Now that the World Series ended, offseason transactions will begin. Texas Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young must be prepared to act quickly.

Young should already understand what his budget will look like for 2027. He also knows that a labor stoppage is approaching.

Barring an unexpected agreement, MLB and the MLB Players Association are headed toward another work stoppage without a new deal by Dec. 1. That leaves Young approximately one month to complete moves before business potentially shuts down.

First, Wyatt Langford has struggled to remain healthy. Second, center fielder Evan Carter is an excellent defender, but his bat has not developed enough for Texas to rely upon him against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers.

Carter hit .194 in 391 at-bats last season, with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 141 games.

Young has made creating more competition on the MLB roster one of his priorities for 2027. No position requires it more than center field.

The Rangers need to sign an outfielder capable of pushing Carter to improve or forcing him into a fourth-outfielder role. Daulton Varsho from the Houston Astros and Taylor Ward from the Seattle Mariners represent the type of players who could create that competition.

Texas would benefit from finding someone capable of handling both center field and left field, particularly because Langford could encounter more health problems.

Alejandro Osuna is a strong internal option, but the Rangers do not appear to trust him enough to make him a full-time starter.

Osuna hit .260 with one home run and 25 RBIs in 84 games last season.

That uncertainty makes adding an outfielder through free agency a sensible approach for Texas.

Varsho would give the Rangers more than another name on the depth chart. His ability to cover two outfield positions would allow the team to react when an injury occurs without forcing another player into an unfamiliar assignment.

He would also create the competition Young wants. Carter could no longer enter the season without a credible alternative behind him, while Langford would have experienced coverage available whenever he cannot play.

Adding Varsho would not require Texas to abandon Carter or Osuna. Instead, it would allow both younger outfielders to earn their opportunities based on performance rather than receiving regular playing time because the roster lacks alternatives.

That pressure could make the entire outfield better. Carter could concentrate on developing into a more dependable hitter, while Osuna could establish whether he deserves a larger role.

The Rangers need an outfielder who can move between positions, handle changing assignments and provide stability. Varsho fits that roster need while advancing Young’s goal of creating meaningful competition throughout the team.