Power ranking 5 potential Rangers trade targets per Jeff Passan

ESPN's Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel wrote an article about the top 100 MLB trade deadline candidates, mentioning the Texas Rangers as potential fits for five different players. Who would be the best fit for Texas?

1. Twins CF Byron Buxton would be game-changer for the Rangers

To preface, the Rangers are almost certainly not acquiring Buxton this summer. With a full no-trade clause, Buxton has repeatedly made it clear he has no plans to leave Minnesota. But this exercise isn't to determine who the Rangers can get from ESPN's list of trade targets; it's who would be the best fit.

Buxton, who is under team control through 2028 at a little more than $15 million per year, is far and away the best player whom ESPN mentioned as a potential fit for Texas. After hitting a grand slam against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, Buxton tied Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Álvarez for the American League lead in home runs with 24. Buxton, 32, is playing like an MVP candidate this year, slashing .273/.333/.594 (150 wRC+) with +3 Outs Above Average in 66 games as of Sunday morning.

2. Twins' Ryan Jeffers could lock down catcher position for the Rangers

Catcher Elías Díaz has been fantastic since joining the Rangers on June 6, hitting .364/.364/.455 (129 wRC+) in 22 plate appearances. However, Díaz is likely due for regression, as he has hit just .247/.300/.385 (79 wRC+) in 850 career MLB games. Díaz is a solid defensive catcher, but the Rangers could benefit from having a more offense-oriented backstop. Kyle Higashioka has hit just .228/.301/.374 (91 wRC+) in 136 plate appearances this season, while Danny Jansen slashed .171/.277/.309 (68 wRC+) over 142 plate appearances before landing on the IL on June 6.

Jeffers could be the strong offensive catcher Texas needs. The 29-year-old backstop is on the IL with a broken left hamate bone but should return before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Jeffers was having a career year before suffering his injury, hitting .295/.408/.541 (162 wRC+) over 147 plate appearances. He is a free agent at the end of the year, which will mitigate his cost of acquisition ever so slightly, but also poses a conundrum if he winds up as just a two-month rental.

3. Orioles LF Taylor Ward would be solid platoon bat for the Rangers

Ward, who is set to be a free agent at the end of the season, hasn't been a better hitter than the next two on this list, but he's still a better fit for Texas. As a left fielder, Ward could be a solid platoon candidate for the Rangers. Against southpaws, the Rangers could deploy Ward as a left fielder while Evan Carter, who is currently on the IL with an oblique injury, sits on the bench, or have him serve as a designated hitter in place of Joc Pederson. In 85 plate appearances against lefties this year, Ward has slashed .277/.435/.369 (136 wRC+).

4. Red Sox 1B/DH Willson Contreras would give the Rangers an offensive boost, but there's nowhere to play him

Contreras has been nearly as outstanding at the plate as Buxton this year, slashing .286/.383/.533 (149 wRC+) with 16 home runs and 44 RBI in 72 games. However, Contreras is a first baseman. While he would be an upgrade over Jake Burger, Burger has overall been solid this year, hitting .249/.308/.443 (108 wRC+) with +3 Defensive Runs Saved. Still, Rangers fans should be ecstatic if their favorite team acquires Contreras, who is under contract through next season and has a club option for 2028.

5. Astros' Christian Walker is a good first baseman, but the Rangers should be fine with Jake Burger

Due to being a first baseman and a worse hitter than Contreras, Walker isn't as good a fit for the Rangers as the other players on this list. He's had a solid season, hitting .240/.313/.484 (118 wRC+) with 18 home runs and 52 RBI in 77 games while being a solid defender. It wouldn't be a terrible move for Texas to acquire Walker, but the club would be better off spending its resources to acquire players who can play positions other than first base.

Walker is also owed another $20 million in 2027, which might not sit well with Ray Davis, and had a brutal inaugural season in Houston last year, .238/.297/.421. Of all the players on the list, the 35-year-old former Arizona Diamondback carries the greatest "buyer beware" sign.

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