3 free agents who should be on every Rangers’ fans wish list this offseason

Assuming that the Rangers' brass is serious about trimming the payroll for the 2026 season, there are a handful of unrestricted free agents that could be acquired at a market value significantly lower than what they paid in 2025.

It's tough to find upgrades that have a cheaper price tag without sacrificing some of the current salary on the books, but here are three that should be on fans' wish lists this winter.

3 free agents who should be on every Rangers’ fans wish list this offseason

Luis Arraez, 2B

One thing that the 2025 version of the Texas Rangers lacked was a guy at the top of the order who would work counts and could consistently get on base in a variety of ways. Arraez is one of the best old-school contact hitters in the league with a career batting average of .317. He also rarely strikes out. Last season with the San Diego Padres, he struck just 21 times in 620 at-bats. The Rangers desperately need guys who will put the ball in play and make opposing pitchers work.

If the Rangers are trimming their payroll in 2026, then letting the expensive 35-year-old Marcus Semien go and replacing him with the line-drive-hitting, Venezuelan-born Arraez at a lower price is a great place to start - even if they have to eat some of Semien's remaining salary.

They could acquire Arraez at roughly half the price, as his market value is around $14 million per year, whereas Semien earns $26 million annually.

Victor Caratini, C

It's time for the Rangers to move on from Jonah Heim at catcher, and the organization needs to look for a better option to platoon with Kyle Higashioka moving forward.

Although Victor Caratini played for the hated, in-state rival Houston Astros the past few seasons, he is a unrestricted free agent who comes at about the same price as Heim's $4.75 AAV.

For the Astros, Caratini hit .259 with 12 homers and 48 RBIs in 386 at-bats. He is a superior hitter than anyone the Rangers have within the organization and he is Heim's equal defensively with experience handling the terrific Astros pitching staffs over the past two seasons.

Zack Littell, RHP

With the Rangers likely to move on from Patrick Corbin, they should go after veteran starting pitcher in Zack Littell. The 30-year-old six-foot-four right-hander might cost a little bit more but he is well within the range that the club would be willing to spend for an upgrade.

Littell went 10-8 last season while pitching for both the Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds. He is also coming off three straight sub-4.00 ERA seasons and appears to be coming into his own as a starter.

Corbin had an up-and-down year in the fifth spot of the rotation, and Littell would be a good candidate to replace him in that role in what is a weak year for free agent starting pitchers.