Reds impending fire sale presents Rangers with perfect rotation upgrade, but it's not who fans think

The Rangers are clearly in the market for right-handed pitching help at the trade deadline on August 3. They need starters to fill the void left by the inconsistent Kumar Rocker and MacKenzie Gore, as well as an injured Jack Leiter. Leiter is still a long way away from a return to action, upping the urgency to find stability.

The Cincinnati Reds currently sit at 45-54 and are in last place in the NL Central, 16.5 games behind first-place Milwaukee Brewers. They appear to be sellers at the deadline and have a very attractive righty that Chris Young should be looking closely at in the coming weeks. No, it's not the sensational Hunter Greene; it is noted innings-eater Brady Singer, who is putting up solid numbers over the last two months.

Brady Singer isn't flashy, but he's exactly what the bottom half of the Rangers' rotation needs

As promising as Greene is, he already has an extensive injury history and, when healthy, has shown Cy Young-caliber stuff that would make him far too expensive for the Rangers to acquire. A more realistic option is Singer, who isn't as sexy an option as Greene, but has shown durability as an innings eater over his seven-year career. He has logged at least 153 innings pitched every year since 2022.

Singer's numbers so far in 2026 aren't going to blow your socks off. He is 4-9 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.40 WHIP. But a closer look shows that after getting off to a shaky start, he has found a groove since June 1, registering a 2.76 ERA. He has delivered 4 quality starts and allowed more than 2 earned runs only once over his last eight outings, while lowering his ERA from the high 5s range to the mid-4s. The big 6'5", 225-pounder has also upped his strikeouts, fanning 46 hitters over 45.2 innings pitched.

Furthermore, he has been the victim of poor run support. The Reds have scored 414 runs this season, which ranks 26th in the league. He also pitches in a very hitter-friendly bandbox in Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Sweetening a potential deal, his contract expires at the end of the season.

He wouldn't cost the Rangers any of their top 5 prospects. Getting Singer would likely cost guys like talented Frisco outfielder Dylan Dreiling and current Ranger utility man Cameron Cauley in a potential deal. As much as the team and fanbase would be sorry to see homegrown products be sent away in part of a trade deal, if the Rangers are going to go all in on making a run this season, they are going to have to be willing to give to get, and Singer is a reasonable target that will leave ammo left over to pursue other needs like a right-handed reliever and another bat.

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