Texas Rangers 2025 Spring Training Thread

[gregrey972]

Line up as I see it right now (bc I love putting these together)
1. Semien RH 2B
2. Langford RH LF
3. Seager LH SS
4. Garcia RH RF
5. Pederson LH DH
6. Burger RH 1B
7. Heim LH C
8. Jung RH 3B
9. Carter or Tavares LH CF

 

[Uncle Siggy]

Carter had surgery done on his back in October to remove tissue that was hindering his recovery and maybe causing all of his issues, so hopefully this fixes his problems...

 

[saddles]

I am glad to see some of the Carter concern here. I was looking at their current roster and wondering...who is their lead off hitter? The good Carter would be great there with his patient approach, but I do not think we can count on that just yet. Is it Semien and I am just over thinking this?

You are not overthinking it compared to most fans. I am in a very small minority in that I don't think the leadoff hitter is as big of a deal as most fans. I just want the best hitters in the first part of the lineup.

Also, I am not as big of a fan of hitters needing to work the count. I like plate discipline, but I never have a problem with any hitter swinging at get-it-over fastballs early in the count or in a full count. If walks come naturally, or a pitcher has to throw a lot of pitches, that is good. I just don't think it should be an over-arching goal.

I do think Semien will be the lead off hitter in spite of the offseason talk of moving him down in the lineup. If he has another off year offensively, he should be moved down, as soon as possible.

 

[Kelleyman]

Carter had surgery done on his back in October to remove tissue that was hindering his recovery and maybe causing all of his issues, so hopefully this fixes his problems...

So what exactly is his back problem? It is not like disc issues methinks and was it part of him not being fully grown?

 

[Kelleyman]

re Carter
He has a stress fracture in back 2021
He has ablation surgery in October which is generally to kill nerves. No Dr but maybe some tissue was effacing the vertebrae causing a lot of pain.
Still trying to wrap my head around it

I know in pro sports especially football there is a lot of back work down to allow them to play and kill nerves

 

[saddles]

From Jeff Wilson:

Adolis Garcia, without prompting, says his goal is to hit 50 homers this season. He likes the changes he made to his swing and said his knees are strong.

 

[saddles]

From Evan Grant:

Things will change from day to day due to utility of Josh Smith & Ezequiel Duran, but, today Smith is working in infield group, Duran is not

 

[saddles]

From Jared Sandler:

"I tell people I think he's going to win an MVP one day."

Josh Smith on Wyatt Langford

 

[Uncle Siggy]

From Evan Grant:

Things will change from day to day due to utility of Josh Smith & Ezequiel Duran, but, today Smith is working in infield group, Duran is not

It's beginning to look like Duran might be the odd man out with the pickups they made over the offseason...

That being said if he can regain his touch against LHers he will be kept and used to spell Carter if they decide to sit him vs LHers...

 

[scotsman#1948]

It's beginning to look like Duran might be the odd man out with the pickups they made over the offseason...

That being said if he can regain his touch against LHers he will be kept and used to spell Carter if they decide to sit him vs LHers...

Semien
Seager
Pederson
Barger
Langford
Garcia
Jung
Carter
Smith
Duran

i would not want to be the one trying to find playing time for all of them and keep us fans happy

 

[gregrey972]

Semien
Seager
Pederson
Barger
Langford
Garcia
Jung
Carter
Smith
Duran

i would not want to be the one trying to find playing time for all of them and keep us fans happy

Just do what I want and I'll be happy!

 

[scotsman#1948]

Just do what I want and I'll be happy!

forgot to include Taveras so that's 11 players to play 8 positions in 162 games. that works out to 117.81 games each to be fair and give all 11 players equal playing time. Heim and Higashioka are already, according to Bochy, going to split playing time at catcher

 

[saddles]

forgot to include Taveras so that's 11 players to play 8 positions in 162 games. that works out to 117.81 games each to be fair and give all 11 players equal playing time. Heim and Higashioka are already, according to Bochy, going to split playing time at catcher

If I had to guess, I would say it would work out this way, if none of those guys are traded between now and the deadline.

Semien 145
Seager 130
Pederson 125
Burger 135
Langford 145
Garcia 135
Jung 135
Carter 135
Smith 125
Duran 40
Taveras 40
Other 6

That is taking into account some injuries. Of course, it is just a wild guess on my part.

 

[Kelleyman]

If I had to guess, I would say it would work out this way, if none of those guys are traded between now and the deadline.

Semien 145
Seager 130
Pederson 125
Burger 135
Langford 145
Garcia 135
Jung 135
Carter 135
Smith 125
Duran 40
Taveras 40
Other 6

That is taking into account some injuries. Of course, it is just a wild guess on my part.

By your calculations, Smith will have to play other spots besides 2B, SS and 3B to get 100 starts. I don’t think he DHs unless Joc plays 1B but that is still under 100

Now injures maybe a factor which gets him up and maybe another down

 

[saddles]

By your calculations, Smith will have to play other spots besides 2B, SS and 3B to get 100 starts. I don’t think he DHs unless Joc plays 1B but that is still under 100

Now injures maybe a factor which gets him up and maybe another down

Yeah, they have said he will play in the outfield.

With Jung and Seager's past history with injuries, that will always be a factor. Carter will be rested a good bit. Langford and Garcia will be dinged up from time to time. And I do think Smoth will get so.e time in at DH occasionally.

I posted a quote a few weeks ago about the decision makers saying Josh Smith should get 5 starts a week.

 

[saddles]

From the Rangers:

Spring Training

Rangers Sports Network is scheduled to air eight Spring Training games in March: four on RSN and four over-the-air broadcasts. The OTA telecasts will be featured on KDAF CW33 in the DFW Metroplex, as well as throughout the club’s OTA network. All information for broadcasts and OTA stations can be found at rangers.com/tunein. The list of spring games to be televised:

Date Opponent Time TV

Wednesday, March 12 vs. Cincinnati 3:05 p.m. CT CW33

Friday, March 14 vs. Colorado 8:05 p.m. CT RSN

Sunday, March 16 vs. Chicago-AL 3:05 p.m. CT CW33

Tuesday, March 18 vs. Cleveland 8:05 p.m. CT RSN

Thursday, March 20 vs. Colorado 8:05 p.m. CT RSN

Saturday, March 22 vs. Kansas City 2:05 p.m. CT CW33

Monday, March 24 vs. Kansas City 7:05 p.m. CT RSN

Tuesday, March 25 vs. Kansas City 1:35 p.m. CT CW33

Texas is scheduled to play 33 Spring Training games in 2025, including 31 contests in Arizona. Of the club’s 33 spring games, 30 will be featured in a television broadcast, radio broadcast on the Rangers’ flagship station 105.3 The FAN, or audio webcast on rangers.com.

 

[saddles]

The Athletic's Jim Bowden has put together a list of ten teams that should pursue Vlad Guerrero Jr. when he hits free agency next offseason. The Rangers were on the list.

5. Texas Rangers​

The Rangers are entering a new era for their television and streaming rights and probably need to get a better idea of their future revenues before bidding on Guerrero, but on the surface, he looks like a perfect fit for Texas.

Trade acquisition Jake Burger will play first base for them this season, but he could move to DH and play as a backup at both first and third base as well. Adolis García is eligible for free agency after the 2026 season and pitchers Tyler Mahle and Jon Gray will be free agents after this season; if all three depart, close to $40 million per year would be freed up starting in 2027, which gives the Rangers a realistic payroll pathway to make a Guerrero contract work, especially if it’s backloaded and includes deferrals.

Putting Guerrero with Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Josh Jung would give the Rangers quite a nucleus for the long term in the Lone Star State.

 

[Kelleyman]

The Athletic's Jim Bowden has put together a list of ten teams that should pursue Vlad Guerrero Jr. when he hits free agency next offseason. The Rangers were on the list.

5. Texas Rangers​

The Rangers are entering a new era for their television and streaming rights and probably need to get a better idea of their future revenues before bidding on Guerrero, but on the surface, he looks like a perfect fit for Texas.

Trade acquisition Jake Burger will play first base for them this season, but he could move to DH and play as a backup at both first and third base as well. Adolis García is eligible for free agency after the 2026 season and pitchers Tyler Mahle and Jon Gray will be free agents after this season; if all three depart, close to $40 million per year would be freed up starting in 2027, which gives the Rangers a realistic payroll pathway to make a Guerrero contract work, especially if it’s backloaded and includes deferrals.

Putting Guerrero with Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Josh Jung would give the Rangers quite a nucleus for the long term in the Lone Star State.

Will he age well? Undetermined

 

[Uncle Siggy]

The Athletic's Jim Bowden has put together a list of ten teams that should pursue Vlad Guerrero Jr. when he hits free agency next offseason. The Rangers were on the list.

5. Texas Rangers​

The Rangers are entering a new era for their television and streaming rights and probably need to get a better idea of their future revenues before bidding on Guerrero, but on the surface, he looks like a perfect fit for Texas.

Trade acquisition Jake Burger will play first base for them this season, but he could move to DH and play as a backup at both first and third base as well. Adolis García is eligible for free agency after the 2026 season and pitchers Tyler Mahle and Jon Gray will be free agents after this season; if all three depart, close to $40 million per year would be freed up starting in 2027, which gives the Rangers a realistic payroll pathway to make a Guerrero contract work, especially if it’s backloaded and includes deferrals.

Putting Guerrero with Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Josh Jung would give the Rangers quite a nucleus for the long term in the Lone Star State.

Somebody slap Jim Bowden...

 

[scotsman#1948]

Will he age well? Undetermined

remember Prince Fielder