The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros both enter the final stretch before Major League Baseball's trade deadline expecting to add rather than sell, leaving the state's two clubs shopping in the same market at the same time.
The deadline falls Monday, Aug. 3, at 6 p.m. Eastern.
The Rangers arrive in a strong position, sitting atop the American League West after a hot stretch. ESPN identified first base and the bullpen as the two spots where Texas could most use an upgrade, and the Rangers have been linked in reporting to Colorado slugger Hunter Goodman, a move that would rank among the more significant power additions of the summer if completed.
The roster picture shifted this week. Third baseman Josh Jung went on the injured list with a right calf strain, and the Rangers recalled utility man Josh Smith to add infield depth in his absence.
In Houston, general manager Dana Brown has said publicly that he expects the Astros to be buyers, and the club's need is narrower and more obvious. Houston's outfielders opened the week with a combined .664 OPS, the worst mark of any team in the majors, and an outfield bat is the stated priority.
The two clubs are not direct competitors for a division title, playing in the same division but arriving at the deadline from different positions, and both are operating in a market where contending teams outnumber clear sellers.
For fans across North Texas and the Gulf Coast, the next week determines how much either roster changes before the season's final two months. Deadline additions rarely transform a team on their own, but they set the shape of a September push.
