Texas Rangers: Stock up, stock down
Sitting at 49-31, the Texas Rangers are leading the American League West and tout the highest-scoring offense in all of baseball. Despite losing free agent addition Jacob DeGrom to yet another season-ending injury, the rotation has held its own with the second-best starter ERA in the majors.
With plenty of options to choose from here are the players trending up and down in 2023.
Stock Up
Corey Seager, shortstop: While there are plenty of hitters to choose from in the Rangers' offense, shortstop Corey Seager has been the hottest hitter in baseball not named Shohei Ohtani.
Signed last offseason after spending seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Seager is having possibly the best season of his career at the plate. Despite missing a little over a month with a left hamstring strain, Seager is slashing a ridiculous .345/.411/.609 with 32 XBH and 48 RBI in only 49 games.
With plenty of protection in the lineup including outfielder Adolis Garcia and second baseman Marcus Semien, Seager should continue to have success as long as he can stay healthy as the Rangers look to make a playoff run.
Nate Eovaldi, pitcher: In his 12th season as a major leaguer, offseason addition Nate Eovaldi has been lights out for the Rangers. With a 9-3 record and a 2.82 ERA he is on pace to have career-best in both categories.
After DeGrom went down with a season-ending injury, Eovaldi stepped up and has helped fill his shoes. In his 11 starts since the injury, he has gone six or more innings in nine of those games with a 7-4 record and 1.97 ERA including two complete games.
With plenty of postseason experience, including an outstanding World Series title run with the Boston Red Sox in 2018, Eovaldi will look to be a pitcher manager Bruce Bochy can lean on as the season wears on in 2023.
Stock Down
Jacob DeGrom, pitcher: Signed to a five-year, $185M deal after nine seasons with the New York Mets, the Rangers were only able to get six starts out of him before he tore his UCL in his right elbow leading to season-ending surgery.
His second time having Tommy John surgery, DeGrom has seen his hall-of-fame potential career become riddled with injury trouble. One of the three big pitching additions this past offseason that also includes Eovaldi, there was a lot of pressure on him to stay healthy.
Unfortunately, it looks like he will also miss a significant part of the 2024 season as he rehabs.
With his 35th birthday just nine days ago, DeGrom does not have history on his side as he looks to return to his dominant form if his body will allow it.
Bullpen: Despite one of the best records in baseball, the Rangers' bullpen has been one of the worst in 2023. While closer Will Smith has had a nice comeback season for them and a couple of others having solid years, the rest have been horrid.
With four relievers posting ERA's over five, the Rangers will need to stock up on arms with the increase in offense in 2023. With a couple of new additions pitching well, maybe they will be able to find the answers in-house.
With not many weak points on this Rangers team, a suspect bullpen could derail the World Series dreams of this team full of sluggers in Texas.
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