As the Texas Rangers enter the offseason, several positions will require more attention than others.

Designated hitter is one of them.

Joc Pederson handled the role against right-handed pitching during the last two seasons. Because the Rangers face right-handers approximately 80% of the time, the arrangement made sense.

Pederson improved his offensive production in 2026 following an injury-ravaged 2025. He hit .235 with 26 home runs, 53 RBIs and an .816 OPS in 136 games.

However, retaining him may prove too expensive for Texas.

Pederson made his last appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 12, when he suffered a small fracture in his left hand.

The injury forced him to miss the most important portion of the season while the Rangers competed with the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West.

Fortunately, Texas has internal candidates capable of replacing him.

The Rangers will likely rotate several hitters through the designated hitter position rather than assigning the role to one player for most games.

Alejandro Osuna is among their options and would cost considerably less than the nearly $20 million Texas paid Pederson in 2026.

The third-year outfielder would bring a different skill set to the position. Osuna does not offer substantial power, but he can hit for average, reach base and handle left-handed pitching despite being a left-handed hitter.

He slashed .260/.349/.304 in 84 games this season, hitting one home run with 25 RBIs.

Osuna produced a .311/.367/.311 slash line in 45 at-bats against left-handers. He hit .245/.344/.302 in 159 at-bats against right-handers.

He does not match Justin Foscue’s power, but his balanced production against pitchers from both sides makes him closer to becoming platoon-proof.

Osuna also provides defensive flexibility because he can handle all three outfield positions.

Texas will likely carry him as its fourth or fifth outfielder next season, creating a pathway for him to receive opportunities within a designated hitter rotation.

Osuna’s greatest value comes from his adaptability. He does not require an everyday position to remain useful because he can move throughout the outfield and enter the lineup according to matchups.

His ability to compete against left-handed pitching also prevents opposing managers from easily neutralizing him with a pitching change. That is particularly useful for a team seeking greater lineup flexibility.

Osuna must improve his power production, but he can still contribute by reaching base, extending innings and creating opportunities for the hitters behind him.

His defensive range also allows the Rangers to use another outfielder at designated hitter without weakening their coverage.

Osuna does not need to replace Pederson alone. His versatility, affordable contract and balanced hitting profile make him a sensible part of Texas’ plan for distributing designated hitter opportunities among several players.