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Rangers desire for defensive upgrades doesn’t bode well for Evan Carter

No matter what, this is bad news for Carter.
ByJackson Kruse
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Jul 11, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) walks to the on deck circle during the game between the Rangers and the Astros at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Jul 11, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) walks to the on deck circle during the game between the Rangers and the Astros at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Texas Rangers are seeking defensive upgrades at center field and catcher, according to MLB Network's Jon Morosi. That's not great news for Rangers center fielder Evan Carter, whose best attribute is his defense. Carter is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing hip surgery. Morosi's report suggests the Rangers expect Carter to miss more than a few weeks of the 2027 season, or they're ready to move on from him entirely.

Wyatt Langford is an exceptional defensive center fielder, so the Rangers could add a strong defensive corner outfielder and have Langford hold down center field while Carter is sidelined. That could be a more permanent situation if the Rangers decide to move on from Carter, who has struggled to repeat his 2023 success.

However, given Langford's injury-riddled 2026 season, the Rangers might want him to stay in left field long-term to limit injury risk, as center field requires covering much more ground. If the Rangers do upgrade defensively at center field this offseason, they will most likely add a center fielder and keep Langford in left field.

Should the Texas Rangers move on from Evan Carter?

Unfortunately, it might be time for Texas to give up on Carter. He looked like a future star after making his MLB debut in Sept. 2023, posting a 1.058 OPS with five home runs over 23 regular-season games, then a .917 OPS with a homer and nine doubles in 17 playoff games as the Rangers won their first World Series in franchise history. Since then, he has hit just .207/.297/.344 (84 wRC+) in 837 plate appearances for Texas.

In Carter's defense, he's dealt with numerous injuries since 2024, which likely affected his offensive performance. Still, he hasn't proven he can stop being a liability at the plate, meaning the Rangers should strongly consider moving on from the outfielder.

Whether it's due to the injuries and disjointed playing time, or for other reasons, the 24-year-old just hasn't developed as Texas had hoped. One example is his ability to hit left-handed pitching. His .329 OPS against southpaws in 2026 was a major disappointment, but it was also actually an improvement over the abomination that is his .303 career mark against lefties.

If Texas had performed better offensively over the past couple of seasons, it would make more sense to keep Carter, an elite defensive outfielder. In 1,009 2/3 innings last season, Carter posted +6 Defensive Runs Saved and +11 Outs Above Average. However, it's not worth it for the Rangers to keep a player because of their defense, as the offense is arguably the team's biggest issue. Last season, Texas ranked 25th in runs scored (673) and 20th in OPS (.713).

Hopefully, Carter won't be out too long next year and can return to form at the plate. Unfortunately, given Morosi's recent report, Carter is likely to miss significant time next year and/or not be a major part of the Rangers' future plans.

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