The Rangers have put themselves in position to buy, but the money side of the deadline is a different story.
Texas has climbed back from its rough April and May stretch, going 27-21 since June 1 and moving to the top of the AL West. The club is two games ahead of the Astros and two-and-a-half in front of the Mariners after just taking a four-game series from Seattle, 3-1. That sets up a huge weekend in Houston, where the Rangers will play their final three games before Monday afternoon’s trade deadline.
The problem is that being in the race does not mean there’s much room to spend. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported, citing rival executives who have spoken with Texas, that the Rangers are not “in a position to take on money at the deadline.” Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News pointed to a similar dynamic in a morning report about the club’s bullpen search.
According to MLBTR’s Payroll Tracker, Texas is carrying a roughly $191.5MM cash payroll and an estimated $217,299,278 CBT number, which ranks 15th. The Rangers have already pulled back spending over the last two seasons.
Their 2024 payroll was more than $30MM higher than where it sits now. After paying the luxury tax in 2023-24, they slipped just under the line in ’25.
This year, they are about $27MM below the tax threshold and appear reluctant to move much closer.
That financial squeeze matters because Texas has more than one area to address. The bullpen is the obvious need, but catching and the rotation also deserve attention. Danny Jansen is considering season-ending elbow surgery, Kyle Higashioka is on the injured list, and Elias Díaz and Austin Wynns are handling the catching duties for manager Skip Schumaker.
The rotation has a strong front four in Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Kumar Rocker. Jack Leiter had ankle surgery a month ago and is expected back this season, though not anytime soon.
Cal Quantrill has stepped into the fifth-starter role and has been solid over 29 innings since Leiter went down, but his recent major league track record - a 5.39 ERA in 365 2/3 innings from 2023-25 - leaves plenty of reason for caution. Jordan Montgomery could return soon from his rehab assignment, but he has not been a productive big league arm since helping the Rangers win the 2023 World Series, and he missed most of the time since then because of Tommy John surgery.
There is at least some reason to think Texas could still add modestly. The Rangers spent the offseason building out the roster, bringing in Gore and Brandon Nimmo by trade and signing Jansen, Montgomery, Jakob Junis, Jalen Beeks and Tyler Alexander to relatively small free-agent deals. Most contenders leave a little financial cushion for July, and the Rangers may have some room to work with if they stay disciplined.
The market does offer possibilities. Miami has a handful of relievers who could fit, including Michael Petersen and Lake Bachar, with The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, Will Sammon and Katie Woo reporting that the Marlins have also gotten calls on Petersen and Anthony Bender.
The Fish also have former Rangers catching prospect Liam Hicks on the roster and at least loosely available. Janson Junk, Tyler Phillips and Ryan Gusto are starting for Miami right now and could draw Texas’ interest as well.
Cincinnati has several affordable bullpen arms likely to move, including Caleb Ferguson, Brock Burke and Sam Moll. The Rangers could also explore a larger deal for catcher Tyler Stephenson, though that would likely require the Reds to cover salary and Texas to pay a bigger prospect cost from a middling farm system.
Atlanta could make backup Joey Bart available with Sean Murphy nearing a return. St.
Louis has depth behind the plate and could move a low-cost reliever such as Riley O’Brien or Ryne Stanek. San Francisco is clearly selling and could shop relievers Keaton Winn or Erik Miller.
Kansas City could listen on John Schreiber and Daniel Lynch IV. Colorado would almost certainly pay down part of Kyle Freeland’s contract and has relievers who could be available.
If the Rangers decide the price is too steep, they could also clear some payroll elsewhere. Josh Smith, who is making $3.225MM this season, is a possible non-tender candidate.
Right-handed bats are in demand and thin on the market, but Texas could try to move Jake Burger and his $3.2MM salary, then give Justin Foscue more work at first base or find a cheaper replacement. Options mentioned include Ty France, a change-of-scenery play like Mark Vientos or Brett Baty, or Nathaniel Lowe.
However they do it, the Rangers’ path to October may come down to how creative president of baseball operations Chris Young and GM Ross Fenstermaker can be over the next few days.
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Rangers Deadline Buzz Suddenly Points To Another Outfield Bat
With the deadline approaching, the Dodgers have become a team to watch for outfield movement, and Alex Call has surfaced as a name drawing attention around the league. He has put together a modest season at the plate, but his appeal goes beyond the numbers, especially for clubs looking for a steady bat and some roster flexibility as July gives way to the final push before the cutoff.
The intrigue here is less about Calls production than about where he fits in Los Angeles bigger picture. The Dodgers have enough healthy outfield pieces to make his spot feel crowded, and if they decide to move him, it would be part of a broader effort to help elsewhere in the organization. For teams like Texas, the question is whether that kind of availability turns a secondary target into a real deadline option. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers May Not Be Done After O'Hoppe Move For One Big Reason
The Rangers catching picture changed again when they landed Logan OHoppe from the Angels and sent him to Round Rock, but the move may not be the last word at the position. With the trade deadline still shaping the roster, Texas is also looking for ways to shore up first base depth, and that search has pushed another familiar type of target into the conversation.
Miami has made Liam Hicks available, and the Rangers are reportedly interested in the catcher-first baseman because he can help in more than one spot. Hicks has been one of the Marlins better bats this season while splitting time behind the plate, at first base and at designated hitter, giving Texas a possible answer to a couple of depth questions at once if it decides OHoppe was only part of the plan. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Face One Deadline Dilemma As Chris Young Keeps Shopping
With one of the American League Wests tightest margins still in play, the Rangers are not acting like a team that feels finished at the deadline. They have already addressed two obvious needs by adding to the bullpen and behind the plate, but president of baseball operations Chris Young has made it clear the club is still open to more moves if the right fit shows up before the clock runs out.
That leaves Texas weighing whether to keep chasing pitching depth or add another bat that can help in a few different spots. The names being floated all come with different levels of control and financial commitment, which is exactly the kind of detail that can shape a late-July decision for a contender trying to protect a slim division lead without boxing itself in for the long term. [Read more 🡒]