Can Texas Rangers Win World Series in 2023?

The Texas Rangers appear vastly improved entering the 2023 MLB season, but do they have enough to win the World Series?

Kade Kistner | Mar 30, 2023

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Texas Rangers

It's Opening Day! With that brings new hope and expectations as the 2023 MLB season gets underway. The ultimate goal of every MLB franchise entering a new season is to win a World Series.

So can the Texas Rangers win a championship in 2023?

That question was posed to new ace Jacob deGrom on Tuesday. His answer might shock some people.

"I do. We got a good pitching staff and a good lineup," deGrom said. "Like I said, you go out there and play and anything can happen. You go out there and compete. I think we have a chance."

That's exactly what you expect to hear from your $185 million ace, it might be a bit concerning if he were to say anything other than "yes."

But can the Rangers actually win a World Series this season?

The short answer is ... well, maybe.

The new look rotation appears to be very good on paper. Obviously deGrom headlines the group and, if he stays healthy, he's a perennial Cy Young candidate. In fact, just a quick glance at the first half of his 2021 season shows that he very well could put together the single best season every compiled by a pitcher in MLB history.

It sounds like hyperbole, but it truly isn't.

After him, the Rangers have Nathan Eovaldi, Martín Pérez, Jon Gray and Andrew Heaney. Pérez, now the Rangers' third arm up, was garnering Cy Young attention last season at one point.

Of course, the biggest question mark with the rotation is health. It's rare, almost inconceivable that all five guys stay healthy all season, but if this rotation stays relatively healthy, then postseason aspirations are on the docket.

Now, pitching is one half of the equation. The offense and lineup is another.

Last offseasons, Texas loaded up on the middle infield class and brought in Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. It helped revamp the lineup and became the most expensive middle infield in the sport.

They both had decent performances in 2022, but they are capable of taking the next step in a Rangers uniform. Seager is expected to exceed his 2022 production for the simple fact he feels more comfortable in Arlington entering his second year and the banning of the defensive shift. The shortstop suffered more than any other player last season due to the shift.

Semien also appears to be in a better mindset after settling in to his new environs.

Those two having huge seasons atop of the lineup will help dictate where this offense goes.

Additionally, this time last year we hadn't yet seen what Nathaniel Lowe was fully capable of. His second half of the season in 2022 was MVP-level stuff and he took home a Silver Slugger award for it.

Adolis García is also a capable middle-of-the-order bat who can produce a 30-home run season.

Josh Jung is finally the Opening Day third baseman, and has the pedigree and talent to win the American League Rookie of the Year.

Catcher Mitch Garver is fully healthy and ready to produce. His counterpart Jonah Heim appears to be the real deal, both at the plate and in terms of being an excellent defensive catcher.

Left fielder Robbie Grossman had an encouraging spring and Leody Taveras, when healthy, is one of the better defensive center fielders in baseball. If the latter's bat fully develops, watch out.

For the Texas Rangers to win a World Series in 2023, all of the players mentioned would have to, at the very minimum, perform at the levels that they're capable of.

In fact, it very well may take a few reaching new heights.

All of that and the rotation needs to stay relatively healthy.

Can it be done?

Sure. Maybe. Who knows?

But every World Series hopeful is betting on the same thing.

So why not the Texas Rangers this season?

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Published Mar 30, 2023

KADE KISTNER

Kade Kistner is the publisher and beat writer for Sports Illustrated's Inside the Phillies, Cubs and Astros. He is also an editor for Inside the Rangers. An alumnus of Tulane University, Kade graduated in 2017 with a degree in Latin American Studies and a minor in Spanish. Upon graduation, Kade commissioned into the United States Navy and attended Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Fl. He served as a Naval Aviator and was stationed in Jacksonville, Fl. During his time in school and the Navy, Kade began covering the MLB and NFL with USA Today, SB Nation, and Sports Illustrated. Kade covered the New Orleans Saints, Texas Rangers, and numerous other teams within the Sports Illustrated network before launching Inside the Phillies, Inside the Astros, and Inside the Cubs. You can follow him on Twitter at @KadeKistner, or if you have any questions or comments he can be reached via email at kwkistner@gmail.com.