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2024 Season: Eliminated on September 20, 3rd in the American League West
Let’s take a look at what the 2024 season was like for the Texas Rangers, the questions the team needs to address this winter, and the early outlook for 2025.
Read more: 2024 MLB Offseason Preview: What’s next for the White Sox, A’s, Pirates and more?
Things that went well
The flags fly forever, but little went right for the 2024 Rangers, who have the dubious distinction of being the first team since the 2014 Red Sox to follow a World Series championship with a losing record in the ensuing 162-game campaign.
There were few players who exceeded expectations in Texas. One bright spot was a pair of veteran 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 deployed.
Corey Seager wasn’t able to repeat his impressive 2023 stats, which included a 1.013 OPS, but he remained an effective hitter who combined power skills with a strong ability to get on base. Josh Smith was another small bright spot, as he received an increased workload while still playing multiple positions.
Things that went wrong
When a team goes from World Series champion to playoff contender, there’s no shortage of things that went wrong.
Marcus Semien was not a huge disappointment, but his offensive game experienced a noticeable decline year after year. At the same time, to Semien’s credit, he remained one of the most durable players in baseball. His decline was less marked than that of Adolis Garcia, who was one of the biggest catalysts for Texas’ run to the World Series. Garcia was sensational in April of this year before batting below .200 in each of 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 expectations. Langford was supposed to be one of the most promising 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 spectacular in September and in last year’s postseason, but he posted a .633 OPS this season and was limited to 45 games because of a back injury. Jung suffered a broken wrist in the fourth game of the season, which kept him sidelined until July 29.
Meanwhile, veteran starters Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom failed to make a real impact. Scherzer returned from a back injury at the start of the season in June but went back on the disabled list after eight starts because of shoulder fatigue. DeGrom was expected to give the rotation a boost down the stretch, but the team was 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 a year ago can get back on track quickly.
Seager and Semien are in the midst of long-term contracts and will remain the double-play duo. Garcia will be counted on to bounce back, and Langford and Carter need to step up. Those three players can 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 decline, Nathaniel Lowe can remain a starter at first base. Jonah Heim is another player who will be counted on to bounce back from a down year, in which case he will remain the No. 1 catcher.
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While the offense has existing players to turn things around, the solutions for the pitching staff are more complicated. Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney are all headed to free agency. DeGrom could return to being an ace on the staff, but he’ll be a big unknown in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. Tyler Mahle is even more of an unknown, as he made three starts in his return from Tommy John surgery before returning to the IL due to a shoulder injury. Cody Bradford showed flashes of potential this year and should be part of the rotation, along with Dane Dunning, who suffered a down year. As a result of all that, the Rangers should look to add two reliable starters via free agency or the trade market.
The bullpen will need as much help as the rotation. Yates is headed to free agency and Robertson has a mutual option for 2025. The team will also need to replace Jose Leclerc, who is set to become a free agent after an uneven eight-season tenure in Texas. Adding at least two relievers will be the minimum expectation for general manager Chris Young.
Perspectives on the horizon
Now that Langford and Carter have graduated from the prospect pool, the team lacks any notable prospects close to the majors.
The club’s top prospects have great long-term potential but are unlikely to debut next year. The third overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Kumar Rocker, was slowed by Tommy John surgery in 2023 and is more likely to debut in 2026. The top position player prospect is Sebastian Walcott, who is just 18 years old.
Justin Foscue doesn’t have huge potential, but he did well in Triple-A this year. The 25-year-old played briefly with the Rangers and spent time on the injured list due to an oblique injury. Semien blocks him at second base, but he could be a utility player who can play both corners of the infield. Foscue could also be a valuable trade piece as the Rangers search for pitching help.
Emiliano Teodo could help the rotation in the second half of 2025. The 23-year-old has advanced to Double-A and, like many prospects, has shown better swinging skills than control. Teodo turned heads in the 2024 League Futures Game.
Goals for 2025
The Rangers should aim for the postseason again in 2025. The team will need several position players, including Semien, Garcia, Langford, Carter and Jung, to make a much bigger impact next year. That might seem like a lot to ask, but the veterans on that roster have done it before, and the youngsters were recently among the most coveted prospects in baseball.
Additionally, management will have to spend some money to improve the pitching staff. Without adding pitchers, the team will not be able to overcome its pitching problems.
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Fantasy approach
Seager is one of the best hitters in baseball and will be a second-round fantasy pick whose only drawback is his inability to steal bases. The rest of the Rangers will give fantasy managers headaches. Can Garcia 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. Garcia, Langford, Carter, Semien and Jung will be selected in rounds 6-12.