If the Texas Rangers ace is made available, the Blue Jays need to go all in

After winning the World Series in 2023, the Texas Rangers followed it up with a disappointing 2024 campaign. They also haven't been able to replicate any of their success so far in 2025. After defeating the Los Angeles Angels 11-4 on July 10, the Rangers improved their record to 46-48 - and while they are only 3.5 games back in the Wild Card race, there are seven other American League teams within six games of the Boston Red Sox for the last bid.

Depending on the Rangers' last two weeks before the trade deadline, the front office will decide if it needs to wave the white flag and trade off valuable assets. The Rangers are currently in Houston playing the Astros. After the All-Star break, they have three consecutive home series (Detroit Tigers, Athletics, and Atlanta Braves), and then finish a road series with the Angels.

This schedule paints a scenario where the Rangers are facing an even steeper climb in the Wild Card race. If the front office decides to sell, they could greatly benefit from the lack of sellers and reap valuable assets for their ace, Jacob deGrom. The only issue is that deGrom is under contract until after the 2027 season, making $115.1 million over these three seasons, and has a $20 million club option for 2028 that could turn into a $37 million player option based on performance criteria.

DeGrom, being 37 and oft-injured, could help Blue Jays General Manager Ross Atkins start a conversation about acquiring the two-time Cy Young Award winner. Over his previous five seasons, the righty hadn't exceeded 97 innings due to injury. Atkins has two ways to approach this trade, but it'd likely result in the Blue Jays eating the entire contract and sending one or two lower-tier prospects.

The biggest issue to deter this trade is that the Blue Jays exceed the Competitive Balance Tax Space by $30 million and owe $10 million for being repeat offenders. However, Atkins can negotiate the Rangers eating some of the remaining contract for better prospects, but the big-market Blue Jays should have no issues taking the remaining contract.

Either way, if deGrom's name gets added to the trade block, the Blue Jays need to make that call. He has 9-2 record, 2.29 ERA, and a 105:24 strikeout:walk ratio. If added, the ace would lead an outstanding rotation into postseason play, joining Kevin Gausman, José Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and/or Max Scherzer.

This is a long shot acquisition, and cheaper options are out there, including one that just got cheaper after Chris Paddack imploded on Thursday, giving up six earned runs to the Chicago Cubs. The Blue Jays need to make a decision on how to best improve the rotation and while they could go the Paddack route, the ace of the Rangers also offers an intriguing option.