Texas Rangers 'Fully' Intend To Trade for Relief Help by Deadline

The Texas Rangers intend to address their shortcomings in bullpen via the trade market, according to a published report.

The Texas Rangers “fully intend” to add to their bullpen before the Aug. 1 trade deadline, The Athletic reported Monday.

The note was actually part of a larger, more expansive piece on manager Bruce Bochy and the Rangers’ unexpected success in his first season. The Rangers lead the American League West after six straight losing seasons.

But buried in the narrative was Bochy trying to find the right combination in a bullpen that has struggled for a good portion of the season. The Rangers will, at the least, pursue adding bullpen arms, per The Athletic:

Bochy says of the bullpen, “it’s been a little bumpy down there, been a process.” [Rangers general manager Chris] Young, though, fully intends to acquire a reliever or two before the trade deadline.”

Texas relievers opened the season on fire, throwing 23 2/3 scoreless innings from March 30 to April 7. That was the fourth-longest scoreless streak in franchise history.

But since then, the bullpen has had issues. Entering the series with the Los Angeles Angels on Monday, the unit had the fourth-highest ERA in the American League at 4.39.

It also had the second-fewest strikeouts of any bullpen in baseball (196) and had taken 11 of the Rangers' last 18 losses. The unit was also 12-for-21 in save changes, which are the third-fewest saves and the sixth-lowest save percentage in the AL.

But if Young has his way, help is on the way.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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