Rangers Close Season with Progress Made, Questions Still to Answer
ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers wrapped up their season Sunday with a 5–3 win over the Seattle Mariners, ending a year defined by streaks of brilliance, frustrating slumps, and one lingering question that will shape their offseason plans.
While the final record showed improvement over last year, the Rangers’ performance often swung between dominant stretches and untimely droughts. Injuries to key players like shortstop Corey Seager and pitcher Nathan Eovaldi forced manager Bruce Bochy to shuffle lineups and lean on young arms. Yet despite those challenges, the club remained competitive deep into September, a clear sign that the rebuild-to-contender trajectory is on schedule.
“This group showed a lot of heart,” Bochy said. “We took steps forward, even when things didn’t go our way.”
The central mystery as the Rangers turn to the offseason is how the front office will address their pitching depth. The rotation produced flashes of excellence—highlighted by the emergence of rookie left-hander Cody Bradford—but lacked consistency beyond ace Jacob deGrom, who missed time with nagging injuries. General manager Chris Young acknowledged the need for reinforcements.
“You can never have too much pitching,” Young said. “That will be a focus this winter.”
The bullpen remains another area for evaluation. Though José Leclerc and Brock Burke provided stability in the late innings, the unit as a whole finished middle of the pack in ERA and struggled to hold leads in tight games. With the American League West growing more competitive, bolstering the relief corps could be crucial.
Offensively, the Rangers showed encouraging signs. Marcus Semien delivered another strong season at the top of the order, while Adolis García continued to blossom as a middle-of-the-lineup force. Rookie outfielder Evan Carter’s late-season call-up injected speed and on-base skills, giving the club another dynamic piece for 2026.
Fans at Globe Life Field saw glimpses of the future throughout the year, from Carter’s hustle to the steady improvement of young infielder Josh Jung. Attendance rose steadily as the team remained in Wild Card contention until the final weeks, a testament to a fan base eager to embrace the next era of winning baseball.
Still, the offseason looms with critical decisions. Will Texas pursue another frontline starter in free agency? How will the front office balance development of young players with the need for immediate contention? Those questions will define the winter and determine whether the Rangers can convert promise into postseason reality next year.
For now, Bochy is focused on the positives. “We established an identity,” he said. “This is a group that fights. We’re building something that can last.”
The Rangers’ 2025 campaign may have ended without a playoff berth, but it provided a foundation and a challenge: take the next step from competitive to contender. The coming months will reveal how they plan to meet it.
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