It’s not an overstatement to say that this upcoming four-game series between Seattle and Texas is the most important series of the season for the Rangers.

There are five potential outcomes:

1. They sweep, gaining four games on Seattle.

2. They go 3-1, gaining two games.

3. They split, treading water.

4. They go 1-3, losing two games in the standings.

5. They are swept, dropping four games in the standings.

Chances are, the team that finished 81-81 last year and is 51-51 so far this year will choose option 3, splitting with Seattle and be nowhere closer to any sort of resolution.

The trade deadline is nine days away on August 3. Usually, teams that are trying to make a playoff push trade some of their best prospects for players that fill holes. Trouble is, the Rangers don’t have best prospect. After Sabastion Walcott, the pantry is bare.

That means guys like Cam Cauley, Alejandro Osuna, or Even Carter could be trade chips. How badly would both the Yankees and Red Sos want Corey Seager? Jake Burger would be coveted by teams looking for a little extra pop. So would Joc Pederson. 

The point is, if the Rangers think they have a serious run in them, they’re going to have to deal from their major league roster, not minor leaguers. They don’t have any of those anyone would want.

But playoff talk is premature. The Rangers need to get through these next four game to get a clearer picture of the next two months. 

They could win this horrible division. Or finish third. It’s up to them.

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