There is exactly one thing that is harder to do in Major League Baseball than win a World Series and it’s to win another one. The dreaded championship hangover is a real phenomenon in this sport, known for its grueling regular seasons, and the Texas Rangers are the latest team trying to fight off that hangover in search of a repeat title, which hasn’t been achieved since the New York Yankees in 2000.
Sitting at 21-16, with a narrow lead over the Seattle Mariners atop the AL West division, the Rangers have at least managed to avoid a huge early season slump, but it’s clear some of their marquee players are still feeling the effects of playing into early November. Superstar shortstop Corey Seager has had an awful slump at the plate, Marcus Semien is hitting below his usual standard and the pitching staff has been ravaged by injuries.
But the good news is that as a proven championship operation, the Rangers will have plenty of suitors in the trade market among teams looking to unload their expiring assets. If Texas makes some smart additions to shore up the shakiest parts of its roster, they stand a far better chance of breaking the curse of the defending champion. In a perfect world, these are three moves that would get the Rangers much closer to where they need to be.
