Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young addressed the media last week, highlighting the team's focus on enhancing pitching depth as spring training approaches. With the position player group largely set, the club plans to target bullpen reinforcements and starting rotation improvements. Young expressed optimism about internal offensive growth following a down year in 2025.
In a brief Zoom meeting with reporters, Chris Young recapped the Rangers' offseason activities and outlined priorities for the remaining weeks before pitchers and catchers report to Surprise, Arizona, for spring training.
"Obviously, we're continuing to explore ways to add to our roster," Young said. "But we feel very good about the work that we've done thus far in the offseason, and we're hopeful to not be finished and to continue to make this roster even more competitive as we hinge towards camp."
Pitching stands as the primary area of concern. The Rangers have secured their position players, including locked-in contracts for Corey Seager, Brandon Nimmo, and Joc Pederson, along with arbitration agreements for Jake Burger, Josh Jung, Josh Smith, and Ezequiel Duran. Pre-arbitration outfielders Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford round out the group, signaling no major additions there.
"I think our focus right now is continuing to build out the depth of the pitching," Young explained. "I think from a position player standpoint, we feel pretty good -- but we feel like on the pitching side there are still a couple spots that we would like to try to improve the depth of. We're focused there, but obviously being open-minded and opportunistic on all fronts. But nonetheless, pitching is the main focus."
The bullpen requires particular attention after a second consecutive rebuild. Additions include Tyler Alexander, Alexis Díaz, Chris Martin, and Carter Baumler via Rule 5 draft and trade. In 2025, the unit posted a 3.62 ERA but succeeded in only 37 of 66 save opportunities. Candidates with closing experience are Martin, Díaz, and holdover Robert Garcia.
On the closer role, Young noted realism: "I think every team would love to have a bona fide lockdown ninth-inning, sure-thing closer that's never going to give up a run. But the reality is, most teams don't have that... Our hope is that somebody really steps up and establishes themselves and wins that role and takes it."
Offensively, the Rangers ranked near the bottom in 2025, with a 92 wRC+ (25th), .381 slugging (26th), .234 batting average (26th), .302 on-base percentage (26th), 684 runs (22nd), and 8% walk rate (23rd). Young anticipates a rebound through commitment and coaching from Justin Viele.
"I think it's just an overall commitment to the mentality that we think is going to be successful as an offense," he said. "We've got a hungry bunch of players. Every single one of them is working their tails off right now in preparation of coming into camp and bouncing back."
