MLB Trade Deadline: Rangers Need deGrom’s Replacement

The Texas Rangers have shocked the MLB landscape en route to a commanding 58-39 record with a 4.5-game lead over the Houston Astros in the AL West. They have the second-shortest odds of winning the AL and the fifth-shortest odds of winning the World Series. This is a potent team, but they must add as the August 1st MLB trade deadline nears.

Should You Back the Astros or Rangers In the MLB’s AL West?

Team Review

After a spending spree after the 2021 season that landed the Rangers Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, the Rangers opened up their checkbook again, landing Jacob deGrom to lead their pitching staff. Well, as we’ve come to expect, deGrom was lost to injury for the season after just six starts. His role was never filled, but guys have just stepped up in his absence.

Nathan Eovaldi and Dane Dunning have been elite, each with a sub-3.00 ERA, with Jon Gray posting a commanding ERA just below 3.50. After them, Martin Perez and Andrew Heaney have been OK, but in an appropriate deal, they could find upgrades. Their bullpen has not been great and certainly not up to par with some of their AL-leading counterparts. Recently acquired Aroldis Champman will help, but they don’t have any elite arms after him. 

What Is the Biggest Problem For the Texas Rangers?

Offensively, the Rangers are in the discussion for the best bats in all of baseball. They’ve produced the most runs and have the highest team batting average in baseball at .274. Corey Seger, despite missing some games, is batting nearly .350. Nathanial Lowe, Marcus Semien, Josh Jung, Jonah Heim, Leody Tavares, and Ezequiel Duran have all hit above .270 with their own form of power. Adolis Garcia leads the team with 24 home runs and 80 RBI, providing a massive piece in the middle of the order. 

The Verdict

The Rangers lineup doesn’t need any reinforcements unless they want to dip their toes into the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes. They could look for a star corner outfielder to offer consistency in that spot, but they’ve been fine without it. Pushing all their chips towards acquiring pitching depth, both in the rotation and bullpen, is where they need to turn. Acquiring an upgrade over Perez or Heaney could be welcomed but not the priority. Unless you can bring in an elite arm, adding a fringe fifth starter isn’t necessary when Perez and Heaney have managed this far.

Aroldis Chapman has been their elite arm thus far, but they need more. Someone like Liam Hendriks could be the move, as he and Champman would create a dangerous duo in the bullpen that could carry them deep into October.

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