It seems like so long ago when Chris Young was able to transform a struggling team at the 2023 trade deadline by addressing the roster's problem areas to get them over the second-half bump in the road.
Getting Aroldis Chapman, Jordan Montgomery, Max Scherzer and Chris Stratton in exchange for young players in July 2023 directly led to the organization's first World Series. Some fans would say that was the last time Young made a winning move for the franchise.
The last two deadlines have been washes for the Rangers. They practically stood pat in 2024 and last month's trade additions haven't necessarily helped in their first few weeks as Rangers.
Are Rangers' fans valid in their disapproval of Chris Young?
In some way it is valid to be upset that Young's last two deadlines have been less than ideal. Reallt the biggest gripe should actually be the moves he didn't make though.
Last season when the team was trending in the wrong direction, Texas didn't do their due diligence and trade away All-Star closer Kirby Yates or revitalized 39-year-old reliever David Roberston. Sure the return would've been less but instead they got nothing for them and they left in free agency after the season.
Then last month, while it was good that the Rangers added pitching reinforcements but they desperately needed offense and it seemed that they were ok with not doing so. To make matters worse, Danny Coulombe and Phil Maton have seen better days recently.
While Merrill Kelly has been average for the Rangers in his three starts, it still cost the Rangers six prospects, including three of the team's top 15. That, combined with the failed free agent pickups of Joc Pederson and Jake Burger, Chris Young has come under fire and some fans even demanding the organization part ways with their fearless leader.
Important though to remember this is still the executive who helped deliver the Rangers' their first World Series, helped draft Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, drafted Wyatt Langford and was a piece in getting Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Nathan Eovaldi in free agency.
Half of the teams in Major League Baseball would've made every single move that Young has made over the last few years. While there are rightfully some disappointments, it doesn't come close to calling for his firing.