The Texas Rangers 2002 season involved the Rangers finishing 4th in the American League west with a record of 72 wins and 90 losses. Preseason October 29, 2001: Edinson Vólquez was signed by the Rangers as an amateur free agent. November 26, 2001: Todd Van Poppel was signed as a free agent by the Rangers. December 13, 2001: John Vander Wal was traded by the San Francisco Giants to the New York Yankees for Jay Witasick. December 18, 2001: Dave Elder was traded by the Rangers to the Cleveland Indians for John Rocker. January 8, 2002: Juan González was signed as a free agent by the Rangers. February 28, 2002: Tony Mounce was signed as a free agent by the Rangers. March 19, 2002: Justin Duchscherer was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Oakland Athletics for Luis Vizcaíno. Regular season Opening Day Starters Iván Rodríguez, C Rafael Palmeiro, 1B Michael Young, 2B Hank Blalock, 3B Alex Rodriguez, SS Gabe Kapler, LF Carl Everett, CF Juan González, RF Frank Catalanotto, DH Chan Ho Park, RHP Season Summary Alex Rodriguez had a major league-best 57 HR, 142 RBI and 389 total bases in 2002, becoming the first player to lead the majors in all three categories since 1984. He had the 6th-most home runs in AL history, the most since Roger Maris' league record 61 in 1961, and the most ever for a shortstop for the 2nd straight year while also winning his first Gold Glove Award, awarded for outstanding defense. The 109 home runs hit by Alex Rodriguez in 2001–02 are the most ever by an American League right-handed batter in consecutive seasons. However, the Rangers finished last in the AL Western division in both years, a showing that likely cost Rodriguez the MVP award in 2002 when he finished second to fellow shortstop Miguel Tejada, whose 103-win Oakland A's won the same division. The Rangers set the Major League record for most consecutive games with at least one home run, with 27, which eventually was broken in 2019 by the New York Yankees. Season standings American League Wild Card Record vs. opponents Transactions July 31, 2002: Gabe Kapler, Jason Romano and cash were traded by the Rangers to the Colorado Rockies for Dennys Reyes and Todd Hollandsworth. Roster Player stats Batting Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits;