By Acquiring Danny Coulombe, Rangers Upgrade Left-Handed Relief Depth

The Texas Rangers made some last minute moves at the trade deadline and one should bolster the roster's ability to use left-handed pitching more often.

The Rangers acquired Twins reliever Danny Coulombe in return for a young prospect, Garrett Horn. Horn was drafted last season by the Rangers in the sixth round and has pitched in nine games this season.

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Texas drafted Horn knowing he would need 2024 to recover from an injury. This year he has worked up to the High-A Cedar Rapids and is 0-3 with a 2.92 ERA. After 24 full innings he struck out 34 and walked six.

Horn was a small price to pay to acquire Coulombe.

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Coulombe made his debut in the majors back in 2014 and has been used mostly as a closer for games. He has only made two starts in his 328 appearances. On his career he has gone 16-9.

This season he has pitched in 40 games and posted a career-low 1.16 ERA holding opponents' to a .188 batting average. The lefty has struck out 31 and walked nine this year going 1-0.

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Armed with a fastball that averages 90 mph, he is striking out hitters one-quarter of the time. Plus, he barely walks anyone.

The Rangers bullpen immediately gets better with the 35-year-old veteran and the Rangers need that moving forward. Entering this weekend's action, Texas had just two left-handed relievers — Jacob Latz and Hoby Milner.

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Latz can swing into a starting role for the Rangers. Milner has typically been a seventh- or eighth-inning option for Texas in situations where they're facing a run of left-handed hitters.

Texas is in the hunt for a postseason berth. They were tied with the Seattle Mariners going into this weekend's four-game set between the two teams that share second place in the American League West and tied for the final Wild Card berth.

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