The Texas Rangers intend to spend about the same amount on players in 2027 as they did this season. What they spend it on is expected to change.
Chris Young, the club's president of baseball operations, told reporters this week, including Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, that the goal is to field a competitive team on a "very similar" payroll, MLB Trade Rumors reported Tuesday.
"I think everybody knows we're not going to have the exact same roster we had last season," Young said, according to MLB Trade Rumors. "There will be changes." He added that the club is studying the market for its own players and described the kind of deal it wants: trading one player to become stronger in two places.
The money
MLB Trade Rumors' payroll tracker put the Rangers' 2026 cash payroll at about $193 million and their competitive balance tax figure at about $219 million. Commitments already on the books for 2027 project to roughly $175 million and $194 million, leaving Texas about $20 million below this year's levels before any additions.
That is not much room for a club that went 80-82 and has several needs. Center field became one of them this week, when Young said Evan Carter is not expected back by opening day after hip surgery, MLB.com reported.
The Rangers also did not extend a qualifying offer to any of their own free agents before Monday's deadline, according to MLB.com and the FanSided Rangers site Nolan Writin'.
The contracts
Grant's column suggested the Rangers could explore trades involving their most expensive veterans, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Jacob deGrom is due $37 million next season, Corey Seager $31 million and Nathan Eovaldi $20 million.
Each move would come with obstacles. All three hold full no-trade protection: deGrom and Eovaldi through their contracts, and Seager through 10-and-5 rights after completing his fifth season in Texas, MLB Trade Rumors noted. DeGrom already used his clause to block a deadline deal with Atlanta.
Age and health complicate the market. DeGrom turns 39 in June and Eovaldi 37 in February, and both finished 2026 with a 4.20 ERA, according to the outlet. Seager, who turns 33 in April, has not played more than 123 games in a season since 2022 and hit .227 with a .312 on-base percentage this year.
