Texas Rangers rumors: Mike Minor, Lance Lynn trades possible

Texas Rangers trade rumors: Mike Minor and Lance Lynn are not slated to pitch again for Texas until after Wednesday afternoon’s trade deadline, which means that each pitcher could have already pitched their final game for the Rangers.

The stories from the beat guys this morning included indications that things were relatively quiet, although the national reporters are saying that activity is not expected to crank up until Tuesday, or possibly even Wednesday in the hours before the 3 p.m. Central deadline. Jon Morosi tweeted last night that the Minnesota Twins have engaged with the Rangers on Minor, but other than that, things have been quiet on the Rangers trade front the last day or so.

Minor continues to be, along with Robbie Ray, the best pitcher that have been identified as likely to move, though I don’t think it is a given Minor will get dealt. The New York Yankees, of course, have been linked with Minor, despite Minor having the Yankees on his no-trade list.

The Yankees look, to me, to be the best fit for a possible Rangers trade. Luis Severino has missed all of this season with a shoulder issue that has his return still in question. James Paxton, C.C. Sabathia, and Masahiro Tanaka all have ERAs approaching 5, and J.A. Happ has an ERA above 5. They still have a big lead in the A.L. East, but are reportedly continuing to look for rotation help.

Which makes me wonder if Lance Lynn to the Yankees could be a possibility. The Yankees, of course, acquired Lynn last summer from the Minnesota Twins, and made some adjustments that helped Lynn pitch much better post-trade. Lynn has been terrific for the Rangers so far in 2019, leading the American League in fWAR among pitchers, and the fact that the Yankees have a history with Lynn, and Lynn had success there last year (4.14 ERA, but with a 2.17 FIP), could make a move more appealing.

Clint Frazier is reportedly being “dangled” by the Yankees, and while the Rangers aren’t desperate for a COF/DH type, Frazier is a righthanded hitter who deserves to be in a major league lineup now. Frazier and pitcher Deivi Garcia are the two prize players you would want to target in a trade of Minor or Lynn to the Yankees, and I’m not sure that a package that doesn’t include one of those two players would be enough to get the Rangers to pull the trigger on a Lynn or Minor deal.

UPDATE — Speaking of the Yankees...