The offseason is about to end, and it’s time to rank the best teams to start this season! The Dodgers sit comfortably in first place without any real competition—so the real debate is about who takes second. The Red Sox, after a stellar offseason and a blockbuster move to land Alex Bregman, appeared to be the top contender. But MLB insider Jim Bowden thinks otherwise. He ranks the Texas Rangers as the second-best team. Surprised?

It’s odd to see the Rangers ranked so high, considering their quiet offseason. However, a few smart moves made all the difference, allowing them to field a contending team without sacrificing top prospects or overspending. So, what does it take to be a top contender? And why are the Rangers ahead of the Red Sox despite Boston making bigger headlines this offseason?

Texas Rangers’ race to be the best team 

Offseasons are always all about competition among all the 30 teams to build a strong team and field them. However, not all teams get the same payroll budget and cannot make moves to get the big fish in the tank. Something that teams like the Red Sox and Rangers face against teams like the Mets and Dodgers. But here’s a surprise—the Rangers actually have a higher payroll than the Red Sox this year. According to Spotrac.com, the Rangers are the sixth team this year in terms of budget with approximately $200 million, while the Red Sox stands in ninth place with approximately $198 million budget. Quite a dark horse, right?

MLB insider Jim Bowden shared what Rangers GM Chris Young said about fielding a contending team. “He said the teams got to go out there and find a way to add even more power,” Bowden shared in a podcast with Foul Territory. According to him, the team that can put up more runs on the scoreboard will have the last laugh this season. Something that the Rangers have done by getting slugger Jake Burger to the team that had ended 2024 with 29 HRs. In getting Burger from the Marlins, the Rangers haven’t lost any of their top prospects. The Marlins traded Burger to the Texas Rangers in exchange for prospects Echedry Vargas, Max Acosta, and Brayan Mendoza. That’s called a smart move by the Rangers!

On-field lineup for the Rangers and Red Sox

Smart trades and power hitters are one thing, but how do the projected lineups compare? The Red Sox are set to start the season with a strong infield featuring Triston Casas at 1B, Alex Bregman at 2B, and Rafael Devers at 3B. That’s a dangerous lineup.

Can the Rangers match up? According to MLB projections, Texas will field Jake Burger at 1B, Marcus Semien at 2B, and Josh Jung at 3B. That’s a trio that combined for 71 home runs last season—a serious power boost for their offense.

So yes, despite not being the big names, the Texas Rangers are here to get the maximum run from the base this year. Well, the Red Sox is not much behind the Rangers, and they are going to be at an advantage with a deep pitching rotation, but the spending this year, like pouring out $120 million for Bregman for only three years, is something that restricted them from getting some smart moves. However, they can still make it big in getting home runs by retaining players like Masataka Yoshida down the line.

Which team got the best lineup this offseason will all be answered once the regular season starts. Fans just need to wait to check how the teams are fielding their opening lineup and how “the second-best team” is performing on the field. 

What do you think about the Rangers being a true contender this year?