The Rangers are past the trade deadline, and the next roster move could come from inside the system. For Texas, that means the conversation now shifts to who can help before season’s end without forcing the club to start a player’s service clock unless it absolutely has to.
Cody Freeman is the most likely position player to surface next, though he was activated on Tuesday and then optioned back to Triple-A Round Rock. Because he has already logged enough big league time, he is no longer being treated as a prospect.
Among the arms, the clearest names to watch are Benander Pence, Alejandro Rosario and Wilian Bormie.
Pence was just moved up to Triple-A, and the early results with the Express were rough. He worked only 1.2 innings, allowing four hits, three runs, two of them earned, along with two walks and one strikeout. He needed 43 pitches to get through that brief outing, and 25 of them were strikes.
That said, his work earlier this year at High-A Hub City and Double-A Frisco was much stronger. At Frisco, he went 2-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 11 games, including 10 starts. Over 55.1 innings, he struck out 61, walked 23 and held hitters to a .212 average.
A call-up for Pence would take a lot. Texas would likely need injuries, plus poor performances from starters who still have options, such as Kumar Rocker.
The Rangers would also probably need to be out of the playoff race. If those pieces fall into place and Pence is pitching well, he becomes at least a slight possibility.
Rosario has a better shot to get back to the majors this season. He already made his MLB debut, though it came in just one game.
A spring training injury slowed his progress, and his minor league numbers this year have been uneven: 2-3 with a 7.03 ERA in 16 games, 12 of them starts. Even so, the strikeout stuff has been there, with 71 punchouts against 27 walks in 56.1 innings.
Texas protected Rosario from the Rule 5 draft last winter, one of three pitching prospects it shielded, and the organization still views him as part of the future in the rotation. If he comes back up, it would probably be because the bullpen needs another arm on hand.
If the Rangers slip out of the race, there’s also a path for him to get a start. Of the three names here, he’s the more likely call than Pence, though he would require a 40-man move.
Bormie is the wild card, but the stuff is real. He isn’t on the 40-man roster, yet he has put together a strong season in the minors, going 8-1 with a 2.32 ERA in 34 games. He has six saves in 10 chances and has handled the jump from Frisco to Round Rock well.
MLB Pipeline does not list Bormie as a Top 30 prospect, but the Rangers may still see a need for a hard-throwing right-hander late in the year, especially if they stay in the postseason mix. He also pitched for Texas in spring training, even though he was not officially on the camp roster. If the Rangers need him in September, they’d have to make a 40-man move and start his Major League service time clock.
In Other News...
Rangers Suddenly Face A Rotation Problem They Cant Ignore
Jacob deGroms night against the Angels ended after only two innings, a jarring development for a Rangers rotation already under strain. He left because of triceps tightness and now will be monitored ahead of a future game, another reminder of how thin the pitching picture has become with Nathan Eovaldi already on the injured list.
Texas is suddenly sorting through short-term alternatives, and the list is not especially comforting. Jordan Montgomery has made two relief appearances this season with mixed results, while prospect David Davalillo has pitched well in Triple-A but has not yet made his major league debut, leaving the Rangers with a familiar problem and a decision they cannot afford to delay. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Finally Get Some Hope With Key Injury Updates
The Rangers got a small but meaningful dose of encouragement on the injury front, with several key names taking steps forward at the same time. Jacob deGrom played catch after an MRI produced positive results, Josh Jung tested his injured calf by running, and Danny Jansen got into a rehab game as Texas continues to piece together a battered roster.
deGrom still appears unlikely to take his next scheduled start, so the club will keep watching his response closely before mapping out what comes next. Jung may be nearing defensive work, while Jansen could return to the MLB field soon, giving the Rangers at least the possibility of getting some lineup and rotation help back in the near future. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Get Back On Track As Wild Card Pressure Builds
The Rangers got a much-needed lift against the Athletics, snapping a four-day skid and keeping themselves from drifting any farther in the crowded Wild Card chase. MacKenzie Gore settled in after allowing three runs early, working 5.2 innings before handing it off to Chase Silseth, Jakob Junis and Jacob Latz, who finished it off and collected his 12th save.
What stood out was the way Texas answered at the plate. Nicky Lopez, Brandon Nimmo, Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford and Jarred Kelenic all chipped in, giving the lineup a more balanced look at a time when every win carries extra weight. With the standings tightening, the Rangers could use more nights like this, though the margin for error still feels thin. [Read more 🡒]