2025-26 MLB Offseason Recap: Texas Rangers

But given how the Rangers struggled to generate runners on top of the lineup last season, Nimmo could be a welcome addition.

As for Gore, the left-hander was one of the better swing-and-miss pitchers in all of baseball last season. However, walks and home runs were a problem for Gore, who will join a deep rotation that’ll also include Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.

That trade did cost the Rangers significant prospect depth. Gavin Fien, the team’s first-rounder from 2025, plus Abimelec Ortiz and Devin Fitz-Gerald were among the prospects shipped off to Washington.

Aside from those two, the Rangers focused on depth additions. Danny Jansen signed with the team and will likely tandem with Kyle Higashioka.

Jordan Montgomery, who missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, returns to the organization where he won the World Series three years ago.

The Rangers also overhauled the bullpen for new manager Skip Schumaker, necessary since so many pitchers from the 2025 team went to free agency.

Hard-throwing right-hander Michel Otanez was claimed off waivers from the Athletics in November. Otanez had a great 2024 campaign, his rookie season in the Majors after the longtime Mets farmhand was grabbed by the A’s in a Minor League deal. The right-hander struck out 55 over 34 innings and posted a Whiff% north of 39%.

However, things went south for him in 2025. Otanez had multiple IL stints and had command issues, as he walked 17 over 17 innings with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Carter Baumler, a former starting pitcher prospect in the Orioles system, was picked up via trade with the Pirates. Baumler is a Rule 5 Draft pick, meaning he must stick on the Rangers’ roster for the entire 2026 season. He does have very good stuff, including a hard fastball and curveball that played up as a reliever in the Baltimore organization.

Texas also brought over swingman Tyler Alexander, as well as Jakob Junis and Alexis Diaz. Junis was a good middle relief option for the Guardians in 2025, while Diaz will look to resurrect his MLB career after two difficult seasons.

Losses

• RP Shawn Armstrong
• SP Patrick Corbin
• RP Danny Coulombe
• OF Adolis Garcia
• C Jonah Heim
• SP Merrill Kelly
• SP Tyler Mahle
• RP Phil Maton
• RP Hoby Milner
• 2B Marcus Semien
• INF Donovan Solano
• 1B Rowdy Tellez
• RP Jacob Webb

This past winter brought the winds of change to Arlington.

Several players from the Rangers’ 2023 roster were either non-tendered or traded away. Adolis Garcia (Phillies) and Jonah Heim (Braves) were both non-tendered, while Semien was sent to New York for Nimmo.

All three of those players had down seasons in 2025.

The pitching staff will also look significantly different. Texas added multiple relievers to fill in the gaps left behind by Jacob Webb, Hoby Milner, and Shawn Armstrong. Armstrong, in particular, was a significant loss just based on what he did last season as a Ranger.

Now with the Guardians, Armstrong finished in the top five of the Majors in opponents’ wOBA among relievers. He also cracked the Rangers’ puzzle to find a closer last season. Armstrong worked as the primary late-inning option for the team down the stretch.

Overview

Even though the Rangers have been in cost-cutting mode, Texas is still set to field a strong overall roster heading into 2026.

A lot will depend on how certain players bounceback after 2025. Josh Jung posted a .684 OPS last season, while Jake Burger slashed .236/.269/.419 in his first season with the team. Evan Carter made strides in 2025 but injuries limited him quite a bit last season.

If the Rangers can keep a mostly clean bill of health for 2026, the Rangers have the talent to make it back to the playoffs.