Three Trade Deadline Needs for the Texas Rangers

July 1st means the hot stove will now be in full effect. As the Texas Rangers try to make a surprising playoff push, what are the needs that should be addressed?

Trade season is always one that generates excitement among the MLB faithful. The rumor mill is churning, deals are getting done, and the futures of organizations shift constantly. Every team in the league will involve themselves in talks as either a buyer or a seller, either making a playoff push or trying to build for the future. A few weeks ago, the Texas Rangers looked very much in between. Having entered the season on the outside looking in, Texas consistently surprised everybody and worked their way into the playoff picture raising questions about their deadline plans. That was with Texas still very much an outside looking in team, however, now the Rangers look like legitimate Wild Card contenders.

Despite being firmly a part of the AL Wild Card race, the Rangers surely won’t be spending big in trying to acquire pieces to help them compete this season. All expectations are that if Texas does buy, it will buy low on players that have multiple years of control ensuring their long-term plan isn’t altered. That’s a tricky way to do business because good players are expensive at the deadline and good players with control are at a premium price. Navigating these deals will be tough business for Jon Daniels and the front office, but there are holes that Texas needs to fill.