Texas Rangers: 3 Prospects that are tradeable and 2 prospects that are untradeable

We are less than six weeks away from the trade deadline. Fans are discussing the latest rumor, teams are having conversations, and sports reporters are speculating. The buyers are starting to separate themselves from the sellers. Players that will be available are being identified and come July trades will start to be made. This article is not about who the Texas Rangers will be trading for, it is about who they might be trading away. Their farm system is currently ranked in the top 10 in baseball. They have depth at every layer of the organization. They have the pieces to be able to trade for nearly anyone on the market. They have to be smart and make sure not to trade away too much of their future. I have three prospects in mind that they can make available, and two prospects that I do not think should be traded in any situation.

The Texas Rangers can discuss trading Luisangel Acuna

Acuna holds value not just because Ronald Acuna Jr is his brother, but also because he is good in his own right. He is a slick-fielding middle infielder who despite his lack of size has good pop and plays the game fast. Currently, he is hitting .307 with a .832 OPS. He has five home runs and 38 RBIs. He also has 29 stolen bases. He has taken a massive leap forward in progress this year. He has the athleticism to play the outfield as well as the infield.

The reason why Texas can discuss Acuna in trades is shortstop Corey Seager is signed for another eight years after this season. Seager likely will not play short the entire contract, but he is not moving off the position anytime soon. The Rangers have also built depth at that position above Acuna with Ezequiel Duran in the majors, Jonathan Ornelas at Triple-A Round Rock, Maximo Acosta at High-A Hickory, and Sebastian Walcott now in the Arizona Complex League. Duran and Ornelas can cover for Seager or Semien if they get hurt in the near future and Acosta and Walcott can possibly replace Seager at short when the Rangers are ready to move him to another position.

It would hurt to lose Acuna, but this why you build up excess depth is so that you can trade from that excess to address positions of need. If Acuna can stay healthy and productive over the next six weeks expect to hear him be mentioned as a possible trade piece at the deadline for a starting pitcher or a late-inning reliever

Next: Former 2nd-round pick that cannot be discussed in any trade

The Texas Rangers should not discuss trading Evan Carter

Evan Carter is a scouting triumph of the Texas Rangers. He was a second round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. He was not ranked among the top 200 players by MLB Pipeline or the top 500 players by Baseball America. The Rangers were roundly criticized on the ESPN broadcast of the draft as expert after expert had no idea who Carter was. He was a high school senior out of Tennessee and due to the pandemic had his senior season cut short. The Rangers' scouts had seen enough in the few games he did play that they recommended he be taken in the second round. Carter has rewarded that faith by now being ranked as the Texas Rangers' number one prospect by MLB Pipeline.

Carter is a center fielder who won a Minor-League Gold Glove for his play in 2022. He is still just 20 years old and is already at Double-A Frisco. He is a professional on-base machine. His approach is mature beyond his years. He has had a near .400 on-base percentage every year of his career. This season it is at .405 as he has drawn 35 walks in just 44 games. He is doing things that very few minor leaguers do. His ability to combine that with a bat that can hit 20-30 home runs is what will make him a future All-Star.

The Rangers may have solved center field for the future with how Leody Taveras is performing, but left field is still an issue and Evan Carter might be your opening-day left fielder in 2024. They absolutely have to hold onto him and let him continue to develop throughout this season. He is a part of that core that will allow the Rangers to spend free-agent dollars elsewhere.

Next: A former 2nd round outfielder that should be available

The Texas can discuss trading Aaron Zavala

This is another one that right now is looked at as part of the future, but also could bring back valuable pieces for the Rangers right now. Zavala much like Carter was a second round pick in 2021 out of the University of Oregon. There was a question if the Rangers were going to get him signed. There was a health-related issue, but on deadline day they worked it out and he signed his contract. Since then he has quickly moved through the lower minors and is at Double-A Frisco. He did have a partial tear of the UCL that delayed the start of his season this year. It required surgery, but he came back much sooner than expected.

Zavala made his season debut on May 17th and in the 28 games since then he is hitting .206, with 3 home runs, and 17 RBIs. He is not getting as many hits as he would like, but he is still getting on-base. He has a .362 OBP. He has 22 walks in 28 games. He had a 2-4 game on Sunday where he had a home run and a double. He might be coming out of his season long slump.

The Rangers can discuss Zavala because of Carter and because of who they might draft at number 4 next month. Carter is the more highly thought of prospect. He has a more consistent track record of production and will likely be in Arlington as soon as next season. The rumors circulating around Texas and the number four pick all say they are taking an outfielder. They are likely taking either high school outfielder Walker Jenkins or University of Florida outfielder Wyatt Langford. Good chance that either of these players will be fast-tracked through the minors and potentially be debuting by 2025-2026. This pick will eventually join Carter and Leody Taveras in the outfield.

Zavala has value despite his struggles because he is a former college outfielder with an advanced approach at the plate and can potentially be on a major league roster in 2024. He can get his feet wet for a team that is not expected to win and develop at the major league level. Zavala is another guy that I would hate to see go, but his true value to the organization might be in who he can bring back rather than what he can do for the Rangers organization.

Next: Top pitching prospect who should not be discussed at all

The Texas Rangers should not discuss trading Owen White

Last year at the deadline the Rangers were seriously involved in trying to acquire Luis Castillo from the Reds. If the trade had went through it is likely that Owen White would have been involved. Seattle came through at the last minute with a better offer and the Reds agreed to the trade with the Mariners instead of the Rangers. The one good thing that did is it kept White in the Rangers organization. He is a vital part of the Rangers' future plans.

He was unveiled to Rangers' fans back on June 13th in a relief outing. His future lies in the rotation and that could come as soon as 2024. He was just promoted to Triple-A Round Rock and will likely spend the rest of the season with the Express. White is a power-throwing right-handed pitcher. He has a mid 90's fastball that can play up and down in the zone. He also throws a good slider and sinker. He pitches with a competitive spirit that has earned him the nickname of "Barfight" Owen White.

White's best moment in the Rangers' organization came last September in the Double-A championship game. He had missed most of the second half with forearm fatigue. He was deemed healthy in late September and was brought on in relief of Jack Leiter in the championship game. He proceeded to strike out all six batters he faced. Frisco was able to take that momentum and come back to win the title.

White profiles as a middle of the rotation pitcher. Next season two rotation slots could possibly be opening up. Martin Perez will be a free agent and Heaney has a player option that he might not exercise. If that happens then White will be in competition with Cole Ragans, Dane Dunning, Glenn Otto, and Jack Leiter for a spot in the rotation. White is someone that the Rangers need to keep for the present and the future of this organization.

Next: Former top pitching prospect that might need a change of scenery