The Texas Rangers currently have the weakest offense in the league. With that in mind, it might seem strange to hear there’s a potential “roster crunch” looming as Evan Carter prepares to return from the injured list.
Normally, clearing space on the roster is a straightforward process for a struggling team—but in this case, it’s proving to be a real challenge for GM Chris Young and manager Bruce Bochy.
Carter, who’s been sidelined with a quad injury, is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend and could rejoin the team as soon as Monday.
While the Rangers could opt to keep him in Triple-A Round Rock—especially since he wasn’t exactly dominating before the injury—that move feels unlikely given the team’s desperate need for offensive help.
Carter’s return could put the Rangers in a tough spot regarding roster decisions. One player who’s made a strong impression recently is Alejandro Osuna, who was called up this week and has posted an impressive slash line of .300/.462/.300/.762 in limited action.
Unless Osuna cools off dramatically over the next few days, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be sent back down.
That leaves veteran catcher Tucker Barnhart as a likely odd man out. He’s the team’s third catcher and hasn’t seen much playing time.
However, removing him from the roster would require designating him for assignment, as he’s out of minor league options—a move the Rangers may not love, but one they’re probably leaning toward.
Even once Carter is activated and a 26-man roster spot is cleared, the juggling act won’t be over. The issue will then shift to finding enough playing time for everyone.
Corey Seager just returned from injury, giving the team five infielders to fill four positions. In the short term, the designated hitter spot can be used to rotate players.
But once Carter returns, the outfield will be crowded too, with four players competing for three spots—including Osuna, who appears to need regular at-bats.
There are certainly underperforming players who could be candidates for less playing time, such as Marcus Semien and Adolis García.
However, benching García would weaken the team’s defense—a tough trade-off for a club where a single run often decides the outcome.
The Rangers will no doubt be glad to have Evan Carter back in the lineup—assuming he returns next week—but it’s also clear that Young and Bochy have some difficult roster and lineup decisions ahead.
