Rangers may sell at trade deadline following Astros sweep

The Texas Rangers appeared to be buyers ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Getting swept by the Houston Astros over the weekend may have changed those plans.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the Rangers are willing to listen to offers for pitchers MacKenzie Gore and Jacob Latz. Morosi also noted that the Rangers have spoken to teams about pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, although his full no-trade clause and $24 million salary due in 2027 are prohibitive to any deal.

Gore has been a disappointment in his first season with the Rangers. He has posted a 4.77 ERA and a 1.255 WHiP over his 122.2 innings entering Monday, striking out 136 batters with 44 walks. Gore is under team control through next season.

Five games made drastic difference in Texas Rangers' plans

Latz, meanwhile, has four more years of team control. The 30-year-old is in the midst of a breakout season as the Rangers closer, posting a 1.80 ERA and a 0.660 WHiP over his 50 innings, recording 21 saves while striking out 51 batters with 11 walks.

Eovaldi also has not lived up to expectations this season. He has posted a 4.31 ERA and a 1.209 WHiP over his 127.1 innings, striking out 135 batters with 30 walks. 

The Rangers entered Wednesday with a 55-52 record and a two-game lead over the Astros. That has evaporated as the Rangers are in the midst of a five-game losing streak and are currently two games behind Houston. While they could still look to supplement the roster in the coming hours, the Rangers' slide has placed them squarely in the middle ground of potentially buying and selling.