MLB Insider reveals Rangers nearly pulled off star-studded Royals trade last summer

How different would this have been for the Texas Rangers in 2023? Would they have had enough to make a World Series run if they went with a different approach at the trade deadline?

According to Ken Rosenthal and Rustin Dodd, last summer the Rangers and Royals were in talks regarding potential trades involving All-Star Salvador Perez and pitcher Brady Singer.

At the time, the Kansas City Royals were rapidly approaching 100 losses and seeking trades to add some depth to their roster and farm system. As a result, they were in talks with the Miami Marlins and Rangers for those two players.

This is because, also at the time, the Rangers were in need of starting pitching down the stretch. As for behind the plate, catcher Jonah Heim was injured with a strained tendon in his left wrist, thus the interest in Salvy. Heim was placed on the IL just four days before the trade deadline, emphasizing a need there.

And according to Perez, he was interested.

“Sometimes, you get frustrated,” said Perez, who at the time had experienced seven straight losing seasons. “I was trying to make it to the playoffs again. I’m getting older. I tried to be honest with myself.”

However, the trade never came to be.

According to The Athletic, the Royals, in any trade for Singer, were demanding the inclusion of Perez, with starter Jon Gray going back to KC, but the Rangers didn't cave. Instead, they pivoted to acquire Max Scherzer and Jordan Montgomery, and the rest is history.

In the end, there really wasn't a need for Perez, especially at that cost. Perez is making $20 million annually and there was no need to make that significant and pricey of an upgrade. The Rangers needed more pitching, not to clog up other areas of the roster that would lead to tougher decisions.

Though 2024 has been a bit of a rough go for the Rangers, they can't look back and regret any of their moves that resulted in the franchise's first ever World Series.