Rangers Trade Rumors: Texas Must Add Zack Greinke Before Trade Deadline

The Texas Rangers need to gun for a World Series title this year. This is a team in its prime. And they could make themselves far more formidable by adding Milwaukee Brewers' starting pitcher Zack Greinke before the trade deadline.

The Brewers are certainly thought to be on the verge of moving the right-hander. From Tom Haudricourt of the Journal-Sentinel:

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A baseball person familiar with the situation said Wednesday the Milwaukee Brewers were taking calls from teams interested in trading for right-hander Zack Greinke.

"It sounds like he's as good as gone," said that major-league source. "There's no reason for them to keep him now."

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And not surprisingly, the Rangers are one of the primary suitors, along with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, according to Haudricourt.

The Rangers need to do whatever it takes to win a World Series now. They've made two straight appearances and find themselves with a roster full of players—Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Nelson Cruz, Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison—in the prime of their careers.

There's no question that this team can mash the ball, but adding a top-of-the-rotation ace to the staff like Greinke would make this Rangers team truly scary. After Harrison and Darvish, the rest of the Rangers staff has been sketchy.

Greinke has been very solid since joining the Brewers last season. In 2011, he finished 16-6 with a 3.83 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 201 strikeouts, and was one of baseball's best pitchers in the second half of the season.

He's mostly picked up where he left off, currently 9-3 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 122 strikeouts this year.

The Rangers are already (arguably) the best team in baseball. With Greinke, I think that argument would have to be put to rest. And perhaps finally—after two seasons coming up just short—the Rangers would finally get a World Series title for a team in its prime.

They have to go for broke this year to ensure that happens. Greinke must be the team's target.

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