Rangers Rally

On February 15, the Rangers signed outfielder/first baseman Mark Canha to a minor league deal. Canha, who turned 37 the day of the signing, is coming off a rough 2025 season in which he batted only .212 in 46 games, afflicted with a myriad of injuries. Although expected to be fully healthy, his role is primarily to provide outfield depth and not to shake up the offense.  Despite the low expectations, however, the signing could be a successful one for the Rangers. Over his career, Canha owns a slash line of .248 / .346 / .409 (111 OPS+) and 121 home runs. He’s hit as many as 26 homers in 2019 and ranks second among active players with 141 hit by pitch, contributing to a healthy on base percentage.  Although Canha should be expected to play a minimal role on the Rangers, he provides much-needed organizational depth and could produce for the big club in a pinch. With a decade of MLB experience, he could also act as a mentor to younger players both in the majors and the minors. Ov...

Last Friday, starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Rangers, returning to the club he had helped win the 2023 World Series. Given his recent performance, this move is a risk for the Rangers, but one that could pay off.  From 2021-23, the lefty posted a solid 3.48 ERA and went 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in the 2023 postseason. However, after holding out for a contract past opening day in 2024, Montgomery signed a one-year, $25 million deal with the Diamondbacks (with a $22.5 million vested option for 2025). This contract proved disastrous, as he pitched to a miserable 6.23 ERA in 117 innings in 2024 and missed all of 2025 with Tommy John surgery. After his regrettable tenure in Arizona, Montgomery re-signed with the Rangers for a much humbler deal.  Although he hasn't been an upper-tier starter since 2023, there is still some hope for Montgomery making a comeback. At 33 years old, there may still be some gas left in the tank, and he shoul...

On January 22, the Rangers made headlines when they traded five prospects to the Washington Nationals in exchange for lefty strikeout artist MacKenzie Gore. While this trade comes at a cost to the Rangers, it could be just what the team needs.  Gore, formerly a top prospect for the Padres, made his 2022 debut with the club before being traded to the Nats in the Juan Soto deal. Across three seasons in our nation's capitol, Gore emerged as the team's best pitcher, posting a 3.90 ERA in 2024 and making the all-star team in 2025, tallying over 180 strikeouts in each season. Overall, he owns a K/9 rate of 10.0.  While Gore's career record (26-41) is unappealing, it is largely due to the miserable Nationals teams he pitched for, who played subpar defense and didn't provide much run support. His numbers should get a boost from a vastly superior Rangers defense, and although his run support is still in question, the Rangers are eyeing an improvement with the acquisition of Bran...

With the opening of the international signing period, the Rangers have landed deals with 20 international prospects from four different countries. The highlight of this pool is Dominican outfielder Elian Rosario, who reportedly signed for $2.5 million. At 6'2" and 195 pounds, the 17-year old ranks as the 10th overall international prospect, featuring a strong bat and a cannon arm. As he joins a talented group of prospects in the Rangers organization, the club hopes to build a strong club in the coming years and make another run at the World Championship. 

Back in November, Rangers rightfielder Adolis Garcia elected free agency, eventually signing with the Phillies on a one-year, $10 million contract. Although he was a major contributor to the Rangers in the past, especially the 2023 World Championship team, Rangers fans can be optimistic that the 2026 Rangers will be a better team without him.  Although Garcia wasn't around terribly long in Arlington, he is already headed into his age-33 season, due to playing his first full season at age 28. While he slashed .246 / .305 / .472 (113 OPS+) with 97 homers from 2021-23, he has been below average in each of the past two seasons (.225 / .278 / .397 / 96 OPS+). This is particularly unacceptable for a rightfielder, which is typically an offense-first position. Additionally, he made $9.25 million in 2025, and his salary was clearly on the rise despite his value being clearly on the decline.  Rangers fans should remember with appreciation Garcia's immense contributions to the club in ye...

On December 16, the Rangers announced that they had signed reliever Alexis Diaz to a one-year contract. This move is a gamble for GM Chris Young, but it could be one that pays off.  Diaz had a forgettable 2025 season, struggling to an 8.15 ERA in 18 appearances for three different teams. Further, his fastball velocity dipped to a career-low 93.5 miles per hour, which ranked in the 35th percentile according to  Baseball Savant . However, Diaz is a former top reliever, posting a 1.84 ERA in 2022 and saving 37 games as an all-star in 2023. The brother of Edwin Diaz, Alexis should have pitching in his blood.  A potential curb to Diaz's development is the departure of former Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux to the Angels in the offseason, presenting a challenge for the coaching staff. However, his replacement, former pro pitcher Jordan Tiegs, was an on-field contributor with Maddux last season, and together they helped free agent acquisitions Shawn Armstrong, Chris Martin, H...

Late last month, former Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney announced his retirement from baseball. He had played twelve seasons in the Majors, suiting up for the Marlins, Angels, Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, and Pirates. Two years ago, he was a key contributor to the Rangers' only World Series title.  In 2023, Heaney went 10-6 with 151 strikeouts in 147.1 innings for Texas. In the World Series, he posted a 1.59 ERA, taking home the win in Game 4 on short rest. He stayed with the team in 2024, collecting 159 strikeouts in 160 innings, providing solid production toward the end of the rotation.  Overall, Heaney finished with a won-loss record of 56-72, a 4.57 ERA, and 1,156 strikeouts in 1,136.2 innings. He tied for the MLB lead in shutouts with one in 2018 as a member of the Angels.  Congratulations on a great career, Andrew Heaney, and thank you for your contributions to the Rangers! You will be missed.