The Texas Rangers aren't quite ready to say they are sellers, but this week will say a lot about which path they choose ahead of this month's MLB Trade Deadline.
Despite the Rangers being six games under .500 at 42-18, the club is just six games behind the division-leading Seattle Mariners with six games to play until the All-Star break and 17 games until the July 30 deadline.
Audacy MLB insider Bob Nightengale reported Sunday that rival general managers believe the Rangers will make several pitchers available for trade barring a "dramatic turnaround."
During his recent visits with local media members and the G-Bag Nation on 105.3 The Fan, Rangers general manager Chris Young has been steadfast in his belief that the club can play better baseball, climb out of the hole they dug themselves into in the first half of the season, and wasn't considering making any moves to deplete the club of its core veterans.
Young was asked about Nightengale's report ahead of the club's three-game series against the Angels and continued to beat the same drum before adding one small caveat.
"I think we're evaluating all paths. The reality is that we have to be prepared that if this road trip or the month of July doesn't go well, then we certainly, at some point, have to look to 2025," Young said. "Bob (Nightengale) didn't reach out to me specifically. He got his content from other execs, so you can take that for what it is. But, nonetheless, I've been very clear with our media locally that I believe in this team. I believe that this team is capable of a very big run. We saw that last year. We have not played our best baseball, by any means. I want to stand pat as long as we possibly can to give this team every opportunity to prove what they're capable of doing."
Young pointed to the tight AL West race as a big reason why the club remains optimistic about its chances of getting back into the playoff race, but his primary focus is on the club getting to .500, as opposed to catching the Mariners and Astros.
"I'd like to see us continue to march towards .500. I'm not even really concerned about the games back in the division as much as I am about getting back to .500. Then once we get back to .500, if we play above-average baseball like we're capable of, the division will take care of itself," Young said. "We play head-to-head with all of the opponents in front of us, so we'll have an opportunity to make up ground in those games. But the reality is - I'll take the last six games - we went 4-2. If we can continue that pace, we will be a playoff team. ... I recognize that we've got an uphill battle. But I do believe our best baseball is in front of us."
The Rangers have stayed afloat behind a pitching staff that has been stellar despite its top arms missing time this season (deGrom, Scherzer, Eovaldi, Mahle Gray, Sborz, Bradford, Dunning). And thanks to Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, Nathaniel Lowe, Leody Taveras and Jonah Heim's turnarounds from early season slumps, combined with the staff's strong performance, Texas has won five of its last seven games.
And more help in the form of third baseman Josh Jung, outfielder Evan Carter, and starters Tyler Mahle and Jacob deGrom is on the way.
"We're hopeful to get Josh Jung back right after the All-Star break. Evan Carter at some point maybe a little bit later than that. Tyler Mahle is doing great on his rehab assignment. Jacob deGrom is making progress. So there are some real things to look forward to as we get into the second half, but we can't dig a bigger hole than where we are."