Should Rangers Stay Pat in Trade Market?

With the MLB non-waiver trade deadline approaching on Wednesday, the Texas Rangers have a big decision to make.

Sure, since Jon Daniels has taken over since the Rangers' general manager, the Rangers have been known buyers this time of year. At times it's paid off, see Cliff Lee, and at other times it hasn't, see Jorge Cantu.

The Rangers have been linked to several hitters in recent days since acquiring the top starting pitcher on the market last week when they got Matt Garza from the Chicago Cubs with a prospect-laden deal highlighted by Mike Olt.

The Rangers' offense is in an awful way at the moment and it's led to a stretch of 15 games in which the Rangers have won just three. In other words, things are getting serious.

The Rangers' lead in the AL West is long gone. In fact, they're now six games back in the division and the Oakland A's are showing no signs of dwindling. Now, the Rangers have been relegated to chasing the two AL Wild Card frontrunners, the Rays and Orioles.

So should this team be buying en masse? It might be too late to go back on their decision having paid a pretty nice price for Garza last week, but maybe the Rangers should consider sticking with their lineup as is and rolling with what is a really solid three-man pitching rotation with more reinforcements on the way and one of the league's best bullpens.

Elvis Andrus is having a career-worst season, but since the all-star break, Andrus has turned things around and is hitting the ball again. David Murphy is doing the same, to a lesser extent. The Rangers are getting on base, they just aren't cashing in. You have to think that will turn around at some point, but when it finally does happen will it be too late? That's the question. That's the question the Rangers must answer in the coming days. Do they stick with what they have and rely on their pitching and defense (see the 2010 and 2012 San Francisco Giants) or do they go try to improve their lineup by acquiring some mid-level bats.

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There isn't a "wow" bat out there to be had. Giancarlo Stanton isn't available, as the Rangers have called to check on him on a weekly basis. Michael Cuddyer isn't either.

The name the Rangers have been linked to the most is Alex Rios of the Chicago White Sox, but that just isn't an awe-inspiring name. It's a name that would help, there's no doubt, but is it worth burning more of your crops down on the farm? It's a tough question.

We'll know the answer by Wednesday afternoon. Sit tight.

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