Will The Rangers Promote At The Deadline?

The Rangers entered the 2024 season trying like a possible juggernaut. Not solely was the membership coming off a World Sequence championship in 2023, however they had been trying ahead to the rookie campaigns of prime prospects Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford, which had been extensively anticipated to additional bolster a superb lineup anchored by 2023 AL MVP runner-up Corey Seager, third-place finisher Marcus Semien, and ALCS MVP Adolis Garcia. On the pitching facet, the membership had added a pair of back-end relievers to their shaky bullpen within the type of David Robertson and Kirby Yates.

Whereas their rotation wouldn’t be at full power coming into the yr, the promise of midseason reinforcements within the type of Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Tyler Mahle was greater than sufficient to encourage confidence that Texas was on the best trajectory to return to the postseason and defend the primary World Sequence title in franchise historical past. Projection programs felt equally: PECOTA at Baseball Prospectus gave the Rangers sturdy playoff odds of 55.4% of their preseason projections. These playoff odds have fallen to simply 14.6% coming into play right this moment, nevertheless, and it’s not onerous to see why.

Carter and Langford have each struggled to under common slash traces of their rookie seasons and have every hung out on the injured record this yr. They had been joined by younger third baseman Josh Jung on the injured record, because the 26-year-old has made it into simply 4 video games this season amid quite a few setbacks as he works his approach again from an early-season wrist fracture. Along with these children not offered the offensive impression anticipated from them headed into the season, the membership’s core hitters have additionally taken steps again after sturdy 2023 campaigns. Semien (90 wRC+) and Garcia (91 wRC+) have each been round 10% worse than league common on the plate this yr after massive seasons final yr, whereas Seager’s 122 wRC+ is properly above common however a far cry from the 6.1 fWAR marketing campaign he posted final yr that noticed him end second to solely Shohei Ohtani in AL MVP voting.

The membership has equally struggled to get essentially the most out of its function gamers. Utility bat Ezequiel Duran was an above-average hitter in 2023 however crashed again all the way down to Earth this yr, slashing simply .256/.294/.324 (74 wRC+) earlier than being optioned to the minors in late June. Catcher Jonah Heim as struggled equally, with a 76 wRC+ only one yr after pairing his Gold Glove protection behind the plate with an above common slash line. The one brilliant spot offensively has been infielder Josh Smith, who has damaged out in an enormous approach and slashed .293/.386/.451 (139 wRC+) because the membership’s common third baseman in Jung’s absence.

All these offensive woes have added as much as a 41-48 file for the Rangers, and issues get all of the extra worrisome when you think about the truth that they’ve received simply 25 of their 59 video games since Might 1. The membership’s .424 successful proportion over that span is roughly on par with the file the Angels have posted this yr. Between the pronounced struggles on the plate this yr and their acquainted struggles within the bullpen (their relievers’ 4.46 ERA is second-worst amongst all AL golf equipment), Rangers brass have been left within the uncomfortable scenario of getting to noticeably contemplate a sell-off simply months after parading by Dallas in celebration of championship.

The membership definitely has items to promote if that’s the route they select to take. USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported earlier this morning that rival GMs “anticipate” the Rangers to make a number of notable pitchers on expiring contracts accessible. That group is led by Scherzer but additionally contains Robertson, Yates, Andrew Heaney, and Michael Lorenzen. Every of these arms would absolutely obtain loads of curiosity on a commerce market that’s dealing with a relative dearth of high quality pitching choices, notably when taking a look at rental beginning pitching. Every of Scherzer, Heaney, and Lorenzen would fall into that latter class, whereas Robertson has been dealt at every of the previous two commerce deadlines. Yates may very well be among the many most coveted relievers dealt this summer season if the Rangers had been to determine to maneuver him given his eye-popping 0.86 ERA, 35.8% strikeout price, and historical past as an All-Star caliber nearer who led the majors with 41 saves again in 2019.

With so many fascinating items to promote and the membership falling additional behind the Mariners and Astros within the AL West by the day, it’s simple to make the argument that the crew ought to drag the plug on 2024 and begin specializing in the longer term, when Seager will probably be joined within the lineup by a wholesome Jung and the membership’s pair of rookies within the outfield may have one other yr of growth underneath their belts. Interesting as that may appear from an outdoor perspective, nevertheless, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News famous this morning that GM Chris Young made clear to reporters yesterday that the membership has not but selected a path for the commerce deadline, and remains to be open to the likelihood the membership performs their approach again into competition.

“I consider on this crew,” Younger mentioned, as relayed by Grant. “I consider they’re able to a run. We simply must put ourselves in a greater place in order that nothing is insurmountable. This crew had a 40-20 run final yr. It’s in there.”

There’s definitely causes for the Rangers to carry out hope the membership can struggle their approach again into competition this yr. Semien will have fun his thirty fourth birthday in September, and as he enters his mid-30’s it’s honest to marvel if this yr’s meager .232/.296/.383 slash line is nearer to what he’ll produce going ahead than final yr’s extra spectacular .276/.348/.478 line. 31-year-old Garcia and 30-year-old Seager are each youthful than Semien but additionally now on the fallacious facet of 30, and that’s to not point out the uncertainty surrounding 36-year-old deGrom and his checkered harm historical past. Semien, Seager, and deGrom are due a mixed $98.5MM in 2025. With a lot cash tied up in that trio and key items like Scherzer and Eovaldi on the verge of free company, it’s honest to marvel if this yr stands out as the membership’s greatest shot at one other postseason run with their present group.

With simply over three weeks remaining till the commerce deadline on July 30, how will the Rangers proceed? Have your say within the ballot under: