The Texas Rangers are eyeing a potential trade for Josh Naylor as they look to fix their struggling offense ahead of the July 30 deadline.
At 42-44, the defending World Series champions find themselves in a familiar spot – within striking distance but needing help. They’re just 2 1/2 games back in the Wild Card race, though the AL West looks like a longer shot with Houston sitting 9 1/2 games ahead.
The offense has been the main culprit. Texas ranks dead last in OPS at designated hitter and 22nd at first base, which is where Naylor comes in.
ESPN’s David Schoenfield sees Naylor as a natural fit for the Rangers’ needs.
“The Rangers rank 22nd in the majors in OPS at first base and last at DH, so even factoring in this season’s odd low-run environment at Globe Life Field, Naylor is a solution for either position, especially considering their DHs this past week included light-hitting journeyman Sam Haggerty and whichever catcher wasn’t starting.”
That’s a pretty telling snapshot of where things stand.
What Naylor Brings
The Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman is having himself a year. He’s slashing .304/.359/.474 with 10 homers, 53 RBI, and 10 stolen bases for an .834 OPS.
Those numbers represent solid production from a guy who’s been around the block. Naylor’s spent time with San Diego and Cleveland before landing in Arizona, and he knows what it’s like to contribute on contending teams.
The former All-Star would slot in perfectly at either first base or DH for Texas. Given their current situation at both spots, that flexibility becomes even more valuable.
Rental Market Reality
This would be a rental move – Naylor’s contract expires after the season. But that might be exactly what the Rangers need right now.
They’re not looking for a long-term rebuild. They want to get back in the race this year, and adding a proven run producer could be the difference.
The question becomes whether Arizona is willing to move him. The Diamondbacks are hovering around .500 themselves, so their deadline approach isn’t entirely clear yet.
What’s clear is that Texas needs help if they want to make another October run. The offense has been to inconsistent all season, and Globe Life Field’s run environment hasn’t helped matters.
We’ll see how aggressive the Rangers get as the deadline approaches. But Naylor makes a lot of sense as a target.
