Who are the Texas Rangers targeting as the MLB trade deadline approaches?

The MLB trade deadline of Aug. 1 is quickly approaching, which means teams don’t have much time left to make trades this season.

The Texas Rangers are 59-41 and coming off a 7-2 homestand following the all-star break. Despite sitting in first place in the American League West the Rangers are still looking for ways to improve their roster.

Here are some players the Rangers have been linked to ahead of the deadline and other players rumored to be available.

The Rangers traded relief pitcher Taylor Hearn to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations on Monday in their first move since trading for closer Aroldis Chapman in late June.

Shohei Ohtani

The currently leading candidate for American League MVP, Ohtani is slated to be a free agent this offseason and not expected to re-sign with the Los Angles Angels. That has led some to predict the Angels will trade him before the deadline in an attempt to recoup some value.

ESPN’s Buster Onley listed the Rangers as one of three teams interested in Ohtani and said on 92.1 The Ticket with radio host Josh Betraccini that he expected the Rangers to be aggressive in trying to trade for the Ohtani.

Ohtani has gone 8-5 with a 3.71 ERA this season as a pitcher. Ohtani might be even better from behind the plate this season with a .302 batting average with 36 home runs (which leads the majors) and 77 RBIs.

Lance Lynn

Mentioned by Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Chicago White Sox pitcher has gone 6-9 with a 6.18 ERA this season.

Lynn has a history with the Rangers playing two seasons in Texas from 2019-2020. Lynn would add another starting pitcher to the rotation which could allow Dane Dunning to return to the bullpen which could help further stabilize that unit.

Lucas Giolito

Another White Sox pitcher linked with Rangers this time by the New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Giolito will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason but would add another talented arm to the Rangers starting rotation.

Giolito is 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA this year but has other suitors including the Cincinnati Reds.

Marcus Stroman, Blake Snell & Josh Hader

The Chicago Cubs are currently 5.5 games back in the NL Wild Card standings and could become sellers at the deadline because of their lack of postseason prospects.

Stroman is 10-7 with a 3.09 ERA and was an all-star this season and has a player option for next season.

The San Diego Padres have been one of the most disappointing teams in the majors, sitting six games out of the wild card despite having the third-highest payroll in the MLB. They could look to get some capital with Snell and Hader both headed for unrestricted free agency this offseason.

Snell, the 2018 Cy Young Award winner, has gone 6-8 with a 2.67 ERA. Hader, one of the MLB’s best closers, has gone 0-1 with an 0.97 ERA with 24 saves in 28 opportunities.

MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry listed these three pitchers as players the Rangers should go after if they look to improve their pitching at the trade deadline.

Cody Bellinger

With Corey Seager suffering from a right thumb injury, the Rangers could look to add another bat to the lineup with the Cubs outfielder who was teammates with Seager on the Dodgers.

Bellinger is in the midst of a bounce-back season hitting .319 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs. Bellinger would also bring playoff experience having won the 2020 World Series, and 2018 NLCS MVP, with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bellinger has a mutual option for next season.

The Rangers have until the MLB trade deadline on Aug. 1 to make any last-minute adjustments to the team.