Cody Snavely
The World Series hangover is alive and well in Texas. The defending 2023 World Series Champion Texas Rangers are currently sitting in third place in the mediocre American League West with a record of 37-41, 6.5 games back from the division-leading Seattle Mariners and 5.5 games back from the final American League Wild Card spot.
The Rangers, who took an “all-in” approach the last two off-seasons, had it pay off with their incredible World Series run last season. However, with the team seemingly out of postseason contention so far this year, it would not be surprising to see them sell off some assists to help build for 2025 and bring down their $231.9 million payroll, which ranks sixth in the league.
The Dodgers, with injuries to Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, are bound to be aggressive at the deadline, and the Rangers have multiple players who would be perfect fits for the Dodgers come October.
Realistic options
The 2024 July 30th MLB trade deadline looms, a mere six weeks away. This pivotal event will serve as a litmus test for teams, forcing them to evaluate their status as either championship contenders or teams preparing for the next season.
The Texas Rangers are in a gray area where a good week could propel them to be buyers and compete for the division and Wild Card. The Rangers were the first team to be the last seed and win the World Series since the new postseason format. But if they fall out of it, they will have a few no-brain decisions to trade off with expiring contract players.
Michael Lorenzen (RHP) 1-year $4.5 million (32 years old)
If the Dodgers on any team are looking for a great lower-tier option to eat innings for the starting rotation, then right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen is the guy to look at.
Lorenzen, 32, spent last season with the Detroit Tigers before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies at previous year’s deadline. Lorenzen’s time in Philly was mixed as the righty threw his first career no-hitter in his first month of being traded but had a steep decline in production after that.
Lorenzen went into the offseason without a job until reaching an agreement with the Rangers, who needed pitching depth while Jon Gray, Jacob deGrom, and Max Scherzer were all out with injuries.
So far in 2024, Lorenzen has made the most of his opportunity, going 4-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 1.15 WHIP in seventy-two innings pitched. Lorenzen ranks in the 91st percentile in fastball run value and the 92nd percentile in off-speed run value.
The Dodgers, who will be without Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler for much of the second half, could use some rotation depth, and Lorenzen is a great cheap option.
Kirby Yates (RHP) 1-year $4.5 million (37 years old)
The Los Angeles Dodgers currently own the best bullpen ERA in the National League at 3.15 in 288.1 innings pitched. So it would be surprising to many if that were to be an area the Dodgers seek help with at the deadline.
However, with relief pitchers Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, Brusdar Graterol, and Kyle Hurt all on the injured list with no activation in sit, the Dodgers could pivot to more “proven” arms to help solidify their bullpen.
Now, consider the potential addition of Kirby Yates, a seasoned thirty-seven-year-old closer. While he has spent most of his career with the division rival San Diego Padres, he has also had stints with the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays, making him a well-traveled MLB journeyman.
However, 2024 has seen a resurgence for Yates. The right-handed closer has a stellar 3-1 record with a 1.03 ERA and has already notched up eleven saves in just 26.1 innings pitched. With a 1-year $4.5 million deal and free agency looming after this season, Yates could be a valuable asset for any contender needing bullpen support.
Yates currently ranks in the 99th percentile in xERA, 99th percentile in xBA, and the 94th percentile in strikeout and whiff percentage.
José Leclerc (RHP) 1-year $6.25 million (30 years old)
Similar to Yates, Leclerc is on an expiring contract and is set to hit the open market after the 2024 season. Leclerc is having a down season and lost his closer role to Yates before the start of this season.
So far in 2024, Leclerc has pitched to a 4.78 ERA, collecting one save while striking out forty-two batters. Like many late-inning relief pitchers, Leclerc relies on a plus fastball that has placed him in the 98th and 92nd percentile in Whiff and strike-out percentage.
If the Dodgers fail to get a high-end relief pitcher on the market, they could get Leclerc for a bargain, and many teams may be dismissive of his high ERA and his lackluster 2023 postseason.
Max Scherzer (RHP) 1-year $22.5 million (39 years old)
It wouldn’t be an MLB trade deadline without right-handed pitcher Max Scherzer being brought up in trade rumors, but here we are.
The New York Mets, in a move that raised eyebrows, signed the then 37-year-old veteran to a two-year, $86.6 million contract, hoping to secure his second career title. However, the 2023 season turned out to be far from what they had anticipated, as the veteran righty grappled with health issues and was eventually traded for the second time in three seasons.
Scherzer, 39, is currently on a rehab assignment and has started three games going 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and seventeen strikeouts in three starts.
The Los Angeles Dodgers were that aforementioned team that traded for his services from the Washington Nationals during the 2021 season in the blockbuster trade that brought Trea Turner along for the ride.
However, while a trade makes sense on paper, a potential reunion between the two sides seems low. Scherzer and the Dodgers did not exactly end on good terms, as the righty criticized the Dodgers’ use of him during his time in Dodger Blue.
Scherzer just made his 2024 season debut, going five innings, allowing one run and one hit while striking out five against the Kansas City Royals.
Options I can buy in on
If the Texas Rangers will sell but still try to compete in 2025, it will be hard for them to move on from guys under more than one year of control.
However, if they can get a good return that sets them up for 2025, we could see a scenario where they trade some of these guys and still stay in their championship window.
Nathan Eovaldi (RHP) 2-year $37 million (34 year-old)
Former Dodgers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, now with the Rangers, is currently under two years of team control. Notably, his contract includes a 2025 vesting option, adding an interesting dynamic to his future with the team.
Eovaldi, a pitcher who has shown remarkable resilience in the face of injuries throughout his career, has been a solid performer for the Rangers this season. He’s posted a 3-3 record with a 3.15 ERA, sixty-four strikeouts, and a 1.17 WHIP in sixty innings pitched.
The veteran righty who has spent time with the Dodgers, Marlins, Red Sox, and Rangers in his career ranks in the 85th percentile in pitching run value and 96th percentile in offspeed run value and would be an excellent option for a middle rotation postseason contender.
The Dodgers, who have a history with Evoaldi, could negotiate a deal to bring back the one-time draft prospect.
Jon Gray (RHP) 2-year $26 million (32 years old)
Jon Gray has shown flashes of ace-like material throughout his time in the big leagues, but playing in hitter-friendly Coors Field to begin his career was not the best matchup.
Gray’s performance has been outstanding this season. He has significantly bolstered the injury-riddled Rangers’ starting rotation and made himself a valuable asset to the team.
So far, Gray is 2-3 with a 3.31 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and sixty-five strikeouts in sixty-five innings pitched, and currently ranks in the 97th percentile in breaking run value.
Gray, who is under control until the end of the 2025 season, can be seen as a lucrative option for a team needing pitching depth as a mid-rotation starter not just for 2024 but also for the 2025 season.
Josh Smith (INF/OF) 1-year $750 thousand (26 years old)
What has plagued the Texas Rangers up until this point has been their offense. With Corey Seager missing time, Wyatt Langford not paying off yet, and injuries to Josh Jung, it is no surprise why the Rangers are where they are.
Despite this, every team needs a player who steps up when given an opportunity, and Josh Smith has been that guy for Texas.
Smith, 26, filled in for the injured Seager and has played all across the diamond and has hit .298/.388/.454 with a .842 OPS and 141 OPS+.
However, Smith is likely going to stay put due to his cheap control as he is still under pre-arb status. Still, it would be interesting to see the Dodgers take a look as their bench between Enrique Hernandez, Chris Taylor, and Cavan Biggio has not panned out thus far.
Out-of-the-box idea
Jacob deGrom (RHP) 5-year $185 million (36 years old)
Okay, you want to get nuts? Let’s get nuts. I apologize for my Batman 1989 reference, but adding right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom is an outlandish idea that only a team like the Yankees or Dodgers would ever consider.
deGrom, 36, signed a monumental five-year $185 million dollar deal back in the 2022 offseason. Despite the setbacks, including a handful of starts and a Tommy John Surgery last season, his determination and resilience are commendable.
When he was on the mound, deGrom was a force to be reckoned with. His performance was nothing short of exceptional, going 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA, 1.54 FIP, 0.75 WHIP, and 13.9 K/9 in 30.1 innings last season.
Despite the injuries, DeGrom has been one of the best pitchers of his generation. The right-handed flame thrower holds a 2.53 career ERA, has won the National League Cy Young award twice, and is a four-time All-Star.
DeGrom still has 3.5 years of team control with a 2028 club option, which would be the veteran pitcher’s fortyth season. However, if the Rangers do want to shed payroll, the Big Apple would be trading DeGrom, as he is due a lot of money for the next four seasons.
- 2024: $40 million (36)
- 2025: $40 million (37)
- 2026: $38 million (38)
- 2027: $37 million (39)
- 2028: $20 million (club option) (40)
While the Dodgers have no issues in spending/taking on huge contracts, deGrom, being in his late thirties with his injury history throughout his career, is a huge red flag to the organization.
But if healthy, it is the ultimate win-now move, as having a postseason rotation with deGrom and Glasnow leading the charge is a nightmare for opposing hitters.
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