Rangers are going to regret trading these two pitching prospects in near future

We are now three weeks post-trade deadline and the Texas Rangers have fallen further back in the postseason conversation to the point that the subtractions they made at the deadline are going to start hurting.

Most notably, it's the Merrill Kelly trade, which sent three of the Rangers' top 15 prospects to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kelly was acquired for a playoff push that now has an 11% chance of actually happening.

Two lefty prospects, Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt, that went to Arizona in the Kelly deal however are going to sting as the Rangers' prepare the organization's future rotation.

Former Rangers' lefty prospects will make Texas regret trading them

Drake and Bratt have taken real strides this season while in the Rangers' organization. It was looking like one day they'd join the big league rotation alongside Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker.

Back in May, the 22-year-old Bratt was named the Rangers' Minor League Pitcher of the Month, throwing 51 2/3 innings and compiling a 4-1 record, 2.26 ERA and 61 strikeouts during that time.

Then in late June, Drake was promoted to Triple-A Round Rock after 12 starts in Double-A after postig a 2.77 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 70 strikeouts.

Despite the tough start to their tough starts since being in Arizona's farm system, they have started to find their footing. Now, the D-backs No. 8 prospect threw four scoreless innings, recording one hit and striking out seven on Wednesday.

For Bratt's 14 1/3 innings with Amarillo he has only allowed three walks while striking out 21 opposing hitters. His 4.40 ERA with the SodPoodles doesn't tell the full story as his 2025 season as a whole, as his 3.34 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 21 games is among the best in the Texas League this year.

Not only are they both having great seasons in the farm, they are also now in Arizona's top 15 prospect rankings (Drake, No. 8 and Bratt, No. 11). If they stay on this path they will add to the future of Arizona's rotation.

As for Texas, they let go of three top pitching prospects. Outside of that, their current top pitchers are either injured or unproven. Texas's top ranking pitcher, Jose Corniell only has pitched in nine games while the next ranked pitchers Winston Santos and AJ Russell have a combined two games this year.