After winning the World Series in 2023, it felt like the Texas Rangers were going to be a force in Major League Baseball.
The Rangers were the victims of a very injured roster in the season that followed. They finished 2024 with a 78-84 record, despite bringing back the core of their title team.
With health on their side heading into 2025, Texas felt like a team that could return to the top of the American League West. However, they never regained the magic they held just two seasons prior.
Entering play on Monday, July 21, Texas sits 7.5 games back of the Houston Astros for first place in the AL West. The Seattle Mariners sit ahead of the Rangers by 3.5 games.
That is the same deficit they hold in the American League Wild Card, with both Seattle and the Boston Red Sox tied for the final two spots. The Tampa Bay Rays have a 2.0 game lead over the Rangers for runner-up in that category.
Buy or Sell?
While the division is likely out of the question in the Lone Star State, there is no reason the Rangers cannot find themselves in the Wild Card round. After all, the Astros did win the division in 2023, before the Rangers went on a historic postseason run, where they eliminated Houston.
The Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, and New York Yankees are all expected to be buyers come the trade deadline. The Tampa Bay Rays are a franchise that never typically will commit to going all-in, so the Rangers shouldn’t worry about what Tampa might try to add.
The teams behind Texas include the Los Angeles Angels, Minnesota Twins, and Cleveland Guardians. All teams expected to sell in just 10 days.
This gives the Rangers the opportunity to make a push, and they should try to add talent. Josh Naylor, a left-handed hitting first baseman of the Arizona Diamondbacks, would be a great fit.
Texas needs to upgrade at first base and recently signed Rowdy Tellez to fill that void. Naylor, who is hitting .292 with an .814 OPS, will be a free agent at the end of the season. His cost should not be drastic, allowing a team like the Rangers to make the move. Arizona should be selling, allowing the opportunity to present itself.
Other Options
Offense will be the major need for the Rangers down the stretch if they are to reach the postseason.
If Naylor is out of the question, Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan O’Hearn could be a great fit as well. Coming off his first All-Star appearance, it is almost certain that O’Hearn will be dealt at the trade deadline.
The left-hander is hitting .282 with an .835 OPS and 12 home runs this season. He can slot in at either first base or designated hitter in the Rangers’ lineup.
If they are looking for a primary DH, Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves could make a lot of sense as well. Ozuna is having a down season, hitting just .235 with a .751 OPS on the year. He has slugged 13 home runs on a poor Atlanta Braves club. He is a veteran bat with playoff experience that could plug right in.
All in all, the Texas Rangers are capable of finding their way into the postseason. Once they get in, you never know what might happen. Rather than sell, they should push forward and become buyers over the next 10 days.
Matt Watson Media 
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