What's happened
The Texas Rangers declined to offer contracts to several players, including José García, after a disappointing 2025 season. García, once a star, posted career lows last year. The team aims to retool after back-to-back losing campaigns following their 2023 World Series win.
What's behind the headline?
The Rangers' decision to non-tender García and other veterans reflects a clear shift towards rebuilding. García's decline from a postseason hero to a player with career lows indicates the team’s need for fresh talent. The move also frees up salary space, which could be invested in prospects or free agents. This retooling suggests the franchise is prioritizing long-term success over immediate results, especially after two consecutive disappointing seasons. The team’s focus on developing younger players and restructuring its roster will likely shape its competitive outlook for the next few years. The moves also highlight the volatility of player performance and the strategic importance of salary management in modern baseball.
What the papers say
The NY Post reports that the Rangers non-tendered García after a poor 2025 season, citing his career-worst stats and the team's broader retooling efforts. AP News adds context by noting the team also cut several other players and signed a few to avoid arbitration, emphasizing the franchise's strategic shift. The coverage from both sources underscores the Rangers' focus on rebuilding after their 2023 championship, with García's decline symbolizing the need for change. While the NY Post highlights García's fall from grace, AP News provides a broader view of the team's roster moves, illustrating a comprehensive approach to restructuring.
How we got here
The Rangers won their first World Series in 2023, with García playing a key role. Since then, the team has struggled, finishing third in the AL West in 2024 and 2025. The non-tendering of García and others signals a strategic rebuild, focusing on younger talent and salary flexibility.
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Joshua Alan Sborz is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. He was drafted 74th overall by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft and played for the Dodgers in 2019 and 2020.
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José Adolis García Arrieta is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball. He previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Yomiuri Giants.
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The Texas Rangers are an American professional baseball team based in Arlington, Texas, located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. They compete in Major League Baseball as a member club of the American League West division. In 2020, they will move to t