Which Rangers offseason decisions that already look genius and which look awful?

Every year we get the chance to evaluate the incoming talent to the roster. This recent offseason for the Texas Rangers was filled with a moderate mix of free agent signings and trades that shifted the look of the team a bit.

They reuinted with Nathan Eovadi, traded Nathaniel Lowe, signed three offensive weapons and re-hauled the state of the bullpen. By the time Texas reported to spring training in February, we had a fair amount of new faces mixed in.

Some have paid off for the organization to start the season, but some have been a complete nightmare. Here are four players that fit one of those categories.

2 offseason moves from the Texas Rangers that already look like genius moves

Kyle Higashioka

The 34-year-old catcher was perhaps one of the better backstops on the free agent market during the winter. After a career season with the San Diego Padres, Higashioka quickly signed a two-year deal with Texas in early December.

During spring training, Higashioka hit .314 with a couple of long balls, 10 runs batted in and a .971 OPS. His production during the regular season hasn't been as strong as that but he's come up valuable in clutch spots at the plate and behind it.

He's taken on the role of Nathan Eovaldi's personal catcher so far this season, behind the plate for Evo's 99 pitch complete game shutout on April 1 in Cincinnati.

He's had a bit of trouble throwing runners out behind the plate but his value is still showing that he's a valuable defensive catcher, recording among the top 20 percent of framing rate to start the year. I have no idea where he goes from here, only being a backup and not getting a ton of at-bats but so far, so good for Texas.

Luke Jackson

I can't believe I am saying this but the Luke Jackson spring training signing might have been on the most effective signings of the winter/spring for Chris Young and the Rangers.

The Rangers had a clear missing hole in their roster. Who was going to be the reliever that stepped into the closer role and gave Bruce Bochy confidence that he could get three outs to get the win. There were several candidates: Jackson, Chris Martin, Robert Garcia and even in speculation Jon Gray. However, it was Jackson who emerged out of spring training with the title.

It looked like a poor choice on Opening Day when Jackson surrendered a three-run home run to Wilyer Abreu in the ninth inning. Texas dropped that game 5-3 and many were calling Bochy crazy for a career 5.00+ ERA pitcher to be in that role.

Since then, Jackson has recorded six saves and hasn't given up a run in 7 2/3 innings of work. Now I am not saying this will stay the current trend (it may or may not) but the signing that got a lot of negative press when it happened is so far paying off for the Rangers.

2 offseason moves from the Rangers that already look awful

Nathaniel Lowe

This is in reference to the trading of Nathaniel Lowe since he obviously is no longer a Texas Ranger. For context, Lowe was traded to the Nationals in January for left-handed reliever Robert Garcia.

Now I want to preface this by saying this is not a dig at Garcia at all. He's been a valuable piece of the bullpen in late inning scenarios so in the case of what Texas got back from the trade, it's a win-win move. The thing that makes this trade look awful to start the season it Lowe's hot start to 2025 in Washington mixed with the iffy performance from the replacements Texas acquired.

In 67 at-bats to kick off the year, Lowe is batting .284 with 3 home runs, 16 RBIs, 6 runs, 19 hits and an .853 OPS. He's also played 16 games at first base, pretty serviceably. On the opposite side, Jake Burger and Joc Pederson have been pretty bad for the Rangers.

Burger is heating up a bit, currently on a 5-game hit streak and recorded his first 3-hit game of the season in Wednesday's win over the Angels. Pederson on the other hand is batting sub-.100 and looks like a total loss in the batter's box.

Joc Pederson

Speaking of Pederson, this is probably the team's worst acquisition of the recent offseason. It's still early and he can find his groove but to this point in the year, I feel comfortable marking this as a mistake.

Pederson is currently tied for his worst stretch as a big leguer, hitless in last 32 at-bats. He's only recorded three hits this season and is slashing .057/.153/.075, which would all be the worst mark in the league if he was a qualified hitter.

Manager Bruce Bochy continues to put him in the lineup whenever he can but it's getting to the point where he's either an automatic out or a supreme rally killer. Over the weekend in Seattle, if it wasn't for Josh Jung's homer later in the inning, Pederson's double play would've been the biggest "what-if" moment of the season thus far.

Now, we've explored multiple angles of why Pederson is struggling to start the year. We've also explored what Texas's options would be with the 32-year-old DH, so I will leave it at that.