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Texas Rangers: The good, the bad and the ugly from the 2019 season

By Kenneth Nash

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 29: Willie Calhoun #5 of the Texas Rangers hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 29: Willie Calhoun #5 of the Texas Rangers hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners in the bottom of the first inning at Globe Life Park in Arlington on August 29, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 08: Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers and the American League talks with Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros and the American League during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Progressive Field on July 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 08: Joey Gallo of the Texas Rangers and the American League talks with Alex Bregman of the Houston Astros and the American League during Gatorade All-Star Workout Day at Progressive Field on July 08, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The Bad

The Team Lacks Bonafide Star Power

While the youth movement has a shot at producing some quality Major League talent, the Texas Rangers still lack a superstar. Or even multiple stars. Joey Gallo is the closest they’ve got right now and while he started out the season looking like an emerging superstar, injuries have at least delayed that status for the meantime. Gallo was one of two All-Stars on the Rangers this season along with Mike Minor. While that pair will no doubt have heavy influence in 2020, this roster lacks the talent to be even mentioned as a contender next season.

Using the Astros as a measuring stick, albeit a very tough measuring stick, Texas is competing against a division opponent that is set to feature five 2019 All-Stars, the 2009 AL Cy Young, the 2011 AL MVP/Cy Young winner, the 2015 AL Rookie of the Year, the 2017 AL MVP, the 2017 World Series MVP, possibly the 2019 AL Rookie of the Year in Yordan Alvarez and a 2019 AL MVP candidate in Alex Bregman. Texas is nowhere near that.

Hopes were that in 2019, multiple players would start reaching their potential and emerge as stars, but really only Joey Gallo was up to the task. That leaves a lot of the Rangers lineup relying on average players. If the Rangers want a shot at contending next season, they have to either sign, acquire or develop some All-Star caliber players quickly. Or else 2020 will show some improvements, but they’ll be sitting at home during October once again.

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