Former MLB GM suggests the Rangers will attack needs with unexpected aggression this trade deadline

After being swept by the Minnesota Twins in a three-game series, the Texas Rangers dropped to four games below .500 with a 35-39 record. As of Friday morning, Texas trailed the AL West-leading Seattle Mariners by three games and the third AL Wild Card spot by 1 1/2 games. So while their record isn't great, the Rangers are very much still in the thick of the playoff race in a weak American League.

While many believe it'd be in the Rangers' best interest to sell this summer, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden expects Texas to be aggressive at the trade deadline. Bowden said Texas is seeking to add high-leverage relievers and improve its offensive production.

While it's a bit surprising to hear an insider expects the Rangers to buy at the trade deadline, it makes sense when you think about the wide-open nature of the American League and the pressure president of baseball operations Chris Young must feel after missing the postseason the past two years.

Young didn't have the luxury to increase payroll in the offseason, but he proved his desire to win now with two blockbuster trades, acquiring outfielder Brandon Nimmo from the New York Mets and left-handed starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore from the Washington Nationals. If the Rangers are still in the playoff race later this summer, Young may continue his pursuit of returning to the playoffs by improving the roster through some trades.

To make a surprise playoff berth, the Rangers need to fix many issues

In order to make the postseason, the Rangers' offense needs to improve significantly. As of Friday morning, Texas' hitters ranked 28th in runs (292) and 24th in OPS (.700). Nimmo has been just a slightly above-average hitter with a 105 wRC+, while other key position players, such as Corey Seager, Evan Carter, and Wyatt Langford, have drastically disappointed with their offensive numbers thus far in 2026.

Despite the bullpen ranking eighth in ERA (3.48) as of Friday morning, adding high-leverage relievers would also be a good way for Texas to improve its postseason odds. Contending teams almost always look to add relief help at the trade deadline, and the Rangers could use some more high-strikeout bullpen arms, as the club's relievers rank 29th in strikeout rate (19.7%).

Bowden didn't say the Rangers are seeking starting pitching help, but that could change. The struggles of Jack Leiter (5.29 ERA, 4.76 FIP), Nathan Eovaldi (4.23 ERA, 4.65 FIP), and Kumar Rocker (4.17 ERA, 4.37 FIP) are becoming impossible to ignore. While the club has internal options such as Jacob Montgomery, who continues to make progress while on the IL, and Cal Quantrill, Young may seek to add someone else to help the rotation via the trade market.

Since the Rangers' roster is full of issues, it may be short-sighted for Texas to buy at the trade deadline. However, it could make sense due to the weak American League. If they do end up being buyers, being aggressive and making splash moves for stars like Byron Buxton would be the best way to do it compared to making more muted moves around the margins and hoping internal improvements carry the club through.

We're roughly six weeks away from finding out what the club will ultimately do, and the performance over that stretch could tell us a lot. If they play solid baseball and remain in the thick of it, we could be in for an exciting deadline. Though it's also worth noting that Bowden is prone to predicting extreme outcomes, so take this with a grain of salt.

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