3 Texas Rangers make MLBTR's top trade deadline candidates

3 Texas Rangers make MLBTR’s top trade deadline candidates

ARLINGTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 05: President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Jon Daniels of the Texas Rangers talks with the media after announcing the resignation of Manager Ron Washington at Globe Life Park in Arlington on September 5, 2014 in Arlington, Texas. Ron Washington informed the club that he has chosen to resign in order to turn his full attention to addressing an off-the-field personal matter. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports /

#9: Ian Kennedy

Kennedy slotted in right behind Gibson on the list as one of the Texas Rangers’ representatives.

Re-signing Adolis Garcia to a minors deal after DFA’ing during the winter might be this team’s biggest steal of 2021, but closer Ian Kennedy has been quite the bargain himself.

Signed to a minors deal as well, Kennedy has converted 11 saves this season in 20 total relief appearances, pitching to a 1.77 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched.

The return on investment with this veteran reliever has been more than anyone could’ve imagined.

Yes, he did have closing experience with the Royals previously, but hadn’t pitched to this level at any point there or anywhere he’d been prior to the Rangers.

With those numbers and his cheap salary figure, Kennedy figures to be a hot commodity at the trade deadline for teams in need of late-inning options and the Rangers could net some decent value for his services. A win-win!

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