Riding a six-game win streak, the Rangers are now tied with the Seattle Mariners at 56-50 for the third American League Wild Card spot.<\/p>\n
ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 The Texas Rangers woke up Monday morning in a playoff spot. Or pretty close to it.<\/p>\n
Riding a six-game win streak, the Rangers<\/a> are now tied with the Seattle Mariners at 56-50 for the third American League Wild Card spot, although if the season ended today, Seattle would win the tiebreaker on the teams’ head-to-head record this year. (The Mariners, by the way, can’t lose that tiebreaker with the Rangers; Texas is 2-7 against Seattle with only four games remaining against the M’s).<\/p>\n In any case, things are looking up for the Rangers, who also happen to be within shouting distance of the Houston Astros in the American League West, at four games back. The timing of their recent surge — 14-6 in July and winning nine of their last 10 — has paired perfectly with the trade deadline, which hits July 31 at 5 p.m. Central Time.<\/p>\n There was some thought, as recently as last week, that the Rangers might be sellers at the deadline. But that’s no longer the case, even if Texas president of baseball operations Chris Young doesn’t get overly aggressive this week.<\/p>\n The Rangers and Mariners are pulling away from the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card race and gaining ground on the Astros. Also, Texas starts a three-game series Monday against the middling Angels, with Jacob deGrom on the hill.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now, more than ever, is go time.<\/p>\n So what do the Rangers need at the trade deadline? And who are the potential targets? Let’s walk through where things stand and some of the rumors floating around the baseball mediasphere:\u00a0<\/p>\n
A first baseman and a high-leverage reliever seem to be the main concerns. A more consistent designated hitter wouldn’t hurt, either.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Rangers’ prized offseason acquisitions of first baseman Jake Burger and DH Joc Pederson haven’t worked out — both players have either been hurt or ineffective. Pederson returned to the lineup Sunday and would make Texas an instant title contender if he returns to his 2024 form, in which he slugged 23 homers with a .908 OPS for the Arizona Diamondbacks. But there hasn’t been any indication that Pederson or Burger will contribute like they were expected to before the season began.<\/p>\n The Rangers’ patchwork bullpen has been remarkable, carrying a 3.25 ERA on the season, third-best in baseball. But early-season closer Luke Jackson flamed out, and it’s hard to imagine lefty Robert Garcia being the Rangers’ top high-leverage arm heading into a playoff series — or even getting there to begin with.<\/p>\n The trade deadline typically provides no shortage of late-game bullpen arms, even if the price doesn’t always match the value. The Rangers might need to buy either way.<\/p>\n
ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan have ranked the top 30 trade deadline candidates in baseball, and the first four listed as “best fits” for Texas are all relievers: The Twins’ Jhoan Duran, the Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase, the Guardians’ Cade Smith and the Twins’ Griffin Jax.\u00a0<\/p>\n Those four were also ranked 7-10 in ESPN’s rankings, showing the reliever-heavy market this deadline. Clase would be a reunion for Texas; the Rangers traded him to the Guardians for Corey Kluber back in 2019.<\/p>\n All four relievers mentioned by ESPN would instantly solidify the Rangers’ bullpen, and grabbing two of them would make it a problem.<\/p>\n The next player noted by ESPN as a potential fit for Texas was Orioles first baseman Ryan O’Hearn, who’s having the best season of his career with 12 homers and an .824 OPS.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rays reliever Pete Fairbanks and Braves DH Marcell Ozuna were also listed as potential fits for Texas.<\/p>\n
Now, for the awkward part. The main name floated as a potential piece Texas could trade — by ESPN here<\/a> and MLB.com here<\/a> — is Adolis Garcia, the postseason hero from 2023. In fact, ESPN put the chances of Texas moving Garcia at 50%.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nWhat do the Rangers need at the deadline? <\/p>\n
\nWho could the Rangers trade for? <\/p>\n
\nWho could the Rangers trade at the deadline? <\/p>\n