Rangers named a match for Astros trade deadline bust who doesn't move the needle

We're not entirely sure what it is, but it seems as though everyone and their brother wants to forecast a player to the Rangers via free agency that they don't want or need. This time, it is the Astros' Daulton Varsho that MLB Trade Rumors wants Chris Young to go out and acquire.

Varsho was traded to Houston from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed starter Spencer Arighetti at the 2026 trade deadline. He played 41 games for the Astros and slashed .172/ .224/.311 while playing center field, existing but not really helping the team win yet another AL West crown in what was a down year for the division. They were immediately dispatched by the White Sox 2-0 in the wild-card round.

With Evan Carter being lost to hip surgery for the next several months and set to miss time in 2027, the Rangers are definitely looking to fill the vacancy and Young has said that CF is a priority heading into 2027. Still, Varsho isn't the right guy, and there is a clear reason why.

The rumor of Daulton Varsho to the Rangers should remain just that -- a rumor

Pop quiz: what did Evan Carter bring to the table last season? The answer is a left-handed-hitting, Gold Glove-caliber defensive center fielder who slashed a miserable .194/.288/.315 and was unplayable against left-handed pitchers. There was a point in the second half of the season when Skip Schumaker sent Carter to the plate specifically to bunt so he could have a measure of success and contribute to the offense.

Another question: isn't Varsho the exact same player, only his 0.8 bWAR was more than a full point less than Carter's (1.9)? All of Carter's WAR came from his defensive metrics and plus baserunning. Still, almost all of Varsho's value comes from the exact same advanced statistics; only he is a step slower than Carter and also has a minus arm, ranking in the 11th percentile in both arm strength and arm value, according to Statcast.

The only advantage that the 32-year-old Varsho brings is his splits against lefties. He slashed an unimpressive .222/.274/.341 with 2 homers and 10 RBIs. When you look at his predicted price tag of 2 years at $20 million, there is absolutely no way Young and the Rangers can justify pulling the trigger on that deal.

The Rangers have a bevy of better options to fill center field to begin 2027. One of them is already within the organization and made his debut last season. Cam Cauley is chomping at the bit to get an opportunity to supplant Carter and is just 23 years old and under team control for the next several years. If they are dead-set on bringing in a free agent, Arlington-area native Trent Grisham would be a better option.

Even though Grisham is due between $11 and $14 million next season, you could get him on a one-year deal. Grisham delivered 18 home runs and 59 RBIs in a down season offensively. He has plus-plus plate discipline, ranking in the 99th percentile in whiff rate, gathering 61 walks against just 89 strikeouts in 418 at-bats. You do give up something in center field, as he has minus range, but at least he is contributing offensively by getting on base and bringing some pop with the bat.

Any way you slice it, the Rangers are going to have to figure out how they want to handle the center field position. It's the third most important spot on the field behind catcher and shortstop, and Carter doesn't appear to be the long-term solution. Signing Varsho up for 2 years at $20 million would be the worst stopgap answer.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow