According to MLB insider Francys Romero, Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García is attracting trade interest from “several teams.” While Romero didn’t specify which teams, it’s clear that there are multiple contenders who could benefit from adding an outfielder like García.
After a breakout 2023 season where he hit 39 home runs and put up a postseason performance that drew comparisons to Barry Bonds, García has cooled off significantly this year. Currently, he’s hitting .234/.279/.404 with 13 home runs, but he showed signs of resurgence in June and has managed to maintain that momentum into July. Defensively, García remains strong in right field, with 14 defensive runs saved (DRS), which ranks him third in all of baseball.
If he can continue his hot streak, García could be a valuable trade acquisition come the deadline—assuming the Rangers are open to dealing him. He’s under club control through next season, so he would be a relatively affordable option for teams looking to improve for the future. While we don’t know which teams have reached out to Texas yet, there are a few potential landing spots that make sense if he’s traded at all.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have spared no expense ensuring the dynasty they established would be built to last. And while CBO Andrew Friedman said that trading for an outfielder is an unlikely scenario, MLB insider Jon Heyman recently speculated that the Dodgers could be in on White Sox OF Luis Robert Jr.
This uncomfortable position has been brought on by the struggles of left fielder Michael Conforto, who owns a meager .620 OPS and -3 DRS this year. Conforto is the one major weak link in an otherwise unstoppable team. The Dodgers have a few backup options, such as moving Tommy Edman to the outfield in place of Conforto and playing Hyeseong Kim at second base every day, but this is something they have been hesitant to do. Replacing Conforto with García would not only give the Dodgers added depth, but also an upgrade with valuable postseason experience.
Philadelphia Phillies
Like the Dodgers, the Phillies are also having trouble with left field. Offseason acquisition Max Kepler has slumped to the tune of a .678 OPS and has been a neutral defender in the outfield, definitely not why they signed him.
Although CBO Dave Dombrowski previously dismissed the idea of adding an outfielder since most outfield trade candidates were struggling at the time, things may have changed. García’s resurgence when coupled with Kepler’s endless slump might be enough to spur him into action. If not, the window to get veteran star Zack Wheeler back to the fall classic is slowly closing and should give Dombrowski some added motivation to take the plunge.
New York Mets
The Mets completed construction on a championship-caliber team this this offseason. With a foothold on the second wild-card spot, it would seem the Mets are a postseason-bound team. However, their 55-42 record lags most other viable NL postseason hopefuls, begging the question of what might happen when they get there. Their one chink in the armor has been their lack of solid lineup depth.
If acquired by the Mets, García would replace primary centerfielder Tyrone Taylor, who’s lackluster performance at the plate (.580 OPS) has weighed on the team’s otherwise stellar offense. García would take over at one of the corner outfield positions and push Nimmo back to being a full-time center fielder.
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