How the AL-winning Rangers were built
AL champion Rangers | NL champion D-Backs
The Texas Rangers will play in the World Series for the first time since losing a seven-game classic to the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. Texas quickly rebuilt on the fly, going from 102 losses in 2021 to 90 wins this season.
Here's how Texas constructed the roster that will clash with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Fall Classic.
| Method | Players |
|---|---|
| Homegrown | 5 |
| Trade | 12 |
| Free agent | 9 |
The team below is based on the active roster for the American League Championship Series. The date in parenthesis denotes the time of acquisition.
Homegrown
Evan Carter (June 10, 2020): Carter burst onto the scene following his MLB debut in September. The 2020 second-round pick (50th overall) has been incredible during this postseason, hitting .308 with a .987 OPS, one home run, and five RBIs in 39 at-bats, plus three stolen bases. Carter has quickly become an invaluable presence in manager Bruce Bochy's lineup.
Josh Jung (June 3, 2019): Jung looked like a strong candidate for AL Rookie of the Year before a thumb injury sidelined him for more than one month. The 2020 first-round pick (eighth) still put together a terrific debut campaign, making the All-Star Game and winning Rookie of the Month in April and May.
Leody Taveras (July 2, 2015): Taveras signed as an international free agent for $2.6 million. He made his MLB debut in 2020 but struggled to find his footing over the next three years before authoring a breakout season in 2023. The 25-year-old set new personal bests in fWAR (2.3), home runs (14), RBIs (67), and stolen bases (14).
José Leclerc (Nov. 20, 2010): Leclerc, who signed as an international free agent, battled back after injuries wiped out most of his 2020 and 2021 campaigns to closely resemble the pitcher who posted a 1.56 ERA and 2.6 fWAR in 2018. The 29-year-old has emerged as the closer during Texas' run to the World Series.
Cody Bradford (June 4, 2019): Bradford, who was the 175th pick, has yet to walk a batter in 5 2/3 postseason innings and has a 1.59 ERA.
Trades
Adolis García (Dec. 21, 2019): The ALCS MVP arrived in Texas in a steal of a trade with the Cardinals. Arriving in exchange for cash considerations, the 30-year-old has become a two-time All-Star and hit a career-high 39 homers in 2023.
Jordan Montgomery (July 30, 2023): Montgomery has arguably been the best addition of the 2023 trade deadline. The left-hander authored a 2.79 ERA with 1.09 WHIP over 11 starts with the Rangers during the regular season after leaving the Cardinals. He's been even better in the playoffs, allowing just six earned runs across 25 innings.
Max Scherzer (July 29, 2023): The three-time Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer is another huge deadline acquisition and cost top prospect Luisangel Acuña. Scherzer stabilized a rotation dealing with injuries, recording a 3.20 ERA with 53 strikeouts over 45 innings since joining from the New York Mets. However, the right-hander has been limited and ineffective in the postseason due to a shoulder injury.
Aroldis Chapman (June 30, 2023): Chapman gave the Rangers some serious velocity out of the bullpen following a deal with the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Cole Ragans. The seven-time All-Star still regularly hits triple digits and had a 15.5 K/9 with Texas.
Nathaniel Lowe (Dec. 10, 2020): Lowe was acquired in a multi-player deal with the Tampa Bay Rays involving Osleivis Basabe. He's been the best of the group, amassing a .276/.359/.440 slash line over three years with the Rangers, which included a Silver Slugger nod in 2022.
Mitch Garver (March 12, 2022): Texas got Garver from the Minnesota Twins for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Ronny Henriquez. The former catcher has turned into a very productive primary DH, going deep 19 times with an .870 OPS over just 87 games this season.
Jonah Heim (Feb. 6, 2021): The All-Star catcher came over in a blockbuster trade that sent longtime Rangers star Elvis Andrus to the Oakland Athletics. Heim has blossomed with Texas, leading all major-league backstops with 95 RBIs in 2023.
Dane Dunning (Dec. 7, 2020): Dunning was acquired from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Lance Lynn during the Rangers' rebuild. Dunning enjoyed a career year this season, logging a 3.70 ERA over 172 2/3 innings (26 starts).
Austin Hedges (Aug. 1, 2023): Hedges was acquired in a small deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates at this season's trade deadline. The backup catcher doesn't offer much with his bat but is solid defensively.
Josh H. Smith (July 29, 2021): The Rangers got Smith in the Joey Gallo deal with the New York Yankees. He's been a serviceable bench player.
Josh Sborz (Feb. 16, 2021): Sborz arrived in a minor trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's a low-leverage long man out of the bullpen with a solid 11.4 K/9.
Chris Stratton (July 30, 2023): The right-handed reliever was part of the Montgomery deal with the Cardinals. Stratton accrued a 3.41 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP after the trade but has been used sparingly in the postseason.
Free agents
Marcus Semien (Dec. 1, 2021): The Rangers announced their intentions to put the rebuild in the rearview mirror when they handed Semien and Corey Seager a combined $500 million on the same day. Semien's steadying presence atop the lineup has been a tremendous boost. The 33-year-old amassed 10.3 fWAR in his first two seasons in Texas, providing strong glove work at second base.
Corey Seager (Dec. 1, 2021): Seager put together an MVP-caliber 2023. The 29-year-old has found another gear in the postseason, posting a staggering 202 wRC+ with three home runs, 12 runs scored, and a nearly 21% walk rate in 12 postseason contests. Seager has been worth every penny of the 10-year, $325-million investment thus far.
Nathan Eovaldi (Dec. 27, 2022): Eovaldi's two-year, $34-million contract is looking like one of the best bargains from the offseason. The veteran right-hander helped stabilize the rotation after the season-ending injury to Jacob deGrom in April. Eovaldi has taken his game to another level in October, posting a strong 2.42 ERA with a 9.69 K/9 in four postseason starts.
Jon Gray (Dec. 1, 2021): The Rangers handed Gray a four-year, $56-million contract on the same day they inked Semien and Seager. The 31-year-old amassed 3.7 fWAR in his first two campaigns in Texas. Gray was sidelined with a forearm issue late in the regular season, returning to make one relief appearance in the ALCS.
Andrew Heaney (Dec. 9, 2022): Heaney joined the Rangers on a two-year $25-million contract. The left-hander had his moments during the regular season, but home runs were an issue as they've been throughout his career. Heaney has struggled in the postseason, striking out just 1.69 batters per nine while registering a 6.75 ERA in 5 1/3 innings.
Robbie Grossman (Feb. 17, 2023): Grossman hit 10 home runs with a respectable 104 wRC+ in 115 regular-season games after signing a one-year, $2-million contract.
Travis Jankowski (Jan. 27, 2023): Jankowski's speed and defense were useful in the regular season. He stole 19 bases and had a .357 on-base percentage in 107 appearances after inking a one-year deal.
Will Smith (March 4, 2023): Smith is looking for a third straight World Series title after winning with the Braves and Astros. The veteran lefty has struggled so far in October, pitching just two innings with a 9.00 ERA.
Martín Pérez (March 14, 2022): Pérez regressed this year after a career season in 2022. The 32-year-old was bumped out of the rotation and has been relegated to a bit role out of the bullpen in the postseason.