The Texas Rangers’ weekend slide has changed the tone around their trade deadline in a hurry, and it may have cracked the door open on a move that would have sounded far less likely just a few days ago.
Texas entered the weekend sitting atop the American League West and looking like a modest buyer ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline. By now, the Rangers are chasing the Houston Astros by two and a half games and sit on the wrong side of the AL playoff picture. It was a brutal three days in Space City, and the fallout has put president of baseball operations Chris Young in a different position than he was in before the losses piled up.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on X, the Rangers are willing to listen broadly. “The Rangers are taking calls from teams about any player on their roster, and, according to a source, are open to discussing anyone in the right deal,” Feinsand reported. “A would-be buyer appears to be heading towards a potential day of selling.”
That kind of language naturally pulls Corey Seager into the conversation. Pitchers Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore and Jacob Latz are already drawing interest with Monday’s 6 p.m. ET deadline approaching, but the idea that Texas is open to “any player on the roster” means Seager cannot be ruled out.
On paper, he would be a major prize for a contender looking for October help. The two-time World Series MVP has not produced at the level the Rangers hoped this season, hitting .188 with a .672 OPS, and he has missed half the year because of more injury trouble. Still, if the 32-year-old shortstop can get and stay healthy for a long stretch, there is at least the possibility that his bat can again deliver something useful.
The biggest obstacle is obvious: money. Seager is owed more than $160 million through the 2031 campaign, which means Texas would likely need to absorb part of that deal to make a trade work. For now, though, he remains a Ranger, along with his three-time Silver Slugger and five-time All-Star résumé.
All of this hangs over a home game against the San Francisco Giants. The Rangers are set to host the Giants, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
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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
The trade deadline picture in Texas has changed quickly enough to make the rest of the month feel unsettled. The Rangers have moved from a buyers posture to one that looks more like a sellers, with the front office weighing moves that could trim salary while also taking advantage of whatever value the roster still holds. Even with the season still unfolding, the conversations around the club now sound less like a team pushing in and more like one preparing to reframe its next step.
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 🡒]