The Rangers’ Prospect Balancing Act: A Fresh Era of Roster Building
SURPRISE, Ariz. — The Texas Rangers are actively reshaping their farm system, trading away significant prospect capital to bolster the major league roster. This strategy, described by General Manager Ross Fenstermaker as “the price we pay in order to compete,” is demonstrably impacting the team’s depth and future potential.
The Cost of Contention
Since last summer’s trade deadline, the Rangers have dealt eight top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline evaluations. The acquisitions of Merrill Kelly (from Arizona) and MacKenzie Gore (from Washington) required substantial prospect packages – three for Kelly and five for Gore – highlighting the aggressive approach the Rangers are taking to immediate improvement.
This aggressive trading has understandably affected the farm system’s rankings. Currently, the Rangers’ farm system is ranked No. 22 by ESPN, No. 24 by Baseball America, and No. 25 by USA TODAY. The team acknowledges the need for key prospects to rebound from recent performance dips to maintain a competitive pipeline.
Spotlight on Josh Trentadue: A Rising Left-Hander
The Rangers are closely monitoring the development of left-handed pitcher Josh Trentadue, currently ranked No. 27 in their system. Drafted in the 14th round of the 2023 MLB draft, Trentadue has taken a non-traditional path to professional baseball, starting at the Division III level before excelling at Southern Idaho.
SURPRISE, AZ – FEBRUARY 17: Josh Trentadue #90 of the Texas Rangers poses for a photo during the Texas Rangers photo day at Surprise Stadium on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Norm Hall / MLB Photos via Getty Images
At 24, Trentadue is one of the older prospects in the system. His fastball velocity has increased to 94-96 mph, making it a swing-and-miss pitch. He’ll begin the 2026 season at Double-A Frisco, where he’ll need to demonstrate consistency and maintain his strikeout rate after a slight dip following his promotion last season.
The Future Outlook for Trentadue
The Rangers envision Trentadue as a potential No. 4 starter, or possibly a multi-inning reliever. Continued development of his slider and changeup will be crucial for his success. He represents a key piece in the Rangers’ strategy of identifying and developing talent from less conventional backgrounds.
Trentadue’s emergence is particularly important given the Rangers’ recent trades of left-handed pitching prospects Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt to the Diamondbacks. He offers a promising alternative and could quickly rise in the rankings with a strong performance at the Double-A level.
Rangers’ Top 30 Prospects – A Running List
- No. 30: RHP Mason McConnaughey
- No. 29: OF Braylin Morel
- No. 28: RHP Frandel Pineda
- No. 27: LHP Josh Trentadue
- Nos. 26-1: Coming soon…
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