With baseball’s labor situation hanging over the offseason, the Texas Rangers are still operating under the current rules for now. That means Rule 5 protection decisions are due in mid-November, even though the draft itself may never come together if a new CBA isn’t reached by Dec. 1.
That leaves the Rangers in a slightly awkward spot: they have to make roster calls for a draft that may not even happen on schedule, and possibly won’t happen at all unless the Rule 5 system survives the next agreement. Last year, Texas used its 40-man roster spots on pitching prospects Winston Santos, Emiliano Teodo and David Davalillo, with Santos and Teodo both appearing briefly for the club in 2026.
This time around, there are three first-time Rule 5 eligible players worth watching.
Izack Tiger is the most recognizable name of the group, and for good reason. He’s an MLB Pipeline Top 30 prospect, but his 2026 season came with a major caveat after he missed all of 2025 following elbow surgery.
In 12 games, he went 0-4 with a 6.91 ERA, striking out 43 and walking nine across 27.1 innings. That strikeout-to-walk ratio matters, but so does the larger question: is he ready to be carried on a big league roster?
Under Rule 5 rules, a player selected in the Major League portion has to be put on the 40-man immediately and stick on the 26-man roster for a set period or be offered back. Tiger has never pitched above High-A, which makes that a tough ask.
The same basic dilemma applies to Hector Osorio. The Venezuelan outfielder has spent five years in the Rangers’ system, making him eligible because he signed a pro contract before age 18 and has now been a pro for five seasons.
He also put together a strong year, hitting .295/.411/.543 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI. Still, he has not moved past High-A Hub City, and Texas has to decide whether he wants to devote a 40-man spot to an outfielder who is still at that level.
There’s also another wrinkle: Osorio could be vulnerable in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft.
Anthony Gutierrez is the third name to keep on the radar. He’s eligible under the same international rules as Osorio, but his season was derailed after he played just one game and then missed the rest of the year with an injury.
In 2025, he hit .258/.333/.320 with two home runs and 28 RBI. Like Tiger and Osorio, he hasn’t played above High-A.
The Rangers are not expected to put any of the three on the 40-man roster, since none has reached Double-A Frisco yet. And in the Major League phase of the Rule 5 draft, other teams are unlikely to take that kind of leap either. The better place to watch these names may be the minor league phase.
In Other News...
Sebastian Walcott Is Giving Rangers Fans Another Reason To Believe
Sebastian Walcott keeps giving Rangers followers something to file away for later, and his latest Arizona Fall League showing was another reminder of why. In Surprises 13-2 win over Mesa, the Rangers prospect went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, continuing a steady run of at-bats as he works his way back from internal brace surgery and gets a longer look against advanced competition.
Walcotts assignment this fall is about more than box scores, though. Texas is using the next stretch to help him regain comfort and keep expanding his game, including work at designated hitter and time in the outfield as he builds toward next season, when he is expected to start at Triple-A Round Rock. For a player with his talent and still-growing profile, every rep has a little extra meaning. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Offseason Could Hinge On One Painful Roster Decision
The Rangers head into the winter with a familiar mix of ambition and constraints, trying to get younger while still building enough depth to support a roster that has already proven it can win. There is a clear appetite for athleticism and payroll flexibility, and the front office is weighing different ways to create both without taking a step backward in the process. A big left-handed arm would fit neatly into that vision, and the clubs longer-term picture also depends on how quickly prospect Walcott can move toward helping at the major league level.
The harder question is whether the Rangers can make the kind of painful roster move that would open up more room to maneuver. The conversation naturally leads to veteran money, and one contract stands out as the kind of decision that could reshape the entire offseason if the club decides to act on it. For a team trying to thread the needle between present contention and a fresher roster, that sort of call may end up mattering as much as any external addition. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Face A Tough Jacob deGrom Decision This Winter
Jacob deGroms future is already looming as one of the Rangers biggest winter decisions, and the conversation has only gotten louder because of the way his contract and no-trade protection shape any possible move. Even after a recent season that reminded everyone how dominant he can still be when healthy, the Rangers have to weigh the reality of his deal against what kind of return would actually make sense if they even chose to explore a trade.
The idea sounds simple until the details get involved. Any hypothetical deal would have to clear deGrom himself, and the kind of young talent Texas would need back would be substantial enough to justify moving on from a pitcher of his stature. For now, it remains exactly what it sounds like: a winter possibility with plenty of intrigue, but no easy path for the Rangers to navigate. [Read more 🡒]