Across Major League Baseball, teams are increasingly locking up their promising young talent with long-term, team-friendly contracts providing players stability while giving clubs a blueprint for the future. The Texas Rangers appear poised to follow suit with 24-year-old outfielder Wyatt Langford, who is entering his third full season after debuting on Opening Day 2024.
This past offseason demonstrated the value of securing young stars early. The Oakland Athletics set the tone by signing outfielder Tyler Soderstrom and shortstop Jacob Wilson to seven-year deals totaling $156 million, while the Chicago Cubs followed suit with extensions for Pete Crow-Armstrong and Nico Hoerner. These deals offer a strong template for Texas to lock in Langford while balancing team control and financial flexibility.
Langford, drafted fourth overall in 2023, quickly rose through the ranks, making an immediate impact at the major league level. He remains under team control through 2029, but projections suggest the Rangers could offer him a six- or seven-year deal in the $120+ million range, similar to Hoerner’s recent contract.
On the field, Langford’s potential is undeniable. Over 271 career games, he’s slashing .245/.331/.418 with 38 home runs, 168 RBIs, 50 doubles, five triples, 41 stolen bases, a .743 OPS, and 9.8 WAR. Highlights include a fourth-place finish in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2024 and a 20/20 season last year, showcasing both power and speed.
Looking ahead, Langford is a candidate for a 30-homer, 30-steal season in 2026 and could emerge as a future American League MVP. With his combination of performance and promise, the Rangers are expected to prioritize securing him long-term rather than waiting ensuring he remains a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come.
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