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How will the Rangers bounce back from a disappointing World Series defense?

Posted on by angelo
How will the Rangers bounce back from a disappointing World Series defense?

After a magical run to the 2023 World Series, Adolis Garcia and the 2024 Texas Rangers have come back down to earth. (AP Photo/Albert Pena)

After a magical run to the 2023 World Series, Adolis Garcia and the 2024 Texas Rangers have come back down to earth. (AP Photo/Albert Pena) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Let’s take a look at the Texas Rangers’ 2024 season, the questions the team needs to answer this winter, and the early outlook for 2025.

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The flags are forever flying, but nothing has gone right for the 2024 Rangers, who have the dubious distinction of being the first team since the 2014 Red Sox to follow a World Series championship with a losing record in the subsequent 162-game campaign.

Few players have exceeded expectations in Texas. One bright spot has been the pair of aging relievers, Kirby Yates and David Robertson, who have turned back the clock and given the club a pair of late-inning mainstays. Yates has worked primarily as a closer and Robertson as a setup man, but they have been effective throughout the season no matter how they have been deployed.

Corey Seager couldn’t repeat his eye-popping 2023 numbers, which included a 1.013 OPS, but he continued to be an effective hitter who combined power skills with a strong ability to get on base. Josh Smith was another small bright spot, as he gained a larger workload while continuing to play multiple positions.

When a team goes from World Series champion to playoff contender, there’s no shortage of things that can go wrong.

Marcus Semien hasn’t been a huge disappointment, but his offensive game has seen a notable decline from year to year. At the same time, he’s continued to be one of the most resilient players in baseball. His decline has been less severe than that of Adolis Garcia, who was one of the biggest catalysts in Texas’ World Series run. Garcia was terrific in April of this year before hitting under .200 each of the next three months.

The veterans weren’t the only ones struggling in the batting order, as youngsters Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Josh Jung all failed to live up to expectations. Langford was supposed to be one of baseball’s most promising rookies, but he struggled in April, missed most of May with a hamstring injury and was largely ineffective the rest of the way.

Carter was an even bigger disappointment. The outfielder was terrific in September and the playoffs last year, but he posted a .633 OPS this season and was limited to 45 games with a back injury. Jung suffered a broken wrist four games into the season, sidelining him until July 29.

Meanwhile, aging starters Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom failed to make a real impact. Scherzer returned from a back injury to open the season in June, but went back on injured reserve after eight starts with a shoulder strain. DeGrom was expected to provide a late-season boost to the rotation, but the team was out of playoff contention by the time he was ready to make a rehab start.

The good news is that a team that was good enough to win the World Series a year ago can quickly get back on track.

Seager and Semien are both in the middle of long-term contracts and will remain the two-player duo. Garcia will need to bounce back, and Langford and Carter will need to take a step forward. Those three players can join Leody Taveras to form a deep outfield group. Jung will be the team’s third baseman, and if he can reverse a two-year decline, Nathaniel Lowe could continue to start at first base. Jonah Heim is another player who will be counted on to bounce back from a down year, in which case he will remain the No. 1 catcher.

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While the offense is counting on its current players to turn things around, the pitching staff options are more complicated. Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney are all headed to free agency. DeGrom could become an ace again, but he’ll be a major question mark in his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. Tyler Mahle is even more of a question mark, having made three starts in his return from Tommy John before going back to the injured list with a shoulder injury. Cody Bradford has shown flashes of potential this year and is expected to be a part of the rotation, along with Dane Dunning, who had a down year. As a result of all that, the Rangers should look to add two reliable starters via free agency or trade.

The bullpen will need as much help as the rotation. Yates is headed to free agency and Robertson has a mutual option for 2025. The team will also need to replace Jose Leclerc, who will become a free agent after an inconsistent eight-year tenure in Texas. Adding at least two relievers will be the bare minimum expectation for general manager Chris Young.

With Langford and Carter coming from the prospect pool, the team lacks notable prospects who are close to the major leagues.

The club’s top prospects have tremendous long-term potential, but they’re unlikely to debut next year. The third overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Kumar Rocker, was slowed by Tommy John surgery in 2023 and is expected to debut in 2026. The top position player prospect is Sebastian Walcott, who is just 18.

Justin Foscue doesn’t have a ton of upside, but he’s played well in Triple-A this year. The 25-year-old played briefly with the Rangers and spent time on the injured list with an oblique injury. He’s stuck at second base with Semien, but he could be a versatile player who can play both corner infield spots. Foscue could also be a valuable addition to the Rangers’ search for pitching help.

Emiliano Teodo could help the rotation in the second half of 2025. The 23-year-old has progressed to Double-A and, like many prospects, has shown better swing-and-miss skills than control. Teodo turned heads in the 2024 Futures Game.

The Rangers should have postseason ambitions again in 2025. The team will need several position players, including Semien, García, Langford, Carter and Jung, to make a much bigger impact next year. That may seem like a lot to ask, but the veterans on this roster have done it before, and the youngsters were recently among the most coveted prospects in baseball.

Additionally, management will have to spend money to improve the pitching staff. Without adding new pitchers, the team will not be able to overcome its pitching problems.

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Seager is one of the best hitters in baseball and will be a second-round pick whose only drawback will be his inability to steal bases. The rest of the Rangers will give fantasy managers headaches. Will Garcia recapture the success of his 39-homer season? How many innings is deGrom ready to throw? Are Langford and Carter finally ready to live up to the expectations we had for them this year?

DeGrom is expected to be selected between rounds 3 and 5, depending on how he performs in training camp. Garcia, Langford, Carter, Semien and Jung will all be selected between rounds 6 and 12.