Stock Up: MLB trade deadline winner – Texas Rangers
One of the more surprising teams this season has been the Texas Rangers. They have spent most of the season in first place in the American League West, but the Astros have been creeping closer to the top and the Rangers wasted little time in adding.
They acquired closer Aroldis Chapman from the Kansas City Royals in late June before hitting it big beginning last weekend. They acquired Scherzer from the New York Mets in exchange for their third-ranked prospect, Luisangel Acūna, younger brother of Atlanta Braves start Ronald.
Tuesday, Texas acquired left-hander Jordan Montgomery from St. Louis and added Chris Stratton to the bullpen. They also added catching depth with Austin Hedges.
We’ve acquired LHP Jordan Montgomery, RHP Chris Stratton & International Bonus Pool Money from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for INF Thomas Saggese, RHP Tekoah Roby and LHP John King. pic.twitter.com/4woVxP2Ico
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 30, 2023
Texas has not made the postseason since 2016 and they are determined to change that in 2023. A good team got much better and the case can be made that the two best teams in the AL reside in the West with the Rangers and Astros, who reacquired Justin Verlander from the Mets. It would be surprising to see an all-Texas ALCS in October as both teams made the biggest upgrades to their roster at the deadline in the American League.