Rangers Rally

Yesterday, the Texas Rangers signed Santiago Espinal to a minor-league contract. A versatile fielder who can play second base, third base, shortstop, and outfield, Espinal has been a quality player during his time in the big leagues, batting .261 over his career and making an all-star team in 2022. He was batting .268 for the Dodgers in 2026 before signing with Texas. Espinal is a quality pickup for the Rangers and should provide solid depth while Corey Seager recovers from his current back injury. 

For much of this season, the Rangers have been using slugger Joc Pederson as their leadoff hitter. Pederson, a DH, is not a typical leadoff hitter, and perhaps it would be better for him to hit in the middle of the lineup instead.       Many leadoff hitters are fast players who have a high on-base percentage. They are expected to get on base in front of the power hitters and provide good speed as the lead runner. Pederson, however, is a very different kind of player. While his OBP is decent, he tends to struggle with his batting average, and his sprint speed ranks only in the ninth percentile according to Baseball Savant . Pederson's batting strength lies in his power, as he ranks in the 89th percentile in average exit velocity and 88th in hard-hit percentage. He has 230 home runs in his career, including 12 so far in 2026.      Traditionally, Pederson's type fit better in the cleanup spot in the order, not leadoff. Over the past three weeks, Pederson ...

On Tuesday, the Rangers signed lefthanded pitcher Marco Gonzales to a minor league contract. Gonzales has pitched ten seasons in the Majors between 2014 and 2024, compiling a 66-50 career record, including 16 wins in 2019. He topped MLB with 34 starts in 2019 and a 9.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 2020. While he didn't pitch at all in 2025, he is back at it again in 2026, having pitched in AAA with the Padres before signing with Texas.  Throughout his career, Gonzales has never been a high-velocity pitcher, often averaging under 90 miles per hour with his fastball. Instead, he relies on decent extension and strong command, and has found some success at the highest level. However, at age 34 and after a full season off, Gonzales should not be expected to provide more than organizational depth. 

On Sunday, lefthander Jordan Montgomery began his rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco, throwing one inning with one strikeout and allowing one hit. He threw 10 of 13 pitches for strikes. While this will be a lengthy rehab assignment for Montgomery after he underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2025, this is certainly a positive step forward. There is a good chance that Monty could make a few starts for Texas before the end of the season.  Montgomery was one of the steadiest pitchers in the game from 2021 through 2023. He made 11 starts for Texas in 2023 and was a key contributor to their World Series victory. However, his past two seasons have been catastrophic, as he posted a 6.23 ERA for Arizona in 2024 before missing all of 2025 with injury. However, for $1.25 million, the Rangers brought him back as a low-risk option that could potentially pay off. 

The first Ranger to win the MVP Award may be one of the most obscure MVPs in MLB history. His award came early in Rangers history, when they were new to the league and not considered a top team. However, by winning the MVP and leading the Rangers to an alarming turnaround season in 1974, Jeff Burroughs was one of the key men who helped put the franchise on the map.  Burroughs made his MLB debut with the Washington Senators in 1969. He moved to Texas with the club in 1972 and established himself in 1973, when he clubbed 30 homers for a team that lost 105 games. In 1974, Burroughs captured the league MVP Award with a .301 average, 25 homers, and a league-leading 118 RBI's, helping the Rangers improve to 84-76 and climb to second place in the division.  Over his career, Burroughs spent sixteen seasons in the Major Leagues, including seven with the Rangers. His career high in homers was 41, achieved in 1977 as a member of the Atlanta Braves, and he led MLB in walks (117) and OBP (...

Yesterday, the Rangers signed former all-star Elias Diaz to a Big League deal. The 35-year-old catcher sports a strong arm behind the plate, previously leading his league once each in assists, double plays, and caught stealing percentage, and also has some pop in his bat, tallying as many as 18 home runs in a season. He was the MVP of the 2023 all-star game when he smacked a pinch-hit go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, eventually finishing the season with a .267 average, 14 homers, and 72 RBI's. With his combination of offense and defense, he should be able to pick up the Rangers' struggling catching staff.