Texas Rangers Trade Targets With Jacob deGrom Out

Texas Rangers GM Chris Young is committed to making the club "as good as possible" in the wake of Jacob deGrom's season-ending injury.

Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas — In the immediate moments of announcing that Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom would miss the remainder of the 2023 season, and likely most of 2024, general manager Chris Young was still processing the loss of his projected ace.

He wasn’t quite ready to talk about whether deGrom’s injury might necessitate the Rangers making a trade to bolster the starting rotation.

But he managed a stock answer.

“Our job as a front office is to continue to look for ways to make this team as good as possible and that’s what I’m committed to doing,” Young said before Texas’ 6-4 win Tuesday over the St. Louis Cardinals at Globe Life Field.

But between now and the end of July, would the Rangers explore a trade? Young didn't say and probably wouldn't address that if asked.

If the Rangers did decided to look outside, who might be the starting pitching candidates?

CBS Sports recently published a list of 20 players that could be dealt at the deadline. Among the candidates when it comes to starting pitching were Chicago White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito, Cleveland Guardians right-hander Shane Bieber, Detroit Tigers left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease, San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb and White Sox right-hander (former Rangers starter) Lance Lynn.

Young did express his faith in the remaining rotation, and at the moment that faith is well-founded.

Through the first 59 games of the season, Nathan Eovadli, Martín Pérez, Dane Dunning, Jon Gray and Andrew Heaney have helped the Rangers ranked among the best in the American League in wins (1st, 28), home runs per nine innings (1st, 0.90), win percentage (2nd, .757), pitches per innings pitched (2nd, 15.4), groundout double plays induced (2nd, 33), WHIP (2nd, 1.13), innings pitched (T2nd, 339.0), opposing batting average (3rd, .232) and opposing OPS (3rd, .662).

deGrom started six games before his injury. Cody Bradford has made two spot starts in May.

Bradford, currently at Triple-A Round Rock, is certainly an option for a call-up.

The Rangers may be more inclined to look for relief help via trade as the Aug. 1 deadline looms. But with deGrom’s injury, Young and his staff now have to review the starting pitching market, too.

After all, the Rangers’ rotation is solid now. But as deGrom proved, injuries do happen. The Rangers may need to be prepared.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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