Will the Texas Rangers be buyers or sellers at the deadline?

Despite sitting with a 40-35 record, the Texas Rangers have struggled lately and after two ugly losses to Cleveland, the question on whether to buy or sell has returned.

Currently, the Texas Rangers sit half a game behind the Red Sox for the second wild card spot. The Rangers have only won four of their last nine games, since winning the first two in Boston. Fortunately for the Rangers, the schedule lets up a bit starting this weekend as they face the White Sox (35-37), and Tigers (26-44).

With the Rangers splitting the series against the Indians, they are now five games over .500, and winning four of six against the White Sox and Tigers could put them at a season high of seven games over .500 at 44-37, then the next ten games against the Rays, Angels, and Twins will have a lot to do on whether they buy or sell at the deadline.

Jon Daniels has said that if the Rangers were to be buyers, they would likely target a starter with some club control (Noah Syndergaard or Marcus Stroman, anyone?). For the Rangers to truly go into the buyers market, seven or more games above .500, and staying within three games of the wild card probably needs to happen come the All-Star break.

For the Texas Rangers to go after some bullpen help (assuming a starting pitching deal doesn’t include bullpen help), it will likely be closer to the trade deadline. At that point, if the Rangers are buying, they would likely have already made a move for a starting pitcher. The Rangers would probably be looking for a reliever or two that would be rentals, and wouldn’t cost any of their top prospects.

If the Rangers find themselves in the four to seven games back of wild card are in July, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them sit on their hands, and wait to see what happens until the very last-minute of the deadline before they make a deal (similar to Yu Darvish in 2017). In this area, the Rangers would more than likely be sellers if they are five or more games back, but they could decide not to sell, and potentially trade for some players that would be cheap rentals.