2026 Profile: Texas Rangers

The 2026 Major League Baseball season will begin shortly. At Passion MLB, as we have done for years, we're setting the stage for the season by introducing all 30 teams in Major League Baseball.

Today, the Rangers are on the menu.

2025 Season

In 2025, the Rangers hoped to put their 2024 season behind them and return to the heights they reached in 2023, when the team won the World Series. And with Jacob deGrom back and healthy, there was hope.

Except that, once again, the Rangers struggled to win games consistently. Despite having the best pitching staff in the league, their abysmal offense meant they finished the season with an 81-81 record.

The Rangers didn't make the playoffs… and Bruce Bochy, who was at the helm of the team, won't be back in 2026.

Additions and Departures

It's been a busy winter in Arlington. Very early in the offseason, Skip Schumaker was named manager… then the Rangers completed a trade with the Mets that brought Brandon Nimmo to Texas.

Marcus Semien, a mainstay of the organization for several years, went the other way. Then, more recently, the Rangers paid a hefty price to acquire Mackenzie Gore, who was breaking out in Washington. Prospects Gavin Fien, Alejandro Rosario, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Yeremy Cabrera, and Abimelec Ortiz went the other way.

“I couldn't have hand-picked a better place.” – MacKenzie Gore on being traded to the @Rangers 30 Clubs, 30 Camps pic.twitter.com/QhuSmmgWmY — MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 1, 2026

In free agency, the Rangers went after depth. Danny Jansen and Andrew McCutchen joined the lineup, while Tyler Alexander, Jalen Beeks, and Jakob Junis came in to help out in the bullpen.

Jordan Montgomery, who was a mainstay of the rotation during the 2023 World Series, has also been recalled. Let's see how he's recovered from his Tommy John surgery.

In terms of departures, Merrill Kelly (Diamondbacks) and Tyler Mahle (Giants) are major losses for the rotation. Phil Maton (Cubs), Hoby Milner (Cubs), Shawn Armstrong (Guardians), and Danny Coulombe (Red Sox) have also left the team.

And on the offensive side, Adolis Garcia (Phillies) and Jonah Heim (Braves) were released by the club after strong seasons in Arlington.

Strengths and Weaknesses
Once again, the rotation is likely to be a strength for Texas. Gore joins a rotation that already features the excellent Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, who is coming off a monster season in 2025.

Young Jack Leiter, a major prospect for the club for the past few years, will also be a key part of the equation.

On the other hand, the lineup hasn't really improved after a dismal 2025 season. They've shed dead weight in Garcia, Heim, and Semien, but without bringing in much reinforcement to replace them. Corey Seager had better be ready… and young players Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter will need to step up.

“When that ball is in the strike zone, he is SWINGING.”Corey Seager is the No. 17 player on this year's #Top100RightNow. pic.twitter.com/9NAdK9UJzq — MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 13, 2025

The bullpen will also be a weakness for the team. Robert Garcia and Chris Martin aren't bad pitchers, but they aren't exactly stars for guys who will be tasked with being the new manager's go-to guys.

If the team has a strong first half of the season, expect them to push hard to bring in reinforcements in that area. Expectations for the 2026 Season

The Rangers are part of a group of teams that will be battling for a playoff spot in the American League. They won't give up many runs with such a dominant rotation, but the question marks on offense mean they might not score many runs either.

Are they better than the Mariners, the favorites to win their division? No. That said, they'll be in the running for a wild-card spot.

Memories of the 2023 World Series are fading in Texas, and it feels like the organization wanted to bring in a breath of fresh air this winter. Let's see how that plays out on the field.

Created by humans, assisted by AI.