Texas Rangers: Why They'll Have to Make a Move in July to Win Another Pennant

It's no secret who the best team is in baseball. The Texas Rangers have started out the season 11 games over .500 at 15-4. They have a nine game lead over the much talked about Los Angeles Angels. They lead the majors in the following categories: batting average, RBI, runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and wins. Their ERA tops the American League. I could go on and on about their offense and pitching but you get the point—they're good.  

Baseball is a marathon. The Rangers will need to make a move in July to win another pennant. As perfect as the team looks now, there are some holes.

The Rangers could use a right-handed outfielder. Nelson Cruz is off to a fine start but has yet to play a full season and Josh Hamilton is always a concern. David Murphy has tools but he can't step in and take over for Nelson or Hamilton offensively or defensively. Craig Gentry is one of the fastest players in baseball and defensively may be the best center fielder the team has. He doesn't cut it at the plate.  

Joe Nathan has bounced back nicely from giving away two games, but he's gotten in trouble almost every time he's gone out. No one felt safe on Monday night when he came on with a runner on first and one out. He still has a couple of things to figure out. He has a two-year deal, but the team won't put him in position to close games based on a contract alone. 

Mitch Moreland was in a slump last year. A lingering injury was the supposed root of the problem but he's batting below .200 and has shown minimal signs of life. He's versatile in the field and more than capable of hitting, but if he doesn't heat up, an upgrade may not be hard to find.

Jon Daniels is always working. For a while, everyone thought he was a weak GM, but he's matured into one of the most respected general managers in the league. He's always got the future in mind and sees the big picture when it comes to his team. By the time the deadline comes around, he'll have a solution for any problem the Rangers have.

The Rangers have pieces to work with. Julio Borbon, Craig Gentry and David Murphy all sit in a crowded outfield. Leonys Martin will be given time to develop but the aforementioned players could be pieces in a major trade. The farm system is one of the best in baseball yet again. Koji Uehara has been on the trading block since this offseason. I can see Mark Lowe being part of a package to bring this year's Mike Adams to the team. 

The Rangers know what it takes to make a run in the postseason. The past couple of years' runs have had trades as a vital reason for the run. In 2010 the obvious trade was the Cliff Lee deal, but that wasn't the only acquisition that helped the team down the stretch. Jeff Francoeur was an overlooked acquisition, but he gave the team another Gold Glove in the outfield.

Last year, the team picked up Mike Adams in a major move. They took their bullpen from being a weakness to a strength.

This season's move may not be a major one. I doubt they bring in Oswalt or an ace to carry them through the playoffs, but don't count this club out of anything.