The Texas Rangers cannot afford to repeat the same mistake that hurt them in 2026. President of baseball operations Chris Young has already pointed the finger at the front office. He admitted the team did not create enough competition during spring training. Many veterans knew they would not make the roster and left early. This lack of pressure let underperforming players stay in the lineup all year. Young knows this is a major problem that must be fixed for the 2027 season.
Young Owns The Depth Failure
Young identified roster depth and competition as the two areas where the team fell short. The club invited players like Jonah Bride, Richie Martin Jr., and Andrew Velazquez to camp. None of these veterans made the opening day roster except Bride, who played later in the season. Most others exercised free agent clauses and walked away because they saw no chance to play. The front office had a set idea of the 13 position players they wanted from the start. This meant there was no real fight for jobs.
Young spoke up about this failure earlier this week. He said the job of the front office is to create competition and to build out the depth of the team in a way that does provide competition when there’s underperformance. He added that they did not provide those options to the level that was needed this year. That is a clear admission of guilt from the top of the organization. The team got lucky with in-season pickups like Elias Diaz and Nicky Lopez. Diaz and Lopez had offensive seasons above their career averages, but luck is not a strategy.
Fix The Center Field Problem Now
The Rangers must change how they approach the offseason. Young and his staff need to sign or trade for players who can make the team even if no one gets hurt. Center field is the perfect example of why this matters. Evan Carter batted under .200 this year and struggles to hit left-handed pitching. The team needs a player who can compete for that spot right now. If Alejandro Osuna plays better, then he should get the job. The same logic applies to every position on the diamond.
The lack of roster depth combined with holdover players created a mix where bad performance did not lead to a benching. Since no superior alternative was available, they stayed in the lineup despite underperforming. This is the exact opposite of what a championship team should do. The 2026 team failed to build that same safety net. Young knows he must change the approach for 2027.
