Rangers answer to their pitching problems might lie within loaded trade market

As of this moment, there have been no rumors that the Texas Rangers are interested in trading Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi or Jack Leiter. It is pretty safe to assume that those three will be back in Arlington for the 2026 season.

But with so many quality pitchers being linked to the team via trade, they may want to keep an eye on guys like Kumar Rocker and position players Josh Jung and Jake Burger as possible bargaining chips should the organization indeed try to bring one of these proven arms in to fortify the rotation.

ESPN insiders Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel have no less than seven starting pitchers who could be viable trade options for the Rangers this winter.

7 potential trade candidates for the Rangers to explore this offseason

Freddy Peralta, RHP - Milwaukee Brewers

Currently the number two starter behind Brandon Woodruff in Milwaukee, Peralta would most assuredly require a proven arm in return. The right-hander is a workhorse who finished 2025 with a 3.30 ERA in close to 150 innings and has routinely racked up 150-200 innings pitched since 2021. He is set to make $8 million in the final year of his current deal.

Joe Ryan, RHP - Minnesota Twins

Another innings eater, Ryan has logged a ton of innings for the Twins at the top of their rotation. He has logged between 135-170 innings since 2021. Still in his 20s, he has a plus, rising fastball and would push for the number three spot in the Rangers' rotation. He has similar stuff to Tyler Mahle with a little extra oomph on the heater.

Kris Bubic, LHP - Kansas City Royals

Bubic shot out of the gate in 2025 and was on the short list of Cy Young candidates up until the All-Star break before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. He featured a new slider last season, which propelled him to a 2.55 ERA and 116 Ks in 116.1 innings. The converted reliever needs to return to health and would be the lefty the Rangers really want to go with all the right-handers.

Mitch Keller, RHP - Pittsburgh Pirates

The light-hitting Pirates would likely be in the market to trade Keller for a solid bat to bolster their lineup in 2026. This makes him a more attractive trade partner as the Rangers really like all their current starters. Keller is another guy who eats up innings with 548.2 over the last three seasons. Keller has solid-if-not-spectacular stuff and would likely be an option to replace Patrick Corbin in the fourth or fifth slot of the rotation.

Sandy Alcantara, RHP - Miami Marlins

The 2022 National League Cy Young winner, Alcantara is an interesting potential target. The right-hander returned from Tommy John surgery and the results were a mixed bag, posting an 11-12 record and a lofty 5.36 ERA. He is scheduled to make $17.3 million in the final year of a five-year deal in 2026. The Rangers would likely have to trade multiple players for him, and it doesn't appear likely to happen.

Brady Singer, RHP - Cincinnati Reds

Singer is a more likely trade target as he is a guy who has pitched a lot of innings and would be an upgrade over Corbin in the backend spot in the rotation. Featuring a plus-sweeper and good slider, Singer doesn't blow hitters away with velocity, but put up a solid line of 14-12 with a 4.05 ERA over 169.2 innings. He is affordable and would be a good fit for the Rangers.

MacKenzie Gore, LHP - Washington Nationals

Left-handed pitchers who would fit into the bottom half of the rotation feel like they are more likely to be viable trade candidates for the Rangers. MacKenzie Gore, like Keller, is a guy who fits that bill. Don't let his 5-15 record fool you as he was on a bad Nationals team last season. The number three overall pick in the 2017 draft had 185 strikeouts in 2025 and just needs to find a fourth pitch to go with an above-average fastball, slider, and curve.