Rangers might have steal of MLB trade deadline if ex-Angels catcher continues breakout

The Texas Rangers were stuck between buying and selling at the MLB trade deadline. On one hand, they were close enough to a postseason spot that buying would make sense. On the other, they didn't really have a good record.

Now, with under a month to go, the Rangers are still competing for a Wild Card spot, sitting 1.5 games back and 2.0 back in the AL West. It's very possible they make the postseason. If they do, it might be thanks to one trade deadline pickup.

As The Athletic's Levi Weaver highlighted, trade addition Logan O'Hoppe has been on fire since coming to the Rangers. After a .941 OPS in the minors, he was called up to the big leagues and has continued to stay hot. If this breakout continues, the Rangers might have gotten the steal of the MLB trade deadline with this O'Hoppe trade.

Rangers might've gotten steal of MLB trade deadline with Logan O'Hoppe deal

"It would be a coup if they can fix his defense and make O'Hoppe the franchise catcher the Angels could not," Weaver writes. "But if he hits, they'll find a spot for him somewhere."

There are still some real question marks about O'Hoppe's defense behind the plate, and that could force him to either learn a new position or stick at designated hitter.

But he is only 26 years old, and he could turn things around behind the plate with better coaching and become a legitimate starting catcher for the Rangers.

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Before getting him right behind the plate, the Rangers needed O'Hoppe to get back to being a positive hitter. In 75 games for the Angels in 2026, O'Hoppe was hitting .209 with a .565 OPS. That's just not close to good enough.

Since being called up to the big leagues by the Rangers after being traded, across his eight games and 15 plate appearances, O'Hoppe is hitting .357 with a .762 OPS.

While the power isn't there just yet, as he only has one double on five hits, this is a good starting point for O'Hoppe to figure some things out in the big leagues.

If the Rangers' new catcher can continue to hit well and improve defensively at catcher, even if it's just to around league-average, the Rangers might have the trade deadline's biggest steal on their hands in the 26-year-old catcher.

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