The Texas Rangers' 2011 season was the 51st season in the overall history of the franchise and the 40th since the team relocated to Arlington, Texas. At the season outset, the Rangers were the defending American League champion.
Despite playing during one of the hottest summers on record in Texas, the Rangers claimed their second consecutive American League West title (fifth overall) and set franchise records for wins (96 wins and a .593 winning percentage, one win better than the previous record set in 1999) and home attendance (2,946,949 fans at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, breaking the old record set in 1997). Another year of improvement from the starting pitching and defense would give the Rangers the most shutouts in the American League, and they trailed the Philadelphia Phillies by only two for the Major League Baseball (MLB) lead. All five members of the opening day starting rotation would stay in the rotation for the entire year. C. J. Wilson tied for the league lead in starts with 34 while Derek Holland tied for second in shutouts with four, tied for first in the American League, and each pitcher would have at least 13 wins. The offense, always considered a strong point for the team, would also have another good year with three players getting 30+ home runs, and Ian Kinsler completing his second 30–30 season.
The Rangers won their second straight AL West title, and beat the Tampa Bay Rays in four games and the Detroit Tigers in six to advance to the World Series. They lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games, their second straight defeat in the Fall Classic, becoming the first team to lose back-to-back World Series since the Atlanta Braves in 1991 and 1992. The World Series was notable for the Rangers being one strike away from winning the series twice in Game 6 with a two-run lead each time before ultimately losing to the Cardinals 10–9 in an 11-inning thriller. They would go on to lose Game 7 by a score of 6–2.
2011 would mark the Rangers' last appearance in either a World Series or ALCS until 2023, when they finally won their first championship in franchise history.
Offseason The biggest free agent pitcher of the 2011 market was Cliff Lee. According to major media markets, Lee's most likely destination for 2011 was a return to Texas, or signing with the New York Yankees. Bob Simpson, a lead investor of Rangers Baseball Express which owns the Rangers, told media "We're going to go after Cliff Lee – hard, and we have the financial firepower to do that." After an extended process which included a flight by principal owner Chuck Greenberg, team investor Ray Davis, and assistant GM Thad Levine to meet with Lee, his wife, and agent following the winter meeting, Lee signed a five-year deal with the Phillies to return to the team which traded him away at the start of the 2010 season.
On November 3, 2010, the Rangers declined to exercise their 2011 option on Vladimir Guerrero's contract. Guerrero was a type A free agent but the Rangers would not receive draft pick compensation for Guerrero after he signed with the Baltimore Orioles.
Scott Feldman underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. The rehab time for the surgery will prevent Feldman from returning to compete for a rotation spot for the start of the season. Feldman was the Texas Rangers' pitcher of the year in 2009 and opening day starter for 2010, but failed to repeat his success in 2010 after signing a three-year extension.
For the second year in a row, the Rangers needed to fill the position of hitting coach after Clint Hurdle took the manager position with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Rangers signed Thad Bosley. Bosley was a member of the A's coaching staff during Washington's time with the A's, and was also teammates with first base coach Gary Pettis in the Rangers organization during his final playing year.
The Rangers signed two players in November: 34-year-old free agent Japanese pitcher Yoshinori Tateyama, a side-arm throwing relief pitcher, and catcher Yorvit Torrealba from the San Diego Padres. Torrealba was a type B free agent and did not cost the Rangers a draft pick for the signing. Bengie Molina, the Rangers' primary catcher in 2010, elected to retire.
On December 26, the Rangers and pitcher Brandon Webb agreed to terms for a one-year contract. Webb, who was recovering from shoulder surgery, had not pitched in the majors since opening day of 2009.
The Rangers' biggest free agent move for the 2011 season would be the signing of third baseman Adrián Beltré. The six-year, $96 million deal would force incumbent veteran Michael Young into his fourth position with the Rangers. Although Young was hesitant to make another position move, Young told the Rangers and the media he was willing to switch to designated hitter in order for the Rangers to sign Beltre. With the signing of Beltre and move of Young, the Rangers did not continue to attempt to re-sign Guerrero, who would sign a one-year deal with the Orioles.
In late January the Rangers made their biggest trade of the offseason when long-time trade target Mike Napoli was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays for relief pitcher Frank Francisco. Napoli became available to the Rangers after being sent to the Blue Jays with Juan Rivera just three days earlier in exchange for Vernon Wells. The weakening of the bullpen from the loss of Francisco would not be the biggest problem from the Napoli trade as DH utility infielder Michael Young would demand his second trade request in three years. After a press conference in which Rangers president Nolan Ryan and GM Jon Daniels acknowledged Young's trade request, indicating Young had a change of heart after initially agreeing to be the primary designated hitter, Young fired back telling the press
Although trade rumors concerning Young would continue after his demand, as it did during and after the winter meetings, no trade would be forthcoming and Young reported for Spring training on time.
Spring training With an infield and outfield set, and multiple players able to cover in different positions, the rotation and bullpen would be the biggest questions for the front office to handle. C. J. Wilson was named the opening day starter early on, followed by Colby Lewis and Tommy Hunter. Free agent Brandon Webb would continue to prepare for a return to baseball, but would not be ready in time for opening day and would start the season on the disabled list. An injury to Hunter would place him on the disabled list to start the season, and Matt Harrison, who had earned the fourth spot, would be moved to third. The remaining candidates, Derek Holland, Michael Kirkman, Eric Hurley, and closer Neftalí Feliz, would continue to compete for the final two spots. Kirkman and Hurley were sent to AAA, and Feliz was returned to the closer role due to a weakened bullpen. Reliever Alexi Ogando would be the number 5 starter behind Holland to start the season.
On March 11, just 220 days after acquiring the team from auction, Chuck Greenberg would resign as CEO from the Rangers. The resignation came about due to different management styles between Greenberg and president Nolan Ryan. Ryan added the CEO title to his position.
Although the rift between Greenberg and Ryan were never publicly discussed by the Rangers, reports indicated two major events that might have directly led to the removal of Greenberg, Greenberg's involvement with additional attempts to sign Cliff Lee, and his involvement with potential Young trades after Young demanded a trade, most specifically that Greenberg demanded Young forfeit deferred interest due to him by the Rangers. The demand would have been a violation of the MLB CBA.
During spring training GM Jon Daniels and Young met twice to discuss the situation leading to Young's trade demand. Daniels said it was the Rangers' continued trade discussions after Young being told he would not be traded once third baseman Adrián Beltré was acquired that helped lead to the trade demand.
The Rangers later traded Matt Treanor to the Kansas City Royals (Treanor would later be traded back to the Rangers at the end of August).
Regular season April Record 16–11
Rotation: C. J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando, Dave Bush
For the first time under manager Ron Washington the Rangers would finish the month of April with a record above .500. After sweeping the first two series against Boston and Seattle the Rangers would take their first loss of the season against Baltimore in the first game of a double header on April 9 after the series opener was rained out. The Rangers were the last team in the 2011 season to record a loss and each Ranger starter would get the win from game 2 through game 6, the first team to have 5 different starters win at least 1 game each. After the Baltimore series the Rangers would lose three straight series versus the Tigers, Yankees, and Angels. A sweep of the Royals, a 1–3 series loss to Toronto, and a two-game split with Oakland would finish out the month. The Rangers would spend only one day out of first place for the West in the month.
Ian Kinsler would make Major League history by being the first player to hit a lead off home run in the first two games of a season. Kinsler would also set another record along with Nelson Cruz by being the first teammates to hit at least one home run each in each of the first three games of the season. Cruz would go on to hit a home run in the first four games of the season, only the third player in Major League history, and the first to do so in the American League. Shortstop Elvis Andrus would also hit his first home run since 2009 in the fourth game of the season.
Ogando would make his second start against the Detroit Tigers and earn his second win. In each of his first two starts of the season he went 6+ innings, earned the win, and gave up 2 or fewer hit in each start, joining only 4 other pitchers since 1919 to do so. Ogando would be the first to do so without giving up a run.
On April 12 left fielder Josh Hamilton left the game after a first-inning play at the plate. The Rangers would ultimately lose their second game of the season and Hamilton would be diagnosed with a fracture in his right shoulder. After the game, Hamilton expressed his concern about the play before running calling it a "stupid play" and thinking "I don't want to do this... something is going to happen" but said he listened to his third base coach and ran on the infield foul out.
As a result of the rainout versus Baltimore on April 8, starter Colby Lewis pitched one day later than scheduled. This would force Lewis to miss his next start on April 13 against Detroit and resulted in Lewis missing a second start for the birth of his child. Local blogger and radio shock jock Richie Whitt would criticize the Rangers' and Lewis' decision to take a leave as a result of the birth of Lewis' second child. Whitt pointed out a starter only gets thirty or so chances to impact a baseball game, and since players are paid millions, the birth of a child should be planned for the off season if need be. Dallas Morning News reporter Evan Grant countered the blog posting stating it was the rain delayed Baltimore game which caused Lewis' next start to be a day later, resulting in Lewis missing his next start to attend the planned birth of his second child. Grant also reported Lewis offered to make a short rested start before the leave to avoid missing a start, and was declined by the Rangers to do so. Dave Bush would get the starts in Lewis' place. Bush would be the last player who started the season on a team's 25-man roster to make his 2011 debut. Left-handed pitcher Michael Kirkman would be called up during Lewis' leave.