Rangers handed blueprint for young star after league-wide contract extensions

Around Major League Baseball, several young stars and their organizations are coming together and locking up their respective futures with long-term extensions. It's time for the Texas Rangers to do the same with a their options.

Of course, we're talking about 24-year-old outfielder Wyatt Langford, who is entering his third full year with the big league club after making his debut on Opening Day in 2024.

League-wide extensions set tone for Langford's projected contract

During the winter, it seemed most young stars around MLB were getting deals that were team friendly and give the players a bit more confidence to go out and perform.

Mostly the Athletics after getting outfielder Tyler Soderstrom and shortstop Jacob Wilson locked up on seven-year deals for a total of $156 million. Then right before the season got started the Cubs locked up Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner.

Langford is under team control through the 2029 season after being drafted fourth overall in 2023 and making a quick beeline for MLB roster the following season. While it's hard to project a contract, Texas might use the Hoerner deal as an outline, offering six or seven years and $120+ million.

Langford is Rangers' future, stop waiting around

Since making his debut in 2024, Langford has increasingly showcased that he has a bright future in the big leagues.

In 271 career games, Langford is slashing .245/.331/.418 with 38 home runs, 168 RBIs, 50 doubles, five triples, 41 stolen bases, a .743 OPS and 9.8 WAR. Embedded in that is a fourth place finish in AL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and a 20/20 season last year.

Not only is he a strong candidate for a 30 homer, 30 stolen base season in 2026, he is also a sleeper pick for an American League MVP sometime in the near future.