Texas Rangers Projected To Acquire Top Closer via Trade

The Texas Rangers went out in 2023 and made a big move at the trade deadline to acquire Aroldis Chapman. He would go on to help them win the World Series.

Could they try to pull off the same feat in 2026?

Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has projected the Rangers to go out and trade for one of two big-name closers this season to help them get back to the top of the division.

Both Aroldis Chapman and Jhoan Duran are elite closers who have turned into unnecessary luxuries for teams that are off to atrocious starts to the season. Can the Boston Red Sox and/or Philadelphia Phillies, respectively, turn things around?

Maybe. There's still five months to go in the regular season. But if either of them continues to flounder into the summer, those high-octane relievers could be available to the highest bidder. And that's where the Texas Rangers would come in, suggests Miller.

Either one is more than good enough to be the primary closer for a World Series hopeful.
Whoever it is (that becomes available), look for the Rangers to acquire him.

The reasoning can be explained by looking at the tale of Texas's last two seasons. In 2024, they went out and dealt for Chapman, and, as mentioned above, went on to charge down the stretch and win the World Series.

In 2025, however, the Rangers did not address a stumbling bullpen. They faltered down the stretch, finished at .500, and didn't make the playoffs.

Texas knows which of the two paths they'd prefer to travel this season.

"If any team understands the importance of having a strong back end of the bullpen for the stretch run, it's Texas," writes Miller.

And the old 'bullpen-by-committee' approach that they're going with doesn't often work for winning championships.

"If the Rangers are still in the postseason hunt three months from now, they'll make a big move for a closer." And mark Chapman and Duran as two potential targets.