The total deforestation of the Rangers continues. After experiencing the talent level on the field the past five seasons, it was needed.

Corey Seager and Marcus Semien checked off two slots. Kole Calhoun was an upgrade as well. That left six positions that needed to be purged.

The Rangers made a major offensive upgrade at catcher by acquiring Mitch Garver from the Twins for weak-hitting utility infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa. 

Garver was plagued by injuries in 2021 but he put up good numbers when he played. He had a monster year in 2019, cranking out a whopping 196 OPS, winning the American League Silver Slugger at catcher that season.

He has a career 124 OPS, a major upgrade over Jose Trevino’s 70 career OPS and Jonah Heim’s 59. The difference isn’t even close. 

Behind the plate, Garver brings veteran leadership that will be valuable to a staff that is so inexperienced.

It’s going to take time and a roster purge to make this team back into a contender. Mitch Garver is a nice step in that direction.