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Poll: Should The Rangers Shake Up The Lineup?

By Nick Deeds | May 29, 2025 at 2:30pm CDT

The Rangers have had a rough go of it so far in the month of May. They’ve gone just 11-15 on the month entering play today, including an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the White Sox last week, and three of those 11 wins came at the expense of a hapless Rockies club that has still not yet won its tenth game of the season. That’s left the team three games under .500, four games back in the AL Wild Card race, and 4.5 games back of the Mariners in the AL West. Those struggles have come in spite of a rotation so dominant that a fully healthy and effective Jacob deGrom is arguably the #3 starter this year by the results.

To find the culprit of the Rangers’ struggles, one need look no further than the starting lineup. The club’s hitters have posted a collective .219/.281/.354 slash line this year with a wRC+ of 80 that’s better than only that of the Pirates and Rockies. Texas has the lowest on-base percentage in the majors and the fewest runs scored in the AL. Going position-by-position, they have been in the bottom half of the league in wRC+ at almost every position in the majors with below-average production everywhere except third base and left field. Those positions are salvaged by standout performances from Josh Jung and Wyatt Langford, but the rest of the lineup is faltering.

That’s not to say there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, however. Josh Smith remains an above average hitter overall on the year, and perhaps he can shake his current cold stretch (.233/.295/.337 in May) once he’s relieved of the defensive rigors of serving as the club’s everyday shortstop. Smith took that role up in the absence of Corey Seager, who has been his typical excellent self when healthy but has appeared in just 27 games this season due to injuries. Seager’s recent return and the likely impending return of Evan Carter from the injured list leaves the Rangers with some decisions to make about their lineup, as discussed recently by Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

Seager’s return yesterday (albeit as a DH) pushed Sam Haggerty out of the lineup, but that leaves no room for Carter unless the club is willing to pull the plug on outfielder Alejandro Osuna despite him having looked good in his first cup of coffee as a big leaguer. Once Carter returns, Grant suggests that it could mean a shift in playing time for second baseman Marcus Semien and/or right fielder Adolis Garcia. Both veterans were key pieces of the club’s 2023 World Series championship but struggled through below-average (99 wRC+ for Semien, 92 for Garcia) seasons last year. 2025 has been far worse for both hitters, with Semien slashing just .173/.260/.224 (42 wRC+) on the year while Garcia has posted a lackluster .208/.256/.371 (74 wRC+) line.

The pair’s expected numbers are better than their current production, leaving the door cracked open to optimism for a rebound, but even those numbers would be good for merely average offensive production. As things stand, neither of those performances are acceptable for a big league regular. With the first two months of the season in the books and other hitters starting to get healthy, the leash for both veterans may be shortening. It’s hard to imagine the Rangers cutting either player (particularly with three years and $72MM left on Semien’s deal after 2025), but some sort of change appears to be necessary.

On paper, using lefty hitters on the club like Smith and Osuna as platoon partners for the righty-swinging Semien and Garcia could make some sense. A look under the hood reveals that may not be as helpful as it might seem, however; Garcia is actually roughly average (99 wRC+) against right-handed pitching this year but has gone just 7-for-48 with one walk and one double against southpaws. Semien, meanwhile, is hitting lefties better than righties but is striking out at a 30.8% clip against southpaws with a 51 wRC+. Whatever advantage he has against opposite-handed pitching is more of a commentary on his struggles against fellow righties than a sign of actual success.

If neither player makes sense as a candidate for a platoon role, then perhaps the Rangers’ best option would simply be to decrease the playing time of both hitters slightly. A reduction in playing time could be tough to stomach for the veterans, particularly in the case of an iron man like Semien who last played less than 159 games in a full season back in 2017, but it seems clear that something needs to change for the Rangers moving forward. The club could also consider benching either one for the time being to offer a physical breather and mental reset, but Semien’s solid defense at second base would be missed and, as previously mentioned, Garcia has performed decently enough at least against right-handed pitching.

How would MLBTR readers handle the situation? Would you fully bench one of the two struggling veterans, continue sticking with them as regulars in the lineup, or try to work out a timeshare between all of the Rangers’ bats? Have your say in the poll below:

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View Comments (49)
Post a Comment

49 Comments

  1. oscar gamble

    3 weeks ago

    Any chance that any of us know more about it than Bochy does?

    5
    Reply
    • Troy Percival's iPad

      3 weeks ago

      Yes

      1
      Reply
    • Steinbrenner2728

      3 weeks ago

      I think more of us know more than Bret Boone, the new Rangers hitting coach, though.

      But only the taunting Frenchman thinks he knows more than Bochy.

      Reply
      • Troy Percival's iPad

        3 weeks ago

        I am Adolis Garcia in real life. I know more than Bret Boone and Bruce Bochy combined. This is my burner account. I should be a player-manager.

        1
        Reply
  2. MadmanTX 2

    3 weeks ago

    The desire to stay under the cap hamstrung this team this year (we don’t have a bonafide closer), but it doesn’t help that our offense has become anemic. And there’s the hot/cold bullpen that doesn’t always support the starters.

    2
    Reply
    • Guarded Indian

      3 weeks ago

      Cap?

      Reply
      • Formerly Depressed Mets Fan

        3 weeks ago

        Madman is referring to the Luxury Tax that is charged to teams who spend a certain amount on their roster, while its not a cap in the way the NFL or NBA has one, it often provides and excuse for cheap owners to not spend more money on their teams.

        1
        Reply
    • King. Of. Cards

      3 weeks ago

      The right trade could have made sense and still might make sense. In the offseason I suggested a deal with the Cardinals involving Nootbaar and Helsley and Walcott. Doesn’t make as much sense now but it could in a couple months.

      The Rangers have a window and it’s going to close here in a couple years.

      Reply
      • HBan22

        3 weeks ago

        They went the cheap route on the bullpen and it hasn’t worked out all that well. David Robertson is still a free agent and was very good for them last year. I’m not sure why they wouldn’t be trying to bring him back, except perhaps that they just don’t want to spend any more money.

        Reply
        • jakeabbey05

          2 weeks ago

          While the bullpen hasn’t been too reliable, it’s far from the reason this team is under performing.
          Players such as Marcus Semien and Adolis Garcia are sinking the offense, especially Garcia.
          He had a brilliant 2023 season, especially in the playoffs, but he’s a massive strikeout machine who refuses to take disciplined at bats.
          Other teams realize this and would never offer anything of quality for him in a trade.
          Thankfully for the Rangers, this is the final year of his contract.
          I would be shocked if the team wanted him back.

          Reply
        • Coal tender

          1 week ago

          I wouldn’t!

          Reply
      • Rangerfan99

        3 weeks ago

        No.

        Reply
  3. Deckard

    3 weeks ago

    The three game series with Toronto was hard to watch. Two truly terrible hitting teams. They were a combined 7 runs and 3 for 41 RISP over the three games. Like watching paint dry.

    7
    Reply
  4. j817

    3 weeks ago

    Yea, they better do something.

    1
    Reply
  5. Old York

    3 weeks ago

    Yes. Should be:

    Josh Smith
    Wyatt Langford
    Corey Seager
    Josh Jung
    Adolis García
    Jonah Heim
    Leody Taveras
    Evan Carter
    Dustin Harris

    Just don’t go out and trade for Juan Soto, as all he does it take strikes and casually jogs to 1B.

    1
    Reply
    • Harvbanger

      3 weeks ago

      Wasn’t Taveras traded away?

      9
      Reply
      • Old York

        3 weeks ago

        Why is he still on Fangraphs with the Rangers?

        fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&st…

        1
        Reply
        • vtadave

          3 weeks ago

          Wild guess: because he accumulated those numberes with the Rangers.

          3
          Reply
        • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          3 weeks ago

          The Mariners picked up Leody off waivers about three weeks ago.

          Reply
        • Old York

          3 weeks ago

          @Ignorant Son-of-a-b

          I’m still on the first week of MLB. Are the M’s still in last place?

          Reply
    • Zippy the Pinhead

      3 weeks ago

      Taveras is a Mariner.

      4
      Reply
    • dudeman40

      3 weeks ago

      Old York – u a Rangers fan?
      Tavares has been gone about a month.

      1
      Reply
      • Okie_baseball

        3 weeks ago

        And Osuna is up in place of Harris. I kind of like Harris but he lacks the power to be a legit corner guy in the bigs.

        Reply
  6. chandlerbing

    3 weeks ago

    just happy degrom is healthy and back to being an ace again
    we mets fans will always treasure him and cant wait for his HOF speech someday

    4
    Reply
  7. twozero6ix

    3 weeks ago

    Rangers bullpen has been a mess for the longest time, this isn’t anything new

    3
    Reply
  8. No Soup For Yu!

    3 weeks ago

    “including an embarrassing sweep at the hands of the White Sox last week”

    They weren’t swept. This should not be something this site gets wrong.

    2
    Reply
    • how bout dem rangers

      3 weeks ago

      Yeah I agree, with how in depth this article is, you kind of have to get that kind of stuff right.

      1
      Reply
    • WadeBoggsWildRide

      3 weeks ago

      What was the series 2-1 White Sox? If any team gets swept by the White Sox they should be barred from playing in the post season.

      Reply
  9. knolln

    3 weeks ago

    Semien is going to start with his contract. his defense is excellent his ABs look atrocious, just stick him at 9 for the next year or so and then we can start talking about him transitioning to another role.

    garcia is burnt toast, should solely be platoon DH when the other astoundingly bad (but heating up prior to inury) ranger joc pederson returns. platoon DH against lefties, late inning pinch hit (theres still homer power, so it’s a nice prayer to have off the bench), and really that’s it.

    burger had a good week after his demotion, but’s gone cold again. he has to be hot with jung and wyatt, and a healthy seager (has to be healthy enough to play SS, he can DH for a while with Joc out, but we’ll need both when Joc’s back) that’s the only way there’s any length to this lineup.

    which i thought coming into the year was definitely our strength, being very dangerous 1-9 in the order. go figure. More Aces than league average hitters.

    4
    Reply
  10. Domingo111

    3 weeks ago

    The problem is that they don’t really have alternatives.

    Maybe they could bring up foscue who I think is better than what he Showed in a very short sample in the majors but he isn’t a game changer either, more like a bad defense, average bat infielder.

    But other than that they really don’t have much in the minors and their bench isn’t great either (except Smith who already is more of a super util player who almost plays every day).

    5
    Reply
    • Rangerfan99

      3 weeks ago

      Foscue is injured at AAA.

      Reply
  11. RonDarlingShouldntBeInTheHallOfFame

    3 weeks ago

    It’s clear as day to me that Bochy should be gone. Too much talent on that team for them to be hitting the way they are.

    Time for a change of scenery, or a trade to shake things up.

    Reply
  12. HBan22

    3 weeks ago

    It’s crazy how a team can go from having almost the best offense in baseball in 2023 to having one of the worst in the league two years later, despite having nearly the same exact lineup.

    2
    Reply
    • Fever Pitch Guy

      3 weeks ago

      HBan – I wouldn’t be surprised if Driveline has something to do with it.

      3
      Reply
      • Jobu's Rum

        3 weeks ago

        Way to single out one data entity when teams utilitize many.

        Reply
        • Fever Pitch Guy

          3 weeks ago

          Bat – My understanding is Driveline is the predominant data entity in MLB, and they have had a relationship with the Rangers.

          Regardless, I wrote “wouldn’t be surprised” ….. I did not in any way place blame on them for the Rangers hitting issues.

          2
          Reply
  13. nowheredan

    3 weeks ago

    The Blue Jays scored 4 runs in 3 games and won 2 out of 3. So, maybe.

    4
    Reply
  14. Steinbrenner2728

    3 weeks ago

    A reminder that the Rangers recently hired a Boone, this time, Bret Boone, as their hitting coach…

    Reply
  15. Whyme

    3 weeks ago

    As A Jay’s fan seeing 2 of the most inept offenses in the game was brutal. I thought we were bad Texas is somehow worse

    3
    Reply
    • Rangerfan99

      3 weeks ago

      Yeah. It wasn’t a fun series.

      1
      Reply
    • nowheredan

      3 weeks ago

      Amen, whyme

      1
      Reply
  16. Whyme

    3 weeks ago

    The Jay’s and Rangers are the cure for insomnia.

    1
    Reply
  17. Chicken In Philly?

    3 weeks ago

    Alejandro Osuna has 13 plate appearances. 13! I don’t know if he’s the guy that cuts into Garcia’s or Semien’s playing time yet. It’s too early.

    2
    Reply
    • Rangerfan99

      3 weeks ago

      He’s not. A fourth OF on a playoff team or maybe a blue-collar hustle man in the back of the lineup fans can root for as the season mercifully comes to a close.

      2
      Reply
      • Ignorant Son-of-a-b

        3 weeks ago

        Lol “blue collar hustle man” I like that one.

        Reply
  18. Silver Boot Series Enjoyer

    3 weeks ago

    They weren’t swept by White Sox.

    Reply
  19. YellowCleats

    3 weeks ago

    They need to trade away some major league star players for top prospects

    Reply
  20. MLBTR needs to hire editors

    2 weeks ago

    “Meanwhile” has to start the sentence, not come in the middle between commas.

    Reply
  21. Coal tender

    1 week ago

    Seager is playing older than his 31 years. Maybe all those ham injuries over the last few years have shorten his threat as a batter? Adolis is nothing but garbage at this point as well as Simien. Pedersen was about to rediscover his bat until he fractured his hand several weeks back that makes him expendable now. Owner Davis needs to unload some of those contracts ASAP.

    Reply

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