MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: Rangers

Can everybody just come out and admit that they didn't think the Texas Rangers would be a legitimate playoff for the first two months of the season? Unfortunately, however, Chris Woodward's club has fallen out of the standings in the last month and are presently in the midst of a three-game skid.

These struggles could prompt general manager Jon Daniels to sell at the deadline, despite the fact that the Rangers are just 4.5 games back of the tightly-contested AL Wild Card race.

Well, the latest rumors suggest that Texas will be vendors as MLB insider Jon Morosi has reported that the Rangers could be willing to part ways left-handed ace Mike Minor.

Per Baseball Reference, the 31-year-old vet surprisingly leads all AL pitchers in WAR and his 2.73 ERA ranks second among AL starters behind Rays' Charlie Morton. If Texas plays its cards right the team could deal Minor to a World Series contender for a healthy dose of prospects.

Morosi also notes that outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and switch-hitting utility man Danny Santana could draw compelling interest within the next two weeks.

Next up on the gauntlet is vet outfielder Hunter Pence who has enjoyed a superb 2019 campaign thus far. It would absolutely behoove Daniels to sell the four-time All-Star while his stock is significantly higher than anybody thought it would be at this point.

And that notion appears to be a popular one.

Finally, fan-favorite Rougned Odor could be on his way out of Arlington. The Rangers recently acquired Tampa Bay infield prospect Nick Solak, who will be assigned to Triple-A Nashville.

If that doesn't hint at a potential Odor offloading we don't know what does.

These reports will be a bitter pill for Rangers devotees to swallow. Especially considering that their beloved club is five games over .500. But the odds of the team actually contending for a World Series is slim, and the club seems willing to give it another year before truly trying to compete.