4 Bold Texas Rangers predictions for 2024

There is just hours left in the year 2023. This will be a year Texas Rangers fans will never forget and likely do not want to see end. It is the year Corey Seager, Adolis Garcia, and Josh Sborz went from regular players to mythical heroes. The stories of the home runs Seager and Garcia hit will be passed down from father to son to grandchildren. The redemption journey for Josh Sborz will be retold for years. While those stories will continue to be told, it is time to look into the future. It is time to make wild predictions about what will happen in 2024. I have four bold predictions about what will happen for the Texas Rangers in 2024.

Bold Prediction #1- Will Venable named Manager-in-waiting

I think everyone assumes Venable is the next guy once Bochy steps down. A bench coach does not turn down managerial interviews like Venable did in October unless there is an understanding he has a managerial job already lined up. I think in spring training this year that Bochy announces that he will step away after the 2025 season. Texas then announces that Will Venable will succeed Bochy as manager starting in 2026.

This does two things it takes away the question of whether or not Texas will extend Bochy's contract off the table throughout the 2024 season. Bruce Bochy is heading into year two of a three-year contract. Texas would not want Bochy to coach on a lame-duck contract. So they would need to extend his contract by the end of the season. Second, it allows Bochy to go out on his terms. He already brought a World Series championship to Texas and added to his collection of rings. There is a chance that the 2025 season will allow him an experience that will be coming later on in our predictions.

Will Venable is an ideal hire for the Texas Rangers. He was thought to be a candidate for the job before Bruce Bochy took the reins. He is a former teammate of Chris Young and has a good working relationship with the GM. He is very knowledgeable about the game and is a former Texas Rangers player. This will allow Texas to keep him in-house and make sure he does not leave for another job say if the Yankees job came open or some other job came calling. This locks Venable in place and gives the Rangers managerial security through the next several seasons.

Bold Prediction #3- Wyatt Langford wins AL Rookie of the Year

The talk throughout this offseason has been about Evan Carter. It should be that way after how he performed in October in helping Texas win the World Series at just 21-years old. It is assumed he has a job locked down as the Opening Day left-fielder, According to CBS Sports Carter is their number two pick to win the Rookie of the Year award next season. He is right behind Jackson Holliday of the Baltimore Orioles. I don't think either of them win the award though. I think it goes to Wyatt Langford who will likely not make the Opening Day roster, but will still make a major impact for the Texas Rangers.

I want to make this clear, this does not mean that I think Evan Carter will have a bad year. I think Carter can have a year where he hits .250-.275, has a .800+ OPS, and hits 15-20 home runs. That is a solid season. I think this means that Wyatt Langford could match Carter in batting average, surpass him in OPS, and hit 20-30 home runs hitting in the middle of the order.

Texas really lucked out in having Langford fall to them at number four. They benefited first from the draft lottery bumping them up from seven to four. Then they took advantage of the first three teams passing on Langford and drafted him. Langford might be the best hitter that comes out of that draft. He showed that potential in his brief time in the minors in August and September. He went from Arizona to Hickory to Frisco and ended the season with Round Rock. In the 161 at-bats between all those levels Langford finished with a .360 batting average, 10 home runs, 30 RBIs, 36 runs scored, and 12 stolen bases. He did all of that in just 44 games played. That is legendary stuff for someone who just turned 22 years-old last month.

The potential for Langford is immense. I do not think he opens the season with Texas. I think Texas returns him to Round Rock. If he plays well to start the season or an injury happens to a position player he will be the first player called up. If he comes up he may never go back down. He is a special player who once up he will play well and outshine all other American League rookies and win the Rookie of the Year award.

Bold Prediction #4- Texas signs Roki Sasaki

Texas is keeping their powder dry this offseason for the most part. They have seen Mitch Garver sign with Seattle, Will Smith with the Kansas City Royals, and Austin Hedges with the Cleveland Guardians. Jordan Montgomery will inevitably sign elsewhere this offseason as well. They will most likely allow Max Scherzer and Andrew Heaney to leave in free agency after this season. Texas will need to sign another starter. The free agent market in 2023-2024 is loaded with pitching. The best pitcher might be someone who is not even in the majors. It is likely to be Roki Sasaki. There are already rumors that he wants to be posted after the NPB season in 2024. He wants to come here sooner rather than wait until he can cash in on a bigger payday.

Sasaki will be turning just 23 years old when he is posted. I think Texas will be willing to pay up to get Sasaki. I don't think the Dodgers will get involved especially with Shohei Ohtani joining the rotation in 2025. Texas will be competing with the Padres, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and maybe the Cubs. In the end, I think Sasaki chooses to sign with the Rangers and begin his major league career in Arlington much like Yu Darvish did back in 2012.

Sasaki is a 6'2 right-handed pitcher who throws straight gas.He finished the 2023 season with a 1.78 ERA and struck out 135 batters and walked 17 in 91 innings pitched. He was sensational. His skill set will likely translate very well to the major league game. I think Texas will be very aggressive in their pursuit as Sasaki will give them a young staff ace that they can build around now and in the future. I think that Sasaki's decision is made in December of 2024. He is a Christmas present that Texas Rangers' fans can look forward to unwrapping next holiday season.

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