Rangers' Cy Young candidate among players likely to be dealt by 2025 Trade Deadline

If you look around the internet, you will see different experts proffering various Texas Rangers players most likely to be dealt before the deadline.

One of those experts is ESPN's Jeff Passan, who says that Tyler Mahle is the best player available that could be on the move if the Rangers decide to become sellers this season.

Mahle is an odd choice by Jeff Passan

It's an odd choice given that Mahle, who is making $16.5 million this year and is set to become a free agent in 2026, has become the most pleasant surprise on the the team this year and is only 31 years old.

So far this season, Mahle has been sparkling in every single start he has made, compiling a 5-2 record with a minuscule 2.02 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Every time Mahle has taken the mound, he has given the team an excellent chance to win. The fact that the Rangers have failed to push enough runs across the plate to take advantage of all the quality starts is beyond Mahle's control.

Passan does however admit that Chris Young is "notoriously competitive" and "Young wants to add. Young believes that with Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, and Mahle, Texas has the sort of rotation that can carve through playoff-caliber lineups."

Passan is right on one thing about the Rangers

He is right about the quality of the top of the Rangers' rotation, but with the Rangers still just two games under .500 with an even run differential, and just a handful of games out of first place, the team is in limbo. They don't know what they are right now and Mahle figures to be a priority for a longer-term deal regardless.

If the team does end up being sellers, they are more likely to part with injury prone deGrom, who despite his return to form this season, is 36 years old and potentially one pitch away from being done (obviously, we hope this doesn't happen - at all).

deGrom also carries a lot more weight in terms of teams who would be willing to roll the dice on him staying healthy for a World Series run this year.