Rangers sew up deals with all their arbitration-eligibles
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ARLINGTON -- The Rangers came to terms with all four of their remaining arbitration-eligible players at Thursday’s deadline to exchange salary numbers for a potential hearing: first baseman Jake Burger, third baseman Josh Jung, utility man Josh Smith and infielder Ezequiel Duran. All four are in their first year of arbitration.
Texas had already agreed to terms with outfielder Sam Haggerty on a one-year contract, covering the 2026 season and avoiding arbitration.
Earlier this offseason, the Rangers non-tendered four other arbitration-eligible players: outfielder Adolis García, catcher Jonah Heim, right-hander Josh Sborz and right-hander Jacob Webb.
The Rangers have not gone to an arbitration hearing since 2000, when they won their hearing with first baseman Lee Stevens.
An offensive turnaround for Jung and Burger could be an important key for the Rangers in 2026.
Jung was an All-Star at third base in his rookie season in 2023, but the 27-year-old hasn’t quite reached those heights since. In ‘25, he slashed .251/.294/.390 in 131 games, while also being optioned to Triple-A Round Rock for the first time since his MLB debut.
Burger -- who was acquired by the Rangers in a trade with the Marlins in December 2024 -- had three trips to the injured list to begin his Texas tenure, leading to the worst offensive season of his career. He hit .236 with a .688 OPS.
Smith and Duran have both become useful utility players over the last four years, but both will be in the thick of the second-base competition come Spring Training. The Rangers shipped off veteran infielder Marcus Semien to the Mets in return for Brandon Nimmo on Nov. 24.
Smith hit .251/.335/.366 while making starts at every position except pitcher and catcher defensive position, joining Danny Santana (2019) as the only players in Washington/Texas franchise history to achieve the feat in a single season.
Similarly, Duran hit .224 while appearing defensively at seven positions: shortstop (30 games), first base (25), second base (17), third base (11), right field (8), left field (3) and pitcher (4).