Chris Young Says Rangers Feel “Pretty Good” About 2026 Roster

Chris Young Says Rangers Feel “Pretty Good” About 2026 Roster

Getty

The Texas Rangers are not pretending the 2026 season will take care of itself, even after an offseason that quietly stabilized much of the roster. According to reporting from the Dallas Morning News, president of baseball operations Chris Young believes the organization is in a strong place entering spring training—but not a finished one.

Young told beat writer Shawn McFarland that the Rangers feel “pretty good” about where the position-player group stands with camp approaching, a notable vote of confidence after a winter defined more by subtraction and targeted rebalancing than splashy spending. Texas locked in contracts, avoided arbitration drama, and reshaped its lineup in a way that reflects both financial reality and a desire for steadier on-base production.


Rangers Comfortable With Lineup After Strategic Reshaping

The most dramatic changes came with the exits of Adolis García and Jonah Heim, two core pieces of the 2023 championship run. García landed with the Phillies, while Heim remains unsigned. Rather than replace them directly, Texas shifted its offensive profile by acquiring Brandon Nimmo from the Mets in the Marcus Semien trade, betting on plate discipline, versatility, and lineup balance over raw power.

That shift explains Young’s comfort level with the position-player side. A projected everyday group featuring Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, Joc Pederson, Nimmo, and Danny Jansen offers depth, flexibility, and fewer feast-or-famine outcomes. Health remains the variable, but on paper, the Rangers believe they have enough to compete offensively in the AL West.


Pitching Depth Remains the Final Piece

Texas Rangers Address Roster Questions Entering Spring Training

Where Young was more cautious—and more revealing—was on the pitching side.

According to McFarland, the Rangers would still like to improve depth in both the rotation and bullpen. FanGraphs currently projects a rotation headlined by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, followed by a high-variance mix of Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker, and Jacob Latz. The upside is obvious. The risk is just as clear.

Texas is not counting on deGrom to carry 200 innings, nor are they pretending that young arms will seamlessly absorb workload without turbulence. Adding one more stabilizing starter—whether via free agency or late-market trade—would fit Young’s history of insulating upside with reliability.

The bullpen tells a similar story. The Rangers are encouraged by the offseason progress of Alexis Díaz, who is attempting to bounce back from a disastrous 2025 that saw him post an 8.15 ERA across three teams. Internally, there’s a belief that Díaz can rediscover the form that once made him a reliable late-inning option, but belief alone does not equal certainty.

That’s why veteran depth remains a priority. Someone like Chris Martin would not be brought in to headline the bullpen but to raise its floor. Texas does not need perfection out of the relief corps—it needs competence and consistency.

Taken together, Young’s comments paint a picture of a front office that understands where the roster is strong and where it remains fragile. The Rangers are not rebuilding. They are not all-in. They are calibrating.

Texas Rangers Address Roster Questions Entering Spring Training

If the pitching depth improves even marginally, Texas could look less like a transition team and more like a legitimate postseason threat in 2026. For now, Young’s message is clear: the foundation is set, but the job isn’t finished yet.

Alvin Garcia Born in Puerto Rico, Alvin Garcia is a sports writer for Heavy.com who focuses on MLB. His work has appeared on FanSided, LWOS, NewsBreak, Athlon Sports, and Yardbarker, covering mostly MLB. More about Alvin Garcia

 

Related Posts

ALONSO’S NEW COLORS TEAR OPEN OLD WOUNDS as Pete Alonso launches moonshots for his new team and turns every swing into a media spectacle that’s almost cruel for the New York Mets faithful still trying to breathe. The Polar Bear’s instant impact has fans trapped between pride and heartbreak, watching highlight after highlight feel like salt poured on a fresh bruise that never got time to close. Emotion ripples across the baseball world as the post-Alonso era forces Queens to confront a reality harsher than anyone prepared for..ll 👇👇👇

The crack of the bat has returned to the air in Port St. Lucie, and with it comes the familiar, comforting melody of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez,…

NIMMO’S METS EXIT HITS LIKE A FRANCHISE EARTHQUAKE as Brandon Nimmo finally reveals the emotional truth behind his departure from the New York Mets, describing the moment he realized he was no longer viewed as part of the long-term solution in Queens. His tell-all spills details of a five-day internal battle and a gut-punch phone call with owner Steve Cohen that reshapes how the franchise’s decision-making is now being seen. The baseball world erupts as whispers about leadership concerns and front-office motives turn this storyline into one of the most emotional exits the Mets have faced in years..ll 👇👇👇

The quiet hum of spring training often serves as a backdrop for reflection, but for New York Mets fans, this February has felt like a seismic shift…

HAHHAHA LOOK AT!! An Orioles reporter caught a hilarious on-camera exchange between Pete Alonso and Chris Bassitt — and fans can’t get enough of it. What started as a routine moment quickly turned into pure baseball comedy, showing the lighter side of the rivalry. Sometimes the best highlights don’t even happen during the game.

New Orioles Teammates Share Lighthearted Moment at Spring Training The vibes are already shifting in Sarasota. As the Baltimore Orioles prepare for the 2026 season, two of…

🚨 GAME CHANGER IN BALTIMORE: ORIOLES vs TAMPA BAY RAYS Reveal Surprising New First Pitch Time That’s Turning Heads Across MLB

🚨 PRIMETIME SPRING TRAINING CLASH: Orioles vs Rays on February 26, 2026 Generates Early Buzz Ahead of MLB Season Spring baseball is in full swing, and one…

REPORT: Spencer Schwellenbach has left the door open to a potentially lost season after a painful setback — and the implications for the Atlanta Braves are significant. What once looked like quiet rotation depth is now a growing question mark, forcing Atlanta to rethink durability, innings management, and contingency plans. If this turns into a season-ending absence, the ripple effect won’t just impact one roster spot — it could reshape the Braves’ strategy for the months ahead.

  Spencer Schwellenbach’s Setback Casts Uncertainty Over Braves’ Rotation Plans The quiet was unsettling. When Spencer Schwellenbach walked off the mound, there was no dramatic scene —…

In the post-Brian Snitker era, the “Old Guard” loyalty in Atlanta may be fading fast. With Walt Weiss reportedly evaluating the roster with a colder, analytics-driven lens, even Ozzie Albies isn’t being labeled untouchable anymore. After a dip in offensive metrics and lingering hand injuries, the pressure is mounting — return to 2021 form or risk becoming the centerpiece of a blockbuster move to bolster the pitching staff. Could a franchise cornerstone really be on the table, or is this just front-office smoke before a big summer?

The $7 Million Ultimatum: Ozzie Albies and Life After Brian Snitker For nearly a decade, Ozzie Albies has been the heartbeat of the Atlanta Braves infield —…