The Rangers offense did get better this offseason. How much better is going to be the question. And is it enough to make a playoff run possible?

One place they surely improved was Danny Jansen over Jonah Heim at catcher. Yes, Heim was a fan favorite after being an All-Star in 2023 and helping the Rangers get that ring. But it was all downhill since then. 

Heim was never a full-season player. His first-half to second-half splits were alarming. His numbers fell off the side of the universe in the second half of every season, even in 2023. His all-star-caliber numbers in the first half were .282 AVG/.338 OBP/.812 OPS. After the break: .217/.283/.636.

Danny Jansen gives the Rangers much more consistent offense and better production. To begin with, his career splits show him improving—if only slightly—in the second halves of each season. While we’re under the hood mining splits, his at-bats verses right-handed pitching and verses left-handed pitching are very similar. The thirty-year-old catcher bats from the right side, but the Rangers don’t sacrifice offense when the opposing pitcher changes from right to left.

Jansen spent seven seasons with the Blue Jays, his best being in 2022, but has the distinction of being the only major league player to play for both teams in the same game, which happened in 2024.

While with the Blue Jays, a June 26 game against the Red Sox was suspended due to rain, with Jansen up to bat at the time with an 0-1 count. The game didn’t resume until August 26. By that time, Jansen was on the Red Sox. He was inserted into the lineup as Boston’s catcher and finished the game batting for Boston.

Now Jansen will take his all his at-bats as a Texas Ranger, after signing a two-year deal this offseason. He might not do anything historic. But you can bet he will add offense to a position that was sorely missing it the past two years. 

And that’s all you can ask of him. 

*****

Texas versus Sacramento, 2:05

Milwaukee versus Texas, 2:05