Three Trade Deadline Needs for the Texas Rangers

Strengthen the Rotation

Texas has been fortunate to have a number of starting pitchers exceed expectations this season. Mike Minor has morphed into a legitimate ace and a Cy Young caliber pitcher who leads the AL in WAR. Lance Lynn is an efficient number 2 starter that continues to get better with each start and sits in the Top 10 in the AL in pitching WAR. Adrian Sampson and Ariel Jurado both took massive steps forward this season and have been solid back-end options.

Finding a reliable 5th starter has troubled Texas. Shelby Miller struggled mightily and was relegated to a relief role. Drew Smyly earned himself a DFA and an outright release with his performances. Texas tried a couple of prospects to little success and now Texas is relying on Jesse Chavez to fill that slot. Chavez has been solid in his first 2 runs through the rotation throwing 12.1 combined innings and allowing just 3 earned runs, 5 runs in total. However, Chavez is also one of your top relievers and the Rangers are best served with him in a relief role which once again opens up that 5th starter spot.

Before this year’s deadline, the Rangers have the opportunity to help strengthen the rotation by adding a 5th starter. We’ve featured a couple of cheaper, controllable options in our GM Mode series, as well as some blockbuster acquisitions. Whichever path Texas takes, adding any semblance of a reliable starter could really help this team pick up a few more wins in the 2nd half. A home run deal would allow Texas to get a number 3 guy that could also feature in a postseason rotation.