3 Rangers who are playing their way out of team's 2027 plans during playoff hunt

The Texas Rangers are making a serious push to win the AL West as they have picked up ground on the Houston Astros in the past week. Several players are coming up big in leverage situations right when the team needs them. Others, however, have been missing in action and are putting their 2027 roster spots in jeopardy.

Here are three Rangers who, through either poor play or injury, could find themselves on another team next year, regardless of whether the Rangers make the playoffs or not

3 Rangers players who are not guaranteed a roster spot in 2027 as the team chases a playoff spot

Evan Carter - CF

The can't-miss kid who had the fanbase abuzz with his sparkling 2023 debut and postseason run has been AWOL for all of 2026. The patience of Chris Young and Skip Schumaker has to be wearing thin, as they gave him the benefit of the doubt and plugged him into the starting lineup almost every day despite him hitting below the Mendoza Line.

It feels like the chickens are about to come home to roost on Carter, who, aside from being completely inept against lefties (.121/.183/.121 slash line), has seen his playing time fade during the stretch run. Carter will hit arbitration in 2027 with absolutely no leverage, so the Rangers may decide to keep the spry center fielder around on the cheap, but it would be best to move on from the .195 hitter.

Nicky Lopez - Utility

Nicky "Knocks" was fantastic when he first arrived from the Cubs in late May. He hit for average and did all the little things and dirty work that help a team win games. Unfortunately, with Corey Seager and Cody Freeman's return coupled with the emergence of Justin Foscue as a mainstay against left-handed pitching at second base, there may not be room to keep another utility man on the 2027 roster.

You kind of knew that Lopez would regress toward his mean of a .250 career average, but he is such a likeable player and a great guy to have in the clubhouse. Since August 10, Lopez is 11-for-47 with a single extra-base hit. There is a reason that Lopez has been with 6 teams in 7 years. He just doesn't provide enough pop, and the Rangers can't afford to be hiding anyone in their lineup as they try to race past the Astros and White Sox.

Kyle Higashioka - C

Higashioka was placed on the 10-day injured list on July 21, 2026, with a right flexor strain, and is currently on a rehab assignment at Triple-A Round Rock, where he is now slashing .239/.327/.413. Higgy wasn't playing well before he got injured, and by missing the last two months, the platoon of Elias Diaz and Danny Jansen has taken over in Arlington.

The fact that no one has noticed much that Higgy has not been a part of the Rangers' postseason surge tells you all you need to know about how much he means to the fanbase and organization. At 36 years old, Higgy has seen a significant downturn in his defense and overall health. He has a $7 million mutual option for 2027, but with the trade for Logan O'Hoppe at the deadline combined with the logjam already at catcher, the Rangers will definitely be declining their side of that deal.

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