Texas Rangers Offseason: 10 Burning Questions for the Offense

The Texas Rangers offense did not do its part in 2026, ranking among the lowest-scoring units in baseball. Now, it’s the front office’s time to shine. How will they answer these ten burning questions this offseason?

Will the Rangers spend?

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News broke down the Rangers’ payroll situation in a recent article. His assessment: don’t expect team owner Ray Davis to loosen the grip on his checkbook this offseason.

Texas has made a concerted effort to stay below the luxury tax threshold since exceeding it in 2024. It doesn’t seem like they’ll flirt with the threshold in 2027, either, given the impending lockout and the uncertainty attached to it.

They’re not in a position to create payroll with so much money tied into aging stars. The Rangers owe Jacob deGrom $37 million in 2027, Corey Seager $31.5 million, Nathan Eovaldi $24 million, and Brandon Nimmo $20 million. Offshoring any one of them would likely involve eating a significant portion of their salary.

We may be looking at another conservative offseason for the Rangers, where they nitpick free agents that will add incremental value rather than sweeping value. Rinse and repeat didn’t work last year; hopefully President of Baseball Operations Chris Young has a few tricks up his sleeve to boost the team’s competitiveness.

Which positions need upgrades?

Finishing 25th in runs per game in 2026, the Rangers offense has plenty of room to improve. They were a collection of aging veterans and underperforming youngsters that manager Skip Schumaker could not sculpt into a formidable offense, no matter how hard he tried.

Several players fell well short of expectations—Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter, Danny Jansen, and Josh Smith, the biggest outliers—leaving the Rangers in a peculiar position entering the offseason.

Certain positions are beholden to large contracts (Seager, SS and Jansen, C) or high-ceiling players (Langford, LF), identifying second base and center field as obvious upgrades. Potential infield shuffling could open up first base or third base. Additionally, the Rangers will need a new DH assuming they reject their club option on Joc Pederson.

The good news is the Rangers have no shortage of options to address their weakening positions. They can leverage top organizational prospects, free agency, and the trade market. But they can’t afford many misses, or else another season of mediocrity awaits.

Who could the Rangers pursue in free agency?

The 2026 Rangers offense was injury-prone, too old in some areas, too young in others, and often stagnant. And, as President of Baseball Operations Chris Young implied during his end-of-season presser, not athletic or gritty enough.

So, what type of player should Texas look for this offseason? Think athletic, gritty, reliable, proven, a gamer, and still in his prime.

Here are several free agent options that meet some of the above criteria, could fall within budget, and fit the Rangers’ positional needs:

Second base:

• Luis Arraez: A career .316 hitter, Arraez should have plenty of suitors this offseason. If the Rangers were to make a splash, he’d be the guy.
• Brandon Lowe: The nine-year veteran launched 35 home runs and drove in 96 runs in 2026. He’s a savvy hitter who could add much-needed pop to an offense that ranked 21st in MLB in slugging percentage.

Outfield:

• Ian Happ: The Rangers could get Happ at a bargain after a down offensive season; though, signing the Gold Glove left fielder would likely force Wyatt Langford to play center field.
• Luis Robert Jr. (has a 2027 club option with the Orioles): Robert Jr. may be the most talented free agent outfielder, but he comes with stability and injury concerns.

First base:

• Alec Bohm: Bohm has a career OPS of .735 and slashed .298/.425/.794 in the second half of 2026. He’s an intriguing multi-year option at first base, but the Rangers would need to sign him to a modest AAV.
• Jake Bauers: Bauers has had a career year, posting a regular season slash line of .266/.389/.484 with the Brewers. He’d be worth a flyer if the Rangers believe he’s more than a one-year wonder.
• Ty France: France had a 139 OPS+ and produced a career-high .502 slugging percentage with the Padres this season. He’d be an impact bat in the top half of the batting order for the Rangers.

Designated hitter:

• Josh Bell: Bell hit 21 home runs and drove in 96 runs in his age-33 season. The Irving, Texas native could provide supplemental offense on an inexpensive contract in 2027.
• Seiya Suzuki: Suzuki had a quietly tremendous season, knocking 26 home runs and producing an .841 OPS. He could be a top-of-the-order slugger for the Rangers if they can afford him.
• Eugenio Suarez: The 35-year-old proved he still has a little something left in the tank, slugging .490 and posting an .823 OPS for the Reds in the second half of 2026. He’d be a low-risk, high-reward option for Texas.

We’ll explore these potential free agent signings further as the offseason gets underway. But that’s a solid list for the Rangers to start with.

Where does Sebastian Walcott fit in?

Barring any major setbacks, 2027 is the year Rangers top prospect Sebastian Walcott will become a regular in the lineup. But what position will he play?

In the minors, Walcott has played 194 games at shortstop and 38 games at third base. His arm will keep him on the left side of the infield in the majors, and his athleticism easily fits the shortstop profile.

The issue is Texas has two proven veterans on the left side of the infield: third baseman Josh Jung and shortstop Corey Seager. So, if Walcott is to take over one of those positions, either Jung or Seager would have to take one for the team.

Center field is behind door number three. Walcott hasn’t played center field in the minors; however, his arm and athleticism could make for a smooth transition to the wide-ranging position. And given the severe lack of offensive production from Rangers center fielders in 2026, Walcott would likely be an immediate upgrade.

Which Rangers could be traded?

All of them? None of them? Somewhere in between? The answer depends on how confident the decision-makers are in fielding a contender next season.

Confident: Most Rangers players are safe.

The Rangers will likely restructure, especially in the infield, with Sebastian Walcott expected to join the team. The odd man out could be traded.

Josh Jung has value: 28 years old, under team control, and coming off a season with career highs in batting average and OPS. Jake Burger has less value, but he’s also under team control and hit 28 home runs and drove in 90 runs last season. Corey Seager has the most impressive resume, though he’ll turn 33 next April and comes with a $150 million price tag.

Other Rangers could be on the trade block, but management would have to get creative. Because outside of Ezequiel Duran, who really boosted their value after the 2026 season?

Not confident: A fire sale could ensue.

This may be the preferred option among Rangers fans—at least, that’s the vibe Rangers-related social media gives off.

If the Rangers wave the white flag and opt to reset, then say farewell to your household veterans. The front office will look to shed payroll, making Seager, Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Brandon Nimmo prime trade candidates.

There’d be little reason to keep them around if the organization initiates “win later” mode. Texas would have to navigate no-trade clauses, but they’d expect their veterans to agree to leave a rebuilding ball club.

What is Josh Jung’s role moving forward?

Jung had a resurgent 2026 season, leading the team in batting average, OBP, and OPS. He’s established himself as a core offensive weapon for the Rangers moving forward. But will he be the Rangers’ third baseman moving forward?

According to FanGraphs, Jung finished 29th in DRS (-12) and 22nd in OAA (-2) among third basemen with at least 500 innings played in 2026. His Range Factor/Game (measuring a fielder’s defensive reach and ability to convert balls into outs) was 2.10, below the league average of 2.36.

Though sure-handed, Jung is unsure-footed. His footwork is a bit wobbly, not exactly exhibiting the grace of a Roger Federer, Bijan Robinson, or Manny Machado. As a result, more ground balls reach the outfield than probably should with Jung at third base.

That’s why moving the 28-year-old to first makes sense. First basemen typically have more time to make plays because they don’t have to factor in long throws across the diamond and aren’t as pressured by baserunners. The extra time could greatly benefit Jung, turning him from an average third baseman to an above-average first baseman.

Shifting Jung to first base affords the Rangers several quality options at third base, including Walcott, Duran, and Seager.

What is Ezequiel Duran’s everyday position?

Ezequiel Duran was everywhere in 2026, taking on six different positions at various points in the season. Skip Schumaker relied on Duran to fill in for injured players, strengthen weaker positions, and accommodate late-inning lineup changes. The super utility man carried too heavy a load defensively, and that needs to change in 2027.

He’s earned an everyday position, but the challenge will be finding one for him.

Center field is open for business. Duran played 18 games in center field this past season and performed well. He has great speed and an outstanding arm, two key qualities for a center fielder.

He’s most skilled in the infield, but the team’s infield options are cluttered with Corey Seager, Josh Jung, Justin Foscue, Jake Burger, and Sebastian Walcott all in the mix. Management has several hoops to jump through before solidifying a go-to infield. The task likely won’t be completed until the end of spring training.

Does Evan Carter have a future with the Rangers?

The walls are closing in on Evan Carter. Once an October hero, Carter has become a completely overmatched hitter. He slashed .194/.288/.315, scored 52 runs, and drove in 40 runs across 141 games in 2026. He couldn’t hit lefties, struggled with bunting, and rarely reached base. His offense was… offensive.

No more soft spot for Evan Carter. The Rangers have to view him for what he is right now: a great athlete, but a limited hitter. Coming off a season in which their offense ranked 25th in runs per game, they can ill-afford to give a roster spot to someone who can’t produce at the plate.

Hope is surely dwindling, but the Rangers would likely prefer to keep Carter in the organization. He’s under team control for three more seasons, and trading him after a poor 2026 would get the Rangers little in return.

He should compete for a roster spot in the spring. If he doesn’t hit, Texas can option him to Round Rock for further development. If he does hit, see if he can keep hitting when it counts.

For offseason planning, Texas should assume Carter begins the 2027 season off the major league roster.

Could Corey Seager move off shortstop?

One of the offseason’s more sensitive subjects may be Corey Seager’s status at shortstop. Word hasn’t gotten out that the Rangers or Seager are considering a move away from shortstop, but they should.

The five-time All-Star still plays a fine shortstop. He also spent a fine amount of time on the Injured List. Seager has not played more than 125 games since his first season with the Rangers. It’s time to remove him from probably the most grueling position outside of catcher. The Rangers need to protect their $325 million man by preserving his body so he can make an impact through the rest of his contract and do what he does best: hit.

Texas could send Seager down a healthier path by shifting him to third base, first base, or DH. They could also improve defensively by becoming more athletic up the middle, something President of Baseball Operations Chris Young hinted at during his end-of-season press conference.

Walcott is coming. The best move would be to move Seager off shortstop and let the younger, more athletic Walcott take over. Michael Young did it for Elvis Andrus. Now Seager must put aside any stubbornness to make room for the next great shortstop.

Is Justin Foscue the starting second baseman?

Justin Foscue earned the approval of most Rangers fans throughout a sneaky good 2026. He slashed .271/.332/.484 with 11 home runs and 13 doubles over 100 games. His .816 OPS ranked second on the team, behind only Josh Jung.

The 27-year-old has the organization’s attention this offseason. But should the Rangers consider him for the starting second base job? Yes, tentatively.

Foscue must prove that he’s more than a one-trick pony. Almost all of his standout hitting occurred with a left-hander on the mound, in which case he hit .324 with a .981 OPS. Against righties, he hit .175 with a .512 OPS. He’s an average runner and fielder, so if he’s going to factor in as an everyday player, he’ll need to hit, and hit often.

Expect the Rangers to give him a long look in spring training. He earned at least that after his strong 2026 season. What they can’t do is put all their stock in Foscue at second base like they did with Josh Smith.