With momentum building and the team now comfortably above .500, the Rangers are finding their rhythm just in time. As the trade deadline approaches, Texas appears poised to be buyers, especially with an eye toward boosting a lineup that has underperformed much of the season due to injuries and inconsistency.
The Rangers have relied heavily on their starting rotation, with standout seasons from Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom. While pitching has kept them afloat, much of the core from their recent World Series run remains intact, and there’s still belief that this group can contend — especially with the AL race wide open and the Astros dealing with injuries of their own.
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To truly contend, however, Texas must strengthen its offense. One intriguing option? Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves.
Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller recently identified Ozuna as a potential buy-low target who could be a fit for the Rangers.
“Most playoff-bound teams have their DH roles locked down and likely won’t inquire about Ozuna,” Miller wrote, “but teams hovering around the wild-card race — like the Padres and Rangers — might be interested.”
The Braves have been one of this season’s biggest disappointments. Expected to contend in the National League, Atlanta never recovered from a slow start, and now seems likely to move veterans on expiring contracts to retool for the future.
Ozuna is one such player. Despite a down year by his standards, his .232/.358/.384 slash line with 13 home runs and 42 RBI could still offer a meaningful upgrade at DH — a position where the Rangers have struggled. Joc Pederson, signed to fill that role, has dealt with injuries and underperformance all year. Though he recently returned to the lineup, his inconsistent play could make a platoon with Ozuna — a right-handed hitter — an effective solution.
Given Ozuna’s expiring contract, the cost to acquire him likely wouldn’t be steep. And with bullpen help also on the Rangers’ wish list, adding a bat like Ozuna’s without surrendering major assets could be a savvy, low-risk move.
