After tough first half, Rangers expected to be aggressive buyers at trade deadline

The Texas Rangers have completely flipped the script after winning eight of their last nine games and seven of their last eight to open the second half.

At 55-50, the Rangers are five games back from the Houston Astros for first place in the American League West and just a half-game back from the third AL Wild Card spot.

Texas seemed like a bubble team that would ultimately become sellers by July 31, but ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that the Rangers will now be aggressive buyers at the trade deadline.

“If you were to line up all the MLB president of baseball operations and general managers on a spectrum from most competitive to least, the peers of Rangers GM Chris Young would probably pick him to be the most competitive -- which is why other teams assume that with Texas surging in the standings of late, the Rangers will be adding before the deadline,” wrote Olney.

“A few weeks ago, the assumption among those other clubs was that the Rangers would become dealers and perhaps move Adolis Garcia and others. But they have won eight of nine since the All-Star break and start Sunday just a half-game out of the third wild-card position. And remember, in 2023, Texas limped into the postseason and wound up winning the World Series.”

The Rangers’ offense hasn’t been elite, but their pitching staff has been excellent thanks to Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi.

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Texas will most likely seek bullpen help, like every other contender, but the team needs a lockdown closer.

St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar and Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman would be great fits for the Rangers.

More MLB: Pirates expected to move on from 2-time All-Star closer by trade deadline