Could Texas Rangers Outfield Prospect Be on Minds of Trade Partners at Deadline?
The Texas Rangers have a robust farm system at their disposal as they try to make deals that could bolster their AL West-leading team going into the final two months of the season.
The trade deadline is Aug. 1. As one might expect, there are plenty of rumors out there.
So far, the Rangers have been attached to several potential trade targets, including two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. There’s also Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger and an assortment of bullpen options to follow Aroldis Chapman, who was acquired in June.
The cost for a player like Ohtani, for example, could be considerable. It could require the Rangers to give up Major League-ready players and prospects, and some of those prospects would be in the Majors if the Rangers’ everyday order wasn’t as consistent as it is.
Recently, CBS Sports put together a list of eight players who could be traded to contending teams. All of the players listed are top prospects. MLB.com had a similar article earlier this week. Its selection was Rangers middle infield prospect Justin Foscue.
CBS went a different direction, but it’s no less valid — outfield prospect Dustin Harris.
Right now, Harris is a starter at Triple-A Round Rock. But, if he were to be promoted to the Majors by the Rangers, he might not even play, per CBS:
Harris, originally snatched from the Oakland Athletics in the 2020 trade for Mike Minor, does a lot of things well at the plate. He minds the zone; he makes a good amount of contact; and he hits plenty of balls in the 10-to-30-degree window. We're including him because we think he might lose the numbers game in Texas. The Rangers have received surprising production this season from Leody Taveras, Travis Jankowski, and Ezequiel Duran, and at some point they'll need to clear room for top prospect Evan Carter. Whoever employs Harris should see him reach the majors sometime over the next year.
A player that is nearly MLB-ready would be a good trade chip for the Rangers as the deadline approaches.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
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