Texas Rangers pick up more pitching help before deadline

The Texas Rangers have been one of the biggest buyers in this trade window, and it is no secret that they have been looking specifically for pitchers. Just one day after they closed a monstrous deal to pick up Max Scherzer from the Mets, they added to their shopping cart by grabbing two more arms for their rotation.

This time, they have picked up southpaw starter Jordan Montgomery and right handed reliever Chris Stratton from the St Louis Cardinals. It cost them a pitcher and two prospects, but the Rangers have a big hole to fill in their rotation.

Scherzer is a big haul, to be sure, and will certainly be in the Hall of Fame after he retires, but even he can’t solve all of Texas’ woes. Montgomery will go a good way toward filling that gap, but even as he was traded for, the Rangers were dealt a blow as Nathan Eovaldi was placed on the 15-day injured list with forearm tightness, which is often a precursor to UCL trouble.

Montgomery’s 3.42 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 21 starts this year is just the kind of thing that the Rangers are looking for, but they may not be done just yet.

With Jonah Heim out with wrist trouble, they may need to trade for a bat as well, but even if they don’t go down that road, the Rangers will likely be looking for one more pitcher, probably a reliever.

They have been linked to Justin Verlander, although Scherzer’s signing may negate another big-money starter. Rumors are that they are interested in Marcus Stroman, but with the Cubs taking Cody Bellinger off the market yesterday, they may be cooling on how willing they are to trade players away, switching from sellers to potential buyers.