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In a weak American League, the Texas Rangers are somehow only 2.5 games out of first place in the AL West.
They are three games below .500! Even the Houston Astros, at 38-43, are just 3.5 games out.
That likely indicates that neither club will sell at this year's trade deadline. The Astros certainly will hold on to MVP candidate Yordan Alvarez.
Meanwhile, the Rangers could use more bats in their order. As a team, their .708 OPS is tied for 21st in baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote that Texas could look to add a leadoff hitter.
"The Rangers arguably need power above all, but the thinking here is that they need a second baseman and table-setter more," Rymer wrote. "They have gotten just 0.3 rWAR from the keystone, and the second spot in their order has a .293 OBP."
One of the teams that should be open for business is the San Francisco Giants. Seemingly, nothing has gone right for the NL West club in Tony Vitello's first year as an MLB manager.
"[Luis] Arraez is thus an ideal upgrade, and certainly worthy of the pretty penny it'll cost to rent him for the rest of 2026," Rymer added about a potential Rangers-Giants trade for the second baseman.
"A fair trade could center on someone like No. 8 prospect AJ Russell, who looks like a second-round steal from last year's draft."
Arraez is having a typical year for his measures, hitting .321 while rarely drawing walks or striking out.
The three-time batting champion's .803 OPS would rank first on the Rangers for players with over 100 plate appearances.
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One perk for the Rangers would be Arraez's much-improved defense at second base. His 10 outs above average rank in the 99th percentile.
This trade would strengthen the Rangers' top of the order and help fix their somewhat revolving door at second.
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