Throughout the entire 2025-26 MLB offseason, the Texas Rangers maintained the sentiment that they felt like they would have the team to compete for a World Series championship in 2026 and beyond.

However, the moves that Texas had made during the offseason weren’t exactly swinging for the top of the market to establish championship status.

The Rangers traded Marcus Semien to the New York Mets, bringing back Brandon Nimmo to replace Adolis Garcia, who the club decided to part ways with in free agency.

World Series hero Jonah Heim was also not tendered a contract and was replaced by veteran Danny Jansen.

In the bullpen, the Rangers didn’t bring back the likes of Shawn Armstrong, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb, and Phil Maton, who all had solid seasons last year.

Overall, it was a combination of moves that didn’t exactly scream “we’re going for it” despite the messaging.

That was until just over a week ago…

The Rangers shocked the baseball world by trading a package of five prospects to the Washington Nationals in exchange for All-Star starter MacKenzie Gore.

Bringing in Gore will give the Rangers one of the best 1-2-3 punches in all of baseball as he will join Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi at the top of the rotation.

Perhaps more importantly, it sends a message to Rangers fans and the rest of baseball that Texas is, in fact, here to win in 2026.

Additionally, it shows that the Rangers might not be done adding to their roster this offseason by any means.

Texas could still be in the market for a right-handed bat and possibly another reliever to continue their bullpen makeover.

It’s unlikely that the Rangers will shell out top-of-the-market money to acquire a top guy, but there’s certainly plenty of value left in free agency outside of the top.

Looking forward down the line, the Gore trade could showcase the Rangers' willingness to make moves at the trade deadline if the team is firm in the race.

At the end of the day, a move like this puts the Rangers' ownership and front office’s commitment to winning at the very forefront.

As a Rangers fan, all you can ask for is a team that tries to put a competitive product on the field each season, and to say the club hasn’t done and is continuing to do that just isn’t fair.

Ultimately, much of the Rangers’ bounce back will rely on the offense’s ability to rebound from back-to-back tough seasons.

However, after the Gore trade, we know the Rangers have the starting rotation and, more importantly, the front office to create a winning team in 2026.

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