The Texas Rangers have reached the kind of offseason that forces hard choices. After another playoff miss and an 80-82 finish, the front office has a roster full of veterans, a few gaps to patch, and several free-agent questions waiting to be answered.
Spotrac.com has already put projected price tags on a number of those names, and the list gives a pretty good picture of what Texas may be dealing with. A few players have mutual decisions to sort out before they officially hit the market, but their estimated values are on the board either way.
Joc Pederson is projected at one year and $9.4 million. Kyle Higashioka comes in at one year and $4.4 million. Jakob Junis is projected at one year and $5.1 million.
On the pitching side, Jalen Beeks made enough of an impression before his season ended because of injury to still draw interest. The left-hander put up a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings, along with a 1.38 WHIP, and worked in 29 games for Texas. Spotrac pegs his market value at an average salary of $1.4 million.
Jordan Montgomery is another familiar name for Rangers fans, having been part of the 2023 World Series championship team before returning to the club in 2026. His season was limited to 26 innings, but the Rangers still have a clear need for pitching depth. Spotrac lists him as a cheaper veteran option around the league, though it also makes sense for Texas to try to keep him in place.
Tyler Alexander looks like one of the better bets on the Rangers’ free-agent list. Texas took a chance on him last offseason, and he delivered with a 3.70 ERA across 73 innings.
He handled both opener work and high-leverage spots, and Spotrac’s projection of just over $2 million suggests he could be a bargain. Alexander made $1.1 million with Texas in 2026.
Nicky Lopez also gave the Rangers useful innings and contact at the plate, hitting .276 in 96 games after starting the year with the Chicago Cubs. He fits as a flexible infield option and a bench piece, and because he made less than $1 million last season, keeping him around would not require a major financial commitment.
Willie Williams, meanwhile, appeared in seven games for Texas in 2026 and posted a 3.86 ERA. Spotrac projects him near $3 million, which may be more than the Rangers want to pay at this point in his career. If another team is willing to meet that number, Texas may simply let him walk.
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Rangers Center Field Decision May Hinge On One Rising Prospect
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One of the names now in that conversation is Dylan Dreiling, who has climbed quickly enough to put himself on the radar as a possible internal answer. The Rangers like the idea of an in-house challenger to Evan Carter, who struggled at the plate in 2026, and Dreilings rise gives the front office a developmental path it may need to lean on if the market gets squeezed before spring. [Read more 🡒]