Buyers or Sellers: Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers

Record: 46-50

Games out of playoffs: 5.0 in AL West, 7.5 in Wildcard

Buyer or Seller: Buyers

The Texas Rangers are currently on the outside looking in for a spot in the postseason, but the defending champions still have a good shot to make the playoffs.

With their offense ranked 17th in runs scored and a pitching staff ranked 15th in ERA, both could use improvement. However, with third baseman Josh Jung and outfielder Evan Carter close to returning from injury, pitching is the team's more pressing need.

Having a payroll in the top 10 of baseball and a roster full of veterans, the Rangers have no choice but to be buyers as they look to repeat in 2024. 

As the trade deadline approaches, here is a player the Rangers should look to trade for. 

One move to make: Acquire pitcher Chris Bassitt from the Toronto Blue Jays

Equipped with a rotation that is headlined by pitchers Max Scherzer and Nathan Eovaldi, the Rangers have filled the rest of the pitching staff with serviceable journeymen like Andrew Heaney and Michael Lorenzen, but are still looking for more consistent innings. 

With pitchers Jon Gray and Dane Dunning struggling to provide quality pitching, the Rangers will need to find someone to take a spot in the rotation if they want to have a shot at defending their title.

As the Toronto Blue Jays slide further out of the playoff race, pitcher Chris Bassitt is an arm that would make a great fit for the defending champs. 

After a rough start to his season, Bassitt has been steller over his last 15 starts. 

With an 8-7 record, 3.52 ERA and 1.43 WHIP, he has familiarity with the American League West after his time with the Oakland Athletics, and he would instantly upgrade Texas' rotation. 

Making 159 appearances since 2018, Bassit has been one of the most underrated pitchers in the MLB. He sports a 68-38 record with a 3.39 ERA, 1.184 WHIP and 849 strikeouts in 901 innings pitched during that time. 

Under contract for one more season, Bassitt will command a solid return, but that's the price you have to pay if the Rangers are serious about making a postseason run this year.