Rangers could close power ranking gap by addressing these needs before Opening Day

The 2026 Major League Baseball season is quickly approaching and this time next week, spring training camps in Arizona and Florida will be filled with the sound of popping catchers mitts and the cracking of baseballs on wood bats.

Down in Surprise, Arizona, the Texas Rangers are preparing for a make-or-break season after missing the past two postseasons and dumping more than just a couple of 2023 World Series heroes in hopes of finding momentum again.

That has caused them to fall down in several media power rankings, including our own here at FanSided, where Texas comes in in the bottom half of the league at 17th overall in between Reds and Royals.

Pre-spring training power rankings cause for panic?

If we are being honest, no true power ranking prior to any baseball being played is pointless when evaluating a lot of teams. Sure, teams like the Dodgers, Yankees, Blue Jays and Rockies are easy to predict one way or the other but a lot can happen.

In MLB's pre-season power rankings at the start of the 2026 calendar year, the Rangers came in at 20th overall. Granted that was prior to Texas trading five prospects to the Washington Nationals for lefty MacKenzie Gore to strengthen their rotation.

Bottom line is this. While the ranking is actually pretty fair given their lack of big moves this offseason and the glaring holes in the roster, it could be a lot worse and there's a lot of time to right that ship. Therefore, don't panic, yet.

What can Rangers do to inch closer to top of rankings?

Texas would have to go on quite a roll to beat out the Dodgers for the top spot in the power rankings at anytime this upcoming season but there's always room for improvement at No. 17.

The Rangers have a few directions they can go acqusition wise to make their chances a bit better. It could include getting another offensive weapon to make the lineup stronger, something they are desperately needing after last season's debacle.

Unfortunately, Miguel Andujar is reportedly signing with the San Diego Padres, as of Wednesday night. Let's point attention to the 35-year-old DH Marcell Ozuna.

Ozuna is still a free agent after spending the past six seasons with the Atlanta Braves and despite a down year in 2025, he's still just two seasons removed from 39 home runs and 104 RBIs. He's also projected to have nearly 30 homers and 80 RBIs in what will be year 14 in the league.

Another addition that could be helpful is starting pitching to help solidify that rotation. Right now it goes Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Gore, Jack Leiter and one of Cody Bradford, Jacob Latz and Kumar Rocker.

Beauty of needing a fifth starter is that it can go multiple directions. Even if Texas was to sign someone, it could realistically be a cheap veteran option such as Justin Verlander or reuiniting with former Ranger Max Scherzer.