Are Rangers Potential Trade Partner for Cubs Slugger Bellinger?

The Chicago Cubs will have no shortage of options if they decided to trade their top outfielder, Cody Bellinger, at the deadline.

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The Texas Rangers are one of the best offensive teams in baseball and are riding a six-game winning streak coming out of the All-Star Break.

So, they don’t need any more offense, right?

Well, when you’re trying to win a World Series, there’s no such thing as too much.

One of the most sought-after bats on the potential trade market is Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger. The Cubs aren’t certain they’re ready to sell yet, per their president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer. And the Cubs may wait until the last minute as the deadline nears on Aug. 1.

But that didn’t stop MLB Trade Rumors from gaming out 12 teams that might be interested in Bellinger. The Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees are considered the top suitors for Bellinger.

The Rangers are in the next tier. The rationale?

From MLB Trade Rumors:

Texas has gotten strong production out of Leody Taveras in center field. They’ve patched things together in left field and at designated hitter, though, relying mostly on Ezequiel Durán to carry the offensive load wherever he’s played. Travis Jankowski has been a solid fill-in as part of that rotation, but Bellinger carries far more offensive upside than the journeyman Jankowski does.

For what it’s worth, Taveras hit a home run and drove in a pair in the Rangers’ victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. Jankowski is having a career season, average-wise. Duran broke out of a slump once he was put into left field at the start of the Rays’ series.

So maybe the Rangers are fine at the plate.

But, Bellinger is having a bounce-back season after two down years with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He has a 2024 mutual option on his contract.

He missed a month due to injury but in 63 games he’s slashed .308/.365/.523/.888 with 12 home runs and 35 RBI.  three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday.

That offense may be hard to pass up if the price is right.

The Rangers (58-39) host a three-game series with the Dodgers on Friday.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard

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