It began like most vital revivals do—big stars, bigger budgets, and a larger promise to silence years of mediocrity. The blueprint of the Rangers looked aggressive: Overhaul the roster, pour millions into patchwork outcomes, and count on the attention to do the rest. On paper, it is a plan. In reality, no runs!

In what looks like an MLB Twilight Zone, the Texas Rangers are now analyzing fly balls that die at the warning track. The scoreboard barely lights up, and fans of Patrick Mahomes’ father’s former team begin to identify the same old motion. Heck, the Athletics took five from them. That is how bad it is.

Pat Mahomes Sr.’s former team’s offense is stuck in neutral. However, someone decided the fix was demoting offseason bat J.P. Martínez for a reset. David Sampson highlighted that thought on Nothing Personal and said, “What kind of reset are we talking about?” The insider is right. You do not reset by demoting one star when your core is flailing.

Another vital offseason move, Jake Burger is standing at a .190 BA with just 32 strikeouts and 3 walks. Then there is Jock Peterson, too! Added as a $37M deal for 2 years, he is batting at just 108. Plus, Seager’s hamstring issue has not helped either — he has been out since April 22.

And you know what is scarier? The team is carrying just 103 total runs this season, and they are beating only the Rockies in this matter. So much for the “deepest lineup in the AL.” While the pitching rotation has seen 11 quality starts, they have won just six of those games. As David Sampson pointed out, “When you have got 11 quality starts and a 6–4 record, it is not a good sign.”

At this point, it does not seem just a lineup issue — it is an identity crisis. The Rangers thought they could cruise on last year’s high. Instead, they are wheeling out a golden ticket approach to attract fans to the stadium. A fan purchases one ticket, and after that, if the Rangers win, that fan could come back for free until the team loses at home.

Yes, that could have been an effective marketing approach, until you see that it applies to just 300 mezzanine-level seats. “I thought it was the whole ballpark. Then I read it clearly and said Oh yeah, it is just PR,” David Sampson didn’t hold back on the sarcasm.

Well, tbh, the team is scrambling. And it is not related to payroll anymore. It is related to accountability. The bats are cold and unless Seager returns and Jock begins to hit like, it is 2021, this season could be cooked by July. Reset that!

Seager’s return could spark a turnaround, however, the Rangers better have a plan B

Corey Seager stepping back into the box is more than just a rehab milestone—it might be a powerful season-saver. After logging live batting reps against Thomas Ireland and Florencio Serrano, the star said, “I am hopeful to be activated Saturday.” Such optimism echoes across the team, which has scored not more than 28 runs in the eight games Seager has missed, and 15 of the scores came in a single blowout.

Seager, hitting .286 with reliable power, carries structure for the team that has lost all rhythm. And his return might finally reset the order. 

However, hope comes with a clock, and hamstrings are not always forgiving. If his return hits a snag, the Rangers will need a backup plan quickly.

Enter Isiah Kiner-Falefa. He is the Pirates’ infielder, currently hitting .291 with 28 total bases. He has guided his team despite batting near the bottom of the order. Kiner-Falefa might not replace Seager’s power, but he is a steady star and a contact-first hitter and could effectively plug the shortstop gap without draining the farm system. With free agency coming, he is a low-cost and low-risk star the Rangers could target if things go bad again.

But what if Seager and other stars stay healthy?

Kiner-Falefa can become the depth insurance. Either way, the team can not afford to gamble twice on health—it is time the Rangers backed their bets with a real contingency.

The Rangers bet big on star power. However, now they are betting on timing. Corey Seager’s return could be the spark. But if his hamstring flares up again, the team can not afford to stall. Adding stars like Kiner-Falefa might not fix everything; still, it could provide the team time and stability.

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