If Texas Rangers Decide To Sell, They Could Be Interesting Trade Partner For Brewers

[Brock Beauchamp]

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic focused on the struggling Texas Rangers in his latest trade deadline roundup. He points out that while it's rare for defending world champions to sell, the Rangers are teetering on that precipice as we head toward mid-July. Texas is in third place in the AL West, six games behind the Seattle Mariners. They're even further out of the Wild Card picture, 7.5 games out of the third Wild Card spot. While those aren't insurmountable numbers, the Houston Astros have been playing much better baseball after an abysmal start to the season while the Rangers have yet to do much better than treading water at any point thus far.

What makes the Rangers particularly interesting is their corps of starting pitchers. Michael Lorenzen is having a stellar season (123 ERA+) while making only $4.5 million this season. He's a free agent at season's end. Nathan Eovaldi is having a similarly good season (128 ERA+), though he is making $16 million this season and if he pitches another ~70-ish innings, a $20 million vesting option kicks in for 2025. If he continues pitching as he has this season, that's probably not a deterrent to any acquiring team. 

The wild card candidate is Max Scherzer, who has a no-trade clause. He was willing to waive that last season but only if the Rangers added an additional season to his contract. There's no telling what Scherzer will do at this deadline; he's 39 years old now and is a free agent at season's end.

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[Brian]

Michael Lorenzen would be a great add for the Brewers if Texas doesn't want something crazy for him. 

[Redd Vencher]

Michael Lorenzen has a 5.05 FIP 4.85 xFIP. He'd be cheap to acquire, but he's not an improvement over the current crop. Scherzer, Eovaldi, Heaney, and Gray are all better options. Eovaldi might cost more than the Brewers are comfortable with, and I doubt the Rangers consider moving him or Gray who are under control for next year anyways. We're down to rentals of Scherzer or Heaney. Neither should be that much to acquire.

[NOMAAM]

22 minutes ago, Redd Vencher said:

Michael Lorenzen has a 5.05 FIP 4.85 xFIP. He'd be cheap to acquire, but he's not an improvement over the current crop. Scherzer, Eovaldi, Heaney, and Gray are all better options. Eovaldi might cost more than the Brewers are comfortable with, and I doubt the Rangers consider moving him or Gray who are under control for next year anyways. We're down to rentals of Scherzer or Heaney. Neither should be that much to acquire.

Scherzer name and no trade clause probably takes him out of brewer price range.  Heaney would be a good add.  Still would like a shot at Eovaldi though.

[Redd Vencher]

2 minutes ago, NOMAAM said:

Scherzer name and no trade clause probably takes him out of brewer price range.  Heaney would be a good add.  Still would like a shot at Eovaldi though.

Scherzer waived his no trade clause to go to a contender last year. I see no reason why he wouldn't waive it to go to the Brewers. Salary isn't going to deter Milwaukee as the Mets are paying a good portion of it already. The only thing that would be out of the price range is if the Rangers demand way more than what he's worth at this point because of his name.

[Harold Hutchison]

53 minutes ago, Redd Vencher said:

Scherzer waived his no trade clause to go to a contender last year. I see no reason why he wouldn't waive it to go to the Brewers. Salary isn't going to deter Milwaukee as the Mets are paying a good portion of it already. The only thing that would be out of the price range is if the Rangers demand way more than what he's worth at this point because of his name.

I'd go with a package of Blake Perkins and Elvis Peguero for Eovaldi.

Gives the Rangers a CF upgrade - Crew gets a veteran ace for 2024-2025 to go with Peralta and maybe Woodruff, and they net a 40-man spot for DL Hall/Devin Williams.

[NOMAAM]

1 hour ago, Redd Vencher said:

Scherzer waived his no trade clause to go to a contender last year. I see no reason why he wouldn't waive it to go to the Brewers. Salary isn't going to deter Milwaukee as the Mets are paying a good portion of it already. The only thing that would be out of the price range is if the Rangers demand way more than what he's worth at this point because of his name.

I’m thinking of the contenders.  Milwaukee would most likely would be low on Max’s list.  Better chance at another ship with LA, Philly, NYY, Baltimore, etc.

[Redd Vencher]

9 minutes ago, NOMAAM said:

I’m thinking of the contenders.  Milwaukee would most likely would be low on Max’s list.  Better chance at another ship with LA, Philly, NYY, Baltimore, etc.

LA, Philly, and New York are all up against the next luxury tax level, which poses issues. Baltimore may look for SP with more control at the deadline with Burnes gone in the offseason.

[brewmann04]

Would Max do for us what Cc did 

[Scooterfletcher]

No way,  CC was a once ever thing.  Scherzer would create hype but is more of a #2 than a cy young ish CC

[LouisEly]

7 hours ago, Redd Vencher said:

LA, Philly, and New York are all up against the next luxury tax level, which poses issues. Baltimore may look for SP with more control at the deadline with Burnes gone in the offseason.

Bingo.  Any money sent by NYM does not offset the amount that goes against the salary cap.  Scherzer would add about $15M to the salary cap number.  Yankees are already $90M over the base threshold, so they will be paying a 60% surcharge on any salary they acquire - that's an additional $9M surcharge on Scherzer's contract.

Same w/LA - $90M over base.  PHI only $10M over base, but Scherzer puts them in a 12% surcharge. 

[Scooterfletcher]

So Louis Ely, and I loved the Patrick Tompkins, Carlton McGee era of Fieldhouse hoops btw, you are implying we can get Scherzer for like a Luis Lara/Jacob Junk type return?