3 clear goals the Texas Rangers must reach to contend in the 2026 season

The Texas Rangers face a tumutlous year ahead. Missing the playoffs the last two seasons and watching as their offensive production has continued to fall and the core of their World Series title team three seasons ago is completely torn apart.

Facing potential trade rumblings of Jacob deGrom and Corey Seager, the Rangers need to see improvement or it could mean serious changes. Here's three things the Rangers need to do to call it progress and a successful 2026 season.

3 New Years resolutions for the Texas Rangers in 2026

1. Hit .250+ collectively as a team

The biggest focus as Skip Schumaker takes over as the Rangers' skipper is getting the offense back to what is was during the franchise's World Series title three seasons ago. In 2025 when the team hit .234, which was the fourth-worst average in MLB.

As a benchmark, the Rangers need to get that average up almost a full 20 points to .250. It's still far away from the .263 they hit during the '23 season but .250 would still be above the league-wide average.

How do they get there? They lean into the offensive philosophy change that Schumaker and new hitting staff, led by Justin Viele.

2. Record at least one 30 home run season

While the new change on offense is going to be leaning into strengths, which seems to be more centered toward getting on base and recording hits over power. The Rangers still have those big name slugging bats and getting those guys going will go a long way.

Last season, Wyatt Langford and Corey Seager were the team's home run leaders with 22 and 21 respectively. A big part of that will be Langford's potential to be the Rangers' first 30-30 player since Ian Kinsler back in 2011.

Seager also plays a big role in that, which would mean playing at least 120 games. Other names with potential to reach that mark would be centered on the resurgences of Joc Pederson, Jake Burger and Josh Jung.

3. Return to the postseason

This seems pretty obvious but for a team that missed the playoffs the past two seasons, getting a chance to play October baseball is all you can ask for. Of course, once you get to that mark, there's no telling what could happen.

Back in 2023, the Rangers were one of the best offensive teams all year but struggled down the stretch, sneaking into the playoffs on the last weekend of the regular season but still losing three of their last four games. Once they got into postseason play, everything began to click for Texas on all sides of the ball.

A big part of this goal will be the continued career success of Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, a potential breakout year for Jack Leiter and finding a way to make this band of misfits in the bullpen come together and find a groove.