Why Rangers are best trade landing spot for $87.5M Red Sox slugger

May 24, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras (40) hits a single during the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

This season, the Texas Rangers have been a fringe postseason team, hovering just behind the AL West leader, and right now being only 1.0 games back of the Seattle Mariners at 34-34.

While they're far from secure in the postseason hunt, they're in striking distance, and could use the MLB trade deadline on August 3 as a way to improve the roster for a postseason push.

Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer agrees, naming the Rangers as the best landing spot for $87.5 million Boston Red Sox slugger Willson Contreras. But why would Contreras be such a great fit with the Rangers? There are a few reasons why.

Why Rangers are best landing spot for Willson Contreras

"They're generally doing better at getting on base than they did in 2025, but they're still only getting a .239 OBP from their first basemen," Rymer writes. "That's the fourth-worst mark in the league."

With the Rangers' struggles getting on base from the first baseman's spot in the order, it makes sense to target someone like Contreras, who has a very strong .354 career on-base percentage, and a fantastic 3.81 OBP this season.

Jake Burger is a good hitter, but he's a bit better against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching, and might be better-off in a platoon role.

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But, if the Rangers can add someone like Contreras to give them a new premier slugger, who has an .897 OPS this season and is one of the best hitters in baseball, they could drastically improve their offense overall.

Putting Contreras at first base full-time and then plating Joc Pederson and Burger at the DH spot would help make this Rangers offense a lot better.

Of course, a trade for Contreras wouldn't come cheap, and the Rangers would have to come to terms with platooning Burger elsewhere. But, considering how good Contreras is and how this team needs to get on base more often, he'd be a great fit.

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