The Texas Rangers are heading into the 2026 season with a tighter budget than last year, but don’t mistake that for a lack of ambition. President of Baseball Operations Chris Young and his front office are working the winter market with a clear goal: build a competitive roster without breaking the bank. That means savvy signings, creative trades, and finding value in places others might overlook.
After the Marcus Semien-for-Brandon Nimmo trade, the Rangers’ needs became a little more defined-and a little more urgent. Young has a full shopping list: a catcher, a starting pitcher, multiple bullpen arms, a right-handed bat, and an infielder. That’s a lot to ask with limited financial flexibility, but this is where front offices earn their stripes.
Let’s break down the names being floated and how they fit into the Rangers’ 2026 puzzle.
Infield Help: Luis Arraez
With Semien gone, second base is wide open-and Luis Arraez could be the perfect fit. He’s not going to hit 30 homers or win a Gold Glove, but what he brings is something the Rangers badly need: contact, consistency, and on-base ability.
Arraez doesn’t just put the ball in play-he practically lives in the batter’s box. He’s led the league in batting average and has one of the lowest strikeout rates in baseball.
New manager Skip Schumaker is a known fan of Arraez, having managed him in Miami. That familiarity could help if the Rangers decide to make a serious push.
The downside? Arraez’s defense is below average, and he’d come with a price tag-likely around $14 million per year.
But at just 28, he’s still in his prime, and his offensive profile fits the Rangers’ new approach: get on base, move runners, and avoid empty at-bats.
If Texas doesn’t land Arraez, Josh Smith could be the fallback option at second. But if the front office wants to give Schumaker a player he trusts-and reshape the offense in the process-Arraez makes a lot of sense.
Starting Pitching: Cody Ponce (and More)
Chris Young has made it clear: you can never have too much pitching. With Tyler Mahle and Merrill Kelly now free agents, the Rangers need at least one starter, probably more.
But don’t expect a blockbuster deal like the one the Blue Jays gave Dylan Cease. The Rangers are shopping in a different aisle this winter.
Cody Ponce is one name to watch. After reinventing himself in the Korea Baseball Organization, Ponce is drawing comparisons to Merrill Kelly, who made a successful transition from the KBO to MLB. Ponce throws harder than Kelly did at the time of his return, and he wouldn’t come with a posting fee-making him a budget-friendly option.
If the Rangers want to stay domestic, bounce-back candidates like Mahle, Dustin May, Frankie Montas, Zach Eflin, and Nestor Cortes could be in play. Each brings upside-and risk. But with the right deal, any of them could fill a rotation spot without eating up too much payroll.
Catcher: Trade Market Heating Up
The free-agent market for catchers is, as usual, thin. J.T.
Realmuto leads the class, but he's likely out of the Rangers’ price range. Victor Caratini is more realistic, especially with new assistant hitting coach Alex Cintron having worked with him in Houston.
But the real action might be on the trade front.
The Orioles’ Adley Rutschman is a dream scenario, but likely too expensive in terms of prospect capital. More attainable options include Ryan Jeffers (Twins), Joey Bart or Henry Davis (Pirates), and Sean Murphy (Braves). Murphy is intriguing-he’s under contract for three more years at $45 million, and with Drake Baldwin emerging as the NL Rookie of the Year, the Braves might be open to moving him.
If Murphy’s healthy, that contract could look like a bargain. And if the Rangers can work out a deal where Atlanta eats part of the salary, it could be a win-win.
Bullpen: Five Arms, One Strategy
Don’t expect the Rangers to throw big money at the bullpen. That’s not how they operated last offseason, and it worked.
They added six relievers for under $10 million total-and turned that group into a strength. Expect a similar approach this winter: target veterans looking to bounce back and build depth through volume.
Shawn Armstrong is one name to watch. He had a strong season and wants to return, but he’s likely seeking a multi-year deal similar to what Phil Maton got from the Cubs. That might be a stretch for Texas.
Left-handers Hoby Milner and Danny Coulombe are local guys and potential fits. Jacob Webb and Josh Sborz were non-tendered but could return on cheaper deals. The Rangers also have a history of dipping into the international market, so don’t rule out another arm from the Far East.
A possible five-man bullpen haul? Armstrong, Milner, Ryan Brasier, Scott Barlow, and Foster Griffin. And if the Rangers swing a trade for a catcher, don’t be surprised if it brings a reliever back in return.
Outfield Depth: Austin Hays
Brandon Nimmo is now in the outfield mix alongside Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter. That’s a solid trio, but there’s a need for a right-handed bat who can handle left-handed pitching-especially with Carter still unproven in that department.
Enter Austin Hays. He crushed lefties in 2025 with a .949 OPS and has a career mark of .819 against them. He played last season on a one-year, $5 million deal with the Reds, so he’s not going to command a massive payday.
The only wrinkle is that Hays primarily plays left field, which is also Langford’s spot. But there’s a solution: against lefties, Langford could slide to center, giving Hays a chance to start in left while Carter takes a breather.
Hays wouldn’t be a flashy signing, but he’s the kind of complementary piece that can make a difference over 162 games-especially if Carter needs time to adjust or Langford takes on more center field duties.
Final Thoughts
The Rangers aren’t shopping for luxury items this offseason. They’re looking for value, versatility, and upside. With a new manager in Skip Schumaker and a front office that’s shown it can find diamonds in the rough, Texas is betting it can stay competitive without writing nine-figure checks.
It’s a delicate balance-filling holes without creating new ones-but if they can land a few of these targets, the Rangers could quietly build a team that’s better than expected. Don’t sleep on smart spending. Sometimes, the best moves are the ones that don’t make headlines-until October.