Texas Rangers 2017 Team Preview

The Texas Rangers led the American League in wins last year, but are they in for a letdown in 2017? Let’s examine their offseason and how they’re set up for the new campaign.

Though they were unceremoniously bounced from the ALDS in three games by the Blue Jays, last year’s Texas Rangers enjoyed a very successful season by most measures. They led the American League with 95 wins (just edging the Indians and Red Sox), capturing their second straight AL West division title with a comfortable nine-game cushion over the Mariners.

The Rangers may have been quite fortunate to dominate the regular season in such fashion, however. They finished the campaign with a modest +8 run differential. Four of the five other division winners all sported a differential of at least +100. In fact, the Mariners and Astros – who placed second and third behind Texas in the AL West – also well outpaced the Rangers with margins of +61 and +23, respectively.

The club’s Pythagorean record (what their record “should” be based on run differential) was a rather startling 82-80, a substantial 13-win disparity from their actual season mark. That record would have landed them in third place in their division. While 95 wins suggests a powerhouse team, the Rangers scored and prevented runs like a squad barely over .500. So which team were they really, and what can we expect from them heading into 2017?

The Rangers’ biggest enemy this season might be natural regression.

While the Rangers’ biggest enemy this season might be natural regression, they also lost some key players from last year’s run during the offseason. General manager Jon Daniels attempted to address the vacancies, but how the new additions will stack up against their predecessors remains to be seen.

Texas put plenty of runs on the board in 2016, finishing seventh in MLB in that category with 765. Their main weakness was their pitching staff, which allowed the 10th-most runs in the league (757). If the Rangers’ hurlers can improve their performance as a unit this season, the team could stay afloat, even if the offense takes a step back.

To get a better idea of what’s in store for the Rangers in 2017, let’s take a look at the notable player arrivals and departures, and how it all adds up.

Next: Additions