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MLB Trade Deadline: 15 trades that need to happen

By Joshua Sadlock

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 16: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a RBI single in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on July 16, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JULY 16: Andrew McCutchen #22 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a RBI single in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at PNC Park on July 16, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

13. Andrew McCutchen to the Rangers

The 2017 season is shaping up to be a lost year for the Rangers, but that does not mean they should not buy at the deadline. The majority of the team’s core is coming back next year, and 2018 could be the final year of Adrian Beltre’s Hall of Fame career. The Rangers need to capitalize on the last years of their franchise icon’s career.

The trade market for All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen has not fully taken shape, but the Rangers have a loaded farm system that can yield the Pittsburgh Pirates more than one top-100 prospect. Texas would get McCutchen for the rest of this year, but also control him for only $14.75 million next year before taking the inside track in re-signing him long term to play center or left field, positions of need for the team.

McCutchen has rebounded to play perhaps the best baseball of his career over the past two-plus months. His line is up to .291/.380/.514 and he could approach his career high in home runs from 2012, especially if he gets to hit in Texas. Over his past 46 games, McCutchen is batting .387/.485/.675 with 12 doubles, 11 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. His presence would give the Rangers a much-needed dynamic presence that can be counted on to do more than hit home runs and strike out.

If the Rangers do trade Yu Darvish (which they have repeatedly denied as a possibility), that would give them even more ammunition to make a push for McCutchen. Jon Daniels and the Texas front office need to be all in for the next two years while they still have a chance to contend with Beltre and Cole Hamels.

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