TX Rangers news: Lucas Giolito, Wyatt Langford 30/30, 2026 lineup projection and more

Realistic free agent options for Texas

With most of Texas's ideal targets heading into the offseason off the board, the focus now turns to which options make the team better and are realistic with the team's payroll goals. If a hitter is what is being sought after, these two options could be in play. As for pitchers, maybe these three could solve the rotation struggles.

To give an outlook, those names are veteran arms and bats with proven experience. They will likely be relied on to be backend rotation and bench options, so not too high of reliance to be more than needed.

Is Lucas Giolito the answer for the Rangers' rotation?

Last we've checked, the Rangers are still on the lookout for another starting pitcher with only three rotation spots fully secured and a couple of question mark options currently under contract to fill out the final two spots.

As Merrill Kelly returned to Arizona and Tyler Mahle moved out west to San Francisco, the next option could be former Boston Red Sox Lucas Giolito. The 31-year-old was recently listed as an ideal target for Texas to pursue. Earlier in the offseason, there might have been hope for him to return to Boston but instead the Red Sox traded for Sonny Gray, likely sealing Giolito's hope of returning.

Langford 30/30 possibility in 2026

Texas could see another year of improvement from their incoming third-year star. After following up a rookie season with a bigger power year and a top three LF Gold Glove finish. He also became the youngest Ranger in franchise history to record 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season.

He looks to do one more in 2026 as he's predicted to enter the 30/30 club for the first time in his big league career. A 30/30 season has only happened three times to two players in the history of the franchise and if Langford achieved that mark next season, it will be the franchise's first since Ian Kinsler in 2011.

Rangers lineup projection could win how many games?!

It's January 3 but it seems like the Rangers' 2026 lineup is all but secured with matchup changes and occasional fixes spread throughout.

That projected Rangers' Opening Day lineup would be: Brandon Nimmo, Wyatt Langford, Corey Seager, Jake Burger, Joc Pederson, Josh Smith, Josh Jung, Kyle Higashioka and Evan Carter. But how many games could this lineup actually win?

If the teams that underperformed last year, which is mostly projected to be the case, the Rangers could find themselves surpassing their 81-win mark and find themsleves at the 85 mark. They would need a lot to go right and if we were going by 2025 standings, that still would have fallen short of the postseason.

New Years Resolutions for the Rangers

Observing the Texas Rangers going into 2026, a lot is left to be decided but we can put some goals out in the universe that they want to achieve. Included on the Rangers' resolution list: Hit .250 or better, record at least one 30 homer season and end their two year postseason drought.

After putting together the fourth-worst batting average in 2025, it shouldn't be hard to outperform those numbers. Even hitting .250 is not asking much, just expected them to at least return to an average hitting team. As far as 30 homer season is concerned, at least four to five players can reach that mark. Put those two together and goal #3 should be a byproduct.