Braves reportedly offering a haul for Jacob deGrom should have Rangers thinking hard this offseason

The biggest Rangers news coming out of the trade deadline was probably about a deal that didn't happen. The team traded for relievers Chase Silseth and Adam Macko, along with backstop Logan O'Hoppe. Still, the biggest news was that Jacob deGrom used his no-trade clause to squash a potential deal with the Atlanta Braves that garnered the most attention.

It was, and still is, being billed as a big vote of confidence by the two-time Cy Young Award winner that he wanted to stay in Arlington and make a run at the postseason with this current iteration of the Rangers in 2026. Still, even though deGrom ultimately has the final word, holding a no-trade clause, should the team have pushed harder to deal him? Moreover, could the Braves be a viable trade partner in the offseason?

The Rangers could have gotten a nice package of young players for deGrom and still might in the offseason

A native of Deland, Florida, just north of Orlando, there had been some speculation that deGrom might be willing to accept a trade to Atlanta in order to be closer to home and end his career. It appears that it didn't factor into deGrom's decision-making process at the deadline, but that could change this offseason.

At 38 years old and coming off two Tommy John surgeries, deGrom only has a few years left to be an above-average major-league pitcher. The window for getting a good package in return for him is closing very quickly. deGrom shut the door on Chris Young and the organization trying to capitalize on the market at the deadline, but it doesn't mean that we can't speculate on a possible deal later. The Rangers should absolutely approach deGrom again after the season ends, regardless of whether they make the playoffs.

Looking at the Braves roster and list of prospects, there is plenty of talent that would look good in a Rangers uniform - either in Arlington, Round Rock, or Frisco. For instance, if the Rangers were looking to retool in the offseason, they could have asked for one of several top farmhands: Eric Hartman, a left-handed power-hitting outfielder who ranks No.42 in MLB Pipeline. Or Cam Caminiti, a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher with a nasty slider who is the No. 43- ranked prospect in the country. Both are just 20-years-old.

Other highly-ranked Braves farmhands include 21-year-old infielder Tate Southisene - a high-contact hitter who is developing more power, ranked 60th overall, and the Braves' most recent 2026 draft pick, AJ Gracia, an uber-talented outfielder who will be rising up the rankings soon.

The Braves are an aggressive franchise that is always looking for the right trade partner, so the Rangers should definitely keep the phone lines open once this season comes to a close. Evidently, they were willing to "give up quite a lot" to boost their World Series chances this season. It is becoming clear that the deGrom/Eovaldi-led staff is not going to be a part of a deep playoff run this year and probably beyond. The team needs to look at these Braves prospects and see if they can get one or more of them while the name Jacob deGrom still carries weight on the open market.

Whether or not the Rangers can revisit a deal with Atlanta and convince deGrom to move on remains to be seen. If things don't go as Texas hopes to finish out the year, perhaps the ace can be convinced. If the Braves are truly that desperate to land him, the Rangers would be wise to at least revisit the situation this offseason.

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