Introduction to the Texas Rangers’ Payroll Situation
From the moment the Texas Rangers’ woebegone season ended, and even before, Chris Young hinted strongly the payroll would be coming down for 2026. Of that he was certain. By how much, though, was the mystery. The Rangers baseball operations department still isn’t sure what the ultimate dictate will be from ownership.
But if the events of this weekend are any indication, the trims are likely going to be more about austerity than just aesthetics.
What Happened This Weekend?
What happened this weekend? Well, let’s unfold that. First, pitching coach Mike Maddux, who lives in the area, opted not to return to the Rangers and instead took the same role with the Los Angeles Angels. Of note, he will join a new manager there in Kurt Suzuki, who is operating under the extreme insecurity of a one-year contract.
Hard to rationalize that Arte Moreno would give his pitching coach more security than his manager, but then again, it’s hard to rationalize Arte Moreno, period, a lot of times. So, who knows? But the logical takeaway is Maddux is getting one year with a significant salary bump. We’ll not dive into the California vs. Texas tax question, because, man, nothing kills the mood like tax talk.
Maddux’s Decision and Its Implications
But, to be clear: The Rangers extended Maddux the opportunity to return; he ultimately chose not to. Maybe the offer came a couple of weeks into the offseason process, which is only natural given the change at manager. Maybe after having a rotation that led the majors in ERA, Maddux expected the club to be more aggressive in showing appreciation and in rewarding the accomplishment. And maybe sometimes competing needs just don’t allow for things to line up.
Can’t fault the Rangers for wanting to make sure their new manager and the pitching coach were on the same page and can’t fault Maddux for expecting more immediacy and appreciation. The only question that lingers is whether more money might have smoothed things over. Perhaps not. Maddux can be pretty rigid in his world view of things.
Colby Lewis’ Departure
Second, as October turned to November and contracts for minor league coaches and staff were either extended or not renewed, three people with direct knowledge of the decision confirmed the Rangers will not bring Colby Lewis back as a special assistant to the general manager. A decision that can only be interpreted as about saving a few dollars, and not many at that.
Lewis, who paved the way for a generation of Rangers pitchers with his grit and team-first approach, lives in California and, of the four former players who serve as special assistants (Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Darren Oliver), he was probably the least present and least involved on a day-to-day basis. He was also probably the least compensated. But his tale of perseverance, overcoming injuries and pitching without fear along with his approachability makes him the kind of guy minor leaguers could identify with. It’s unclear how much Lewis earned or how much of a difference he made, but his presence alone has some value because he’s faced every challenge a pitcher could and found a way to succeed.
Implications for the Rangers’ Payroll
All of this suggests the Rangers are counting down to the hundreds of thousands of dollars, or as they are known in baseball “pennies,” heading into the winter.
They should get their final official Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) 2025 payroll, as calculated by MLB, sometime in the next two weeks. It’s either going to butt right up against the $241 million luxury tax or tip just over it. From the end of 2024 up until the hours before the trade deadline, owner Ray Davis was adamant the club would not go over, incur a 50% tax on any overage and be in position to have to pay tax if they went over in 2026. Then, after all that, they may have just tipped barely over, which, quite frankly, is the worst place to end up. Means you spent a lot of time watching your bottom line, possibly bypassing value, only to give in at the last moment when the talent pipeline was down to drips.
That said, Davis has operated the Rangers for more than a decade with a cautious, but opportunistic bent. This year, caution seems to be the prevailing thought. It’s unclear financially how Rangers Sports Network did in its first year when it came to replacing previous TV windfalls. The state of TV remains uncertain going forward. And there are winds of an owner-driven work stoppage in 2027 out on the horizon.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
How all of this fits into the 2026 Rangers’ payroll remains to be seen. Perhaps every hundred thousand saved on budget cuts in staffing will be appropriated to keep payroll as close to flat as possible. But the other very real possibility is the Rangers’ payroll cuts will be significant if not severe. And when you get to what this team already has committed to long-term deals, pre-arbitration players and mandatory benefits/bonus pools, it leaves open the possibility that payroll is going to be a bigger factor than playoffs in 2026.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the current situation with the Texas Rangers’ payroll?
A: The Texas Rangers’ payroll is expected to decrease for the 2026 season, but the exact amount of the reduction is still uncertain.
Q: Why did Mike Maddux leave the Rangers?
A: Mike Maddux chose not to return to the Rangers and instead took the same role with the Los Angeles Angels, reportedly with a significant salary bump.
Q: What is the impact of Colby Lewis’ departure on the Rangers?
A: Colby Lewis’ departure is seen as a cost-cutting measure, and his presence will be missed by minor leaguers who could identify with his perseverance and approachability.
Q: What are the implications of the Rangers’ payroll cuts?
A: The payroll cuts may have a significant impact on the team’s performance in 2026, and the possibility of severe cuts is a concern for the team’s future prospects.
