The Texas Rangers started the season with hopes of bouncing back as World Series contenders, believing their pitching staff and lineup were strong enough to make them active at the MLB trade deadline. However, with the July 31 deadline fast approaching, it appears Texas may be open to trading one of its top players.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, All-Star outfielder is on the move this summer. While the Rangers are not looking to trade Jacob deGrom or Nathan Eovaldi, it seems they may be prepared to part ways with Garcia, a former postseason hero for the team.
At 32 years old, Garcia is a two-time All-Star who appeared to be one of the top corner outfielders in baseball during the 2023 season. That year, he earned a spot on the All-MLB Second Team, won a Gold Glove Award, and was selected as an All-Star for the second time in three years. He later added an ALCS MVP to his resume and capped off his postseason with a World Series ring, posting 8 home runs, 22 RBIs, and a 1.108 OPS.
However, his offensive performance has sharply declined since then. Over the past two seasons, Garcia has posted a .228/.282/.396 batting line with a .681 OPS, while striking out more (274) than he has hits (212) in 933 at-bats. As of now, he ranks last among qualified outfielders in on-base percentage (.276) and has the second-lowest wRC+ (86) among his peers.
Interested teams will likely view Garcia as a buy-low opportunity, hoping they can help him regain his offensive form. Even if his bat doesn’t bounce back, the veteran right fielder remains elite defensively. He entered the week leading all right fielders in Defensive Runs Saved (14) and ranks in the 94th percentile for Arm Strength (92.2) according to Baseball Savant.
From the Rangers’ standpoint, trading Garcia would open up more opportunities for other players, potentially sparking the lineup. At the very least, Texas has signaled to other teams that they aren’t looking to pursue a full rebuild at the trade deadline.
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