The Texas Rangers are weeks away from Opening Day and are looking to bounce back as contenders after finishing the 2024 season with an underwhelming 78-84 record, failing to make the postseason for the seventh time since 2017.
While the Rangers and their fans hope for a bounce-back season out of the club, here are three bold predictions about the team and whether or not they will be able to live up to the high expectations being set.
3. Leody Taveras Won't Survive the Season With the Rangers
Leody Taveras has been with the Texas Rangers since 2020 and played a key role for the team during their postseason run back in 2023. However, Taveras struggled mightily on the offensive side during his 2024 campaign, finishing the season with a shockingly low .229 batting average.
While Taveras remains an elite defender, he has become too much of a liability at the plate for the Rangers to keep him around. The signing of Joc Pederson, along with the emergence of Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter, has given the Rangers an opportunity to move on Taveras.
While Taveras remains on the roster as Opening Day approaches, it is more than likely that he will be traded at some point this season.
2. Jack Leiter Is Entering His Final Year in Texas
Former second-overall pick Jack Leiter is going into his fourth season with the Rangers organization, and it could very well be his final season in Arlington if he does not make some significant adjustments to his game.
The potential addition of Kumar Rocker, along with Jacob DaGrom and Cody Bradford returning from injury, does not help Leiter’s chances of solidifying a spot in the rotation. His play with the Rangers has been inconsistent, at best.
Leiter played in nine games for the Rangers in 2024 and struggled mightily finishing his season with an abysmal 8.83 ERA along with an 0-3 record. If Leiter can't quickly turn things around then the former top prospect could find his time with the Rangers nearing an end.
1. Rangers Will Win the AL West
The Rangers have not managed to claim an AL West title since 2016, but with a revamped bullpen and a competitive lineup, the Rangers are in a prime position to overtake the Astros for the division crown.
The Astros have claimed the AL West every season since 2021. However, with Alex Bregman signing with the Red Sox this offseason and the remainder of the Astros' core diminishing, Houston could be in grave danger of losing their coveted spot as the division leader.
The Rangers will be getting their first shot at taking down their divisional rivals when the Astros come to Arlington for a four-game series starting May 16.