MLB Rumors: Rangers Trying To Trade 2 Big Names Before Friday

The Texas Rangers are staring at a harsh reality this offseason as two key pieces of their 2023 World Series core, Adolis Garcia and Jonah Heim, are now very real trade and even non-tender candidates. 

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Texas is actively shopping both players in the days leading up to the non-tender deadline on Friday, Nov. 21, and if no deals materialize, the front office is prepared to cut them loose rather than carry their projected arbitration salaries into 2026.

Rangers Consider Cost vs. Production On Garcia And Heim

From a distance, moving on from Garcia and Heim sounds shocking. 

Both were 2023 All-Stars and played massive roles in the franchise’s first championship. Garcia mashed his way to ALCS MVP honors and became one of the faces of that run. Heim paired 18 homers and 95 RBIs with Gold Glove caliber work behind the plate. 

The #Rangers are trying to trade OF Adolis García and C Jonah Heim before Friday's tender deadline, per @JeffPassan

Passan notes both players are nontender candidates if TEX can’t find a trade partner. pic.twitter.com/3LyLFV4hW5

— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) November 18, 2025

Since then, though, the performance trend has pointed in the wrong direction. Over the past two seasons, Heim has hit just .217/.269/.334 across 255 games with defensive metrics that are no longer elite. Garcia has posted a .225/.278/.397 line in 289 games, a far cry from his 39-homer, 107-RBI peak.

Arbitration only makes the decision tougher. Heim is projected around six million dollars for 2026, while Garcia is in line for roughly twelve million in what would be his final arbitration year. 

For a Rangers team trying to retool around a tightening budget, those are risky bets on bounce-backs rather than sure things. 

As expected the Texas Rangers are currently shopping around Jonah Heim and Adolis Garcia in trade talks, per @jonmorosi

ESPN's Jeff Passan also noted that Texas is looking to move both before Friday's non-tender deadline. If a deal can’t be reached, Texas is prepared to… pic.twitter.com/zk4sYEYZaY

— Rangers Nation ⚾️ (@Rangers__Nation) November 18, 2025

That is why the front office is working the phones now. 

Trading them would at least recoup some value instead of simply non-tendering two former stars and watching them walk for nothing. Heim, in particular, looks more movable given his salary and the league-wide shortage of quality catching. 

Clubs like the Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, and Philadelphia Phillies all make sense as potential suitors that could justify gambling on a rebound season behind the plate.

Photo Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images