The checklist the Rangers had for this offseason, even after naming a new manager just a week into October, was extensive.
Start with the trimming, or, depending on your perspective, slashing of payroll. Fix a broken offense. Rebuild an overachieving bullpen. Reshape a clubhouse culture that had become stale, complacent or fragmented. While you are at it, do it all while not losing sight of the very publicly stated goal of contending.
Sure. Nice try. Check back after the Great Expected Work Stoppage of 2027.
And, yet, in the measly two weeks between the GM meetings and Thanksgiving, it’s hard to think that the Rangers could have realistically gotten more work done on that seemingly impossible list.
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In non-tending Adolis Garcia, Jonah Heim, Jacob Webb and Josh Sborz, they lopped off about $19 million. The trade of Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo may, in the long run, be an overpay based on total dollars spent, but the savings for 2026 amounts to about $11 million due to the difference in annual salary and the $5 million Steve Cohen is shipping to Ray Davis. All in, they are at about $180 million right now, still with holes at catcher, starter depth and the entire bullpen, but it’s conceivable that if Chris Young can convince Davis to go to $210 million or so, they could fill most of those holes at least adequately.
In acquiring Nimmo, ostensibly to replace García, and potentially shifting Josh Smith to second for Semien, the Rangers stand to gain a significant OBP upgrade. Garcia/Semien combined for a composite .288 OBP last year; Nimmo/Smith: .329. Figure the players average about 550 plate appearances a year, that’s more than 40 additional baserunners. That’s the number one thing the Rangers need: More baserunners.
Adding Nimmo to the clubhouse, along with new outfield/first base coach Travis Jankowksi, still a peer to many of the players, are huge steps toward refreshing the culture. This is in no way to suggest Semien was an issue. Semien worked hard. He played hurt. He was perhaps the most proactive teammate in the community. No, the clubhouse issue was bigger. And it was brought into focus by all the things Nimmo said in his introductory Zoom on Monday. Things that no Ranger position player has been able to clearly articulate the last two years.
“I want to impart as much wisdom as I can on the young guys,” said Nimmo, who is 32 and entering his 11th season in the majors in 2026.
“Things that guys like Jay Bruce, Curtis Granderson and David Wright did for me. I’m here to be a useful source and a mentor … and I think I’m still a pretty good player.”
The last part can’t be understated. The Rangers need Nimmo to perform. They brought Joc Pederson in to help the clubhouse last year. Pederson struggled to perform and it silenced his voice most of the season. Voice alone isn’t going to change everything. But adding perspective, particularly the kind that Nimmo can bring, along with performance can make a huge difference.
The Rangers need this. They certainly have it on the pitching side with Nathan Eovaldi. They’ve lacked it on the position player side as they’ve integrated more young players. At times, it was hard to see if there was anybody actually helping Evan Carter, Wyatt Langford, Alejandro Osuna and others adjust and acclimate. There were lots of guys doing work and putting in effort, but, at times, it looked more mechanical and individual than organic. The worst of the optics was Heim’s body language, which regularly looked like he didn’t enjoy playing baseball. It could be hard to watch. Certainly struggles at the plate play a part, but so can real life outside the park.
This is where relationships play a huge role. Jankowski regularly used to gather a group of players and coaches to have “Show Talk” on the field for 10-15 minutes around BP, a casual, free-flowing conversation. He described it as “Show Talk,” because it was just part of being a big leaguer, talking about everyday life or events, while appreciating the moment. It was a cleanser before the game. You can bet this will be part of his regular routine as a coach, too.
Jankowski and Nimmo go back a ways in the Mets’ organization. They are on the same page. And they sound the same on some things, like the bond formed by simply investing in teammates. Nimmo spent a lot of time – well, on everything Monday – but also on his desire to push more organized, but casual team get-togethers.
“That’s a big part of being a team, is creating chemistry,” he said. “It’s a big part of what my mentors did for me. I want guys to be comfortable and know we can have constructive conversations.”
The Rangers didn’t talk about chemistry on Monday. They didn’t want to form an unnecessary connection between trading a hard, dedicated worker and chemistry. And there shouldn’t be. Semien’s a pro. But Nimmo did acknowledge the Rangers are self-aware that overall culture must improve and that they would like him to be part of the solution.
“When [Young] talked to me before the trade, he made it clear they’d done a lot of research on me,” Nimmo said. “He said they love the player, we want the player, but we want the PERSON. He said ‘We want you to impact these guys by being yourself and imparting your knowledge.’ I’m really excited about that journey here.”
So, about the checklist? Yeah, there’s still a lot to attack, but what’s been done already can’t be overlooked.
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