Jack Leiter, Justin Foscue Among Texas Rangers Top 5 Most Tradeable Players

If the Texas Rangers are unable to sign free-agent starter Jordan Montgomery or closer Josh Hader, perhaps a trade could bring in pitching help.

What if the Texas Rangers are unable to land any of the remaining pitchers still available on the free agent market?

That includes left-handed starter Jordan Montgomery, who came up big in the postseason to help the Rangers win their first World Series championship.

Or former San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader? He would be such a perfect fit in the Rangers' thin bullpen that it must be agonizing for Rangers executives that a deal has yet to materialize.

If Texas can't lure either Montgomery or Hader to Arlington, perhaps a trade makes the most sense for a club that has plenty of farm system depth.

With that in mind, here's a look at five Rangers players who could be potentially packaged together in some form or fashion in the next couple of months to help add some stability to the pitching staff.

Texas Rangers Top 5 Most Tradeable Players

Here's a look at the top five Texas Rangers players who could be used in a potential trade:

SS/Utility Ezequiel Duran

Rangers general manager Chris Young considers Duran to be a valuable asset as a super-utility player who can play shortstop, third base, and first base. Duran filled in admirably for Corey Seager early in 2023 and took over for Josh Jung at third base when injuries sidelined them, batting .276 with 22 doubles and 14 doubles. Duran's value, however, might best be used in a trade for a club looking for an everyday middle infielder.

INF Justin Foscue

The No. 14 overall pick in 2020 batted .266 with 18 homers, 31 doubles, and four triples in 122 Triple-A games in 2023, including 69 starts at second base and 35 starts at third base. Foscue turns 25 on March 2, and doesn't figure to need much more time in the minors. With Marcus Semien and Josh Jung occupying second and third base, there don't appear to be a ton of options on the big league roster in 2024 for Foscue. He started nine games (83 errorless innings) at first base for Round Rock, but Nathaniel Lowe would have to go off the rails for that position to open up. Foscue could play left field, but that's where Evan Carter figures to be.

CF Leody Taveras

Arguably, the most overlooked, taken-for-granted Rangers player in 2023 played 143 games in center field and batted .266 with 31 doubles, three triples, and 14 homers. He drove in 67 runs, scored 67 runs, and stole 14 bases. Taveras is more than an above-average defensive player. He ranked 16th among all outfielders at eight outs above average, according to Statcast.

RHP Jack Leiter

The Rangers could be gun-shy about trading away another young pitcher after Cole Ragans went 5-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 12 starts for the Kansas City Royals in 2023. Ragans was traded to the Royals (along with outfielder Roni Cabrera) for reliever Aroldis Chapman on June 30. The Rangers are interested in defending their World Series title, and if Leiter, who turns 24 in April, is still a season or two away, he'd be a lusty trade lure for clubs looking to contend by 2025. 

SS Sebastian Walcott

The Rangers' No. 3-ranked prospect (behind Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford, for now) turns 18 in March. The tall Bahamian shortstop signed for $3.2 million a year ago during the international signing period. If the Rangers expect Corey Seager to be entrenched at shortstop for the next five to 10 years (and why wouldn't they?), Walcott's projectable tools could be enough to attract potential trade partners.

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