Going Inside Trade Deadline Deals by Texas Rangers
The timing for the Texas Rangers to become aggressive at the MLB trade deadline wasn't an overnight thought. General manager Chris Young had the green light from management once wins began to pile up and postseason conversation became a point of interest.
According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Texas envisioned making significant moves to improve the roster in early June. Ownership was on board, with Young pulling the trigger on several-high profile moves, including landing three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer once it was evident the early-season success was more than a flash in the pan.
The Rangers were in prime position to make moves due to their high-scoring offense, rich farm system and "trump card of urgency." Texas is still looking for its first World Series title in its 51-year existence.
Per Passan's report:
The Rangers had recognized starting pitching represented a potential weakness and resolved to address it at the deadline. Texas didn't want just any starter, though. The Rangers sought impact arms, ones who could start what they hoped would be their first postseason games since 2016.
By June, the Mets looked lost in the race for a postseason spot. Young and the Rangers checked in with New York general manager Billy Eppler a few weeks before the trade deadline to see where the team sat in being sellers before Aug. 1.
According to Passan, there was a sense Eppler, the architect tasked by Mets owner Steve Cohen to build a championship-contending roster, might be willing to "punt" on the year and plan for 2024, even though New York had committed more than $450 million in salaries and luxury-tax payments.
Young primarily gauged the statuses of Scherzer and fellow Cy Young teammate Justin Verlander. Of the two, Texas was more intrigued with the former, who had an opt-out clause following the 2023 season.
There was a catch, though. The Rangers would need money coming back, lots of money, a refrain that would prove common with other teams that understood the Mets' calculus: Owner Steve Cohen, the richest man in baseball, could easily subsidize the salaries if teams were willing to send better prospects in return.
Texas knew it needed to act once division foe Los Angeles made it clear that two-way player Shohei Ohtani was off the market, and the franchise would be going "all-in" to win in 2023. The pitching market became scarce once the Angels added White Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito and the Dodgers traded for former Rangers starter Lance Lynn.
According to Passan, Scherzer met with Cohen after the Mets traded closer David Robertson to the Miami Marlins to discuss the organization's future plans. Cohen said he wasn't planning on having a spending spree in 2024 and that their window to win would come in 2025.
Scherzer made it clear he would not stop any deal involving him, so long as it landed him on a contending roster. Texas and New York began the framework of a trade surrounding 21-year-old infielder Luisangel Acuña for the 39-year-old ace.
The Mets would land an emerging five-tool player while covering $35.51 million of the $58.01 million owed to Scherzer through 2024, while the Rangers would bolster their rotation in hopes of winning the AL West for the first time since 2016.
Finally, around 8:30 p.m. ET on July 29, Scherzer said yes, heeding the words of Erica, who had said: "We've got to go where we can win."
Texas still wasn't done. While acquiring Scherzer, Young had been in contact with St. Louis Cardinals team president John Mozeliak about acquiring 30-year-old left-hander Jordan Montgomery, who was entering the final year of his contract. Initially, the Rangers targeted a deal around Montgomery and closer Jordan Hicks, but turned their attention to reliever Chris Stratton.
In return, Texas was willing to part ways with infielder Thomas Saggese and right-handed prospect Tekoah Roby, along with major league reliever John King.
"Kip and our whole scouting department deserve credit for that," Young told Passan. "When I came in, I didn't know the criticism he and JD and the front office had taken [for 2020]. It could turn out to be one of the best drafts the Rangers have ever had."
Since the deadline, Texas has gone 10-1, winning four consecutive series. Scherzer is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Montgomery is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 11 Ks. In four combined starts, the duo also has given their bullpen breathing room, lasting at least six innings per contest.
The Rangers enter Monday with a 2.5-game lead over the Houston Astros in the American League West. They're 3.0 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the best record in the AL. Most of all, the ball club looks as if it isn't slowing down.
Years of building a farm system led the Rangers to go for it all at the deadline. Thoughts are no longer focused on if the franchise can end its six-year playoff drought, but how far the team can go into October.
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