Uncertainty surrounds Rangers as trade deadline nears, what will they do?

The Rangers have been doing the same limbo dance all season. Just when it feels like they are turning a corner and becoming no-doubt buyers at the Trade Deadline, the bats go cold, and they find themselves back where they started.

Well, the rest of the league is starting to notice this pattern of treading water, and it is making it difficult to decipher which way the organization will go in the next three weeks. Will they recognize that they have a starting staff that is World Series caliber, or will they unload a bevy of bullpen arms who are not tied up beyond this season?

Rangers are one of the most interesting Trade Deadline bubble teams

The Rangers are among one of the five most interesting teams to watch at the deadline, according to MLB.com. Like the other four on the list, they area team that can't seem to get over (and stay over) the .500 hump, but are still just a handful of games out of that third and final wild card spot

The other 29 teams around the league all recognize that the Rangers should be hesitant to waive the white flag because the trio of Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and eventually Tyler Mahle is good enough to make a serious run.

The Rangers will have to add a proven bat to be legitimate

Murphy points out what we already know, in that the Rangers' offense has sputtered pretty severely at times in the first half. But, they have been a little more consistent recently, and if they can add a Marcell Ozuna or a Josh Naylor in the middle of the lineup, it could be enough.

The flip side, he points out, is that the heart of one of the best bullpens in the league so far this season is uncertain moving forward. Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, Chris Martin and Luke Jackson are pending free agents who will be solid bargaining chips should the Rangers decide to sell off to a buyer.

No one, including Chris Young and the Rangers organization, seems to know right now.