Texas Rangers: Answering the 3 biggest questions of the off-season

Who on the Texas Rangers’ current roster is returning next season?

The Texas Rangers used 26 rookies in 2021. That’s a staggering number for any team, even a rebuilding one.

Some of those rookies played really well, such as AL Rookie of the Year candidate Adolis Garcia. Other rookies who shined included OF D.J. Peters, RHPs Glenn Otto and A.J. Alexy (in spurts), reliever Joe Barlow and infielders Andy Ibanez and Yonny Hernandez. Other rookies like Curtis Terry struggled.

On the more veteran side of things, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Nathaniel Lowe both proved they’re worthy of returning in 2022 and possibly beyond as they look to be part of the next winning core in Texas. Willie Calhoun was banged up most of 2021 and could be on a short leash in 2022. Jose Trevino and Jonah Heim did a solid job manning the catcher position all season.

Look for pitchers Dane Dunning, Spencer Howard and Taylor Hearn to reprise their roles in 2022 as well. Each one has varying levels of talent and upside and each could factor into a future pitching staff.

Overall, though, there aren’t any bona fide stars on this roster. Therefore, it’s quite possible that a near full-scale roster overhaul is in order for 2022. There isn’t anyone on this team that has definitively etched their place going into next season. Some are close to being locks, like El Bombi. But I expect lots of player maneuvering this off-season, so the 2022 roster could look very different than the 2021 one.

Is 2023 still a realistic goal for the Texas Rangers to start competing again?

This is perhaps the question that matters the most in the grand scheme of things.

We’re going to find out just how serious the Rangers are about having set 2023 as their goal to return to “contention”.

If things continue along their current trajectory in the farm system, along with Texas following through on their promises to spend money this winter, it’s very possible that 2023 enters the picture as a contention year for the Rangers.

I expect Cole Winn, Josh Jung and Sam Huff to all be big leaguers by next season, with Jung probably winning a job right out of spring training. With those three prospects likely to arrive, and many more on the way behind them, that starts the 2023 clock, in effect.

Now, throw in some names from free agency to the roster mix for 2022 and all of a sudden, this team looks a lot better than they did in 2021. Enough to compete? Don’t hold your breath. But a 10-15 win improvement? Maybe even 20? That could be possible with this team in 2022.

It’s not as if a high threshold has been set for the Rangers to clear, with just 60 wins in 2021. But an off-season of spending and the anticipation of prospect promotions in 2022 should set the stage for a competitive 2023.

If Texas has a good off-season, 75-80 wins might not be out of the question in 2022. And considering how bad 2021 was, that would be a huge improvement and a majorly positive sign going forward.