Notable Additions: Tyler Mahle, Kirby Yates, Michael Lorenzen
Notable Losses: Jordan Montgomery, Aroldis Chapman, Will Smith
What a run from the Texas Rangers in 2023. Everything clicked for them, and they took down their state rival in the ALCS en route to a 4-1 World Series win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Will the stars align for them in 2024? I do not envision another World Series for them in 2024, but I still see a playoff run.
Projected Starters
C: Jonah Heim
1B: Nate Lowe
2B: Marcus Semien
3B: Josh Jung
SS: Corey Seager
LF: Evan Carter
CF: Leody Taveras
RF: Adolis Garcia
DH: Wyatt Langford
The Rangers’ hitting last year was nothing short of fantastic. Every qualified player in their lineup had an OPS of .725 or better. All of them also had a WRC+ above 100, except for Leody Taveras. They ranked third in OPS and fourth in home runs as a team in 2023. The only significant changes they made were promoting Evan Carter to full-time left fielder and likely calling up Wyatt Langford to DH. This is a fantastic hitting core, and it is tough not to give them a 10/10.
Projected Starting Rotation
Nate Eovaldi
Jon Gray
Dane Dunning
Andrew Heaney
Michael Lorenzen
Jacob DeGrom?
Max Scherzer?
Tyler Mahle?
A lot of pitchers are listed in there, and that’s because of injuries. Pitching was not the main reason the Rangers went on the run they did. Jordan Montgomery was a huge addition, but he is gone now. The five starters starting the year are fine, but do not scare me. DeGrom, Scherzer, and Mahle are great pitchers, but injuries prevent them from making immediate impacts. The Rangers ranked 18th in ERA as a team last season, and I don’t think these initial starters will be able to top that. The Rangers are still a good team, but their pitching is not elite, and I give them a 6/10. It will be interesting to see where they are after the trade deadline.
Their bullpen is similar, too. They were 30 for 63 in save opportunities in 2023. Don’t get me wrong, they still have solid bullpen pieces. Jose LeClerc, Kirby Yates, and David Robertson are good veteran pieces. Outside of that, I’m not too impressed, and I give them a 6/10.
Sock’s 2 X-Factors
Corey Seager: How about this guy. Corey Seager was absolutely electric in his 2nd year with the Rangers. In 2023, he hit .327/.390/.623 with 33 home runs and a 168 WRC+ in 536 plate appearances. His baseball-savant page is a thing of beauty. His worst percentile ranking is Whiff%, which is in the 48th percentile. I could only imagine what he will do in an entire season with the Rangers. MVP season?
Adolis Garcia: Garcia has become a massive piece for the Rangers. Last season, he hit .245/.328/.508 with 39 home runs and a 124 WRC+ in 623 plate appearances. I will admit that Garcia has his fair share of strikeouts and whiffs, but he hits the bad very hard and very far. He also provides excellent defense and right field and should be a great piece for the Rangers in 2024.
Sleeper: Jonah Heim: I feel like Jonah Heim doesn’t get his flowers. He is a fantastic defender coming off a Gold Glove in 2023 and a solid hitting performance. Last season, he hit .258/.317/.438 with 18 home runs and a 103 WRC+ in 131 games. He is a solid player, overshadowed by the incredible team around him. Look out for Jonah Heim in 2024.
Prospects to Look Forward To
Wyatt Langford: For a team that just won the World Series, they have some great players waiting to be called up. Taken 4th overall in the 2023 MLB draft, Langford spent no time carving his way through the minor leagues. Across four levels of minor league baseball, he hit .360/.480/.677 with 10 home runs. He can hit the ball every way. He could be a better defender, but he will probably DH when he arrives in the big leagues.
Evan Carter: Taken in the 2nd round in the 202 MLB draft, Evan Carter wasted no time making an impact in the Major Leagues in 2023. In 23 games, Carter hit .306/.413/.645 and a 180 WRC+. He already has a ring and will probably be battling for ROTY with his teammate.
GM For a Day
The Rangers have pitching in the works, but not at the moment. They need to look to acquire some pitching. Someone I would like them to go after is Patrick Sandoval. He could use a change of scenario, and landing in Texas would be a good restart. Plus, the Angels need to blow it up as soon as possible.
Projected Finish: 89-73, 3rd in the AL West, 5th seed in the AL
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