Rangers might have a big trade deadline 'addition' up their sleeves

The Texas Rangers are surging, and things are starting to look bright. Kumar Rocker is on a roll, and Cal Quantrill bounced back in a big way, making his post-All-Star break clunker look like a distant memory. The offense? Well, that's been the best unit in the American League over the last two months.

Things are starting to come together, and the Rangers are looking like a real contender, but there's still a missing piece. That would be a true superstar in the center of it all, and with Corey Seager beginning his rehabe assignment with the Frisco RoughRiders last night, that could be in play soon, too.

It's easy to laugh at the fact that Seager will tangibly impact Texas's hopes to not just make the playoffs, but make noise once the team gets there. He's now missed more games than he's played thanks to three IL stints, and when he's been on the field, he's hit just .182/.292/.374.

But maybe it's worth considering something more closely. Sandwiching the time he missed with the concussion were trips to the IL for a balky lower back. What if his back hasn't been healthy all year? And what if the issue has finally subsided?

That's what we got a glimpse at last night.

Corey Seager's rehab is showing hints that his return will be more impactful than anything the Rangers acquire at the trade deadline

Seager began his night by ranging deep into the hole to make a backhanded stab on a grounder, and then, with his momentum taking him towards left field, he jumped and fired a strike to first base to cut down the runner in the third inning.

To say he was moving well there would be an understatement. The back looks pretty good!

That wasn't all, though. In the fifth inning, Seager came to the plate and unloaded with a towering fly ball to deep left field. It cleared the wall by a mile.

Seager finished his night going 1-for-2 with the homer, a walk, and a strikeout. It's just one game, but he looked great. It wasn't just the defensive gem or the homer, either. The way he moved was loose and free, and he didn't seem hampered by injury at all. He'll play again tonight, proving the club believes he's fully healed.

Now, some believe that the team is pushing Seager back and hyping up his health to try and showcase him to other teams. The truth is much simpler. Even if the Rangers wanted to trade Seager, they'd be getting pennies on the dollar. He won't play enough to assuage concerns over his performance and health between now and the August 3 deadline.

Instead, Seager means more to the Rangers than anyone else. Getting back a star shortstop who has an .862 career OPS and having him play like that is much more impactful than any player that Texas can acquire on the trade market. If the five-time All-Star is truly back, his presence will truly change the complexion of the team.

With the back of the rotation coming together, reinforcements in Jordan Montgomery and Cody Bradford returning soon, and Seager potentially playing like the superstar he's been for most of his career, the Rangers suddenly don't need much beyond a reliever or two to truly become a formidable force in the AL playoff landscape. Sometimes, everything just comes together at the right time, and if Seager can play his part, that might be exactly what's happening now in Arlington.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow