The Texas Rangers are on the verge of beginning a make-or-break 2026 season. After winning the World Series in 2023, Texas disappointingly missed the playoffs the last two seasons.

Last year’s failure was mainly due to an offense that ranked 26th in the league in OPS (.683), which led the Rangers to an 81-81 record despite leading MLB in ERA (3.47) and winning the American League team Gold Glove Award. To address the team’s biggest issue, president of baseball operations Chris Young traded second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets for outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who has posted an OPS+ above 100 each season dating back to 2017, non-tendered struggling hitters Adolis García and Jonah Heim and signed outfielder Andrew McCutchen to add right-handed balance to the position player group.

Texas also added to its strong starting rotation by acquiring lefty MacKenzie Gore via a trade with the Washington Nationals and signing lefty Jordan Montgomery, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery and expected to return mid-season.

The Rangers have done their best to improve on a limited budget this offseason. Healthy seasons from oft-injured stars Corey Seager, Evan Carter, Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi will also be vital to the team’s success. A major injury to one of those stars wouldn’t necessarily end Texas’ postseason hopes, but it sure wouldn’t help.

While there are many reasons to be optimistic about the Rangers in 2026, plenty could go wrong and lead to another season without a playoff berth. MLB Network’s Greg Amsinger isn’t optimistic that the 2026 Rangers team can make the playoffs and predicted that Texas will trade deGrom at the Trade Deadline.

“[Jacob deGrom] will be the #1 player moved, if not Skubal, at the Trade Deadline…”

Greg's bold prediction has Texas moving a 2x Cy Young Award winner. pic.twitter.com/C33e3b3lxI

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 9, 2026

Rangers’ 2026 season will be a disaster if deGrom trade prediction comes true

Let’s hope this prediction doesn’t come true. If it does, Texas will be in a bad spot once the Trade Deadline arrives, as the Rangers would only deal the ace if they believe their chances of making the playoffs are low.

If the Rangers are in a bad spot in the standings once the Trade Deadline arrives, trading deGrom would actually make sense. He’s only under team control through the 2027 season, has been extremely injury-prone throughout his career and the Rangers significantly cut payroll this year. It’s hard to imagine the Rangers will be good in 2027 if 2026 doesn’t go as planned, meaning moving deGrom would be an easy way to save money and give younger pitchers more playing time. Of course, if the Rangers are good once the Trade Deadline arrives, dealing deGrom would be a terrible idea.