Chris Young and the front office will have their work cut out for them this winter. The Rangers have now missed the playoffs three years in a row since winning the 2023 World Series, and an underperforming roster finished 80-82 in 2026. Most of the roster returns in 2027, pending any moves, but eight players will likely hit free agency: Joc Pederson, Kyle Higashioka, and Jakob Junis (all with mutual options), plus Jalen Beeks, Tyler Alexander, Nicky Lopez, Jordan Montgomery, and Trevor Williams. Mutual options are rarely accepted, though I could see Junis's being the exception.

Bullpen:

Late in the season, the bullpen was prone to giving up runs because it lacked depth in the middle innings, and Skip Schumaker had to lean on it heavily. The nucleus is solid: all-star closer Jacob Latz, seventh- or eighth-inning arm Robert Garcia, and a reliable middle-innings option in Chase Silseth. Other young arms in the organization, such as Gavin Collyer, Ben Peoples, and Adam Macko, could also slot in. Former Miami Marlin Declan Cronin will get a shot at the big league bullpen this spring after missing the 2026 season due to Tommy John surgery. With a few additions, I think this can be a good group that gets the ball to Latz.

Targets:

Taylor Clarke-

Clarke fits the mold of what the Rangers pursue in bullpen arms: he rarely issues walks, posting a 4.9% walk rate in 2026. He resembles last offseason's signing, Jakob Junis. Both lean on a primary breaking ball (Clarke's slider, Junis's sweeper) and adjust their pitch usage to the hitter's handedness. Clarke has a four-pitch mix of slider, changeup, sinker, and cutter. The changeup is his primary pitch against left-handed hitters and the slider against right-handed hitters. The Virginia native posted a 2.96 ERA with a 3.90 FIP over 73 innings last season. He should be a solid middle-innings arm without costing much, and I expect him to land about what Junis got last winter.

A.J. Puk-

A.J. Puk is an interesting arm. The tall left-hander has electric stuff, but the injury bug often bothers him. If the Rangers take a flyer on him, the potential reward could be good. Healthy, he could slot into the seventh or eighth inning and handle leverage innings. He works with two pitches, sits in the upper 90s with his fastball, and gets more than seven feet of extension, so the ball gets on hitters quickly. In 2025, hitters chased his fastball 40% of the time and swung and missed 30.9% of the time. Opponents hit .263 against it that year, compared with just .145 in 2024, when the pitch also had a +12 run value. His slider got better results than the fastball in 2025, though like the fastball it was better still in 2024. As long as there are no red flags with his shoulder (a left shoulder capsule sprain was his latest injury), I would consider him at around $2 million.

Tyler Alexander-

This one needs little explanation. The Texas native logged 73 innings with a 3.70 ERA in 2026 and was one of the Rangers' more dependable relievers, even notching 4 saves. He kept the ball on the ground and didn't allow much hard contact. Tyler Alexander was a Swiss Army knife for the Rangers, which is what they signed him to be. He should also be fairly inexpensive.

Jonathan Loáisiga-

Loáisiga had a strong 2026 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a 2.42 ERA in 67 innings. The Rangers have shown interest in him before, so I could see them calling his representation. He also does something the Rangers like in their relievers: he limited his walk rate to 5%. He doesn't strike out many hitters, but his fastball averages around 98 MPH and he posts a chase rate above 35%. Adding a high-octane arm is something the Rangers could use in 2027.

Bryan Abreu-

Bryan Abreu didn’t have a good start to his 2026 season, but the Astros’ setup man found his stride in the second half, posting a 1.71 ERA in 31.2 innings. He finished his season with a 3.73 ERA in 62.2 innings. The right-hander attacks hitters with a slider, four-seam fastball, and a cutter. The fastball was his most effective pitch, holding hitters to a .170 batting average, while the slider is his strikeout pitch, with a 39% whiff rate and nearly a 35% strikeout rate. I think Bryan Abreu is a good reliever as it stands, but I wonder if the Rangers can get a little more out of him. Over the last few years they have been able to get good production from some arms you didn't expect. If the Rangers sign him and he gets the setup role I think Abreu and Latz back to back has the potential to be pretty formidable. Due to his rough start to 2026 the Rangers might have a shot to sign him if he's an arm on their radar, and they are willing to spend a little more money on the bullpen.

Honorable Mentions-

Jason Adam, Evan Phillips, Steven Okert, and Adrian Morejon. Adam has swing-and-miss stuff and would be a solid option, though his strikeouts were down in 2026. Phillips is probably the better choice, but he may not want to leave the Dodgers. Okert fits the Rangers' mold with a low walk rate and a good whiff rate. Morejon would be a phenomenal addition but will probably be out of the Rangers' price range. Miami Marlins reliever Calvin Faucher could also be a possible trade candidate.

Starting Pitchers:

Going into the season the Rangers were set up to have a pretty formidable starting rotation headlined by Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and newly acquired MacKenzie Gore, with young arms like Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker. Unfortunately, it did not live up to those expectations. The 2026 rotation returns in 2027, and CY is quoted saying "our rotation looks good on paper." They may not add a starter, but I can't ever rule out him adding a starter. According to multiple reports, the Rangers have made Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom available in talks, but of the two I see deGrom being the most likely to be moved.

Kris Bubic-

Bubic over the last four seasons has solidified himself as a reliable pitcher. He has spent most of his career with the Kansas City Royals, but was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline. Although the southpaw didn't pitch much in 2026 due to an injury and a setback, he still finished the year with a 3.76 ERA in 55 innings. In 2025, Bubic had a breakout season, posting a 2.55 ERA in 116.1 innings over 20 starts. He attacks hitters with a four-seamer, change up, sweeper, sinker, and slider. The change up was by far his most effective pitch in 2026. Hitters batted just .119 against it and chased it 38.1% of the time. The fastball also fared well for him, opponents hit .208 against it. Bubic doesn't throw particularly hard, but he has good extension (according to BaseballSavant he gets around 6.8-6.9 feet), which helps him. Despite a forearm injury and a shoulder issue, Bubic still posted average K rates. If Bubic has a healthy season, I think he can post numbers similar to his 2025 campaign.

Contract prediction: 2 years, $22 million ($8 million in 2027, $14 million in 2028).

Clay Holmes-

The Rangers were reportedly scouting Clay Holmes ahead of the trade deadline in 2026, so I'm sure they'll give THE TEAM (his representation) a call. The right-hander spent most of his career as a reliever but moved to the rotation in 2025 when he signed with the Mets. In two years as a starter, he has a 3.41 ERA over 267 innings. He won't get you many strikeouts, but he keeps the ball on the ground 50-60% of the time. He does that with a six-pitch repertoire a sinker, sweeper, changeup (the kick-change), slider, cutter, and a four-seam fastball he threw just 5% of the time last season. Although his strikeout rate is low, he still posted an above-average chase rate in 2026. Holmes would slide in nicely at the two or three spot, depending on other moves, and would be a reliable option every five days.

Contract prediction: 3 year deal in the 45-60 million dollar range

I also wouldn't mind if they resigned Cal Quantrill. He was phenomenal for the Rangers down the stretch as a starter.

Notes on some hitters I would be interested in:

Free Agents:

Luis Arraez 2B/1B-

This one is fairly self-explanatory. The three-time batting champion doesn't strike out and rarely swings and misses, and the Rangers could use a hitter like him. In 2026, between the Giants and Phillies, Arraez slashed .310/.345/.419, a .764 OPS and 110 wRC+. You aren't looking for power, but his ability to put the ball in play could be very valuable in this lineup. As a leadoff hitter, a single to start the game puts a runner on for the two, three, and four spots. The Rangers have been connected to him before, and Skip Schumaker speaks highly of him. His defense also improved in 2026. Long considered below average in the field, he accumulated 12 OAA (Outs Above Average) at second base with help from former Rangers manager Ron Washington. Arraez would be a big addition to the offense.

Contract prediction: 3 years in the 42-54 million dollar range.

Tyrone Taylor OF-

With Evan Carter unavailable to start 2027, the Rangers need an outfielder who can play nearly every day. Taylor fits for several reasons. He ranked in the 92nd percentile in sprint speed in 2026 and had a +2 fielding run value. As a right-handed hitter, he has also fared well against left-handed pitching in his career, so he can slide into a platoon role when Carter returns. In 2026, with the Mets and Cubs, he slashed .279/.325/.509 with a .834 OPS and 127 wRC+ over 241 plate appearances. It was one of his better seasons and showed he can be an everyday player. Taylor would add speed and good defense, two of Young's goals this offseason.

Mauricio Dubón UTL-

As a former Houston Astro, I'm sure a lot of Rangers fans know how Mauricio Dubón plays the game and how pesky he can be. He grinds out at-bats, plays great defense all over the diamond (he is a two-time Gold Glove winner), and doesn't strike out much. Since joining the Astros, he has hit .266 in a little over 2,000 at-bats. I wouldn't say you are signing him to add offense, though the bat can hold its own, but you are signing him for his defensive prowess around the field, his pesky play style, and the dynamic he brings to the team. I think his position flexibility would also raise the roster's floor. You might ask why the Rangers need another super-utility player with Ezequiel Duran on the roster. My answer is why not have two?

Lane Thomas CF/RF-

Like Taylor, Thomas would add speed and the potential for good defense, and the Rangers have expressed interest in him before. He was traded to the Atlanta Braves at the 2026 deadline but wasn't great down the stretch. Still, he has been successful against left-handed pitching over his eight-year major league career, slashing .287/.360/.489 with a .848 OPS against southpaws. He has also kept an above-average chase rate throughout his career. Because he can mash left-handed pitching, he fits the roster even after Carter returns. Baseball Savant shows a -7 OAA for his defense, but his right field numbers are much better: last season he had +3 DRS, 1 OAA, and +1 FRV there. Paired with his speed, that would improve the Rangers' outfield defense and give them a good right-handed bat against lefties.

More notes on hitters:

Dodgers outfielder Alex Call seems like a logical fit. The Rangers were interested in him at the deadline, and he can slide into the platoon role as well.

If the Rangers decided to trade Jake Burger due to the weak hitting free agent class, I would be interested in a possible reunion with Nathaniel Lowe. He performed well against right-handed pitching last season, and he could platoon with Justin Foscue in the lineup, if that's the direction they decide to take.

I would inquire with Cleveland about Steven Kwan, though he is a free agent after the 2027 season. In addition, I would call Baltimore to check in on Jackson Holliday. Hasn't played up to his expectations, but he's still young, and a change of scenery could help.

I believe this team will look different in 2027. Chris Young said in a post-season press conference, "We need to get younger, we need to get more athletic, we need to get more dynamic." Whether through free agency or trades, I believe moves will be made to achieve that. A full roster turnover will take time, but I expect the team to start trending that way.