Ezequiel Duran, "The Solution," won his first AL Gold Glove as a utility player, the first Ranger to win at that spot. He started at every position but pitcher and catcher, led the team with 16 outs above average, and added 17 homers. 🧤
Rangers' Duran took home his first Gold Glove, and the franchise's first in the utility category. The 2026 awards were announced Sunday, so Texas gets a new line in the trophy case. 🧤
The Rangers won't exercise the 2027 mutual options on Joc Pederson, Kyle Higashioka and Jakob Junis, sending all three to free agency. Pederson, who hit 26 homers with an .816 OPS in 2026, had reportedly declined his end of the $18.5M option. 🔓
Rangers farm rankings sit low (MLB Pipeline No. 20, Baseball America C-), but late-2026 breakouts like Dylan Dreiling's .312/.380/.516 line with 22 homers at Frisco suggest the system may be better than billed. One big obstacle still holds it back. 📈
Rangers declined mutual options on Jakob Junis ($5M) and Kyle Higashioka, sending both to free agency, and signed a teenage Cuban pitching phenom. Junis's 3.64 ERA leaves a middle-relief hole to fill. 🔧
Speculation, not a signing: if Texas spends on a second baseman, one writer argues Jazz Chisholm Jr. fits better than Luis Arraez. Chris Young wants a more athletic, dynamic 2027 club, and Arraez's contact-first, low-speed game doesn't match that. ⚾
Jim Bowden reportedly projects Tyler Stephenson landing with Texas on a two-year, $16M deal, but the take is only speculation. Stephenson's bat (.241/.323/.404 in 2026) is solid, yet his defense is mixed, and the Rangers have other needs. 🤔
Rangers declined the $7M mutual option on catcher Kyle Higashioka and will pay a $1M buyout, sending him to free agency. A forearm flexor strain ended his 2026 after July 20. Steady glove, modest bat: .233/.296/.391 across the two-year deal. 🧤
Rangers purchased the contract of righthander Aidan Curry, adding him to the 40-man roster and keeping him from free agency. The 24-year-old posted a 4.93 ERA with 128 Ks in 104 innings across three levels in 2026, mostly at Frisco. 🔒
Joc Pederson declined his side of the $18.5M mutual option and hits free agency. After a strong 2026 (.245/.338/.496 vs. righties), the Rangers must weigh a reunion against keeping DH open to rest Seager, Langford and Nimmo. 🔥
Rangers offseason shake-up: Joc Pederson is declining his 2027 mutual option and heading to free agency. Kyle Higashioka and Jakob Junis are doing the same, so the roster will need some reshuffling. 👻
Joc Pederson declined his option and is now a free agent, ending a two-year Rangers run split between a .614 OPS in 2025 and 26 homers with an .816 OPS in 2026. His $18.5M comes off the books, and Justin Foscue is floated as an in-house DH option.
MacKenzie Gore landing 17th on MLB Trade Rumors' top offseason trade candidates list underscores the Rangers' misfire. His 4.58 ERA, fifth-worst among qualified starters, came after a five-prospect price. Moving him now would mean selling low. 📉
Pederson, Higashioka and Junis are headed to free agency after mutual options reportedly went unexercised, and the Rangers haven't announced anything. Pederson hit 26 homers in '26, but DH rotation looks likelier, and catching depth is still a need. 🔄
Rangers are buying out options on Kyle Higashioka ($1MM) and Jakob Junis ($1.25MM), sending both to free agency, as Joc Pederson also passes on his $18.5MM option. Payroll limits loom, and catcher depth is suddenly thin. 🧢
Rangers are adding RHP Aidan Curry to the 40-man roster, per Joel Sherman, rather than lose him to minor league free agency. He posted a 4.93 ERA over 104 innings across three levels, with a 29% strikeout rate and 12.4% walk rate. Bullpen path looms. 🔒
Rangers No. 1 prospect Sebastian Walcott starts playing outfield for Surprise in the Arizona Fall League next week. The career infielder, limited mostly to DH after February internal brace surgery, is adding an outfielder's glove. 🧤
Jacob deGrom's name is reportedly surfacing as a possible Blue Jays trade fit, per CBS Sports, which also lists the Braves and Dodgers. The Rangers ace posted a 4.20 ERA in 2026 and is owed $37M in 2027, so salary relief is the speculative angle. 💰
Texas should show patience with 20-year-old shortstop Sebastian Walcott in 2027. Evan Carter, Wyatt Langford and Kumar Rocker were fast-tracked and haven't taken the next step. Unless Walcott posts otherworldly numbers, slow-playing him beats a repeat. ⏳
Joc Pederson reportedly declined his side of a mutual option with Texas, per ESPN's Jesse Rogers, sending him to free agency. He hit 26 homers with an .816 OPS in 2026, mostly mashing righties. The Rangers lose a lefty bat. 🔄
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