MLB Trade Deadline 2017: 5 best spots for J.D. Martinez

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 13: J.D. Martinez #28 of the Detroit Tigers runs to first base after hitting a solo homerun during the ninth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 13, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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CHICAGO, IL – JULY 02: Carlos Gomez #14 of the Texas Rangers throws his bat in the dugout after striking out against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning at Guaranteed Rate Field on July 2, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

1. Texas Rangers

The Tigers should be very interested in engaging in trade talks with the Texas Rangers, a team that has the financial means, the elite prospects, and the need for both a starting pitcher and a corner outfielder. Detroit could attempt to package Justin Verlander and J.D. Martinez in a blockbuster trade with the Rangers. Both could be the missing pieces that help Texas back to the playoffs for a third straight year.

The Rangers are now the furthest below .500 that they have been since May 8 when their record fell to 13-20. A hot stretch in the month of May (which came mostly at the hands of bad teams) pushed them back above .500. With their schedule picking back up in June and early July, the Rangers are finding out that the same weaknesses that pushed them to the bottom of the AL West in April and May still persist.

Texas has a powerful lineup, but too many three-true-outcome hitters that do not provide consistent traffic on the bases. They should not struggle to score runs with dinger machines like Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, and Mike Napoli, but have struck out nearly 800 times as a team this year and have the second-worst team batting average in the American League. Behind Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels, Rangers pitchers have struggled.

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A trade that brings in both Verlander and Martinez would give the Rangers the starting pitcher and left fielder they desperately need. Martinez would provide the protection sorely lacking in the lineup for Adrian Beltre, while Verlander would lighten the load on Hamels, who is working through injuries this year and is only striking out 4.5 per nine. With Beltre up for a new contract at the end of next season, the Rangers need to be bold this year if they hope to continue contending before one of the franchise’s all-time greats calls it a career.

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