The Texas Rangers came up one day short of the postseason, but the roster picture still looks unfinished. Chris Young has work to do if Texas wants to be built for 2027, and that means tracking not just the free-agent class, but also the players who could hit the market if their teams pass on club options.
The Rangers should have their eyes on a few names in particular, especially if those options are declined or if the teams decide to move on after exercising them. Texas needs help, and the list includes a right-handed bat, rotation depth, and bullpen punch.
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Luis Robert Jr. is one of the more intriguing possibilities. Baltimore will most likely turn down his $20 million club option for the 2027 season and instead pay the $2 million buyout.
The Orioles picked him up off waivers from the New York Mets in late August, and his stock is far lower than it once was. Robert hit just .707 OPS with 11 home runs and 26 RBI in 61 games this season, and durability has been a recurring issue.
Even so, there’s a fit in Texas. Robert would likely come relatively cheap and could be the kind of player willing to take a one-year prove-it contract.
The Rangers could use a right-handed-hitting outfielder, and Robert showed some life against lefties this season, batting .213/.280/.462 with five home runs and nine RBI against southpaws. He’s also been a strong defender in the past, with a Gold Glove from 2020 on his résumé.
He may not get back to the 38-homer level he reached in 2023, but he could make sense as a platoon partner for Evan Carter in center.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen is another name worth watching. The Rays are most likely to pick up his $20 million option, but that number is hefty for a small-market club, so a trade after the option is exercised would not be a shock.
If Tampa Bay does decline it, the Rangers should be in the mix quickly. Rasmussen, 31, put together a 2.67 ERA with 174 strikeouts over 172 innings in the regular season.
He’s also been sharp in the postseason, giving up only three baserunners while striking out 10 over eight scoreless innings against the New York Yankees in ALDS Game 1, then allowing two runs over six innings with seven strikeouts against the Cleveland Guardians in ALCS Game 1.
Kansas City Royals reliever Carlos Estévez rounds out the group. Estévez appeared in just one game this season because of multiple injuries, and that almost certainly puts his $13 million club option in jeopardy.
If Kansas City declines it, Texas should make a run. Estévez was excellent in 2025, posting a 2.45 ERA with 54 strikeouts and an MLB-best 42 saves.
He’s a two-time All-Star with 10 years of MLB experience, and that kind of late-inning track record would give the Rangers another arm to consider for the bullpen.
In Other News...
Rangers Deadline Trade Looks More Complicated Than Fans Realized
At the deadline, the Rangers made a move that looked straightforward on the surface: infielder Angel Arredondo went to the Angels in a deal that brought back reliever Chase Silseth and catcher Logan OHoppe. The appeal was obvious for Texas, which was not just chasing help for the present but also trying to line up players with future seasons in mind. OHoppe, in particular, gave the club a jolt at the plate in limited action, offering a glimpse of why the front office saw more than a short-term fix.
The part that has made the trade feel more complicated is how uneven the return has looked since then. Silseth has not matched the level he showed with Los Angeles, and the Rangers have had to weigh that against the longer view that helped shape the deal in the first place. With OHoppe showing some offensive upside and the full value of the trade still unfolding, Texas is left with a decision that may not be judged cleanly anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Could Make A Painful Reset Sooner Than Fans Expect
With the offseason already carrying a shorter fuse than usual, the Rangers are staring at a narrow window to reshape the roster before a potential MLB work stoppage on Dec. 1 changes the calendar again. That makes every move feel a little more urgent, especially for a club trying to balance present-day competitiveness with longer-term flexibility.
Three names are already being discussed as possible trade candidates: Jake Burger, Corey Seager and Evan Carter. Burgers fit, Carters development track and Seagers place in the clubs plans all make for very different kinds of decisions, but the timing matters for all of them, because the front office may not get much room to wait and see how the market develops before it has to act. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Outfield Prospect Is Giving Fans Another Name To Track
Paxton Kling has already started to look like another Rangers outfield name worth remembering. The organizations No. 20 prospect spent the 2026 season showing off the kind of profile teams love to develop in the late rounds: on-base ability, speed and enough athleticism to keep climbing. He finished with a .383 on-base percentage and 40 stolen bases, then carried that momentum into the Arizona Fall League, where the tools have continued to stand out.
For Texas, the appeal is pretty straightforward. Kling was a seventh-round pick in 2025 and is still expected to work his way through Double-A and Triple-A before he gets a real chance to push toward Arlington, which puts his timeline somewhere around 2028. But with the way he has kept producing against better competition, he is giving the Rangers another outfield option to follow closely, and perhaps another name to keep in mind if the bat keeps translating as the levels get tougher. [Read more 🡒]