Some Players The Rangers Could Target at The 2025 Trade Deadline

I don't think that it is any secret that the Rangers are not in perfect shape and could definitely use some reinforcements if they want to go deep into the playoffs. What do they need to improve the team? They most definitely will need a closer and maybe another arm or 2 with Chris Martin going down for at least 4-6 weeks. They also could potentially add a bat to help out the offense.

Let's start with the bullpen arms:

Danny Coulombe- Unfortunately he is a rental, but probably won't be too expensive. Maybe top 8-15 prospect? Coulombe has been very good this year, he is a lefty arm but he pitches to both sides. In fact, he has thrown to righties more this year. Coulombe as of right now when I am writing this has a 0.93 ERA with a 1.85 FIP. He has been elite this year. He has only thrown 30 innings this year because of a left forearm extensor strain he had in May and he missed a month. Coulombe strikeout 9.3 batters per nine innings, and he has yet to give up a homer this year. He has also stranded 95.8% of baserunners this year. I feel like the Rangers could definitely use an arm in the bullpen like that.

David Bednar- Bednar is under contract until after next season so that could help the Rangers out in the offseason with not needing to grab a closer if they get him. Bednar has been good this year for the Pirates, he has yet to blow a save in his 15 opportunities. Bender currently has a 2.31 ERA and a 2.04 FIP. He would fit well into the Rangers bullpen at the closer position. Bednar does a good job of striking out hitters, he has a 12.34 K rate. The Rangers could definitely use a guy who can strikeout hitters. Bednar won't be super cheap but he won't be super expensive like Felix Bautista(now injured) or Jhoan Duran. Maybe 2 top 7-16 prospects in our system? I could totally be off on the prices I'm just guessing.

Griffin Jax- Jax will be a free agent in 2028 so he has a good amount of control. He will be expensive. The Twins are asking for two top 100 prospects or around there. I wonder if the Rangers can even get it done though, assuming Walcott will be untouchable. I would love to land Griffin Jax for sure though. Jax has been good for the twins the past couple years. Though his ERA is just above 4 at a 4.09 he is still a very good arm. His FIP is good at a 2.07 and his expected numbers are good, so he has been unlucky. Jax has some of the best swing and miss stuff in the game and the Rangers could definitely use him. He has a diverse pitch mix that includes 6 pitches and he throws his sweeper the most. He did close games for the Twins last year and is the set up man to Jhoan Duran. The Twins could move both but I see them moving at least one of the two arms. I possibly see Griffin Jax being the least expensive of the two because Duran is the closer.

Anthony Bender- Bender is under contract up until the 2028 season so he has control as well. Bender has a 1.91 ERA so far this season for the Marlins. He doesn't strike out a ton of hitters, but he does get ground balls at a good rate. Bender's sweeper is definitely his best pitch opponents are hitting .077 against it. His sinker also gets him some decent results. The Rangers have the best defense in baseball, so the amount of ground balls will be good for him. Now the price on him, I have no clue of what it could be. It certainly won't be cheap because of the control he does have.

Brock Stewart- Stewart is also a free agent in 2028. Brock Stewart is another arm that the twins have polished alongside Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax. Stewart hasn't been in any rumors to my knowledge so who knows if Minnesota wants to move him, but he is an option and CY will get creative in his pursuit for arms. He does get a lot of strikeouts due to his good fastball that runs up to the mid to high 90s. Stewart has a 2.51 ERA with a 3.12 FIP this year. This year he also done a good job of stranding runners in his 32.1 innings he has thrown this year. Brock Stewart's price is unknown as well but I assume it will be lower than what Griffin Jax's and Jhoan Duran's, but it still won't be cheap by any means.

You might have noticed a theme in most of the names I talked about. What is it? It is control (except Coulombe), the Rangers are probably going to want controllable arms because most of the bullpen this year are free agents after this season. Three of the four Rangers leverage arms will be free agents. Hoby Milner, Chris Martin, Shawn Armstrong will all go to the open market this winter. Currently the Rangers are looking at Robert Garcia, Jacob Latz, Cole Winn and Caleb Boushley in their bullpen next year. It's safe to say the Rangers will need arms for sure.