Texas Rangers 2024 Offseason Preview: How Can the Rangers Recover From a Disappointing World Series Defense?

Season 2024: Eliminated on September 20, 3rd in AL West

Let’s take a look at last season for the 2024 Texas Rangers, the questions the team must answer this winter, and the outlook for 2025.

Read more: 2024 MLB Season Previews: What’s in Store for the White Sox, A’s, Pirates, and More

Things that went well

The flags fly forever, but little has gone right for the 2024 Rangers. They hold the dubious distinction of becoming the first team since the 2014 Red Sox to follow a World Series championship with a loss in the subsequent 162-game campaign.

Few players exceeded expectations in Texas. One bright spot was a pair of aging relievers, Kirby Yates and David Robertson, who turned back the clock and gave the club a pair of late-inning anchors. Yates worked primarily as a closer and Robertson as a setup man, but they were effective throughout the season no matter how they were used.

Corey Seager couldn’t repeat his eye-popping 2023 numbers, including a 1.013 OPS, but he remained an effective hitter who combined plus power skills with a strong ability to get on base. Josh Smith was another bright spot, as he earned a larger workload while continuing to play multiple positions.

Things that went wrong

When a team goes from World Series champion to playoff contender, things can go wrong.

Marcus Semien wasn’t a huge disappointment, but his offensive play took a notable dip from last year. At the same time, to Semien’s credit, he remained one of the most durable players in baseball. His decline was less dramatic than that of Adolis García, who was one of the biggest catalysts of Texas’ World Series run. García was terrific in April of this year before hitting below .200 for the next three months.

Veterans weren’t the only problem in the batting order, as youngsters Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Josh Jung failed to live up to lofty expectations. Langford should have been one of the most exciting rookies in baseball, but he struggled in April, missed most of May with a hamstring injury and was largely ineffective the rest of the way.

Carter was an even bigger disappointment. The outfielder was terrific in September and the postseason last year, but he had a .633 OPS this season and was limited to 45 games by a back injury. Jung suffered a broken wrist four games into the campaign, sidelining him until July 29.

Meanwhile, aging starters Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom failed to make much of an impact. Scherzer returned from a back injury in the season opener in June, but was dropped to the IL after eight starts due to shoulder fatigue. DeGrom was expected to give the rotation a late-season shot, but the team was already out of the playoff race by the time he was ready for a rehab start.

Off-season plans

The good news is that a team that was good enough to win the World Series last year can quickly get back on track.

Seager and Semien are both in the middle of long-term contracts and will remain the double-digit duo. García is expected to recover and Langford and Carter should take a step forward. Those three players could join Leody Taveras to form a deep outfield group. Jung will be the team’s third baseman, and if he can reverse a two-year slump, Nathaniel Lowe could continue to start at first base. Jonah Heim is another player expected to rebound from a down year, in which case he would remain the No. 1 catcher.

MLB Playoffs 2024 Tracker: Follow us as the postseason picture becomes clearer

While the offense is relying on existing players to turn things around, the solutions for the starting staff are more complicated. Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney are all headed to free agency. DeGrom could become a staff ace again, but will be a big question in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. Tyler Mahle is even more uncertain, as he made three starts in his return from Tommy John before returning to the IL with a shoulder injury. Cody Bradford showed flashes of potential this year and should be part of the rotation, along with Dane Dunning, who had a down year. As a result, the Rangers should look to add two reliable starters via free agency or the trade market.

The bullpen needs as much help as the rotation. Yates is headed to free agency and Robertson has a mutual option for 2025. The team also needs to replace José Leclerc, who will become a free agent after an inconsistent eight-season run in Texas. Adding at least two relievers is the minimum expectation for general manager Chris Young.

Prospects on the horizon

With Langford and Carter out of action, the team lacks any notable talent that could even come close to the majors.

The club’s top prospects have tremendous long-term potential, but they’re unlikely to debut next year. The third overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Kumar Rocker, has been delayed by Tommy John surgery in 2023 and will most likely debut in 2026. The top prospect among the position players is Sebastian Walcott, who is just 18 years old.

Justin Foscue doesn’t have a high ceiling, but he’s done well in Triple-A this year. The 25-year-old played briefly with the Rangers, spending time on the IL with an oblique injury. He’s blocked at second base by Semien, but could be a utility man who can play both corner infield positions. Foscue could also be a valuable trade chip as the Rangers search for pitching help.

Emiliano Teodo could help the rotation in the second half of 2025. The 23-year-old has moved up to Double-A and, like many prospects, has shown better swing-and-miss skills than control skills. Teodo caught the eye of the 2024 Futures Game.

Goals for 2025

The Rangers should have postseason aspirations again in 2025. The team needs multiple position players, including Semien, García, Langford, Carter and Jung, to make a much bigger impact next year. That may sound like a lot to ask, but the veterans on that roster have done it before, and the youngsters have recently been among the most coveted prospects in baseball.

The front office will also need to spend some money to improve the pitching staff. Without additional arms, the team will not be able to overcome its pitching problems.

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Fantasy focus

Seager is one of the best hitters in baseball and will be a second-round fantasy pick whose only drawback is that he can’t steal bases. The rest of the Rangers will be a headache for fantasy managers. Will García recapture the success of his 39-homer season? How many innings is deGrom ready to pitch? Are Langford and Carter finally ready to live up to the expectations we had for them this year?

DeGrom should be selected in the range of rounds 3-5, depending on how he looks in spring training. García, Langford, Carter, Semien and Jung are all expected to be selected in rounds 6-12.