The Texas Rangers made a major move to shore up the top of their rotation, acquiring left-hander MacKenzie Gore in a deal with the Nationals. With Gore joining Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, Texas has a front three that-on paper-can go toe-to-toe with any rotation in baseball. Health will always be the X-factor, especially with deGrom and Eovaldi’s track records, but the potential here is undeniable.
Jack Leiter, once a top prospect and now coming off a solid first full season in the bigs, looks like a strong bet to slot in as the No. 4 starter. That gives the Rangers a promising core. But after those four, the picture gets a little fuzzier.
Texas led all of MLB with a 3.41 ERA from its starting pitchers last season-a testament to both talent and depth. But they’re going to need to replace a lot of reliable innings in 2026.
Veteran Patrick Corbin, who tied deGrom for the team lead with 30 starts, is currently a free agent. Tyler Mahle and Merrill Kelly, a midseason trade pickup, also exited in free agency.
That leaves a few question marks as the Rangers look to round out their rotation.
Kumar Rocker: The Wild Card with Upside
If you’re going off pedigree alone, Kumar Rocker should be the frontrunner for the fifth starter spot. The 26-year-old was the third overall pick in the 2022 draft and still carries the kind of upside that makes evaluators dream. Midway through last season, FanGraphs ranked him as the second-best prospect in the Rangers’ system, trailing only Sebastian Walcott.
But the results haven’t caught up to the hype-at least not yet. Rocker was roughed up early in the year, giving up 18 earned runs in just 20 innings before landing on the injured list with a shoulder issue in April.
He returned to the majors in June and made nine starts through July, posting a 4.67 ERA. Advanced metrics like xFIP (4.14) and SIERA (4.34) suggest he was a bit better than the surface numbers, but consistency remains elusive.
By August, he was back in Triple-A.
Still, the Rangers are likely to give him another shot this spring. The raw stuff is there, and if he can put it all together, Rocker could be a difference-maker at the back end of the rotation.
Jacob Latz: The Swiss Army Knife Who Keeps Delivering
Jacob Latz might not have the draft pedigree of Rocker, but he made a strong case for a more prominent role with his performance last season. The 29-year-old lefty was used in just about every role imaginable-starter, reliever, long man-and he delivered. Latz made eight starts and 25 relief appearances, logging 85 2/3 innings with a 2.84 ERA.
Now, the peripherals do suggest some regression could be coming. His expected ERA and SIERA were both north of 4.00, so it’s fair to temper expectations.
But there’s a lot to like in Latz’s profile. He used a deep three-pitch mix-fastball, changeup, slider-and even mixed in a curveball against righties.
Each of his three main offerings was used more than 20% of the time, which is more starter-like than reliever-like.
His fastball was especially effective, holding hitters to a .193 average and generating a +11 Run Value. The changeup was a legit weapon, generating whiffs at over a 40% clip. Whether he ends up in the rotation or the bullpen, Latz is going to have a role on this team.
Depth Options: Quantrill, Gomber, Crismatt
The Rangers also brought in a trio of veteran arms on minor league deals-Cal Quantrill, Austin Gomber, and Nabil Crismatt-as insurance. These are depth moves, but one of them could sneak into the rotation if Rocker struggles in camp or if the team prefers to keep Latz in a flexible bullpen role.
Quantrill spent last season bouncing between the Marlins and Braves, posting an ERA north of 6.00 over 26 starts. He finished the year in the Rangers’ minor league system.
Gomber was released by the Rockies in August after a rough stretch and later signed with the Cubs, though he never made it to the big-league roster. Crismatt had a bit more success, putting up a 2.70 ERA in his first six outings with the Diamondbacks before getting shelled in his final appearance.
These aren’t frontline options, but they’re experienced arms who could help in a pinch.
A Familiar Face?
Patrick Corbin’s name still lingers as a possible reunion candidate. After four tough seasons in Washington, the veteran lefty found new life in Texas.
He was one of the team’s biggest surprises in the first half of 2025, posting an ERA under 4.00 through July with underlying metrics to match. His performance dipped in the final two months, but overall, he gave the Rangers quality innings and a steady presence.
If the front office believes last year’s resurgence was more than a fluke, bringing Corbin back on a low-risk deal could be a smart play. Whatever adjustments he made in Texas seemed to click, and there’s value in that kind of familiarity-especially for a team with postseason aspirations.
Final Word
The top of the Rangers’ rotation looks strong, and Jack Leiter’s emergence gives them a solid fourth option. But how they handle the fifth spot-and the depth behind it-could be a deciding factor in a tightly contested AL West.
Whether it’s Rocker tapping into his potential, Latz continuing to overachieve, or a veteran stepping up, the Rangers have options. Now it’s about finding the right combination to keep the momentum going.
