For the Texas Rangers, their trade deadline approach might come down to one game.Beat the Houston Astros on Sunday, and perhaps the front office keeps the team intact, or even adds. Lose, and the Rangers could sell, perhaps even in a big way.They are not ruling anything out, said a person briefed on the club’s thinking.The Rangers enter Sunday just a half-game back in the American League wild-card race and 1 1/2 out in the AL West. Their playoff odds are nearly 45 percent. And they are awaiting the returns of injured starting pitchers Jordan Montgomery, Cody Bradford and Jack Leiter.However, after losing two straight games to the Astros, four straight overall and five of their last seven, they are trending in the wrong direction.Since the All-Star break, the Rangers have dropped four of their last five series. Their owner, Ray Davis, cut payroll by nearly $40 million from last season to this one. And with a lockout looming, he might want to go further still.
What would a Rangers selloff look like?Could they move their most expensive player, shortstop Corey Seager? What about right-hander Jacob deGrom? Two-time World Series-winner Nathan Eovaldi?Once the season ends, Seager will gain the right to veto any deal as a player with 10 years of major-league service, five consecutive with the same club.His contract enables him to block trades to eight clubs, the vast majority of which likely would have no interest in acquiring him, said people briefed on the provision on condition of anonymity to comment freely. He is owed the balance of his $31 million salary for 2026, plus $155 million over the next five years — and has made six trips to the injured list in the past two seasons.Unlike Seager, deGrom has a full no-trade clause, but it’s not out of the question he would waive it to join a contender closer to his home in Florida — the Atlanta Braves perhaps. Eovaldi, too, enjoys full no-trade protection. Both pitchers, though, also have big money left on their deals.The more likely Rangers players to move probably would be two on expiring contracts, such as designated hitter Joc Pederson, who has been their best offensive performer, and reliever Jakob Junis. Perhaps the only untouchable player would be left fielder Wyatt Langford, a rising star.It’s shocking that a team’s entire deadline strategy might hinge on the outcome of one game, or even one series. But that’s where the Rangers stand entering their series finale in Houston. The game is about as big as they come on deadline eve.
