Would Rangers Deal This Prospect at Deadline?

The Texas Rangers have put themselves in a position to be buyers at the Aug. 1 trade deadline. It will be the first time in a while the Rangers have been there.

The club has been attached to several potential trade targets, including two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani. There’s also Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger and an assortment of bullpen options to follow Aroldis Chapman.

But for the Rangers to get talent, they’ll have to give some up, too. That means parting with top prospects. And the Rangers have one of the best farm systems in baseball.

MLB.com recently put together a list of the prospects most likely to be traded at the deadline, one from each team.

The site selected infielder Justin Foscue, the organization's No. 6 prospect. The reasons are clear:

Yep, he’s from the same school that produced current Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe.

The Rangers selected Foscue in the first round of the 2020 Draft and he’s worked his way up to Triple-A Round Rock.

Along the way, he’s developed a reputation as one of the organization’s best hitters, and manager Bruce Bochy was impressed with Foscue’s bat during Spring Training.

He’s batting .274/.394/.489/.883 with 11 home runs and 44 RBI at Round Rock.

But, as MLB.com pointed out, Foscue will have a hard time making the Rangers. He’s a natural middle infielder and the Rangers have an answer there for the next few years in second baseman Marcus Semien and shortstop Corey Seager. The Rangers have played him at third base, but that position belongs to Josh Jung now.

So, Foscue is practically an MLB-ready player who could be a centerpiece of just about any deal the Rangers might make before Aug. 1.