The Texas Rangers enter the 2026 season with a rotation that looks strong on paper but fragile in practice. At the top, there is real star power. Nathan Eovaldi remains a stabilizing presence. Jacob deGrom still offers ace-level upside whenever he’s healthy. And Jack Leiter represents the future, a high-end arm the organization hopes is ready to take a meaningful step forward.
After that trio, however, the picture becomes far less certain, and that’s why the Rangers being linked to Chris Bassitt makes so much sense. ESPN’s David Schoenfield recently included Bassitt among the veteran starters Texas should pursue, and the more you examine the roster, the harder it is to argue against that idea.
Texas doesn’t need another frontline ace. What it needs is certainty—innings, reliability, and a pitcher who can take the ball every fifth day without forcing the club to scramble by June.
Why the Rangers Can’t Rely on Internal Depth Alone
Behind Eovaldi, deGrom, and Leiter, the Rangers’ depth chart thins out quickly. Kumar Rocker still carries enormous upside, but his 2025 results underscored that he remains a work in progress rather than a dependable rotation lock. Jacob Latz showed flashes last season, primarily in relief, yet asking him to shoulder a full starter’s workload would be a gamble.
That’s a risky way to build around an aging core of arms. DeGrom’s health will always be a question. Eovaldi has battled wear and tear throughout his career. If even one of them misses extended time, Texas could find itself leaning too heavily on pitchers who aren’t ready for that responsibility.
Bassitt directly addresses that vulnerability. He doesn’t bring elite velocity or eye-popping strikeout totals, but he brings something arguably more valuable to this roster: predictability. Over the past several seasons, Bassitt has consistently logged innings, navigated lineups multiple times, and given his teams a chance to win almost every time out.
Why Chris Bassitt Fits Texas Better Than the Alternatives
Bassitt’s 2025 season with Toronto quietly reinforced his value. While he shifted into a bullpen role during the postseason, he was arguably the Blue Jays’ most dependable starter across the regular season, providing steady performance while others fluctuated. For a Rangers team that already has high-variance arms, that profile matters.
Unlike flashier free-agent options, Bassitt wouldn’t require Texas to reshape its rotation hierarchy. He slots cleanly behind the top three, offering protection rather than pressure. His pitch mix, sequencing, and experience allow him to survive without overpowering hitters, which is particularly valuable in a division that features patient lineups and hitter-friendly environments.
There’s also a timing element at play. With much of the league focused on bigger names and longer commitments, the Rangers could move decisively on Bassitt before the market tightens closer to spring training. That kind of proactive move aligns with a team that believes it can contend now but understands how quickly pitching depth can evaporate.
The Rangers don’t need to chase upside for the sake of it. They need insulation against chaos. Chris Bassitt represents exactly that—a stabilizer who makes the entire rotation more resilient. If Texas is serious about maximizing the window it still has with Eovaldi and deGrom, adding Bassitt isn’t just a smart option. It’s the responsible one.
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