3 Rangers storylines to look forward to during spring training

Texas Rangers pitchers and catchers are packing their bags and getting ready to report to Surprise, Arizona, on February 10 to kick off spring training.

Coming off a disappointing 2025 season that saw the team crater in September and finish at 81-81, the 2026 version of the squad will produce a handful of storylines that fans will want to monitor as the team begins a new era under Skip Schumaker. Here are the three main plotlines to watch out for.

3 Rangers storylines to look forward to during spring training

The Ranger's closer spot is up for grabs

New season, same question, right? Who will be the man tasked with the highest leverage late-inning save situations in 2026?

For reasons that no one other than Ray Davis and Chris Young knows, the Rangers have failed to sign an established closer for the upcoming season. This means that there will be an open competition again for the job.

The team did re-sign free agent Josh Sborz, who registered the biggest closeout in franchise history when he drove the stake in the heart of the D-Backs in 2023, but he is coming off major arm surgery. On top of that, Sborz has only one regular-season save in 163.1 innings since 2019, pitching almost entirely in middle relief.

There are challengers for the spot, including newcomer Alexis Diaz, who accumulated 75 saves from 2022 to 2024. Still, he only pitched 17.2 innings with three teams in 2025 and hasn't closed out a game in over a year.

Cole Winn, the Rangers' first-round pick in the 2018 draft, has also flashed closer stuff with plus velocity and an improving arsenal consisting of a sharp slider and change-up. He pitched well in low-leverage spots last season with an ERA of 1.54 and 0.95 WHIP and will get a good look in spring training.

Following who is called upon by Skip Schumaker and Jordan Tiegs as we get closer to opening day will shed light on who they are leaning toward to slam the door to begin 2026.

Who will claim the Rangers' fifth starting spot in the rotation?

The three main contenders to replace Patrick Corbin in the fifth slot of the starting rotation are former top draft pick Kumar Rocker, lefty Cody Bradford, and middle reliever Jacob Latz, who proved he had starting stuff when called upon in 2025.

Rocker clearly has all the arm talent to be a stalwart for the Rangers in the future, but he has stumbled at times trying to adjust to MLB hitters. Last season, he was inconsistent, posting a 5.74 ERA and 1.46 WHIP while giving up 11 homers and walking 24 batters in just 64.1 innings pitched.

Bradford flashed in 2024 with a 6-3 record, 3.54 ERA, and 1.01 WHIP. Unfortunately, the crafty southpaw missed all of 2025 due to an elbow injury that required internal brace surgery in late June of last year. The best-case scenario has Bradford ready to go in May, but he may start the season on the 60-day IL to ensure he is completely healthy.

Meanwhile, Latz made a statement moving from long relief into spot-start duty. Last season, he was an integral swingman for the Rangers, starting eight games and posting a 2.72 ERA over 39.2 innings. Doubling as a primary bullpen arm, he combined for a 2.84 ERA in 85.2 total innings.

The bigger investment is in Rocker, who has tremendous upside, but Latz has proven he can do it at the big-league level. How much latitude will Skip Schumaker give him over Latz, who is pushing hard to be another lefty behind newly-acquired MacKenzie Gore in the rotation? Also, it is worth keeping an eye on Bradford, who is ramping up for an early-season return.

Will Rangers' Josh Smith nail down second base?

Josh Smith has been a Swiss Army knife for the Rangers since he made his debut with the club in 2022, playing almost every position on the field. Now, he is being given his first opportunity to stake a claim to an everyday spot at second base following the trade of Marcus Semien.

Smith has been consistent, but not spectacular, over the last two seasons with WARs of 3.2 and 3.0, respectively. This year, he will be asked to fill the all-star caliber bat and Gold Glove-level defensive void left by Semien.

When asked to contribute close to 600 at-bats in 2024 and 2025, Smith has started strong, but faded badly in the second half of the season.

Cody Freeman is waiting to pounce on the opportunity should Smith not be up to the task or show that he is a significant downgrade at 2B. Spring training will set the stage for Smith to prove that he is ready to contribute as a full-time starter, or whether he will remain a utility man without a true position moving forward.