With the MLB trade deadline a day away, the Texas Rangers are still staring at the same problem that keeps showing up in the late innings: the bullpen needs help, and it needs it badly on the right-handed side.
Chris Young and the Rangers have more than one item on the to-do list. They could still use back-end rotation help, a frontline catcher and another right-handed bat. But the most obvious weakness is the lack of experienced right-handed middle relief, and that’s the area that should sit at the top of the board.
Former GM Jim Bowden, now a writer for The Athletic, has put a name on the fit. He believes Young should push to bring New York Mets reliever Huascar Brazoban to Arlington, calling him the ideal match for a Rangers bullpen that has been shaky, especially against right-handers.
The Mets, sitting in last place in the NL East and 16.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves, are expected to sell. They have more middle relief depth than they can use, and the expectation is that those arms will be moved for young prospects.
Luke Weaver is the headliner in that group, but Bowden sees him as likely out of reach for Texas because of budget limitations. Brazoban, though, looks much more realistic - and, in Bowden’s view, much more useful for the Rangers’ needs.
Bowden pointed to Brazoban’s stuff in The Athletic for the New York Times, writing that he, "averages better than 96 mph on his fastball...and has a solid pitch mix, with hitters batting below .200 against his sinker, changeup and four-seamer."
The numbers match the scouting report. Brazoban is 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP across 51.2 innings.
He’s also been durable, throwing at least 51.2 innings every season since 2023. And from a control standpoint, he makes just over $1 million and still has three arbitration-eligible seasons after this one.
That combination makes him a logical target for Texas. He may not be the splashy addition that grabs headlines, but Brazoban could be exactly the kind of steady arm the Rangers need as they chase either the AL West or a wild-card spot.
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Rangers Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Trade Deadline Plans
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Smith had already been optioned to Triple-A Round Rock, so the writing was on the wall for a player whose value had been built on versatility and steady production. Macko has worked in relief for the Blue Jays this season, going 2-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 22 games, and the trade gives Texas another left-handed option as it continues shaping the roster for the stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Trade Deadline Shift Could Mean More Than A Salary Dump
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Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Jacob Latz are among the names surfacing in those discussions, a sign that the Rangers are at least listening broadly as they gauge the market. The expectation, though, is that the younger core under team control, including Wyatt Langford, Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, remains far more likely to stay put, which leaves plenty of room for the kind of deadline maneuvering that could reshape the roster without fully stripping it down. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Bullpen Shakeup Puts One Veteran In A Brutal Spot
The Rangers bullpen has been in constant motion lately, and the latest move leaves veteran right-hander Chris Martin in a tough spot. Texas activated him from the injured list and then designated him for assignment, a sign of how quickly his season has gone off track amid shoulder issues and uneven performance.
Now the club has only a short window to find a trade partner, with the afternoon deadline looming before Martin likely clears waivers and can choose free agency. The timing underscores how unsettled the bullpen picture remains in Texas, especially with the front office still weighing outside interest in other relievers after the recent losses. [Read more 🡒]