Texas Rangers at a Crossroads: Buyers or Sellers at MLB Trade Deadline?

While the Major League Baseball trade deadline is well over a month away, teams are already starting to figure out if they're going to be "buyers" or "sellers". Sadly, the Texas Rangers appear to be falling way behind expectations this season, which means they will probably fall into the "sellers" category.

Looming Trade Deadline: Will Rangers Be Sellers?

To be fair to the Rangers; the MLB trade deadline doesn't arrive until 6pm on July 31st, so they do have time to turn things around. Considering they recently hung 16 runs in a pair of game (16 in each game) against the Minnesota Twins, there's still a chance that could happen.

Texas is just a handful of games under .500, and roughly 5 games out of first place in the AL West...but that still puts them in 4th place. They're behind the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, and Houston Astros in the division. They also have a positive run differential right now, scoring about 23 more runs than they have given up this year.

The pieces are in place for Texas to be a good baseball team this year. Which is why they would qualify as "sellers" if they continue to scuffle. Because the team has talent, which is why they should be good, and if that talent is useful to a winning team, Texas could help their future.

Potential Trade Targets: Key Texas Rangers Players on the Block

Rangers players like Nathan Eovaldi, Adolis Garcia, or maybe even Marcus Semien, could be placed on the trade block.

If the Rangers attempt to trade any of those three listed players, this is going to be a signal that they are sellers. If the team tries to trade smaller pieces, or prospects, that's how we know they view themselves as buyers. Players like Eovaldi, Garcia, and Semien are major pieces of the Rangers organization, and parting with them is a form of reset.

Moving big pieces would likely result in quality prospects coming into the organization. We have recently seen teams go from "sellers" to up-and-coming teams across baseball. Most recently the Washington Nationals were able to turn some trade deadline deals into an exciting, young team. While the Nats haven't turned it into a winning season yet, their talent is the envy of many teams.

We will have to wait for the first move from Texas to know what direction they're going. But it does appear that the Rangers will be active at the deadline.