Jake Burger has done enough over the last few weeks to make a trade-deadline sell-off feel like the wrong play for the Rangers.
That was not the conversation on June 9, when MLB.com's Mark Feinsand listed Burger as a change-of-scenery candidate. Since then, the Texas first baseman has hit .333/.431/.567 with four home runs, two doubles and 10 RBI in 72 plate appearances over 18 games. The sample is still small, but it’s also a clean reminder of what Burger looks like when he’s locked in.
He’s been especially hot lately. Burger has hits in 11 of his last 12 games, tied yesterday’s game in the first inning with a double and then gave the Rangers a lead in the seventh today.
Even with an uneven April, Burger’s season line still points to a productive year. Across 81 games, he owns 1.3 fWAR, a .257/.321/.446 slash line, 14 home runs and +3 Defensive Runs Saved. That puts him on pace for his best season since 2023, when he finished with 2.3 fWAR and a .250/.309/.518 line with the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins.
The case for keeping him gets stronger when you look at when he’s done the damage. Burger has been at his best with runners on base, batting .290/.355/.500 with eight home runs, five doubles and 44 RBI in 155 plate appearances. For a Rangers club that ranks 25th in runs with 340, moving one of the few hitters who has consistently cashed in feels like a tough sell.
He’s also shown up in the biggest spots. In high-leverage situations, Burger is hitting .321/.382/.536 with a 149 wRC+ and two home runs.
Burger came through again here and it’s 2-0 Rangers!
They knock Dylan Cease out of the game in the 5th inning pic.twitter.com/harWifqr6O
- SleeperRangers (@SleeperRangers) June 27, 2026
Texas has climbed to 42-42, moved ahead of the Seattle Mariners for first place in the AL West and is tied with three other teams for the third Wild Card spot. In that kind of race, the Rangers look more like buyers than sellers. Chris Young has already shown a willingness to swing big, with MacKenzie Gore and Brandon Nimmo arriving in the offseason, and if Texas stays in the hunt through early August, there’s every reason to think he’ll keep pushing.
Burger isn’t without flaws, including his struggles against right-handed pitching. But the bigger picture still matters: he’s become a dependable run producer for a team that badly needs bats capable of driving in runs. That’s not the kind of player Texas should be eager to move.
Former GM Jim Bowden wrote that the Rangers are looking to add relievers and hitters at the deadline. The bullpen has been solid, though the underlying numbers point to some regression.
The offense, on the other hand, clearly needs help. A big-name first baseman like Willson Contreras would help, but Texas would be smarter using its assets to target hitters who fit more obvious needs, especially in the outfield and at second base.
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