The Texas Rangers are certainly in no position to be buyers come the July 31 trade deadline, but the question is to what degree they will be sellers?
On the move: Neal Cotts, LHP
2014 stats: 2-5 record, 3.65 ERA, 44 strikeouts, 14 walks, 37 innings
Reasons to move: Like Jason Frasor, Cotts is a free agent at the end of the season and would be a true rental for a contending club looking for lefty help out of the bullpen, which is pretty much every contending club because who can't use a solid lefty reliever? Guys like that really serve no purpose on a losing team, and with the emergence of Roman Mendez and Neftali Feliz in the Rangers' bullpen, Frasor and Cotts are both expendable. Cotts has struggled this year, especially when compared to his fantastic 2013 that saw him post a 1.11 ERA after not pitching in the bigs in four years due to numerous injuries.
Reasons to keep: There really isn't a good one, other than the fact he's a solid piece of your bullpen. But at this point, why do you need that? True, the bullpen will be awfully taxed as the season wears on without a guy like Cotts in it, but if you can get anything for him, it's worth looking into the possibility of moving him. A reason for his struggles this year has likely been the fact he's been overworked, along with the rest of the bullpen, but if he goes somewhere else and can be effective, you could always try to sign him again in the winter.
Final verdict: Of all the Rangers who are possibilities to be traded before the July 31 trade deadline, it seems that only Frasor would be more likely to be dealt. You can pretty much bet on the fact that Cotts won't finish this season as a Ranger.
