Rangers bullpen meltdown versus Mariners is the final straw, should force this aggressive trade pursuit

The Rangers had a golden opportunity to take the first three games of their four-game series against the Mariners on Sunday. With a 3-1 lead headed into the 7th inning, they turned to Cole Winn to come in and get through a jam and get the ball to the Two Jakes (Junis and Latz). Instead, he gave up a dagger three-run jack to Dominic Canzone, followed by a Randy Arozena solo shot and blew the game. Peyton Gray came in and gave up another insurance run as the Mariners got the 6-4 win.

It was the final straw in clearing up exactly what Chris Young should do at the trade deadline, which is now exactly one week away. If the Rangers are serious about winning the AL West and becoming legitimate contenders for the 2026 World Series, they have to gather all their gunpowder and shoot their shot for the best right-handed middle reliever available and acquire Luke Weaver from the New York Mets.

The Rangers must pony up and get one of the best right-handed reliever on the market in Luke Weaver at the trade deadline

If Skip Schumaker is going to continue to baby his veteran starters and pull them in the 5th and 6th innings with a pitch count well below 100, then he is going to expose this team's biggest weakness more frequently. Cole Winn, Peyton Gray, and Ben Peoples are not the right-handed answer out of the bullpen in the 6th and 7th innings. Sunday's collapse should be the push that Young needs to go out and spend whatever it takes to shore up that right-handed bullpen weakness and get the veteran Weaver.

It has never been clearer that this is the most glaring hole in a team that is desperately trying to separate itself from the mediocrity in the West and become playoff favorites. Taking the first three games and setting up a potential sweep of the Mariners on Monday would have been massive. Now, they will rely on Kumar Rocker against the tough George Kirby to win the series and maintain the space they created with the first two wins of the series.

Weaver is an absolute stud for the Mets in middle relief who is in the midst of a terrific season. The 32-year-old Floridian is rocking a 1.93 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP over 42 innings pitched this season. He has a nasty three-pitch arsenal, including a 95 mph four-seam fastball, an 88-90 mph change-up, and a cutter. He will also mix in an occasional curve and hard slider.

The Rangers are in the perfect position to take control of the West, but relying on the inexperienced right-handers they have out in the bullpen right now is keeping them from being the best version of the 2026 Rangers they can be.

We don't care if Weaver is the only player you can swing at the deadline. Consolidate all your available resources and capital and go out and solidify this relief staff. Imagine a game where Nathan Eovaldi goes 6 innings and hands a lead off to Weaver in the 7th, who then turns the lead over to Junis and Latz to slam the door. We know you can picture it, Mr. Young.

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