimately have closer ability.
There are other concerns for the Rangers, but of the “If he ….” and “We think that …” break right, the team will clear the low bar that has been set for them.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Mac Engel is an award-winning columnist who has covered sports since the dawn of man; Cowboys, TCU, Stars, Rangers, Mavericks, etc. Olympics. Movies. Concerts. Books. He combines dry wit with 1st-person reporting to complement an annoying personality.
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