The Rangers entered the 2024 season wanting like a possible juggernaut. Not solely was the membership coming off a World Collection championship in 2023, however they have been wanting ahead to the rookie campaigns of prime prospects Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford, which have been extensively anticipated to additional bolster a wonderful lineup anchored by 2023 AL MVP runner-up Corey Seager, third-place finisher Marcus Semien, and ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia. On the pitching aspect, the membership had added a pair of back-end relievers to their shaky bullpen within the type of David Robertson and Kirby Yates.
Whereas their rotation wouldn’t be at full power coming into the 12 months, the promise of midseason reinforcements within the type of Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Tyler Mahle was greater than sufficient to encourage confidence that Texas was on the correct trajectory to return to the postseason and defend the primary World Collection title in franchise historical past. Projection programs felt equally: PECOTA at Baseball Prospectus gave the Rangers robust playoff odds of 55.4% of their preseason projections. These playoff odds have fallen to simply 14.6% coming into play as we speak, nevertheless, and it’s not arduous to see why.
Carter and Langford have each struggled to under common slash strains of their rookie seasons and have every frolicked on the injured listing this 12 months. They have been joined by younger third baseman Josh Jung on the injured listing, because the 26-year-old has made it into simply 4 video games this season amid quite a lot of setbacks as he works his means again from an early-season wrist fracture. Along with these kids not supplied the offensive affect anticipated from them headed into the season, the membership’s core hitters have additionally taken steps again after robust 2023 campaigns. Semien (90 wRC+) and Garcia (91 wRC+) have each been round 10% worse than league common on the plate this 12 months after large seasons final 12 months, whereas Seager’s 122 wRC+ is effectively above common however a far cry from the 6.1 fWAR marketing campaign he posted final 12 months that noticed him end second to solely Shohei Ohtani in AL MVP voting.
The membership has equally struggled to get probably the most out of its function gamers. Utility bat Ezequiel Duran was an above-average hitter in 2023 however crashed again right down to Earth this 12 months, slashing simply .256/.294/.324 (74 wRC+) earlier than being optioned to the minors in late June. Catcher Jonah Heim as struggled equally, with a 76 wRC+ only one 12 months after pairing his Gold Glove protection behind the plate with an above common slash line. The one shiny spot offensively has been infielder Josh Smith, who has damaged out in a giant means and slashed .293/.386/.451 (139 wRC+) because the membership’s common third baseman in Jung’s absence.
All these offensive woes have added as much as a 41-48 report for the Rangers, and issues get all of the extra worrisome when you think about the truth that they’ve received simply 25 of their 59 video games since Could 1. The membership’s .424 successful share over that span is roughly on par with the report the Angels have posted this 12 months. Between the pronounced struggles on the plate this 12 months and their acquainted struggles within the bullpen (their relievers’ 4.46 ERA is second-worst amongst all AL golf equipment), Rangers brass have been left within the uncomfortable state of affairs of getting to significantly take into account a sell-off simply months after parading by Dallas in celebration of championship.
The membership actually has items to promote if that’s the route they select to take. USA Immediately’s Bob Nightengale reported earlier this morning that rival GMs “count on” the Rangers to make a number of notable pitchers on expiring contracts out there. That group is led by Scherzer but in addition contains Robertson, Yates, Andrew Heaney, and Michael Lorenzen. Every of these arms would absolutely obtain loads of curiosity on a commerce market that’s dealing with a relative dearth of high quality pitching choices, significantly when taking a look at rental beginning pitching. Every of Scherzer, Heaney, and Lorenzen would fall into that latter class, whereas Robertson has been dealt at every of the previous two commerce deadlines. Yates could possibly be among the many most coveted relievers dealt this summer time if the Rangers have been to resolve to maneuver him given his eye-popping 0.86 ERA, 35.8% strikeout price, and historical past as an All-Star caliber nearer who led the majors with 41 saves again in 2019.
With so many fascinating items to promote and the membership falling additional behind the Mariners and Astros within the AL West by the day, it’s straightforward to make the argument that the crew ought to drag the plug on 2024 and begin specializing in the longer term, when Seager will probably be joined within the lineup by a wholesome Jung and the membership’s pair of rookies within the outfield may have one other 12 months of improvement beneath their belts. Interesting as which may appear from an out of doors perspective, nevertheless, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning Information famous this morning that GM Chris Younger made clear to reporters yesterday that the membership has not but selected a path for the commerce deadline, and continues to be open to the chance the membership performs their means again into rivalry.
“I consider on this crew,” Younger stated, as relayed by Grant. “I consider they’re able to a run. We simply should put ourselves in a greater place in order that nothing is insurmountable. This crew had a 40-20 run final 12 months. It’s in there.”
There’s actually causes for the Rangers to carry out hope the membership can combat their means again into rivalry this 12 months. Semien will have fun his thirty fourth birthday in September, and as he enters his mid-30’s it’s honest to surprise if this 12 months’s meager .232/.296/.383 slash line is nearer to what he’ll produce going ahead than final 12 months’s extra spectacular .276/.348/.478 line. 31-year-old Garcia and 30-year-old Seager are each youthful than Semien but in addition now on the mistaken aspect of 30, and that’s to not point out the uncertainty surrounding 36-year-old deGrom and his checkered damage historical past. Semien, Seager, and deGrom are due a mixed $98.5MM in 2025. With a lot cash tied up in that trio and key items like Scherzer and Eovaldi on the verge of free company, it’s honest to surprise if this 12 months often is the membership’s finest shot at one other postseason run with their present group.
With simply over three weeks remaining till the commerce deadline on July 30, how will the Rangers proceed? Have your say within the ballot under:
