The Texas Rangers are expected to take a far more measured approach in free agency this time around, and that matters when you start sorting through possible targets. Instead of the kind of big splash they made the last time a lockout loomed, the expectation is for a quieter winter built around a mid-tier signing or two, a few bargain pickups and maybe some trades.
That’s why Jim Bowden of The Athletic’s projection of Tyler Stephenson landing in Texas stands out. The former MLB general manager connected the Rangers to the catcher and predicted a deal worth $16 million over two years.
On paper, Stephenson makes sense as a solid offensive catcher. His .241/.323/.404 line in 2026 doesn’t jump off the page, but the season wasn’t that simple. He started slowly in April, began turning things around in May and then really caught fire in June, when he hit .263/.336/.444 and launched 11 of his 14 home runs after June 1.
The underlying numbers back up the production. Stephenson posted a 90.8 miles-per-hour average exit velocity, which landed in the 80th percentile, along with a 44.1% hard-hit rate, 12.4% barrel rate, 39.9% launch angle sweet spot percentage and a 22.3% chase rate.
In plain terms, he doesn’t expand the zone much, he squares the ball up with authority and he tends to do it at angles that lead to damage. That’s a useful profile for a catcher.
The defensive picture is less clean. Stephenson is a 97th-percentile pitch blocker, but he’s slow getting out of his crouch and has trouble throwing out runners. He also grades poorly as a pitch framer, though he is one of the most aggressive and effective ABS challengers behind the plate.
Even with those strengths, the fit in Texas looks shaky once the roster picture comes into focus. Stephenson would be a fine player at around $8 million per year, but the Rangers already have Danny Jansen, who was underwhelming overall with a .203/.296/.381 line yet finished better after returning from the injured list on August 18.
From that point on, Jansen hit .257/.329/.500. He’s also owed $8 million in 2027, which makes it hard to justify committing another $16 million to the same position.
Then there’s Logan O'Hoppe. Texas demoted him right after acquiring him, and the move raises the question of whether it was simply about preserving team control or a sign of how the club views him.
The first explanation makes more sense. But if the Rangers bring in Stephenson and keep Jansen, O'Hoppe would be left in Round Rock for another year, and that doesn’t seem like the best use of the spring training competition.
The bigger issue is opportunity cost. Texas can improve at catcher, but it has other needs that look more pressing.
A Stephenson deal could crowd out resources that might be better spent on the bullpen, especially with that group’s issues in 2026 and the possibility of losing Jakob Junis and Tyler Alexander. For the Rangers, catcher is a place to upgrade - just maybe not the place to spend their money first.
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Rangers Just Made A Pitching Depth Move Fans Should Notice
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For Texas, it is the kind of depth decision that can matter later, especially with a pitcher who has shown enough to merit roster protection and a possible path toward a promotion. The move also trims the clubs flexibility a bit, leaving the Rangers with 37 players on the 40-man roster as they continue sorting out their pitching inventory. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Suddenly Have A Catching Decision They Cant Ignore
The Rangers offseason roster churn has already reached the catching picture, and it could shape how the club builds out its depth for next season. Texas declined the mutual options on designated hitter Joc Pederson, catcher Kyle Higashioka and reliever Jakob Junis, sending all three into free agency and leaving the team with a little more work to do behind the plate.
With the market now open, the Rangers are looking for additional catching help as they prepare for the upcoming season. The move also creates a clearer path for Logan O'Hoppe, acquired from the Los Angeles Angels, to enter the conversation for a backup role, giving Texas at least one internal option while it sorts through the rest of the position. [Read more 🡒]
MacKenzie Gore Trade Buzz Puts Rangers Rotation Plan Under A Harsh Light
MacKenzie Gores first season in Texas did not unfold the way the Rangers envisioned when they brought him in to help anchor the rotation. He stayed durable and had a few encouraging stretches, but the overall return was uneven, with a 4.58 ERA and a performance that fell short of the clubs hopes for him as a frontline starter.
Now the offseason chatter is turning up the pressure on what comes next. MLB Trade Rumors has already put Gore near the top of its trade-candidate conversation, a sign that Texas may be willing to consider a pivot as it sorts out its rotation plans and broader roster strategy for next year. [Read more 🡒]