Texas Rangers Trade Rumors: Buyers for… 2016
By Reid Hanson

After a very rough start to the summer, the Texas Rangers stand closer to last place than first in the AL West. Will they be buying or selling at the deadline? Maybe Both…
Following a great May run, the Texas Rangers were predicted to be very active buyers at the deadline, but after suffering from a pretty bad June and July, the Rangers may have just transformed into a trade deadline seller.
Trade rumors are always a hot topic this time of year. Teams who feel they are on the cusp of greatness, look for that one last piece to make a run. Teams that have abandoned hope and have started selling their team and fans on the future, look to unload proven players for a chance a younger, cheaper, and higher-potential prospects.
The Texas Rangers are stuck in the middle.
The Rangers still have a reasonable chance at making the playoffs if they can turn things around. They also have a shot at the bottom, sitting only a couple games from last place in the AL West. The Texas Rangers could very well be a buyer and a seller, and if they’re smart, they’ll consider both.
Top trade targets for the Rangers will be players under contract for more than just this season. The Rangers are not interested in trading the future for a rental piece when the Rangers may not even make the playoffs. That’s why Cole Hamels is still a possibility.
Jon Daniels’ seat isn’t necessarily “hot” but it’s getting warm. Brash moves to salvage the season, at the expense of the future, just don’t make sense. But the clock is ticking, and this highly-paid roster needs to start producing soon.
As many decreed before the season began, this season is more about “getting to next season”. The Texas Rangers suffered so many injuries early in the year, it’s been too hard to overcome.
Pitching
Derek Holland, Martin Perez, and even Matt Harrison have been working themselves back, but they likely won’t be all operating at 100% until next season. Yu Darvish, the unquestioned ace, isn’t back until next season. Do the Rangers actually expect to compete in a playoff series without a true #1 and with so many questions after that #1?
Bullpen
The bullpen has been a mess, and there doesn’t appear to be any relief (pun intended) in sight. The Rangers really need the offseason to address this, and would be paying through the teeth if they wanted to upgrade at the deadline. If anything, the Rangers will likely try to shed a little bullpen weight – if anyone comes calling, of course.
More from Texas Rangers
- Texas Rangers hitting the reset button with Jonathan Hernandez
- Texas Rangers lose Jacob deGrom to Tommy John: Next steps
- Grant Anderson gives the Texas Rangers their missing ingredient
- Texas Rangers: How Adolis Garcia started putting up MVP numbers
- Why Kumar Rocker is still a successful pick for the Texas Rangers
Lineup
The lineup is equally dysfunctional. Like the starting rotation, the lineup looks pretty formidable when healthy. But looking deeper you can see they severely lack right-handed power.
The Rangers are in need of repair in too many places to solve with trade deadline patchwork. They should only be buyers if that piece can help them next season, because it’s all about next season for Jon Daniels and the Texas Rangers.
Keeping an open mind towards both buying and selling, is the wisest option at this point. The Rangers need to really assess who can, and who cannot, help them win next season. It’s always a sellers’ market at the deadline and a buyers’ market in the offseason. The Texas Rangers should consider this on any potential moves as they focus on 2016.
More from Sports Dallas Fort-Worth
- West coast, Texas coast, burnt toast: Cowboys don’t need more runs
- Brandin Cooks will change the way defenses play the Dallas Cowboys
- Why the Dallas Cowboys defensive X-Factor is EDGE Sam Williams
- Dallas Cowboys: 3 head coach options if McCarthy fails in 2023
- Dallas Cowboys: Is CB Jourdan Lewis a tradeable asset?