baseball

Rangers Still on the Market for Starting Pitching

As the old saying goes, “you have to give a little to get a little.”

The Rangers find themselves in an interesting situation as the major league baseball trade deadline approaches.  They’re having problems getting into the win column and the pitching rotation is a mess. All of this has allowed the Houston Astros to erase a double-digit deficit and climb within two and a half games of the Rangers for the top spot in the A.L. West.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels and company are looking to address the pitching concerns and one of their reported targets is considered among the best in the game. Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale is arguably the best lefty in the game not named Clayton Kershaw. Prying him from Chicago’s Southside would be a huge get.

But at what price?

In order to get a big-time pitcher like Sale you will have to empty out part of the farm system and say goodbye to young guys you really don’t want to give up. Jurickson Profar is always the name mentioned in recent trade talks, along with Joey Gallo. There’s no doubt the Rangers are desperate at this point and other teams know this, so they are going to “raid the cabinet” as much as they can. Reports are Chicago is asking for a “king’s ransom” that not only includes Profar and top prospects but also rookie outfielder Nomar Mazara.

The Big Chill is likely not even close to being on the bargaining table and the Rangers are showing signs of being of being hesitate of letting go of Profar and Gallo. That now brings us to the Tampa Bay Rays, who the Rangers have reported to focus more on with a deal for Sale possibly off the table.

The Rangers have shown interest in getting one or two of the Rays top young pitchers, Jake Odorizzi, Matt Moore and Chris Archer.  ESPN’s Jim Bowden reported the Rangers were shut down when asking about Archer, who could instead be moved to the Los Angeles Dodgers due to Kershaw’s back injury. The Rangers seem like they’re not comfortable giving up Profar and/or Gallo for either Odorizzi or Moore, but would be willing to include one of them for Archer. So as of right now, the staring contest between the Rangers and Rays continue.

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Of course, Sale would be “Plan A” on the Rangers wishlist, with Archer, Odorizzi and Moore, along with Padres righty and TCU alum Andrew Cashner as “Plan B”.

So are the Rangers are willing to roll the dice and go all in this season? Don’t forget, over a month ago the Rangers were favorites to make it to the World Series. Now, they are in a fight with the Astros for the division, with the Seattle Mariners hanging around. The Achilles heel for the Rangers has been lack of production from the starting rotation, particularly the four and five spots. But something may need to be done to stop the bleeding, because right now the they're in a downward spiral.

The Rangers will have to decide how much they are willing to give up if they do decide to go all in.

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