Texas plans a heavy rotation refresh around Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, with Jack Leiter ready to step forward and Kumar Rocker in the mix. The challenge is adding reliable depth behind the pair while rebuilding a bullpen and retooling the lineup to keep the rotation competitive into 2025.

Dylan Cease stands as the marquee target, but price and market dynamics could push the Rangers toward middle- and back-end options like Zack Littell, Michael Lorenzen, Adrian Houser or Dustin May, offering durability, innings, and upside without blowing budget—plus internal prospects ready to push for a larger role.

Eovaldi anchored Texas’ rotation in 2025, posting a 11-3 mark with a 1.73 ERA and 0.85 WHIP across 130 innings in 22 starts before a rotator cuff strain ended his year. He underwent sports hernia surgery, with a six-to-eight week recovery window and hope for a normal off-season to reestablish him as the Rangers’ frontline ace for 2026. DeGrom contributed to a resurgent staff, giving Texas high-end upside if health cooperates.

The Rangers face a delicate balance: maximize 2026 upside from two true ace-level arms while managing durability and workload concerns. If both return close to peak form, Texas could again sport a top-tier rotation, but the health trajectory remains the central fantasy-League variable entering 2026.

Nathan Eovaldi underwent bilateral sports hernia surgery this offseason, adding to the Rangers’ health storyline as they prepare for 2025. The 35-year-old ace delivered a 1.73 ERA over 130 innings this season before a rotator cuff strain ended his run, and Texas says his shoulder has healed with no winter disruption. Eovaldi signed a three-year, $75 million deal last winter, giving the Rangers a high-ceiling anchor as Corey Seager contends with a recent history of sports hernia repairs.

Corey Seager previously underwent two sports hernia repairs last year and missed spring training after an earlier operation, but he arrived in Surprise healthy. The duo represents a high-upside, high-variance core for Texas after a recent World Series run, with the organization eyeing durability and depth to sustain elite performance into 2025.

Season-long value emerges among starters via ADP vs. EAV: Woo, Rodon, Sanchez, Pivetta and Rogers stand out for 2026 as high-ceiling, high-variance targets with obvious risk flags.

Woo offers elite workload and strikeout potential but carries clear injury yellow flags; Rodon navigates reduced velocity with smarter usage; Sanchez is a true breakout with top-tier velocity and Ks; Pivetta's Petco surge is real but ERA may normalize; Rogers shows velocity rebound but sustainability is uncertain.

Runners-up Eovaldi, Boyd, Abbott, Horton, Priester offer varied paths to value, each with different risk-reward profiles for fantasy drafters.