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Texas Rangers rumors: The deep and tradable Texas Rangers bullpen

By Patrick Green

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 23: Texas Rangers Pitcher Keone Kela (50) delivers a pitch during a MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers on June 23, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN.The Rangers defeated the Twins 9-6.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JUNE 23: Texas Rangers Pitcher Keone Kela (50) delivers a pitch during a MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers on June 23, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN.The Rangers defeated the Twins 9-6.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Texas Ranger rumors
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JUNE 23: Texas Rangers Pitcher Keone Kela (50) delivers a pitch during a MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers on June 23, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN.The Rangers defeated the Twins 9-6.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

While Texas Rangers rumors have a number of active reports at the MLB trade deadline, a bit of a surprising area could be the one that gets the most attention from contending teams

The Texas Rangers find themselves in a weird position with future Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre. He is in the last year of his two-year contract and would appear to be one of the Rangers best trade chips. With that said, he has the right to veto any trade and has expressed desire to remain in Texas. Even if they are unable to move the cornerstone third basemen, Texas Rangers rumors seem to assume the team has a plethora of alluring assets to dangle on the market. Veteran pitcher Cole Hamels is one of the obvious ones, but perhaps some of their best trade chips exist within the underrated Rangers bullpen.

The Rangers relieving corps places 8th in all of baseball in fWAR (2.9) while hanging around a similar spot with the 11th-best ERA (3.69). Four of the seven relievers on their roster sport ERAs south of 3.50, with three having strikeouts per nine over 10.00.

Closer Keone Kela is the most notable of the bunch and he is getting hot at the right time. The right-hander has only allowed one run to score over his last nine appearances. Further, he is a perfect 20 for 20 in save opportunities this season. With a shiny 3.41 ERA and an even better 2.66 FIP in 29 innings of work, Kela will be eliciting numerous calls Jon Daniels’ way.

More importantly, he comes with two extra years of control after this half season. At the age of 25, he should be valuable for a good while. Kela is not just a win-now move, rather, he appears to be a short and medium-term bullpen upgrade. That is evidently appealing, especially for a guy who has the strikeout stuff that he possesses.

There are already rumors flying around Kela regarding potential landing spots for the Rangers’ reliever. It is starting to feel predestined that he will be move before the Trade Deadline. They could get a very enticing package in return, considering the value of lockdown bullpen pieces this time of year. He is far from the only arm Texas should field calls on, however.

Next: Volatile Lefty

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