Center Field Just Became a Crisis: Evan Carter's Hip Surgery Turns the Rangers' Winter Into a Rebuild on the Fly

By Hank Dalton, RF Sports Radio MLB voice

Rangers fans, Monday was supposed to be a routine front-office update. Instead, Chris Young told us the Rangers' primary center fielder will not be ready for the start of next season, and the to-do list for this winter got a lot longer.

The facts

Evan Carter had arthroscopic surgery on his right hip last week to address a labral issue and hip impingement, Young said Monday, per the AP. He is not expected to be ready for the scheduled start of the 2027 season, and MLB.com reports a recovery of roughly six months. Young said the hip likely bothered Carter all year. Carter played 141 games, made all 112 of his defensive starts in center field and hit .194 with nine homers, 40 RBIs and 17 stolen bases, per the AP.

The same day, the Rangers changed the coaching staff and front office. Alex Cintron will not return to the major league staff, though he stays in the organization, and assistant pitching coach Dave Bush will not return, per MLB.com. The club is interviewing for an assistant hitting coach, and Young said every candidate so far is from outside the organization. In 2026, Texas ranked 25th in runs with 673, per MLB.com. Nick Hundley, Mike Parnell and Hamilton Wise were promoted to vice president roles.

Young also said, "everybody knows we're not going to have the exact same roster we had last season. There will be changes," per The Dallas Morning News. The News reports Texas will look for trade partners for Corey Seager and Jacob deGrom, perhaps Nathan Eovaldi, though all three have complete no-trade clauses. And MLB.com notes top prospect Sebastian Walcott has been getting outfield reps in the Arizona Fall League.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: the Carter news changes the whole board. Last week the conversation was money off the books. Now it is a team that needs a center fielder, a second baseman, a catcher and a bullpen, with a payroll that is not growing. That is not a retool. That is a rebuild with a contender's price tag.

I like that Young is looking outside for a new hitting voice. Twenty-fifth in runs is not a slump. It is an identity, and the Rangers need a new one. As for Seager and deGrom, I would listen on both, but I would not dump either for salary relief alone. If you move a franchise shortstop, you had better get young players back who can play at Globe Life in 2027.

And Walcott in the outfield? Now that is the most interesting idea of the winter. If he can handle center or a corner, Texas solves a problem and gets younger at the same time.

What to watch next

The GM Meetings in Las Vegas start in about a week, per MLB.com, which is when trade talk usually gets serious. For the money side of this winter, read our Nov. 2 look at the $30.5 million in declined options, and follow along on our MLB Playoffs page.

Radio question: would you trade Corey Seager this winter if the return was young, cheap talent, or is he too important to move?

Sources: AP News - Rangers primary CF Evan Carter has hip surgery and likely won't be ready for start of next season; MLB.com - Rangers outfielder Evan Carter undergoes hip surgery; MLB.com - Rangers shake up front office, coaching staff ahead of 2027; The Dallas Morning News - Change is coming for the Rangers this offseason; MLB.com - Rangers mailbag: Walcott in the OF? Seager at DH full-time?.