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Two MLB teams looking to rebound from losing records
Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager. Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Two MLB teams looking to rebound from losing records

By Michael Carpenter  |  Last updated 2/13/23

The Texas Rangers and the Minnesota Twins both came into 2022 with high expectations. 

The Rangers had just handed out $500M in free-agent contracts to shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien, while the Twins had landed one of the top shortstops in Carlos Correa.

Both failed to live up to those expectations, the struggle to find consistent starting pitching and keeping those pitchers healthy were major issues for the teams. 

Having finished in the lower half of the league in multiple major pitching statistics, both teams went into the offseason looking for ways to improve.

Texas Rangers

The Rangers shocked many by coming to an agreement with two-time National League Cy Young award winner Jacob deGrom, and they didn't stop there. Adding three other pitchers in Andrew Heaney, Nate Eovaldi and Jake Odorizzi the Rangers completely remade their starting rotation.

DeGrom gives them the ace of the rotation the Rangers desperately needed, and they filled in the rest of the staff with quality arms who can give them serviceable innings in the tough American League West.

Also adding three-time World Series champion Bruce Bochy as the new manager, the club is expecting him to help guide the Rangers to their first AL West title and playoff appearance since 2016.

With the revamped staff, the Rangers are hoping their offense featuring Seager, Semien and outfielder Adolis Garcia will pick up where they left off in 2022.

Minnesota Twins

The Twins were rattled with injuries in 2022, starting pitchers Kenta Maeda, Bailey Ober and Chris Paddack only made a combined 16 starts. While star hitters Byron Buxton, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler missed 178 games combined. 

Holding the American League Central lead for a majority of the season, the wheels fell off in September. 

Going 10-17, the Twins helplessly watched their tie for first place turn into a 12-game deficit to the Cleveland Guardians who eventually won the AL Central title.

Minnesota would have an even wilder ride this off-season when it looked like they were losing Correa not once but twice. Ultimately he ended up back with the Twins and they also added catcher Christian Vazquez and outfielder Joey Gallo during free agency. 

The Twins made a couple of splashes in the trade market, shipping out 2022 AL batting champ Luis Arraez to the Miami Marlins for pitcher Pablo Lopez and acquiring outfielder Michael A. Taylor from the division-rival Kansas City Royals in exchange for two minor leaguers.

With a drastically improved outfield defense, thanks to the additions of Gallo and Taylor, and a clean bill of health with the pitching staff. Minnesota looks to make its first playoff appearance since 2020 as it goes into the 2023 season.

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