Texas Rangers front office playing it close to the vest ahead of trade deadline

Despite the fleeting trade rumors surrounding the Texas Rangers, President of Baseball Operations Jon Daniels looks like he’s keeping his cards close to the vest.

After meeting with the media on Wednesday, Daniels didn’t reveal much in the way of trade deadline plans, opting to keep mum on hot topics including Joey Gallo.

The Texas Rangers’ front office is keeping its strategy close to the vest despite swirling trade rumors

Gallo, of course, is the subject of numerous trade rumors at this year’s deadline, as he has been during the last few deadlines and off-seasons.

It’s smart on the Rangers’ front office to be coy in their deliverance of intentions, as playing their cards would result in lost leverage and just a tactical blunder that executives generally refrain from making.

So coy was Daniels, in fact, that he even tossed around the possibility of the Texas Rangers being buyers at the July 30 deadline.

“Buyers” in this context likely means prospects (Jonah Heim and Dane Acker for example in the Andrus trade with Oakland) or the acquisition of low-cost, club-controlled players such as Nate Lowe. Don’t expect them to trade for Trevor Story, Jose Berrios or any big name like that.

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Either way, it appears that the Rangers are committed to keeping all avenues open, though it’s clear that selling players like Kyle Gibson and Ian Kennedy is the way to go. With the team on pace for around 100 losses this season, it only makes sense to sell.

The one nugget Daniels did provide was the status of signing draft picks, to which he assured fans Jack Leiter and Aaron Zavala, the team’s 2021 first and second round selections, would sign. That’s not exactly breaking news, though. In selecting Leiter, specifically, Texas had to know his asking price and therefore had to be prepared to fork over what is likely to be an over-slot deal.

Luckily, Zavala should come in at under slot, with the savings expected to go towards securing Leiter.

In general, things appear to be status quo for the Texas Rangers and the front office. It’s likely that as we get closer to the trade deadline, more rumors and eventually transactions will be carried out.

For now though, Jon Daniels and company appear to be playing their cards close to the vest.