It's been a hot minute since the Texas Rangers won the World Series in 2023. With the organization trying to get into the American League West Division race, changes have been made in the offseason.

Once again, the Rangers have a new manager in Skip Schumaker. The team has been going through managers a lot in the past seven or eight seasons. Also, the organization has picked up and gotten rid of some players along the way.

Is this finally the season that the Rangers put things together?

Entering the 2026 MLB season, Texas is among teams that are probably facing a do-or-die moment. A new article from MLB.com indicates that the Rangers have a lot on the table that puts them at a crossroads in the division.

"Obviously, it’s a good thing when your team wins a World Series, particularly when it’s your first one," MLB.com reporter Will Leitch wrote. "Winning the World Series is very fun, people like it, and I’d recommend it to everyone. But it’s really a good thing the Rangers went on that magical run to win the World Series in 2023.

"That season is in fact the only one in which the Rangers have even made the playoffs since they were swept out of the 2016 ALDS," Leitch wrote.

"In fact, it’s their only winning season over that span, amazingly enough, despite what looked like a fertile farm system to go along with significant investments in players like Jacob deGrom, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien," Leitch continued. "They’re now on their fourth manager since the start of 2018."

Those managers include Jeff Banister, Chris Woodward and, of course, Bruce Bochy. Since 2016, the Rangers only have two winning seasons -- in 2016 and 2023, when that magical World Series run took place. 

Schumaker has a heavy load on his shoulders. It's not going to be a cakewalk for him in Arlington, Texas, this season.

"Meanwhile, the Rangers missed an opportunity to take advantage of the (Houston) Astros’ fade, with the (Seattle) Mariners having passed them and the A’s (Athletics) very much on the come-up," Leitch wrote.

"Texas has reshuffled this season, saying goodbye to Semien and bringing in MacKenzie Gore, Brandon Nimmo and a bunch of bullpen arms," Leitch continued. "But if they have another year of diminishing returns, they’re really going to have to wonder whether this plan, outside that glorious October in 2023, is ever going to fully pay off."

Those plans that would have the Rangers staying in the middle of competing teams in the division have not panned out.

Texas has been an also-ran in the AL West, not a great position to be in for a fanbase that wanted to see more success after the magical 2023 run.

Schumaker does have his work cut out for him.

So do the Rangers.

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