Many teams across the MLB opted to go all-in before Tuesday’s trade deadline in a race to win the 2024 World Series, but the Texas Rangers seemingly decided to move forward with the current team after only making a few changes to the team.
Despite struggling to begin the year due to a combination of injuries and hitting slumps, the Rangers now find themselves just 4.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners for first place in the American League West Division.
Texas will now have the opportunity to compete for a playoff spot and the chance to defend its World Series following a run of winning in July where the team went 14-10.
The Rangers were initially expected to be one of the biggest sellers leading into the trade deadline, but the team decided to remain largely the same with the addition of only three players in the past week.
The first move made by the Rangers was a trade to acquire catcher Carson Kelly from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor league players Liam Hicks and Tyler Owens, per ESPN.
Kelly is batting .240 for the season with an on-base plus slugging percentage of .391 with seven home runs, though it remains to be seen whether he will replace the Rangers’ current starting catcher Jonah Heim, or if he will serve as the team’s backup.
The second trade completed by the Rangers was to pick up left-handed pitcher Walter Pennington from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for starting right-handed pitcher Michael Lorenzen, according to WFAA.
While Pennington has only appeared in one game thus far in the 2024 season, the Rangers were likely searching for a longer-term piece that could make an impact on the team in the coming years.
Texas also decided to add help to the bullpen with a trade to acquire left-handed reliever Andrew Chafin, sending minor league right-handed pitchers Chase Lee and Joseph Montalvo to the Tigers.
Through five games played in the 2024 season, Chafin has put together a record of 3-2 with an ERA of just 3.16, striking out 50 batters while giving up only 35 hits in his appearances.
General manager Chris Young said on Tuesday night that he believes this roster has what it takes to repeat as World Series Champions, pointing to the success from last season and the abilities of those already on the roster.
“I truly believe our best baseball is ahead of us these next two months. So I think it’s a big show of confidence in this group, and in their ability, their talent level. I’m excited to see this come together. But this division is very tough. Houston is very good. Seattle is very good,” he said, per Sports Illustrated.
“And we certainly have dug ourselves a little bit of a hole here. But nobody’s run away with the division. And we feel confident that these next two months, if we play to the level that we think we can, that we can compete for the division title.”
Young emphasized that he has faith in those who were already on the roster but is “certainly excited about the players” the franchise added before the deadline because they will “help our team and improve us in areas of need.”
The Rangers are set to continue their season on Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. with a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by a three-game series beginning on Friday at home against the Boston Red Sox.