The Texas Rangers completed multiple trades for pitchers just before Thursday’s MLB trade deadline to strengthen their staff and boost their push for a postseason berth.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the Rangers were searching for a way to boost the performance of their pitching unit, with multiple players on the team’s radar heading into the Thursday deadline.
In a busy final stretch before the deadline, the Rangers made three trades to strengthen both their starting rotation and bullpen, addressing their key needs to remain competitive in the American League West standings.
The centerpiece of the deadline haul was the acquisition of right-hander Merrill Kelly from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kelly, who was the lone Diamondbacks pitcher to defeat the Rangers during the 2023 World Series, carries a 3.22 ERA over 22 starts this season with 121 strikeouts and a 9-6 record in nearly 129 innings.
Though not overpowering, Kelly’s consistency and experience in big moments make him a strong addition to this pitching rotation in the final portion of the season.
To reinforce the bullpen, the Rangers acquired lefty reliever Danny Coulombe from the Minnesota Twins.
Coulombe, who has been one of the best bargains in free agency this year, boasts excellent splits against left-handed batters and has been effective against righties, too.
On a contract of only $3 million for 2025, Coulombe did not allow any runs before June and has contributed key innings without taxing workloads.
Across his 40 total appearances this season, Coulombe has produced an ERA of only 1.16 and 31 strikeouts.
Texas also made a move to acquire veteran reliever Phil Maton from the St. Louis Cardinals, who will immediately step in and contribute for the Rangers to finish out the season.
Maton has managed to put together a solid season with 40 appearances, acquiring an ERA of just 2.35 with 48 strikeouts while only allowing 28 total hits.
Departures from these trades included sending multiple pitchers away to help bolster the current roster, with Texas losing lefties Garrett Horn, Mason Molina, Kohl Drake, and Mitch Bratt, along with righties Skyler Hales and David Hagaman.
Although these losses might seem major, General Manager Chris Young sent a clear message with these trades that the franchise believes it can make a deep postseason run this year.
The Rangers currently sit just one game behind the Seattle Mariners for the final wild card spot in the American League, with the team having 52 games to make up the difference to cap off the regular season.
With these moves, the Rangers hope to maintain momentum and capitalize on their strong recent performances to propel themselves back into the postseason picture.